The format of these posts is simple: let’s discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the Mass Effect series. What is your favorite game in the series? What aspects do you like about it? What doesn’t work for you? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let’s get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
Mass Effect Andromeda is mostly hated, but hot damn, it’s disappointing that it was, because it brought back all the best aspects of the original Mass Effect and iterated upon them greatly. Open world planets to explore with a big, fun to drive vehicle.
I would say it’s main failing was the story and the companions, which was generally forgettable, but the world building was quite good and the environments were beautiful.
For all the failures of the facial animations and dead eyes upon release, the actual game itself is really beautiful when it comes to scenic vistas and so on. Part of the trouble is you spend a large mount of the early game stuck inside samey indoor environments with these dead eyed NPCs, so when it came out, the opening of the game gave people a bad view by focusing you on the games worst offenses right out of the gate. That’s a hard hill for a lot of people to climb over, understandably so.
I just think it was incredibly disappointing because it was in many ways a way stronger game (gameplay-wise and environment-wise) than Mass Effect 2/3. It was a huge step up in quality for the franchise, but because of a botched story and facial animations, it nearly killed the franchise entirely.
It was also one of those games that suffered from Gamergate bullshit. Complaints of Sarah Ryder not being attractive enough and complaints too many LGBT characters. I remember when I used to think EA was lying that they thought they won Worst Company from The Consumerist because they had anti-LGBT people doing write-in campaigns against them. I believe them now, even though it felt like they were hiding behind that at the time. Because those are bullshit complaints.
Also, is it just me or did Baldur’s Gate 3 prove you could do a modern version of one of these games in the classic isometric overhead view style?
I’d love to see a Mass Effect style game in a modern isometric overhead view turn-based tactical combat type situation, like X-COM but more like an RPG than a tactical combat game with minor RPG elements.
One thing that really soured my taste with Andromeda was the very clunky, but for some odd reason still necessary platforming. It always ground things to a halt for me and reminded me I was playing a video game, which is not a fun feeling. Like recognizing that actors are on a set in the middle of the movie.
They also did not really explore what different species could look like. It just felt like any group I could’ve seen in the Milky Way when they had given themselves an excuse to do literally whatever they wanted. Like halo 4 choosing to have me fight the not-covenant again after 3 rounded the story out and gave them a mechanism for dropping the chief literally anywhere at any time.
I also found most of the squadmates to not be very memorable. It felt like they were going out of their way to make sure they didn’t resemble any of the previous ensembles.
That being said, I think the game did an incredible job of not falling into the usual paradigm of “this is the good option, this is the bad option.” There was a lot more nuance to some of the decisions and it really had me stopping and thinking about how I wanted to proceed.
Still, I never finished the game. Got several dozen hours and it was enjoyable enough, but a lot of dropped balls.
The thing that I loved about Mass Effect was the characters.
Andromeda’s characters were straight up uninteresting or plain annoying.
Andromeda has the biggest difference I’ve ever seen between low graphics settings and high ones. I wonder if the lack of recognition for its beautiful environments isn’t mainly that they just weren’t beautiful on most people’s systems.
Mass effect is one of my favorite series ever! I’ve played through the trilogy at least half a dozen times now. It’s my cozy game I always have a playthrough going in.
Mass effect 1 was incredible for its time, and still pretty good today. The biggest mistake I see people make is not talking to everyone on the ship in between missions (this is true for the whole series); if you don’t you’ll miss the best part of the game. Also make sure to pick an interesting class, probably something with biotics. Infiltrator and soldier are boring to play compared to sentinel or biotic.
Mass effect 2 was the game that shifted the series from an RPG to a cover shooter. The mechanics were much better, but it removed some of the fun. I remember the first time I played it I was heartbroken the citadel was so much smaller than in the first game. I’d say 2 has the best DLCs of the trilogy (Shadowbroker is unrivaled). I love the structure of 2 as well, but there’s definitely a few gotchas where if you do a mission too soon it’ll lock you out of finishing important side quests if you want a good ending.
Mass effect 3 is great, the mechanics are more mature than 2, the story and “omg” moments are the best in the series; and (especially with the DLCs) it really fleshes out the backstory of the galaxy and races in a way the first two games didn’t. I do wish the team on the ship was a bit bigger, but the citadel dlc is definitely a close second best in the series; and makes up for it imo.
