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Thus far, I've been somewhat skeptical about Mass Effect (due in part to my never being a massive BioWare nut) but this latest soldier class combat trailer is starting to sway me. It doesn't look revolutionary, but it looks like fun, and that's the main thing. When I first saw combat in this game it appeared slow and boring as hell. Nice to see there's some actual action in there.

Of course, it also looks like very generic gameplay, which I don't expect will impress everybody. Unlike those prepared to love this title just because of the people behind it, I propose that the jury is still very much out on Mass Effect. I must confess that I'm as eager to see how this one gets received by players en masse as I am to actually play it.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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35 comments | showing # 1 to 35
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Xbudz's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 07:51
Xbudz
What? Virtua Fighter 5 has more depth than this game?
The Johnggernaut's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 08:06
The Johnggernaut
This gameplay footage has me extremely excited! The combat is like KOTOR meets Rainbow Six Vegas!
Buster's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 08:35
Buster
meh, im already buying a shooter this month, call of duty 4
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 08:44
Maurice Tan
Too bad they just rereleased the trailer from 6 months ago :(
But it looks like nobody watched those. Mass Effect is still already GOTY for me.
JamesSorensen's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 08:46
JamesSorensen
jury still out for me as well... but man that video is so Vegas/GRAW

still definitely gonna try the game out
LimeGuardian's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 08:47
LimeGuardian
Yeah, I have to agree, this game hasn't been on my radar but that gets me excited a little bit, at least it's approachable.
majormauser's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 09:26
majormauser
Well I think it looks pretty boring and wonky. Honesty really it looks very basic and the environment looks pretty barren. Kill one enemy from far away and kill another rinse and repeat. Also the Beam weapon with the shot that blinds you so you can't see what your shooting at looks pretty bad.

This game has to be improved... combat wise.
zardoz's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 10:32
zardoz
Why do all these types of games end up looking like Max Steel?

It's like the development team has made sure that every sound, colour, animation, character and location is screaming "This is a man's world for real hard men". In the end it ends up looking a bit ridiculous.
emotaku's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 10:47
emotaku
'OLO GENERIC'
PraiseChaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 11:22
PraiseChaos
I watched the video and thought "Futuristic Gears of War." I'll try it, but it doesn't look like anything special.
Eurotuner's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 11:23
Eurotuner
Fast paced action combat with XP and level ups? I've got a bonerrrrrr.
Twiggy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 11:59
Twiggy
yeah. maybe i'm just easy for such things, but combine third-person shooter action, visibly swapping weapons, cover, and RPG level ups and you've got me. Hopefully that's an early combat demo or maybe a training level and the actual meat of the game has more action and dynamic circumstances. If the Half-Life series has taught us anything, it's that enemy behavior is waay more important than play controls or character abilities to making a good action experience.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:06
Velt
Ok, release for the PC and i will give it a try.
ZeroTolo's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:07
ZeroTolo
So yeah... this is the kind of video that I've been waiting for. Frankly, I have to agree with you, Jim. It's alright, but looks like it could be much better. What's sad about it is that the weapon switching only got me thinking about how awesome the weapon system in Borderlands will be.
Hamsizzla's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:13
Hamsizzla
Seen that clip a few months ago...but this game should be fine. Its in the hands of bioware! BIOWARE!
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:20
Wedge
It's not like the crux of the entire game is combat, it IS a Bioware RPG still. So that magically makes repetition in combat more forgivable. I mean combat in KotoR was really just autopilot most of the time.
BlindsideDork's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:28
BlindsideDork
How the heck is this NOT just another shooter game? Screw the dialogue and customizable main character...it is a shooter!
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:31
Bob Muir
Hm, looks pretty fun, but I haven't played KOTOR, so I don't have a great point of reference.
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:36
Maurice Tan
Oh noes, there are weapons and targeting reticules! And the weapons shoot! It must be a shooter! Just like KOTOR was a hack'n'slash game, where you didn't play hours on end because of the storyline and sidequests. And using a lightsabre got old after 5 minutes, because it was just 1 generic weapon you used for 15 hours.

