I may not have gotten much sleep after my first full day of Comic-Con 2011, but that didn't stop me from making my way over to BioWare's snazzy little setup across the street from the main halls of the convention center to get the latest scoop on Mass Effect 3.
It was here I was able to catch up with Casey Hudson, executive producer ofMass Effect 3 to find out a little more of what's to expect from one of 2012's most anticipated titles.
It may be hard to tell from my less than energetic performance on camera, but I can't wait for Mass Effect 3. I'll blame it on the fact that I was transfixed on every word that came out of Casey's mouth. Listening to man speak about what BioWare has up their sleeves had my inner nerd screaming. And after getting some hands-on with the game after the interview, I can tell they've really paid attention to the feedback from Mass Effect 2 to ensure that they close the series with a bang.
The combat, which was the focus of the demo, feels even tighter than the previous game's vastly improved shooting. Aiming seems more accurate and the guns usable really pack a variance in weight and kickback. Shepperd is also more nimble now, as he can roll in and out of coverage or to just escape a hailstorm of oncoming bullets. When in cover, the option to easily transition into new coverage is as easy as a tap on the stick and a click of a button. This really makes getting to tactical advantage points as pain free as possible--which is important when fighting shielded Cerberus soldiers.
Mass Effect 3 is also bringing back the RPG elements that were stripped from the series' second installment. The demo allowed limited weapon respeccing at a workbench in the mission, but the game is early and this feature is already light years ahead of ME2's practically nonexistent mods. Augments such as silencers and scopes allow for improvements in weapon stability and rate of fire.
Class perks have also seen a kick in the customization department as they incorporate a sort of skill tree-like structure. Take, for example, the warp ability from the previous games. A powerful biotic spell that shreds armor defenses off enemies. As squad points are now dealt out the ability can be branched into six different categories to make the skill truly unique for every user. If you didn't miss the RPG elements form the original, players can auto-select a recommended best fit for each ability to move through the game faster, but where's the fun in that?
I may not have played Mass Effect 2 28 times, but after completing all the DLC (except Arrival) and reading every Mass Effect novel I've invested countless hours into the universe and can't wait to see how BioWare wraps things up. The demo was short and sweet, though it offered nothing new since E3, but if what they have shown so far is any indication of what's to come, Mass Effect 3 will easily be the best in the series when it lands on March 6, 2012.
Thanks Allistair! @Coletrain54 I know, I know. I tend not to get excited for much, just ask my girlfriend. But I take my feedback like a man and now that my live on-camera interviewing cherry has been popped, things will only get better. Though just be warned there are two more interviews coming from my time with Bioware that probably showcase more of my stoic performance. But hey the content was good...right?
@ kjones555 - Nice. She's one of my favorite characters but seriously, that would be one of the most memorable choice/consequence scenarios of all time.
I wish you had played Arrival. I feel like it opens some glaring plot holes giving me little faith Mass Effect 3 is going to have a satisfying conclusion. I have complete faith in the game being fun, just almost none in the narrative.
I heard the voice actor of Kaidan Alenko is dropping vague confirmations that he's the same sex romance for male Shepards, but I'd really like some OFFICIAL word from Bioware on the identity of the very first non-straight (male) space marine in videogame history.
"Mass Effect 3 is also bringing back the RPG elements that were stripped from the series' second installment."
-As a HUGE fan of Mass Effect 1 and just a 'big' fan of Mass Effect 2, I'll believe it when I see it.
"The demo allowed limited weapon respeccing at a workbench in the mission, but the game is early and this feature is already light years ahead of ME2's practically nonexistent mods."
-Sounds like Dead Space 2 to me. While a welcome addition, doesn't really sound all too 'RPG-y'. Nonexistent is right!
"Augments such as silencers and scopes allow for improvements in weapon stability and rate of fire."
-Sounds like every modern First Person Shooter in the last 5 years, again, not very RPG-like.
I will remain cautiously optimistic, however, I still doubt that Mass Effect 3 will recapture the original's RPG elements that made it such a good game in the first place. Not that it wont be good, I just wish it was more Fable 2 than Gears of War.
I'm sure more people(casuals, first-timers) enjoyed the second game because it was more of a Third Person Shooter and removed the complicated things like inventory, skill options, etc., but damn if I didn't miss those in ME2. Which brings me to:
"If you didn't miss the RPG elements form the original, players can.."