As for the ending of 3 (mild mood spoilers):
spoiler
I like my games to have a happily ever after ending, and that there really isn’t one kinda bums me out. I get why the writers did it, and I don’t fault them for it; but I’m looking forward to my current playthrough using the happy ending mod for a non cannon ending that won’t leave me kinda sad after finishing the game haha
So all in all, I think the trilogy is incredible, and everyone should try it. That said you’ve gotta go in with an idea of how to play it (this is true for all the games, but especially 1), because the games will let you miss a lot of stuff (like crew interactions, important side missions that affect the ending of the game and encounters in later games, etc.). It’s definitely a trilogy that’s better the second time through bc of it, or just find a good non spoiler guide/video for tips.
My favorite ME1 build is Infiltrator. The damage output of a properly modded sniper rifle can get truly depraved late in the game.
Explosive ammo on a pistol is so broken. It’s ridiculous lol
First game in the series despite very rough clunky gameplay is my absolute favorite. The story hooked me with the sovereign reveal and the plot is the best of the three entries. And the music felt the best with how atmospheric and less Hollywoody it was, so added to the scifi other world vibe. And I liked how the lighting was darker in places like the Normandy adding to the feeling of being in space.
Yeah, I always remember the first game the best. It was an RPG first and a shooter second. The vehicle sections, while terrible did provide a sense of scale that the other games lacked.
I absolutely loved the Mako. I know I’m in the minority, but I just love how it drives. And stomping on a Colossus with the jump jets is always funny.
I thought Mako was great too. I played with mouse and keyboard so maybe game pad controls were clunkier in comparison?
@stardust First definitely had the best feel imo
I’ve only played mass effect 1. I completed it around five years ago and absolutely loved it. I always have difficulty completing games, but for this one I read all the codex entries, completed all the quests I could find and really absorbed it all.
The opening is so memorable, it immediately gave me this epic sense of scale and importance and this lasted throughout the game.
I’m thinking of maybe playing it again as femshep and then continuing on with 2 and 3, although I’m not sure if it will match my original experience.
Femshep is the best way to play, the voice acting is so good!
If it weren’t for the last season of Game of Thrones, the last 35 minutes of Mass Effect 3 would still be #1 on my list of “fastest ways to rapidly obliterate everything your fans love, retroactively, forever.” Somehow the Star Wars Prequels are #3.
I remember being confused by the ending but tbh never to the extent it ruined the rest of the franchise retroactively. Not even Andromeda managed to so that! I still have fond memories of ME and I’m constantly tempted to replay it with the legendary edition, if only I had the time.
If you feel that way about the prequels, just wait until you see the sequel trilogy.
The problems with ME3 go deeper than the ending. Most just seem to let it all slide though for some reason.
Related: if you’re playing through from 1-3, maybe see if there are any “Indoctrination Theory” mods.
I enjoy the mystery around the galaxy in ME1. I enjoy the interactions in ME2 the most. However it’s a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE sequel. ME3… Honestly It’s disappointing compared to what came before, however the multiplayer was some of the best fun I ever had. Then they come out with Andromeda which has some weird retcons or interference with ME3s lore which boggles my mind. Pick a lane Bioware!
Honestly I’d reccomend the original trilogy. After more than 10 years I have learned that if you are super into ME then its best off not digging too deep if you enjoy it! I dont even go into detail pointing out the problems anymore as I dont want to spoil anyones fun! lol
ME3 was an amazing game up until the last ten minutes
I acutually have many problems with ME3. Some are little things and some are big things. Like I’m not a fan of the click npc and stand around or run in circles while they all talk to each other thing personally. Im much more into the whole chatting thing via the dialogue wheel. (But that’s just a preference. I also wish they had kept Mordins original VA)
Most problems in ME3 can be boiled down to a poor framework left in ME2. ME3 starts with you under house arrest after a bit of a time skip. So you are instantly dropped off into a situation that you dont really know whats going on with people around you that you have relationships with that you dont really know. Then instantly its all “we need to save earth”… because reasons… like I get it… saving Earth is important… but it’s mostly marketting. “Take Back Earth!”. Earth isn’t important when it comes to stopping the reapers. Then you have to get to mars because the Prothean Archives are bigger than originally thought (because reasons) and they think there are some plans for a superweapon left by the protehans (maybe?). It’s an asspull. The entire crucible thing is just thrown in there because they had nothing set up from the previous games. Don’t get me wrong, the writers did great considering they had written themselves into a corner, but it’s a hell of a lot worse than it could have been.
