Mass Effect 3

[Vector]

Hands-on with ME3. Spoiler alert: it's more of a shooter than ever. But is that a bad thing?
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1172200p1.html

It all felt like a different game, like a different series even. Where Mass Effect 2 felt like a slightly tighter Mass Effect combat-wise, Mass Effect 3 is in an entirely different space. The familiar elements that need to be there are intact - powers and talents are still in the same menu wheel structure, and weapon types remain unchanged. You're not going to select an assault rifle and be shocked by its looks. But you will be taken aback by how well it works. I was. And now the wait to play Mass Effect 3 until 2012 is that much harder.

[Darkmoon]

Hmmm. I guess it's gonna depend on exactly what they're doing - ME2 was fairly shooterish, and about as Shooter as I tend to enjoy. Short action scenes where you don't need hair trigger reflexes and eagle eyes to prevail. If it's more than that I may have an issue. Ah well. We shall see. Still gonna buy it.

[Smiley]

Enetirnel got me to play ME2 for my PS3. I love it and I'm currently at the point where I have all my crew. Cannot wait to play the third and even mooch Ene for a play through of the first game on her laptop.

[Enetirnel]

Enetirnel got me to play ME2 for my PS3. I love it and I'm currently at the point where I have all my crew. Cannot wait to play the third and even mooch Ene for a play through of the first game on her laptop.

Mooch, it, I was under the impression that I was going to make you play it regardless.

About the ME3 news, I hope it isn't much more of a shooter than ME2 and that we still have a bit of the RPG elements outside of the aforementioned weapon customization. I would like a return of some of the exploration missions, to an extent as I enjoyed the Mako missions and the Firewalker DLC.

Other than that, DM has more or less said what I feel about the shooter aspect.

[Member_of_STARS]

Mooch, it, I was under the impression that I was going to make you play it regardless.

About the ME3 news, I hope it isn't much more of a shooter than ME2 and that we still have a bit of the RPG elements outside of the aforementioned weapon customization. I would like a return of some of the exploration missions, to an extent as I enjoyed the Mako missions and the Firewalker DLC.

Other than that, DM has more or less said what I feel about the shooter aspect.

ME3 being a lot more of a shooter is not a bad thing if it doesn't mean it's going to be less of an RPG. If that isn't the case, then... oh well.

[Darkmoon]

It depends. As I said, I'm crap at shooter games, and I didn't get into Mass Effect for the CoD style gameplay. I'll be very disappointed if it turns out to be a space themed squad based shooter (not that I expect BioWare to do that, but stupid decisions get made every day). I'm pretty sure it'll just be a nicer version of ME2's gameplay though. I would actually like some of the RPG elements brought back into ME3 as ME2 felt a little bare bones compared to the first game, but that's just a vague hope. ME2 was a superior game.

[Member_of_STARS]

It depends. As I said, I'm crap at shooter games, and I didn't get into Mass Effect for the CoD style gameplay. I'll be very disappointed if it turns out to be a space themed squad based shooter (not that I expect BioWare to do that, but stupid decisions get made every day). I'm pretty sure it'll just be a nicer version of ME2's gameplay though. I would actually like some of the RPG elements brought back into ME3 as ME2 felt a little bare bones compared to the first game, but that's just a vague hope. ME2 was a superior game.

I don't think ME2 was a superior game, because it ditched the concept of RPG-Action mix, which ME1 did almost perfectly. Plus, tactical options in taking out enemies were rather limited, game was mostly run and blast/gun/usemagic. A lot of the gameplay was simplified and since the enemies were a lot less challenging (lack of Colossuses as standard enemies, for example, less agressive and less able Krogan). I did like a lot of aspects, but I didn't like the change in the fundamentals.

That being said, that's what I was talking about. If you don't sacrifice one aspect for another, but enhance both, then it's a win-win. I do sympathize with you on the whole ME turning into COD thing, unfortunately for you, we have less and less games where tactics over reflexes becomes a viable and actually a fun choice, not something which you do because of a few stupid .JPEG medals and trophies.

Because we all know that squad based shooters are usually babysitting games.

[Darkmoon]

I meant compared to most of the other games released that year. ME2 was better than a lot of those. I admit, I prefer playing 1. Creating a weapon can constantly fire hideous rounds without over heating is fun and destroying.

And honestly, I just don't like shooters. I very rarely play them - Bioshock 2 would have been the last one. But that's just me.

[Member_of_STARS]

I meant compared to most of the other games released that year. ME2 was better than a lot of those. I admit, I prefer playing 1. Creating a weapon can constantly fire hideous rounds without over heating is fun and destroying.

