109 réponses à ce sujet

[Humakt83]

Make the main character weaker and the squad stronger. And put a bigger emphasis on tactics, like flanking.

By the way, ME 3 was easier on low-end systems, like consoles and old pcs. On high end systems enemies were a lot more accurate and deadly. Still not hard enough on Insanity.

[Vortex13]

I understand the OP means this in terms of gameplay, but I think the same problem plagues Bioware's writing in both ME and DA.  They get way too concerned with empowering the protagonist, ego-stroking, and trying to make ultimate badass characters.

 

Really, Bioware would benefit from depowering the protagonist, give them battles they can't win and need to run away from, give them crushing defeats, give more situations without a perfect outcome.  Make well intended decisions backfire, with unintended consequences down the line.  Get the writers and designers to borrow a smidgeon of G.R.R.M's ruthlessness in his writing.  Don't treat the main characters with kid gloves.

 

Power trips can be fun, but usually dull from a story perspective.  That part of Shepard that was inevitably action hero space Jesus always turned me off.  Inquisition was almost worse with this.  Characters can't stop telling me how special I am, it feels like having lunch with my grandmother.  I just can't take it seriously.  They had a great depowering moment at Haven, but whatever good it did evaporates as the Inquisitor crushes Corypheus' forces continuously for the rest of the game.  Its not good writing, not for the hero and not for the villain.

 

 

The writers wouldn't even have to take the story that far, tough I will not complain if they do. 

 

 

Just keep the character grounded, don't give the player the power to decide the fate of entire worlds, make the antagonist (or at least the one that the PC deals with) less cosmic and more mundane. Etc.

[Sion1138]

A survival bit in the middle of the game might be good.

 

Something bad happens, you get separated from your guys, they think you're dead, you have to find a way out of the situation.

[Madcat 124]

As much as I love horror, it would feel out of place in Mass effect. 

 

The thing is, I agree Shepard kicked a bit too much ass. Towards the end of the series, Shepard felt a bit too mary sue-ish for me. I'd like to see a character tackling smaller goals, or at least having more visible assistance towards a bigger goal. I feel like all the help we were getting in ME3 was "Don't worry Shepard, we're doing something somewhere, just take care of the big stuff."

[Torgette]

While I am sure that many people feel that the games are too easy, I will agree with the OP that Shepard was too powerful, but not in a gameplay sense.

 

Epic bloat was a real issue for the series, and one that I feel is what lead to BioWare's need to end the trilogy the way they did. By the last hour of ME 3 Shepard is in space Jesus territory; the ending(s) merely push him/her past that point.

 

• Gunning down entire armies of highly trained, and equipped soldiers with a three man squad? Check.

 

• Solving galactic issues that have been going on for centuries within a few hours and by shouting at people? Check.

 

• Deciding the fate of entire civilizations, despite just being a frontline soldier? Check.

 

Etc.

 

The need to 'up the ante' and surpass Shepard's previous exploits was why the series quickly spiraled out of control; it was almost like Dragonball Z in a way. Here is an enemy, and when you defeat that one, another one will show up who is an order of magnitude more powerful than the previous one, and once you defeat that one, another even more powerful foe will show up, and so on and so on until you are at God levels of strength and the setting has become strung out and boring.

 

I actually thought ME1 and 2 did a good job of keeping the space jesus stuff at bay for the most part, ME3 went off the rails with that stuff though. As for combat/gameplay I had tons of fun with ME3 and don't really want it to get into survival territory, but I wouldn't mind it if you had to think more to get through battles and think more when preparing for fights too - I just don't want things to slow down either, the worst part of any open world game is slow combat.

 

As for feeling like a "god", that's an "issue" with all rpg's ever really.

[Heimdall]

I really hate making Witcher comparisons with Bioware but this is relevant. I liked that Geralt wasn't a pivotal player in every big event.  He mostly dealt with local issues, grounded in the immediate location.  Heck, he was pretty much a bystander as far as the Nilfgaard invasion.

 

So I'd like to see more of that.  Let big events play out without being a major focus of the player story.  A smaller story in a bigger world.  Not to say the new PC can't save the day at all, but they shouldn't have so much influence over world changing events.  At least not directly.  That's why I liked the way Inquisition handled the Divine choice.  Our actions influenced the outcome, but the PC doesn't pick the winner.

[CrutchCricket]

I saw enough horror in the endings of ME3.  No more, thank you very much.

Yep. Clearly Shepard did not kick enough ass.

 

Where's that pic of Shepard punting the holokid? Yeah, that.

