Just like the previous debate, calling Mass Effect a series after two games feels a little strange, but just like Golden Sun, Mass Effect is a series where fans loved the sequel as much -- or even more -- than the original game. That ended up being the case in the last debate, so this week should be interesting to watch. The original game took an early lead, but the sequel slowly built momentum and eventually overcame the first game in votes:
- Golden Sun: The Lost Age (31 votes) -- Winner!
- Golden Sun (26 votes)
With some series we see fans fiercely split in their support for one game and hatred of another in the series, with the other side having the exact opposite opinions. It's good to see a series where the majority of fans are all in unison in their praise and gratitude to the designers for not letting them down.
However, it's these scenarios that I find to be the most interesting debates of all. Since it's that much harder to make a choice between two games, it makes us think even longer on what exactly it is that we did and didn't like in each game, and why we felt that way about those mechanics, characters, or stories. I don't expect this week to be an easy debate for the Dtoid Army, but I hope you don't shy away from it just because it's hard to choose! Don't forget you're choosing which game will go on to represent this series in our future RPG tournament!
Which of the two Mass Effect games is better, and why? What sets your pick apart from the other game in the series? Sell me on the idea! Get me stoked to see it compete in the tournament! Give it some serious thought, share your reasoning with all of us, and then check back next week to see how your game did!
Bonus Question: What's one thing you didn't like about the game you voted for?
Contest:
8:30 PM on 06.29.2010
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Aside from that, though, Mass Effect 2 is dramatically superior in almost every way. I completely didn't expect that a sequel to a game I disliked so much would end up still being one of my favorite games of 2010.
Of course, you can't play /appreciate ME2 without playing ME1. So shout goes to that.
LMAO
It wasn't as easy as ME2, it had a story ( unlike ME2 ) , and it felt more like a RPG.
My only gripes with Mass Effect 2 was that it was far too easy even on insanity and the character import function barely seemed to make any real difference, I was expecting game shifting changes rather than a few lines of dialogue. Also that planet scanning shit was just stupid.
So Mass Effect 2 all the way.
Until the next one at least.
So, without a lick of reason or rationale, Mass Effect 1.
And the gameplayz
Also, WHY THE FUCK(oh no, here come's a Ramm's Rant) did they reduce the Citadel from a HUGE OBELISK that puts the Halo ring's to shame down to a shitty single building with 3 big rooms? BOO I SAY! It made the Citadel(the greatest accomplishment/discovery in the entire known Universe) seem like an afterthough. I know the first game was building a stage, introducing this huge-planet-sized space-stationlike structure and the second game just glosses over it entirely. Oh hey, this is the Citadel.
Mass Effect 2, as good as it was, felt like Bioware wanted to make a mass-appeal RPG-Lite 3rd person shooter to grab the "RPG's ARE FOR FAGS" crowd who wouldn't normally look twice at an rpg or the "I have a life/children" casual crowd ...who wouldn't normally look twice at a rpg. Good for Bioware, I want as much exposure to as great a series as Mass Effect but not at such a cost in gameplay or that "vastly epic" feeling that just oozed out of the first game. AND ALSO--oh,shi--I forgot this isn't a review/END
TL;DR: Mass Effect 1 > Mass Effect 2.
Mass Effect 2, on the other hand, I only played through twice.. it was fun, but something isn't quite right.
ME2 was way way more fun to actually play, even if they did greatly simplify many of the RPG elements. I love RPGs, but I'd take a pretty good third person shooter with light RPG elements over a mediocre RPG/TPS hybrid any day. Also while the plot was less impressive, the characters were a lot more interesting and better developed in the original, and the characters are really the heart of a good story.
Bonus Question: As annoying as planet scanning was, I feel the ball was dropped on weapon selection. I think there were more weapons (and outfits) in Fable 2!
Bonus Question: As annoying as planet scanning was, I feel the ball was dropped on weapon selection. I think there were more weapons (and outfits) in Fable 2!
