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I thought it was crazy not to like Mass Effect 2, but you have some good points. I never really noticed how colourless it was compared to ME1 until now. I have to disagree with you about not adding anything to the gears template though. It had biotic powers, exploration (sort of), armour, and of course character interaction.
Its interesting that you rip into Mass Effect for not adding to the "Gears" formula of stop, cover, pop. With the various powers and defensive layers (Shield, Armor, and pure health), there's a bit more going on than Gears. At least the first one.
Similarly, I'm surprised you have issue with the "color" of the ME world. Personally, I didn't find the world to be any less vibrant than the first, and actually found much of it to be more grand and "colorful" than the original. The vistas of the prison ship were contrasted and evoked nicely in the design and scope of the vistas in the Harvester ship, for example.
ME, as a universe, goes for a certain tone. I'd say you see a similar quantizing of literal and figurative pallette in space fiction in general. Aliens, Star Trek, certainly Star Wars, etc.
It sounds, to me, that you're calling on lack of innovation as a negative. Fair enough that Mass Effect 2 doesn't bring a completely new game to the table. But I think there's a refinement in ME 2 and its systems that makes the game accessible and fun with trimming of RPG tropes and non-fun (item management, leveling management in particular).
Similarly, I'm surprised you have issue with the "color" of the ME world. Personally, I didn't find the world to be any less vibrant than the first, and actually found much of it to be more grand and "colorful" than the original. The vistas of the prison ship were contrasted and evoked nicely in the design and scope of the vistas in the Harvester ship, for example.
ME, as a universe, goes for a certain tone. I'd say you see a similar quantizing of literal and figurative pallette in space fiction in general. Aliens, Star Trek, certainly Star Wars, etc.
It sounds, to me, that you're calling on lack of innovation as a negative. Fair enough that Mass Effect 2 doesn't bring a completely new game to the table. But I think there's a refinement in ME 2 and its systems that makes the game accessible and fun with trimming of RPG tropes and non-fun (item management, leveling management in particular).
@Tubatic
"Its interesting that you rip into Mass Effect for not adding to the "Gears" formula of stop, cover, pop. With the various powers and defensive layers (Shield, Armor, and pure health), there's a bit more going on than Gears. At least the first one. "
Adding different actions inside the same structural background, doesn't necessarily changed the experience one bit. Overall, ME2 proposes an almost exact replication of the "GoW" experience. To me, that's what counts.
"Similarly, I'm surprised you have issue with the "color" of the ME world. Personally, I didn't find the world to be any less vibrant than the first, and actually found much of it to be more grand and "colorful" than the original. The vistas of the prison ship were contrasted and evoked nicely in the design and scope of the vistas in the Harvester ship, for example. "
"ME, as a universe, goes for a certain tone. I'd say you see a similar quantizing of literal and figurative pallette in space fiction in general. Aliens, Star Trek, certainly Star Wars, etc. "
I wouldn't call either ME vibrant nor aesthetically evocative. I found them, minus one or two locations (the harvester ship is indeed, a good exception), very dull in terms of aesthetic. There are elements which ME clearly robs from such references. However, I do not feel they're properly apropriated. Anyone of the works you mention feature richer color palettes (sometimes bordering camp territory) or cleaner contrasts. Just look at ME2 for 5 minutes, and then jump to a game like "Folklore" or "Yakuza 3" or even "Heavy Rain" to see the difference.
"It sounds, to me, that you're calling on lack of innovation as a negative. Fair enough that Mass Effect 2 doesn't bring a completely new game to the table. But I think there's a refinement in ME 2 and its systems that makes the game accessible and fun with trimming of RPG tropes and non-fun (item management, leveling management in particular)."
The refinement I see (which I mentioned in the review) is in terms of usability and accessibility. What journalists tend to call "polish". Personally, I've come to believe that when you have big studio money, that becomes something that is easily acquirable - just use good game design practices and playtest, playtest, playtest. Sadly, such refinement cannot add anything meaningful to the experience... in fact, it can even detract (as the capping of the exploration side-quest of the first ME clearly shows). As such, I do not value that improvement, at best, I take it for granted in such a big budget game.
ME2 isn't bad because it doesn't add anything new. It's bad because it doesn't add anything new, isn't particularly evocative or memorable, and because it is a sad sign of the corporate logic which runs video games now - you want to make money and get good reviews, then you mimic whatever is the praised game in the praised genre in the specific timeline of development.
Cheers mate!
"Its interesting that you rip into Mass Effect for not adding to the "Gears" formula of stop, cover, pop. With the various powers and defensive layers (Shield, Armor, and pure health), there's a bit more going on than Gears. At least the first one. "
Adding different actions inside the same structural background, doesn't necessarily changed the experience one bit. Overall, ME2 proposes an almost exact replication of the "GoW" experience. To me, that's what counts.
