Comments on: Dating Agency: Mass Effect & Dead Space

By: Alarik

Alarik — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:30:19 +0000

Okami: Graphics are FUGLY on PC as well.

By: Vexor

Vexor — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:50:14 +0000

I thought Mass Effect was excellent. It had very few issues in my opinion (namely the Mako). The story is by far the reason to play this game. With points in charm/intimidate you can witness some really surprising “oh snap” moments. As far as targeting and the combat I enjoyed it. One point that no one seems to mention is once you beat the game you can use that same character to play through again (with all of your equipment and money intact).

By: Okami

Okami — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:08:52 +0000

@Joe: So I’m not the only one who was underwhelmed by Jade Empire? Seriously, I’ll never understand what all the hype was about. The graphics were fugly (at least on Xbox), the combat system was kinda nice, but it wasn’t challenging in the least and 90% of all fighting styles were completely obsolete…

By: Stromko

Stromko — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:33:02 +0000

Combat in Mass Effect was a bit less frustrating if you put points into the appropriate weapon skills of your comrades, and also gave damage-over-time upgrades to their guns. This makes them substantially less useless. It seems to me they both fired more frequently and accurately with greater skill, and radiation or poison rounds meant even with infrequent shots they’d rack up kills.

I felt a lot of pride the first time I saw Wrex and that scottish-sounding chick annihilate an enemy squad before I could even do anything. Which might be why the standard loadout makes them so useless, just to make sure shooter fans feel important.

Also, you can move your cursor around while ‘paused’ in the power-usage menu. Not having to target these in real-time makes it a lot easier. It’s almost an exploit since you can pause it like so and zero-in on your targets at your leisure, but I think it’s just a hidden accessability feature for those who want to play Bioware as an RPG first, FPS second. You still need to be able to tolerate action games to get through these combat scenes though.

It’s definitely got a lot of hack-and-slash, but I felt it did a good job of making each encounter significant and reasonable, and I don’t recall any outstaying their welcome. (Though I’ve played a lot of shooters in my day)

I don’t remember much about it right now because I’m trying to forget everything about it, just so I can play it again later and it’ll feel fresh. I know in my first 12 hours with it a few key rough patches had me swearing, but eventually I got used to its idosyncrasies and it was wonderful after that. My most worthwhile purchase for all of last year I’d say, even though I could nitpick the hell out of it if I wanted to.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:33:43 +0000

So are the staggered release dates to encourage piracy or something?

(not that I would, just saying..)

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:53:12 +0000

I’m not sure whether to look forward to this or not! Reason being, I really want to believe in Bioware. But Jade Empire just annoyed the hell out of me, plot- and character-wise. I’m hoping that the change in genre comes with an improvement in the writing, but maybe that’s optimistic.

… Seriously. I could go on and on about how Jade Empire made me want to hurl my guts. But that would be bad manners.

By: Thiefsie

Thiefsie — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:32:52 +0000

Mass Effect was all over the place… I too can not wait to discuss it on RPS

By: James T

James T — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:17:35 +0000

Mass Effect coming to the PC makes me very happy I didn’t buy a 360 solely to play it.

I wish I were more confident I could say the same about Streetfighter IV…

By: The_B

The_B — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:02:01 +0000

I have nothing against the 360, and have a number of 360 owning friends.

I only know one of them that has Mass Effect.

By: Stick

Stick — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:40:30 +0000

“I actually wonder how well [Mass Effect] will sell on the PC given that pretty much everyone bar the die hard PC hold outs has played it already.” – Taxman

Well, there’s me. Couldn’t afford to get a 360, has computer with decent hardware. 360s not rentable in town. Not sure if this is a unique condition. :)

“Anyone know if they’ve released minimum/recommended specs for Mass Effect on the PC yet?” – Cyren

Checking Bioware forums, the latest news was on Feb 13. Chris Priestly saying pretty much “not sure yet, stay tuned”.

By: Stew

Stew — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:26:02 +0000

I’ve got a Wii. So all these popular games had better hit the PC, because otherwise I’m going to be buggered.

I’ll be over here, getting seven shades knocked out of me by my loving girlfriend. The joys of Wii Sports Boxing.

By: Nimic

Nimic — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:07:29 +0000

I refuse to play any other console than the Playstation 2 my cousin (who I live with) has, with three games. Guitar Hero 3, Tekken 5, Final Fantasy… X-something.