 

It wasn't about the shooting people, or lack there of, it was this alien outsider (Shepard) stepping into these problems that have plagued the galaxy and the species involved for centuries and then solved said problems by shouting something; either red or blue tinged; and suddenly all of that animosity of hundreds of years vanish in the face of Shepard's infallible charisma.

 

Like I said, Space Jesus. 

Maybe on a subconscious level everyone involved knew they were dumb, someone just needed to yell it in red or blue.

 

Otherwise, what major problems did Shepard really "solve"? The genophage? For one thing Mordin/his replacement was already working on the cure, and there are elements of STG that would deploy it, if not the Salarian government itself. and the demand for it wasn't made by Shepard, but by Wrex/Wreav. Shepard was more like a mediator in that sense, as well as providing security on the ground. As for the actual "solution", if you really think about it it doesn't solve much of anything. Curing the genophage actually puts more strain on the krogan. It kept their population in check. Now they don't have it, but neither do they have any infrastructure to support a population boom. If they go back to their old ways they go extinct from overpopulation. And Wrex's leadership was based on control of a very scarce, very valuable resource, fertile females. That's all meaningless now. The salarian government clearly still bears a grudge as evidenced by the dalatrass. And the desire of other krogan clans to settle the score with the turians and salarians as well as the possibility of Wrex losing control is mentioned. So it's far from everyone lived happily ever after because The Shepard made everything all right. The presentation might make it seem that way with dramatic emotional music swelling and the works, but the details do not support that one bit.

 

The other big one is the geth/quarian situation. The big driving force there is not Shepard, but quarian idiocy or perhaps in the final moments a lack of it. They started their pointless war and they're the ones that can't deal with the consequences when the geth turn to the Reapers. When it comes down to deciding who to back, why is this decision even necessary? Because Garrel and his bunch of goons won't stop firing. Shepard is only really deciding if he'll let Legion upload the Reaper code and that works because it's one geth platform standing right in front of him. If he is able to shout the quarians down, that's less solving their problem with the geth and more just finally breaking through the shroud of stupidity before they cause their own extinction. Look at the Prime and Shala'Raan conversation afterwards. Raan is awkward and not entirely sure in her speech. The prime isn't but that's because it's a geth. Still, the quarians ceasing fire does technically count as "additional data that suggests peace is possible" as this breaks the pattern of them "attacking 100% of the time". But it is just a cease fire. I doubt Garrel types are convinced it'll last. Or worse, Xen and her ilk. Do you see her ceasing her efforts to control the geth simply because they're willing to cooperate? I will admit Tali's conversation afterwards when she mentions geth downloading in quarian suits is a bit more damning. But just as there are destroyers and controllers among the quarians there are also genuine sympathizers (not synthesizers because **** the ending) as evidenced by Zal'Koris who do actually want peace. I would imagine it would only be those quarians who would allow geth into their suits. Again, the presentation does simplify too much but logically it shouldn't be so simple. And I don't think it is.

 

I guess my overall point is the major problems aren't as "solved" as they might be presented. But they are sufficiently mitigated to allow the factions to focus on the real threat. And I don't think for a second that the unity achieved in the final battle for Earth will last long past the defeat of the Reapers, no matter what the epilogues try to tell you. And not just with the geth and quarians or the krogan and salarians. Every race has something to answer for. I believe an age of strife is at hand.

[SNascimento]

It wasn't about the shooting people, or lack there of, it was this alien outsider (Shepard) stepping into these problems that have plagued the galaxy and the species involved for centuries and then solved said problems by shouting something; either red or blue tinged; and suddenly all of that animosity of hundreds of years vanish in the face of Shepard's infallible charisma.

 

Like I said, Space Jesus. 

That's an over simplification, not to say totally untrue. The animosity between the major conflicts are hardly gone. About the genophage, the Salarians clearly think it's a mistake and ask you to sabotage the cure. So in a way, you may not even solve that conflict. Same of the Geth x Quarian war. And about them, the distrust between them is diminished (not eliminated) not because of what Shepard said in a... blue or red line, but because of an expanding view of the Geth, their motives and the history of the Morning War and the consequences of that fact in the head of some key Quarian individuals. If Tali is dead for example, you can't achieve peace between the two people (I think). 

In both those conflicts Shepard is just spear heading the final push of the final stage of them. He's not single handed solved everything. 

[We'll bang okay]

No. Mass Effect is not survival-horror.

mass effect isn't a stealth game and look at arrival

 

I think they tried to show that Shepard wasn't alone in this fight, but it didn't quite come off that way. The whole galaxy is helping your efforts, but we don't quite get to see all of it. Or rather, it's just hard to shake off the feeling of it essentially being a 3 person TPS.