But srsly, put out a demo already :(
b4con's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:40
b4con
Why are so many people so pessimistic about this game? Seems like they're just find it easier to agree with people who spawn the pessimism. The KOTOR series was awesome, this will likely own a lot more.
Tertiee's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:51
Tertiee
Anyone else really want Bioware to release a Adept/Sentinel gameplay video to get away from all this "just a shooter" business?
Hiltz's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 12:56
Hiltz
I just don't know what to think of Mass Effect. On one hand, it has some impressive things about it, but then when we see clips of the combat it just seems so dull.
TheBrain's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 13:21
TheBrain
I'm just glad it isn't turn based. I can finally play a Bioware title without wanting to cry from the boring.
Joe Burling's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 13:44
Joe Burling
I think it looks fantastic. I'm buying this game day one.
Detry's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 13:55
Detry
What Buck Fitchez said.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 14:37
Sharpless
Absolutely fantastic. If I had a 360, I'd buy this sucker on release day. I love the mechanics of an RPG (levelling up, improving skills, upgrades, choosing your dialogue, etc.) but with the gameplay of a third-person shooter. This looks perfect and insanely fun. I can't wait to play it. I was worried for a while, but I'm feeling more confident now.

Just don't let Orcist review it. ;)
0chan's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 16:43
0chan
why does the game PAUSE everytime you you switch weapons, is it so fucking hard to make it like all the other games like gears of war,ghost recon,battle field etc
fucking retarded
Briosafreak's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 17:24
Briosafreak
Kinda uninteresting.

Make it a very uninteresting video.

Still not convinced.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 18:47
Sharpless
I'm sure you probably choose to make the game pause, when switching weapons. Frankly, I like that better. Having the gameplay keep going while I clumsily scroll through a list of weapons is equally, if not more, cumbersome and unrealistic.
KGETZ3's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 20:50
KGETZ3
I don't see what the complaining is about.

You can play the game how YOU want to.

If you want to carefully plan the battle and select your powers/weapons/shots you can! (An EVOLUTION of the KoToR battle system)

When you turn on the aiming assistance then it essentially locks on an enemy by just aiming anywhere in there general direction. So it takes away that whole shooter aspect. Then if you partner that with the Weapon Wheel/Biotics Wheel/Pause System it basically makes the game have a Real Time-Turn Based Combat system....just like KoToR.

Now if you want to run around and shoot shit up you can, like the video, you can!

Pretty much you can fight whatever way you want...except maybe like a crappy true turned based rpg(jrpgs = poo)...seriously why would you want to play like that in this game? That shit is un-immersive and would negate Bioware trying to immerse you into the game.

I think its great to have those options.

Also you people comparing it to Gears, just stop it you sound dumb. Clearly you have not watched many videos.
KGETZ3's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 20:53
KGETZ3
Also you guys seem to be over looking this part:

SOLDIER CLASS
Stubby boardman's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 21:09
Stubby boardman
The combat is probably the last thing that makes this game what it is. Mass Effect is about choice, depth, story, strategy, and THEN combat.

What you folks who seem unfamiliar with the game dont realize is that THIS IS NOT A SHOOTER. its a third person rpg with guns, cover, and squad based combat. Maybe that appeals to you, maybe it doesn't.

But the combat you're seeing is really more of a real-time version of classic rpg combat. When you shoot at an enemy the game will do boatloads of math behind the scenes to decide how much damage you do, if any, based on your stats. some crazy equation like "0-6 X 2, +2, X 0-12, -3" will be applied based on your's and your enemy's stats each time you accurately fire at the enemy. A digital die is rolled and the number is applied to your stats and thats how combat is decided.

Of course, there is the real time element of what weapon, ammo, biotics, grenades, techniques, and equipment you use, who you use it on, who uses it, what order they're all used in, and where you hit the enemy. plus, the enemy fires at you too the whole time so you gotta keep cover. and you can guide your allies around a la Rainbow Six Vegas.

The bottom line is that this game is the kind of game that might look sorta stale when watching someone else play but it should be a total blast for the player (think Pokemon. how fucking boring does pokemon look? yet people love it) please believe that this will be an amazing game.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/03/2007 23:26
Jim Sterling
Stubby:

People who have actually played the game have described it as a shooter first and an RPG second. That kind of contradicts your ... well ... your everything.
Gnort's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2007 03:22
Gnort
In other news, Virtua Fighter 5's combat has been criticised as being pretty fun, if generic. I mean, you push buttons, and your character throws punches or kicks, just like every other fighting game ever.
Stubby boardman's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/04/2007 19:07
Stubby boardman
at Jim Sterling:

Well, people who have played it may be completely oblivious to the underlying rpg battle calculations. as i said, its all behind the scenes so it appears like a normal shooter. the fact that you say they call it a shooter means bioware did a good job of making it the combat play well, unlike Kotor.

besides, anybody who has played the game has probablyo nly played a very small portion and couldn't give a full impression of the rpg side of the game. rpg's are about progression
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