The Mass Effect Trilogy will always be known to me as a trilogy that only scratched it’s potential. I eagerly wait a remake of the series with a lot of these problems ironed out.
Can it wait a moment? I’m in the middle of some calibrations.
Garrus is bae and both Sheps are awesome. I regret not leaving Ash behind.
Mass effect 2 is one of the few 10/10 games ever for me. Playing vanguard there was just so fun in every way. The first game has some weird mechanics and the third is ruined, it was a single player game that required online play to unlock all endings (the readiness system), day one DLC. Terrible story too, after all the build up
Truly once a company creates an mmo it becomes a cancer that spreads and is forced everywhere.
I had never played any Mass Effect games before playing Outer Worlds. I loved the companion aspect of that game, but it was a pretty short, small game. So when I played Mass Effect, I was blown away. I don’t have the same complaints people had for Mass Effect 3, because my experience was with the legendary edition. Yeah, the 2000 Space Odyssey ending was weird but it didn’t ruin the whole trilogy. I’m now playing Andromeda and sadly not enjoying the companions as much. Hopefully that changes as I progress through the game.
So many story telling memories. ME is still a treasure to me despite its challenges and missteps. ME2 is among my favorite game of all time, right behind Dragon Age: Origins.
But ME3 has a scene that was so well executed that I don’t think anything has ever topped it, for me, in video gaming storytelling. From his decision to rectify what he now believes is a past wrong, do it alone, to his final remark about seashells.
It, to me, is extremely emotional and in the best way that a good story can be.
I consider myself a pretty big science fiction fan. I’ve read a ton of science fiction novels, both old and new. I enjoy Star Trek. Love Star Wars. I like a lot of science-fiction themed video games, like Zone of the Enders, the original Bioshock, Borderlands, Prey (both the original and remake), Halo, Metroid, Half-Life, Fallout, etc.
I utterly loathe Mass Effect. I consider it one of the worst pieces of science-fiction ever created. I consider the overly sleek aesthetic of everything, from the ships, to the weapons, to the armor hideous. I consider the characters underwritten. The political entity that runs the galaxy is an uninteresting and derivative bureaucracy. The conflict between the various member races and their respective histories are far more interesting than the looming conflicts of the giant undead space robots looking to destroy the galaxy. And as a game, the gameplay is repetitive and uninteresting. Many of the enemies eventually just become damage soaks. The weapons and abilities are generally forgettable. I don’t think I’ve ever had less mentally impactful combat in a game before (as a note, I consider this a general issue with third-person shooters). And the inventory management in the first game was painfully terrible. I remember getting to the end of the game and having to spend an hour to manage my fucking inventory right before the last fight because I literally ran out of space and at a certain point all the crap you’ve collected just becomes worthless and pointless to have.
I played the first two games. I hated the first one when it came out and still hated it when I revisited it years later. I did like the incredibly janky Mass Mobile, as it was so poorly implemented that it was hilarious to watch it bounce off of random pieces of landscape like it was made of rubber. The second game I also really disliked because of the bifurcated Paragon and Renegade oppositional morality system that seemed really popular with that era of RPGs. And I didn’t even bother with the third. The games are just dull and frustrating, and I’ve never understood the love people have for them.
Funny, I feel the same way about Fallout and The Witcher. Just… don’t get the appeal. As always, to each their own. Hence why I generally try to avoid yucking other people’s yums.
If anyone enjoys the game, that’s great. Nothing I say should take away someone else’s fun, but from my perspective, if you let another person’s negative perception of something you enjoy diminish your enjoyment of that thing, the only one who has “yucked your yum” is yourself.
Ahh yes, the old “sticks and stones” defense that completely ignores human nature and basic decency. I use the same logic when I tell other people their babies are ugly. “Look, if you ask me your kid is an eyesore but it’s just my opinion so I don’t know why you’re so mad right now…”
I’m emotionally incapable of accepting that other people dislike things I enjoy and I perceive their criticism of those things as personal attacks. When they tell me that this is a personal problem that I have and that I should learn to accept that people are complicated and that enjoying something someone else does not is perfectly valid and shouldn’t impact my sense of self-worth, I piss and shit myself and tell them that they’re calling my baby ugly. Because that’s how I think of the mindless entertainment I consume: as the closest thing I’ll ever have to children.
Fascinating. Thank you for sharing.
Even though I agree with you and feel that you did nothing wrong with your original comment, I believe that there are less combative ways to point this out.