"Similarly, I'm surprised you have issue with the "color" of the ME world. Personally, I didn't find the world to be any less vibrant than the first, and actually found much of it to be more grand and "colorful" than the original. The vistas of the prison ship were contrasted and evoked nicely in the design and scope of the vistas in the Harvester ship, for example. "
"ME, as a universe, goes for a certain tone. I'd say you see a similar quantizing of literal and figurative pallette in space fiction in general. Aliens, Star Trek, certainly Star Wars, etc. "
I wouldn't call either ME vibrant nor aesthetically evocative. I found them, minus one or two locations (the harvester ship is indeed, a good exception), very dull in terms of aesthetic. There are elements which ME clearly robs from such references. However, I do not feel they're properly apropriated. Anyone of the works you mention feature richer color palettes (sometimes bordering camp territory) or cleaner contrasts. Just look at ME2 for 5 minutes, and then jump to a game like "Folklore" or "Yakuza 3" or even "Heavy Rain" to see the difference.
"It sounds, to me, that you're calling on lack of innovation as a negative. Fair enough that Mass Effect 2 doesn't bring a completely new game to the table. But I think there's a refinement in ME 2 and its systems that makes the game accessible and fun with trimming of RPG tropes and non-fun (item management, leveling management in particular)."
The refinement I see (which I mentioned in the review) is in terms of usability and accessibility. What journalists tend to call "polish". Personally, I've come to believe that when you have big studio money, that becomes something that is easily acquirable - just use good game design practices and playtest, playtest, playtest. Sadly, such refinement cannot add anything meaningful to the experience... in fact, it can even detract (as the capping of the exploration side-quest of the first ME clearly shows). As such, I do not value that improvement, at best, I take it for granted in such a big budget game.
ME2 isn't bad because it doesn't add anything new. It's bad because it doesn't add anything new, isn't particularly evocative or memorable, and because it is a sad sign of the corporate logic which runs video games now - you want to make money and get good reviews, then you mimic whatever is the praised game in the praised genre in the specific timeline of development.
Cheers mate!
I feel very much the same way, but for different reasons. I'm happy with the way they streamlined gameplay, but not with the way they streamlined character customization and equipment upgrades.
For most character classes, ammo types and fire and ice balls represent the only skills you can spend points on. WTF? The only real role playing seems to be in choosing renegade and paragon dialogue responses.
I don't mind taking a turn for a darker, more mature world if it was actually darker and more mature. In the first game, they created a world that was the most honest and realistic sci-fi universe I had ever seen in a game. In the sequel, everyone you meet is trying too hard to be a badass.
In terms of immersion, I can't help but notice weird goofs like most characters wearing costumes that expose them to the vacuum of space on the first Collector infiltration mission, the fallen Reaper and the final suicide mission. Just because they color space orange (which wouldn't happen without an atmosphere -_-) so it looks like a sunset doesn't mean that it's not space!
For most character classes, ammo types and fire and ice balls represent the only skills you can spend points on. WTF? The only real role playing seems to be in choosing renegade and paragon dialogue responses.
I don't mind taking a turn for a darker, more mature world if it was actually darker and more mature. In the first game, they created a world that was the most honest and realistic sci-fi universe I had ever seen in a game. In the sequel, everyone you meet is trying too hard to be a badass.
In terms of immersion, I can't help but notice weird goofs like most characters wearing costumes that expose them to the vacuum of space on the first Collector infiltration mission, the fallen Reaper and the final suicide mission. Just because they color space orange (which wouldn't happen without an atmosphere -_-) so it looks like a sunset doesn't mean that it's not space!
Thank you. With Mass Effect 2, there has been a distinct shortage of people like you. People willing to tell this game how it is, and with a great deal of eloquence to boot.
I couldnt have been more underwhelmed with Mass Effect 2. I would have been forgiving if they improved the shooter combat, but kept it to its place, like in ME1 (albeit markedly less sharp and responsive in ME1). However it infects every pore of the game. The words from Christina Normans own mouth on this issue support this kind of outlook on ME2: they set out, above all else, to craft a "solid third person shooter".
Thats the overriding aspect I take away from ME2, that they cared more about the new "amped up in intensity" shooter combat more than the plot, characters, carryover decisions.
Sure, its a very impressive looking game, with a solid framerate and sharp shooter combat, but as it does with the games it so desperately wants to copycat, the rest of the game suffers tremendously for it.
The even more worrying thing is that current whispers suggest a future added multiplayer component. This series is being killed off by a reckless pursuit of mediocre mass appeal.
Its such a shame, because with all its flaws I really thought Mass Effect 1 had such tremendous promise.
I couldnt have been more underwhelmed with Mass Effect 2. I would have been forgiving if they improved the shooter combat, but kept it to its place, like in ME1 (albeit markedly less sharp and responsive in ME1). However it infects every pore of the game. The words from Christina Normans own mouth on this issue support this kind of outlook on ME2: they set out, above all else, to craft a "solid third person shooter".
Thats the overriding aspect I take away from ME2, that they cared more about the new "amped up in intensity" shooter combat more than the plot, characters, carryover decisions.
Sure, its a very impressive looking game, with a solid framerate and sharp shooter combat, but as it does with the games it so desperately wants to copycat, the rest of the game suffers tremendously for it.
The even more worrying thing is that current whispers suggest a future added multiplayer component. This series is being killed off by a reckless pursuit of mediocre mass appeal.
Its such a shame, because with all its flaws I really thought Mass Effect 1 had such tremendous promise.