I'm gonna say Mass Effect 1 only for the scene on the Moon when you look up and to the right to see the Earth staring right back at you.
Bonus Question:The human reaper revelation, collectors=protheans was neat, but what they were collecting humans for was absolutely retarded.
While Mass Effect 1 was more story driven than the second and helped me love Tali, Garrus, and Wrex, the rest of the cast was overall meh and unappealing. The side-quests were boring and repetitive and controls were overall clunky. I also didn't enjoy taking 20 minutes to jog around the Citidel. At least give me the option to run instead of jog for god sakes. Because of all this I don't think I could ever really play through the game again, however it is still very good. The mission with the queen rachini gave me the chills. The good kind of chills.
However in Mass Effect 2... The introduction to it is far more memorable than the first games' was and there was much more customization. Gone was the clusterfuck of weapons and powerups, the elevators the copy & pasted side-quests. The combat system felt much smoother and I really like the variety of strategies you can come up with. As well as the selection of classes. The new Normandy was fun to walk around in, with special dialogue from the ship's crew that develops over time/through missions (not just partners, but the human crew). I was also able to get with the girl I wanted from ME1, Tali. I never really liked Ashley or Liara. Overall I liked the crew more even if I didn't talk to some much because I picked them up a bit too late into the story for me to really get to know them. The loyalty missions/side-quests were MUCH more interesting as well. It was also nice to see decisions I made from ME1 transfered over to ME2. I've beaten the game twice with two different characters and I'm halfway done with my continued character and I'm working on a third... Soooo Mass Effect 2.
The bonus question is kind of hard for me, because ME2 really did have alot of problems. I think the worst part was just the overall tone; it felt so cold and distant, completely lacking the warmth and humanness of older BioWare games. It felt like it was trying too hard to be an action movie, despite all the talking.
wire me the money I needed to upgrade the ship. I mean, I am on a suicide mission to save the galaxy, why are they being cheapskates?
I'm going to have to call a tie, too difficult.
The action is tighter, the controls are better, and the levels are great. Surpassing the original.
It just felt.... cooler... no other way to describe it. The first game didn't make me feel that I would tell someone to get an Xbox just to play it, but the second game did!
Mass Effect 1 was the superior game and gets my vote!
Also, the changes to The Citadel are a big thing to me. In ME1, it was a vast, vibrant city. In ME2, it was like a tiny airport with shitty bookstores and mini Pizza Huts.
Such fantastic games though. In 30 years of gaming, they are right up near the top of my list.
I feel bad because Mass Effect 1 got me addicted to the genre.
Bonus Question: the main problem I saw with Mass Effect 2 was thelack of RPG elements compared to the first one. Oh and the terrible idea of mining....
They removed many elements from ME1 that I really enjoyed, and in my opinion forced ME2 through a 3rd person cookie cutter. They boiled it down and it's rather formulaic. I still loved it, and the end game was amazing, but all around I have to take ME1.
I liked the Mako a great deal. I liked the open world exploration of being able to travel large planets, it really added to the atmosphere and game world in my opinion.
I liked the inventory system. Granted, it went a little overboard and was almost a little too much micromanagement, but I liked that I had more freedom over customization.
I liked the story better. The battle with Saren and the way the 1st game closes out is just amazing. Character interaction felt more genuine. That showdown with Wrex was hair raising, just amazing. ME1 was just such a more awe-inspiring experience for me.
I feel more confined in ME2. Planet exploring is confined, missions are more confined, places like the Citadel are more confined, gameplay is so much more straightforward. Not saying people's gripes with the ME1 aren't legit or anything but I'll always remember that ME1 experience so, so, so much more than I did ME2.
Bonus: I guess I partially answered it, Renegade seems to equal total douche in dialogue and I think the ending cinematic was more dramatic and exciting in one. So there's that.
ME2 without a doubt.
if i find the will to finish ME2 maybe my opinion change. But i was very disappointed by the beginning of ME2