| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| housemdfan |
Posted - Dec 29 2007 : 08:29:11 AM
Well I decided to write a full-on review of this game (a little late, but oh well) for reasons of my own choosing. Mainly the game has blown me away. Sure exploring the different worlds can get a little repetitive, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying the game.
I rented this beauty from GameFly and I nearly became a kangaroo I was so happy I got it without having to pay 60 bucks. Though to be honest from what I've seen so far (I've yet to finish the game. I just got it yesterday!) I wouldn't mind shelling out the 60 smackers for this game.
Now for those of you who've played the Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) games, you'll be familiar with how the game feels. It has the same kind of weapon upgrading system as KOTOR did, and it is in third person like KOTOR was. But that's kind of where the similarities end. Unless you count the fact that they're often in space, the Spectres are kinda like Jedi when it comes to keeping the peace, and of course the aliens.
ANYWAYS. The controls CAN take a little time to get used to, even though it basically uses the same FPS formula we know and love. But if you play COD4 then decide to play Mass Effect, you might have to give yourself a couple of minutes to get used to the Mass Effect controls.
Now, as some of you know, I got a big LCD/HDTV for Christmas, and boy am I glad I did. Though I don't think having a standard would take away too much of the beauty of Mass Effect. It's just that pretty. Watch out when/if you make a custom character though, because unlike Oblivion or Morrowind you're going to see your character's face a lot during 'cut scenes' and the like. I screwed up on my character so she has a wonky nose and a too-thin neck and her eyes...well you get the idea. I didn't do so well with making a character my first time through.
I'm sure some of you know that there is no multiplayer capabilities for Mass Effect. I can think of a few multiplayer game modes to use with this game, but I also think it was a good choice to keep it singleplayer.
Why was it a good choice? Because it has a rather gripping story (from what I've seen while playing) and the side quests can keep you busy for hours and hours.
As for the achievements? Well, they don't seem to be all THAT difficult to obtain. You'll probably unlock quite a few without even realizing or trying. They did come up with a sneaky way to make you replay the game. By making an achievement where you have to play Mass Effect through twice, not to mention you can also unlock achievements for beating the harder levels. The weapons and biotics achievements are causing me a bit of trouble, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Oh i almost forgot to mention the sound and music. The music fits perfectly with what is going on, but it doesn't blare at you. It kinda sneaks up and says 'hello, I'm gonna be playing in the background while you kill those aliens." The voice acting from my personal perspective is pretty killer. The actors/actresses bring a lot of life to the characters with their voices, making them more real and more believable. Which is saying something if you happen to be hearing the voice of a blue alien that couldn't possibly exist.
Overall I'd give this game a 9.5/10
Why didn't I award it the last half a point? Well the one thing that really bugged me was the random 'loading' message at the bottom, not to mention the long wait times in the elevator(s). What year is it? It's definitely quite a few years past 2007, the elevators should be speedy Gonzalez!
And uhm...yeah. That's it from me. I know it's not much of a review, but hey, at least I tried. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Oct 23 2008 : 10:24:21 PM
Thanks Dr K. :) I played through insanity with Garrus and Ashley, so didn't have any biotics with me :) I got the biotics achievements on a citadel rapid transport with "Throwaway Shepard" :)
I finished insanity yesterday, and am about 40k away from level 59, after which I'll need to go to level 60 (another 200k?), so I think I'll pass for now and do that in a while.. |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Oct 23 2008 : 6:37:29 PM
The Biotics really render the Krogan useless. |
| zZ Dr K Zz |
Posted - Oct 23 2008 : 6:33:29 PM
Congrats Shocktrooper! I beat the game awhile ago and got all of the achievements. It also gave me my favorite and most used gamer picture.
Hardcore was annoying to play as soldier even when he was level 60 because those frigging Krogans would rush you and overwhelm you.
I played as a different character on Insanity though, I think it was a biotic character. |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Oct 22 2008 : 10:37:38 PM
Decided to play the engineer again to get to level 60. Insanity is really easy if you start as a high level char with some spectre master gear. The assault rifle simply can't overheat anymore so despite the immunity you just keep pumping 1000's of rounds in a krogran and he still dies after a few minutes (just remember to neural shock them if they try to rush you as that's still an instant kill) :)
Yesterday I got the Soldier ally achievement which means I should get the 3 star rpg badge today.. Yay! |
| Im StirFrei |
Posted - Oct 17 2008 : 07:10:15 AM
to be honest i was never really interested in this game until now.
you have turned me into a believer lol. imma go buy it now. thanks! |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Oct 17 2008 : 06:59:07 AM
ummm... go with Biotics... cuz they're INCREDIBLY OVERPOWERED! Seriously... guy behind a barrel? Cast lift, and take away their cover. Guy around the corner? Cast Singularity to suck him out of it. Hopper giving you issues? Push to take them out. |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Oct 15 2008 : 10:50:22 PM
I just finished my second playthrough yesterday (hardcore). At the moment my third playthrough should wrap most things up, but I have two choices now; either I go for a biotic character on insanity, or I re-use one of my old characters.
Problem of the first is the low level. On hardcore this was a bit of a problem in certain areas already. I didn't really enjoy playing as an engineer, so the other option would be to replay the soldier. Problem with that is that I need Ashley's and Garrus' ally achievements. That would mean I would have zero biotics in my team.