And honestly, I just don't like shooters. I very rarely play them - Bioshock 2 would have been the last one. But that's just me.

That's only because you haven't played the good ones, my friend.

[Shadow Stalker]

Sometimes when I play Mass Effect 2, there's been one thing on my mind that just bugs me. When they made Mass Effect 2 available for release for the PS3, why didn't they also release the first Mass Effect on the PS3 as well?

I just think it's a bit silly of them to release the second Mass Effect game for the PS3, but not the first one. I just believe that it isn't fair for the PS3 gamers that they can't own the entire Mass Effect trilogy (once Mass Effect 3 gets released that is...) because the first Mass Effect game isn't available on the PS3.

I understand that they may not be able to do anything about it now, since the development team have most likely got their hands full with making Mass Effect 3 right now, but I just thought I'd just speak my mind on something regarding the series that just bothers me.

[Darkmoon]

I believe there was some legal mumbo jumbo going on about it, Microsoft had something to do with the first game' as they were the publisher.

And it used to happen in the UK all the time...we got Parasite Eve II but not the first one, and getting a copy over here is like owning gold dust. I keep my gold dus- I mean discs very carefully.

[Shadow Stalker]

I believe there was some legal mumbo jumbo going on about it, Microsoft had something to do with the first game' as they were the publisher.

I've always thought that this was a possible reason why the first Mass Effect game hasn't got a PS3 port as well.

[Mr. Spencer]

And it used to happen in the UK all the time...we got Parasite Eve II but not the first one, and getting a copy over here is like owning gold dust. I keep my gold dus- I mean discs very carefully.

Don't forget Xenosaga. They gave us Part II but not Part I.

Baffling.

[Darkmoon]

Square just hates us.

[Mr. Spencer]

Wasn't it Namco who did Xenosaga?

[Darkmoon]

Yeah, I was thinking Xenogears. My bad.

[Mr. Spencer]

Which I still need to play, funnily enough.

[Dracarys]

I've recently played through Mass Effect 1, and now I'm playing Mass Effect 2. I have to say the interactive comic the PS3 got to fill in the stuff from ME1 was complete crap.

The only choices you make are who if anyone you shag, who you decide to save out of Kaiden and Ashely, Wrexs fate, councils fate and who is Earths rep on the council. Oh and the Rachni queen fate. The other story mission with the plant thing gets nothing to affect ME2, there is no mention of the Geth at all either which is quite baffling.


I'm not sure what game I like better, ME1 the better RPG for sure but the combat was always over so fast and the mako sections sucked majorly. ME2 is really dumbed down in the RPG parts but the battles are actually involving, if a bit easy when you know what you're doing.


I'd like them to bring back the accuracy penalties of ME1 when firing, weapons mods from ME1, costume mods of ME2 and combat of ME2. And stats for everything, ME2 gives you no clue what weapons are better.

Oh, and some lesbian romance options because all the men in this series are boring or ugly arse aliens, gimme someone like Alistar in Dragon Age or gimme lesbian options. The blue thing does not count. Making Kelly a main character would work.

[Zombie Fred]

Is your galaxy co-op body ready?

4 player co-op multiplayer

Join your friends in the all-out galactic war to take Earth back. The universe of Mass Effect expands with the addition of new co-op multiplayer missions, playable over Xbox Live, PSN and PC internet. Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine their weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as they fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control. Success in multi-player will have a direct impact on the outcome of the single player campaign, giving players an alternative method of achieving ultimate victory against the greatest threat mankind – and the entire galaxy – has ever faced.

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War

As a bonus to the campaign, BioWare is introducing the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, a new way for players to manage and experience the galactic war from multiple fronts, including a new 4-player co-op mode. The key to saving the galaxy is the “Galactic Readiness” level, measured by Commander Shepard’s ability to apply
every possible asset – people, weapons, resources, armies, fleets – in the final battle against the Reapers. Players can impact their game’s Galactic Readiness level in multiple ways via the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, including multiplayer. Other platforms and interfaces will be announced in the coming months. It is important to note that the system is entirely optional and just another way players can have control over your game experience – it is still possible to achieve the optimal, complete ending of the game in Mass Effect 3 through single-player alone.

Further information here, via gaf

Sounds neat as an optional route for the campaign, and to those who want to try other things.

[Dracarys]

I read the rumour last week. I was hoping 3 players could each pick one of the main characters and form a squad.

"Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad"

Sounds like "Generic nobodies" to me.