-"...can PLAY ANOTHER GAME!" If you didn't miss the RPG elements from the original, you are playing the WRONG series. I don't play Black Ops and proclaim 'this needs less shooting' or play Uncharted and say 'this needs less ledge-hanging' or play Catherine and exclaim 'This needs to be less like an anime!'
I play(ed) the first game because it was an RPG set in a sci-fi universe, when almost everything RPG-like was cut from the sequel(arbitrary, meaningless player levels and 'xp per kill' don't make an RPG because Call of Duty has BOTH of those) I joked that Mass Effect 3 would be a First Person Shooter. When I saw the first teaser for ME3 I was afraid I was right.
I will still buy the game on day one, but my expectations are lower after having played ME2 and being (somewhat) disappointed.
You could turn that dead pan interview style in to your Destructoid persona you know. You could play the exact opposite to Holmes, maybe wear a tie. It could be great.
@chiptoon, Wesley: Jon Carnage already tried that, and it's why I strongly believe he's the most unfunny thing to hit Destructoid since Daniel Starkey's NECKBEARD incident. (I realize one happened way before the other, but you[hopefully] get what I mean).
I, too, noticed you were a bit stiff, but I'm sure it was just first-time jitters. Just be yourself and don't try to do/act/create some kind of persona/character. It will come naturally, eventually.
Besides, the interview was informative. That's what mattered.
I'm cautiously optimistic as well. It seems we have kind of the same complaints. Especially that last point. I love the ME series (even the novels), but I really wish they didn't try to make it so appealing that they practically change the genre. I don't want ANYTHING to be more like Fable 2, but I definitely want Mass Effect to be less like Gears of War.
@MasterBalls - o.O wow.. I gotta agree with @Rammstein, here. If you don't enjoy the RPG side of ME, then you're playing the wrong series. They're moving back towards RPG because of fan outrage over ME2. ME1 had its faults, but it did most of it right. If you don't enjoy that, I suggest moving back to the strictly FPS genre.
@TheNephilym: High-five for (sort of) being on the same page. As far as the Fable 2 example, I just named the first action RPG that came to mind, it definitely felt more like GoW, however, so that still fits. I thought I was alone in feeling that the sequel was less RPG and more shooter! feelsgoodman.jpg
@Wesley: Well yeah, but the guy who posted the story called someone who did something cool(but geeky) in Minecraft a 'neckbeard' On a videogame blog! What if someone who was big-boned™ did something cool and he posted; 'fatty does cool thing in game'? I just didn't like the elitism of his tone. As long as you don't make the same mistake, you'll be fine.
@MasterBalls: Except as a true 'RPG'(like the first), but yes, I agree that it was better in every other aspect.
What they need to do is combine the two games. This is not a series meant to be a perfect RPG series or TPS series but a perfect hybrid. It shouldn't be anymore like one than the other. Bring back some RPG elements and mix it with excellent shooting mechanics. Level up system looks outstanding by the way.
As for Arrival, it had plotholes but I doubt any of them are anywhere near big enough to even come close to sinking the whole ship. It was a somewhat clumsy set-up for plot points that I'm really excited about seeing. When it comes to BioWare games, I think we're in good hands storywise.
ME1 had more RPG elements, but they were utter shit. The loot and inventory systems were some of the worst I've seen in top tier game in years. Instead of fixing them in ME2, they were removed or scaled back considerably. It was sad to see those mechanics go, but ME2 was better for it because everything that was in it worked well. I would rather have a game that does fewer things, but does them well than have a game with more features that are implemented poorly.
what amtalx said.
the inventory and loot system in ME1 was useless cap.
You had to take the items with the highest number, wether you liked them or not. And it was ONLY numbers. I dont see how numbers are customizing or adding anything to the ROLE PLAYING or gameplay part of the game.
In ME2 i could have my Shep look like i wanted him too, because numbers didnt matter.
If they reintroduce items and inventory, the items better have some special abilities, so there will be customization of the optics and the gampelay. Else it will only be "find the best item, then use it or gimp yourself" Not what defines a RPG for me.
For me, ME2 is gameplay wise the better game for me. Although ME1 had a better story arc imho.
ME1 had a better story arc, but ME2 just suffered from being the second in a trilogy. That's why it focused more on characters than the main arc. I'm waiting to see all the plot points that it set-up for ME3.
I really hope this isn't the end.
What I'd be most interested in is a DQ4 style collection of side stories.
Maybe each staring a different race as a playable character.