That’s fair. I’ll admit that I have a problem with getting overly mad at people for making stupid, accusatory comments that actively misrepresent what I say for their own benefit. I mean, they made a dumb comment and I can, and should, just ignore it. But I also have a difficult time letting things like that go and it’s something I should try to be better about.
I think they are in their right to give their opinion on something no? Telling someone that their kid is ugly is such a wrong comparison to make. You’re directly offending them as it is their child, plus talking about something that neither parent nor child can do anything about (their looks).
I love talking to people who despise stuff I adore, this can give very interesting conversations. It also broadens my perspective on things. I love Mass Effect and still found the original comment very interesting.
You’re not saying the other person is wrong to love it, you’re just saying that you yourself hate it. I think this is an important distinction to make? Especially on a discussion thread, it would be rather boring to only hear the same voice?
Please correct me if I’m wrong, we’re all learning.
It’s all about tone. The original comment was incredibly combative and hyperbolic (“I utterly loathe Mass Effect. I consider it one of the worst pieces of science-fiction ever created.”) so much so that it would easily be mistaken for flamebait given the thread was likely to attract fans of the series.
It certainly didn’t strike me as the start of an open-minded conversation.
But in hindsight I should’ve just downvoted and moved on rather than commenting as I did, so that’s on me.
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I’ve never understood the love people have for them.
The sci fi space opera RPG well is running dry and has been for decades last I checked. Though I’d love some recomendations.
In terms of AAA video games, I can’t help you. I really like Becky Chambers novels, though. Lots of people talking about their feelings in a space opera setting. Big emphasis on character development. These are things I enjoy. The ball numbing action violence of your typical mass-media space opera stuff? Much less so.
I’m in this mind set.
I really didn’t get it when I visited a planet, then the next…then the next and they (collection missions??? absolutely forgettable) seemed very monotonous.
I did like the robots/bad guys who spoke in a blur of noise, and thought the way the wepons worked (using the “mass effect”) was interesting…but…that was about it.
literally everything else was forgettable and…meh… which is a shame for me because I really wanted to like it.
Mass Effect 2 and 3 are up there with some of the best shooters I’ve played. It’s just so smooth. And the weight/CDR system is incredibly simple yet impactful. I’ve played through 3 several times. Yes, the story beats weren’t always great. Still fun.
EDIT: Since we’re posting favorite builds: Sentinel gang. What’s that, I have access to literally everything you need to beat any enemy? Yes please.
I liked Mass Effect 1 a lot, thought 2 was alright, and liked a lot of 3 but hated the movement and journal system
Favourite game - 1, it was the first one I played and the one I’m most familiar with.
Least is 3, it was the first game I encountered with day 1 dlc, so didn’t get any. Last ME game I bought too, Jokes on me I guess because I got the remaster instead.
I enjoyed KOTOR/II before it and I was hoping for more of the same, more HK-47 really. No HK but the play is familiar: go to a planet do some quests, X person wants to talk and on to the next.
Femshep is the only shep for me.
Gonna be playing this eventually. Bought the full series in the winter, and it’s on my shortlist.
Anyone got mod recommendations?
I am the kind of person that always installs tons of mods to everything.
With ME though, especially on the first playthrough - just go in vanilla. Maybe the remastered thing for ME1.
Agreed. First playthrough should 100% be vanilla. I do mod a few things on subsequent playthroughs though. Personally I like to give myself infinite paragon/renegade (through a save editor), because I like being able pick a renegade option when I think my Shepard would do that, without having to worry about maxing my paragon for important choices. I also prefer playing biotic classes because they’re more fun, but want a sniper rifle, so I mess with the save to give sniper rifle competency to my class in ME1. Finally I’m trying the happy ending mod this playthrough to see if I like it.
It’s honestly fine vanilla, but quality of life wise for ME1, I liked the mod that gave the mako (ground vehicle) infinite boost, and infinite sprinting for all 3.
There’s really just a metric ton. I found this video that has a way to install a bunch at once, but just keep in mind there may be some other mod out there you’d like too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eqg9fDClCM
I took a look at Nexus a while ago, and it was overwhelming! You can tell how loved a game is by the number of mods.
It really is that way! I’ve been telling myself it’s time for another LE playthrough for a year now but I’ll say it again. A modded playthrough is on my LIST! I love the Expanded Galaxy Mod with all my beating heart =)
Did you buy the original games or the legendary edition? I played ME1 vanilla and enjoyed it a lot!
The LE.