 

One cool thing though is we never defeat the Reapers in battle without using some elemental part of a planet (Thresher Maw) or the efforts of many (Xen's device + the Quarian fleet). In this case, it's not really Shepard doing it... he/she is just the cornerstone.

the reaper on earth we just used a chain gun 

[CrutchCricket]

mass effect isn't a stealth game and look at arrival

You mean the Arrival where I activate my cloak out of sight of the guards and they immediately know I'm there? That Arrival?

[CrutchCricket]

Cloaks are overrated. You should have used a cardboard box.

 

"It's my destiny to be in the box!"

[Pasquale1234]

I do think that ME3 gave us a few situations where Shepard & Co. had to beat feet in the face of overwhelming force - though the associated missions were accomplished.

Off the top of my head:

In N7: Cerberus Lab, I believe enemies will spawn endlessly until you access the shuttle to leave.

In Arrae: Ex-Cerberus Scientists, a big group of troops and mechs show up just as you are ready to leave.

In Priority: Earth, there are a couple of places where enemies spawn endlessly until you 1) access the shuttle, or 2) reach the missile launcher.

But, yeah, overall Shepard is this godlike being capable of defeating wave after wave after wave of well-equipped, artificially enhanced enemies - and surviving reaper beams that cut through dreadnoughts.

[Pasquale1234]

And Dr. Brynn jumps out and saves us. I like that part.

 

Well, yeah.  Seemed a bit silly that Brynn & Jacob (or not Jacob) would be the ones to pull you out of there while your squadmates tucked themselves onboard the shuttle, but I guess the cinematic designers wanted them to look heroic, and it was their only chance to feature them in that way.

[Steppenwolf]

mass effect isn't a stealth game and look at arrival

 

Thanks for another reason not to have survival-horror elements.

[KaiserShep]

mass effect isn't a stealth game and look at arrival

 

Arrival's "stealth" is just staying out of the line of sight of the batarians. But it's basically an example of what I mentioned in my previous post. It's only one mission that's like that, not the entire game. 

[We'll bang okay]

Arrival's "stealth" is just staying out of the line of sight of the batarians. But it's basically an example of what I mentioned in my previous post. It's only one mission that's like that, not the entire game. 

I know just for one mission or two 

[themikefest]

 

Well, yeah.  Seemed a bit silly that Brynn & Jacob (or not Jacob) would be the ones to pull you out of there while your squadmates tucked themselves onboard the shuttle, but I guess the cinematic designers wanted them to look heroic, and it was their only chance to feature them in that way.

This is what I posted about that in another thread.

 

In the scene at the end of the mission, what are the squadmates doing when Shepard falls over? A whole lot of nothing. But...Look here. Its Dr.Brynn Cole to the rescue. She runs out there and helps Shepard while Jacob/Webber provide cover fire. What are the ME3 squadmates doing? Lets ask them

 

Ashley and Tali: We were getting drunk

Garrus: I was doing some calibrating

Liara: I was taking armor from dead bodies

Kaidan: My implants were giving me a headache

James: I was getting a tattoo

Javik: I don't care about you primitives

edi: I was trying to think of a joke

 

It makes me wonder why Shepard can't question his/her squadmates about their lack of action. The ME3 squadmates never cared

The same can be said when facing Ashley/Kaidan during the coup. The squadmates just stand there not speaking up on Shepard's behalf.  

[N7Jamaican]

I wouldn't mind a few missions of hopelessness.  Like during some missions in ME3.  And I think they should do less enemies, but harder battles.

[Pasquale1234]

I wouldn't mind a few missions of hopelessness.  Like during some missions in ME3.  And I think they should do less enemies, but harder battles.

Quality over quantity?

I've thought about that, too, but wonder how modern gamers would react to that. A lot of people seem to want more, more MOAR enemies to kill, restricting the more difficult battles to bosses.

[Golden_Persona]

What's with all the Isolation praise lately? Is it actually good? When it came out, I kept hearing how much it sucked.

When ANY new game comes out all you'll hear is how much something sucks. Because the people who actually want to enjoy their time on this planet are busy enjoying themselves =P

[Golden_Persona]

I loved being a part of a merry gang of badasses though. Any time I would hear "oh no its Shepard!" over enemy radio chatter I felt like a walking storm of destruction for galactic injustice. I loved any moment they played up how awesome Shepard and co. were. Why is that boring? Why is that a bad thing? Some games allow people to indulge in a massive power fantasy and Mass Effect was one of the best.

 

It also made the few times Shepard failed really hard to swallow. Letting 300,000 Batarians die despite trying your best to save them, losing Thessia (come on, people hate that mission mostly because they were bested by Kai Leng. That sting will never go away).