I've read a few of the books and I think there's a lot more they could do with the in game universe that the save the world story.
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Contest:
11:00 PM on 07.24.2011 | 
Although, I'm not sure someone who hasn't played Mass Effect 2 28 times should be allowed to interview Bioware.
-As a HUGE fan of Mass Effect 1 and just a 'big' fan of Mass Effect 2, I'll believe it when I see it.
"The demo allowed limited weapon respeccing at a workbench in the mission, but the game is early and this feature is already light years ahead of ME2's practically nonexistent mods."
-Sounds like Dead Space 2 to me. While a welcome addition, doesn't really sound all too 'RPG-y'. Nonexistent is right!
"Augments such as silencers and scopes allow for improvements in weapon stability and rate of fire."
-Sounds like every modern First Person Shooter in the last 5 years, again, not very RPG-like.
I will remain cautiously optimistic, however, I still doubt that Mass Effect 3 will recapture the original's RPG elements that made it such a good game in the first place. Not that it wont be good, I just wish it was more Fable 2 than Gears of War.
I'm sure more people(casuals, first-timers) enjoyed the second game because it was more of a Third Person Shooter and removed the complicated things like inventory, skill options, etc., but damn if I didn't miss those in ME2. Which brings me to:
"If you didn't miss the RPG elements form the original, players can.."
-"...can PLAY ANOTHER GAME!" If you didn't miss the RPG elements from the original, you are playing the WRONG series. I don't play Black Ops and proclaim 'this needs less shooting' or play Uncharted and say 'this needs less ledge-hanging' or play Catherine and exclaim 'This needs to be less like an anime!'
I play(ed) the first game because it was an RPG set in a sci-fi universe, when almost everything RPG-like was cut from the sequel(arbitrary, meaningless player levels and 'xp per kill' don't make an RPG because Call of Duty has BOTH of those) I joked that Mass Effect 3 would be a First Person Shooter. When I saw the first teaser for ME3 I was afraid I was right.
I will still buy the game on day one, but my expectations are lower after having played ME2 and being (somewhat) disappointed.
I, too, noticed you were a bit stiff, but I'm sure it was just first-time jitters. Just be yourself and don't try to do/act/create some kind of persona/character. It will come naturally, eventually.
Besides, the interview was informative. That's what mattered.
I'm cautiously optimistic as well. It seems we have kind of the same complaints. Especially that last point. I love the ME series (even the novels), but I really wish they didn't try to make it so appealing that they practically change the genre. I don't want ANYTHING to be more like Fable 2, but I definitely want Mass Effect to be less like Gears of War.
That said, I can't fucking wait for this game.
Don't worry about a tie, now a neckbeard...well that's just gross.
Fine, but Mass Effect 2 was still more enjoyable than the first in every measurable way, for me at least.
@Wesley: Well yeah, but the guy who posted the story called someone who did something cool(but geeky) in Minecraft a 'neckbeard' On a videogame blog! What if someone who was big-boned™ did something cool and he posted; 'fatty does cool thing in game'? I just didn't like the elitism of his tone. As long as you don't make the same mistake, you'll be fine.
@MasterBalls: Except as a true 'RPG'(like the first), but yes, I agree that it was better in every other aspect.
As for Arrival, it had plotholes but I doubt any of them are anywhere near big enough to even come close to sinking the whole ship. It was a somewhat clumsy set-up for plot points that I'm really excited about seeing. When it comes to BioWare games, I think we're in good hands storywise.
the inventory and loot system in ME1 was useless cap.
You had to take the items with the highest number, wether you liked them or not. And it was ONLY numbers. I dont see how numbers are customizing or adding anything to the ROLE PLAYING or gameplay part of the game.
In ME2 i could have my Shep look like i wanted him too, because numbers didnt matter.
If they reintroduce items and inventory, the items better have some special abilities, so there will be customization of the optics and the gampelay. Else it will only be "find the best item, then use it or gimp yourself" Not what defines a RPG for me.
For me, ME2 is gameplay wise the better game for me. Although ME1 had a better story arc imho.
ME1 had a better story arc, but ME2 just suffered from being the second in a trilogy. That's why it focused more on characters than the main arc. I'm waiting to see all the plot points that it set-up for ME3.
ME2 didn't even have "xp per kill", they took that out too.
What I'd be most interested in is a DQ4 style collection of side stories.
Maybe each staring a different race as a playable character.
I've read a few of the books and I think there's a lot more they could do with the in game universe that the save the world story.