So I was wondering, are there people who started with a new character on Insanity, and what are the recommended strategic changes so you can get through the earlier bits of the game? |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Jan 23 2008 : 3:26:50 PM
But in Mass Effect, your APC would drag enemies on it's wheel... which... I mean... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
god bless ragdoll physics... HL2 was also awesome... those zombies would flop over like a bag of dry leaves! |
| housemdfan |
Posted - Jan 22 2008 : 3:23:05 PM
You get more XP from shooting them than running them over. now if there were an achievement for running people over...oh wait...that's in the Orange Box. |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Jan 22 2008 : 12:15:34 PM
I usually just ran over enemies. |
| GuvmentCheese |
Posted - Jan 17 2008 : 04:22:07 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Melroch
I love this game. The one thing that I don't like about it, however, is that you can't upgrade your mako. The assignments that you have to go and kill geth bases on 4 planets just get harder and harder and your mako never gets better. The only way to really complete those missions is to kill one geth, run away and hide, heal yourself, let your shields build up, go back, kill a geth, run away and hide, etc. I wish there could have been a way to select the mako while it was in the Normandy and get a better gun, or better shields, or something.
Completely agree. I know that when I got close to the bases I just got out of the mako, walked up so I was in an elevated position (where possible), and snipe them (with my soldier class). Get back in the Mako to destroy a ship if applicable, then get back out and snipe some more. Really tedious, but I was able to protect myself from fire most of the time.
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| Melroch |
Posted - Jan 17 2008 : 12:49:55 AM
I love this game. The one thing that I don't like about it, however, is that you can't upgrade your mako. The assignments that you have to go and kill geth bases on 4 planets just get harder and harder and your mako never gets better. The only way to really complete those missions is to kill one geth, run away and hide, heal yourself, let your shields build up, go back, kill a geth, run away and hide, etc. I wish there could have been a way to select the mako while it was in the Normandy and get a better gun, or better shields, or something. |
| RetroactiveChex |
Posted - Jan 10 2008 : 8:55:23 PM
this game is a good stand alone game even if not going toward achivements it is worth a play and that is somemthing coming from me |
| housemdfan |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 8:20:40 PM
I can't strafe... I never could. Once I realized what I was doing wrong it was a piece of cake! |
| Aggressive Mold |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 6:52:46 PM
To beat Saren (2nd form), all you need to do is run laps around the room while shooting at him. He'll barely hit you, so when you do get hit, your medi-gel will have recharged. |
| housemdfan |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 4:25:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by GuvmentCheese
quote:
Originally posted by Lobo BiZARro 3D
I think I am the only one who found Saren to be cake lol Well, it could be that I was playing Engineer...
Saren wasn't that bad for me until he lost a lot of his health. Then he seemed to jump around so danged much, and even when he stopped to shoot rockets he wouldn't be there for very long...it made it annoying. I didn't die while facing him the first time, though.
The second time through the enemies are much harder (harder difficulty level)...so I'm not looking forward to that battle this time. :)
I ended up using stasis a lot to recover my own health and to knock off a little bit of his shields. I changed the group so that they used their abilities all the time rather than defensively and it went smoothly. |
| a1a1a1 |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 08:17:59 AM
quote:
Originally posted by CheeSeyMonKey31
I really wonder why they would make you sit in the elevators like that. Sure, it was funny the first time with the elevator music and radio, but it's just way too boring. Anyway I love the game and great review House.
My guess is that the original plan was to use the elevators as a platform for character interaction, ala baldur gate and kotor. I don't think it panned out though as you only got news flashes and a little chatter in the citadel.
*spoiler*
I am so freaking happy that bioware gave a nod to the black isle days by allowing you to convince the antagonist to commit suicide. Very satisfying. |
| GuvmentCheese |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 06:22:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Lobo BiZARro 3D
I think I am the only one who found Saren to be cake lol Well, it could be that I was playing Engineer...
Saren wasn't that bad for me until he lost a lot of his health. Then he seemed to jump around so danged much, and even when he stopped to shoot rockets he wouldn't be there for very long...it made it annoying. I didn't die while facing him the first time, though.
The second time through the enemies are much harder (harder difficulty level)...so I'm not looking forward to that battle this time. :) |
| Lobo BiZARro 3D |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 04:41:45 AM
I think I am the only one who found Saren to be cake lol Well, it could be that I was playing Engineer...
I will see how I fare as an Adept.
Benezia was a bit of a pain the first time, cause you really do not know what the hell is going on lol But after getting a scope of the situation, cover is your one and only friend. I would stay in cover and wait for the enemies to come to me. I got it on my 3rd go. |
| GuvmentCheese |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 04:30:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Aggressive Mold
Frickin' Benezia.... I died so many times! I just wasn't fun after a while. It didn't help that bad guys would spawn right the **** next to you with snipers (and never miss with them). When I finally beat it, I wasn't proud like I should have been. Rather I was relieved that I wouldn't have to die and go through the damn cutscene again.
Haha, I had the same problem. I hated watching that cutscene over and over and over again. Luckily I got helped out by some of the enemies getting stuck on crates in a good enough position that they couldn't hit me. It made it easier to kill them all.
Saren was bad too, but he was only one person...it was easier to hide from him for a few seconds to help the shields/health/weapons recharge a bit.
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