"Mass Effect 2" Talkback(Spoilers)

[mdo7]

EA may own the ip, but Microsoft mostly likely still has the publishing rights to Mass Effect 1. I highly doubt Microsoft would come out with a statement that strong if they did not have publishing rights for the first game locked up.

Yes but let's not forget Microsoft publish Ninja Gaiden 2 yet it got ported to the PS3 as Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. So I still think there maybe a chance that Mass Effect 1 could appear on the PS3 it still early but there could be a 50/50 chance for this to happen.

 

[TacoHunter]

EA may own the ip, but Microsoft mostly likely still has the publishing rights to Mass Effect 1. I highly doubt Microsoft would come out with a statement that strong if they did not have publishing rights for the first game locked up.

They don't. If you look at all new copies of Mass Effect, lets say, the one on Steam, you'll notice that the publisher is EA, not Microsoft. Microsoft seems to have only published the XB360 version.

 

[RockmanDash]

Isn't kind of awkward to throw Mass effect 2 on the ps3 though? Kind of ruins the feel of "making your own choices from the previous game affecting what's happening now in Mass effect 2". :/

 

[Juu-kuchi]

Isn't kind of awkward to throw Mass effect 2 on the ps3 though? Kind of ruins the feel of "making your own choices from the previous game affecting what's happening now in Mass effect 2". :/

Exactly why I'm not going to touch the darn thing. I'll stick with the 360 thank you very much and live with the decisions I've made there.

 

[spidl]

Yes but let's not forget Microsoft publish Ninja Gaiden 2 yet it got ported to the PS3 as Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. So I still think there maybe a chance that Mass Effect 1 could appear on the PS3 it still early but there could be a 50/50 chance for this to happen.

Microsoft was not the Publisher for Ninja Gaiden. Techmo was the publisher.

 

[spidl]

Isn't kind of awkward to throw Mass effect 2 on the ps3 though? Kind of ruins the feel of "making your own choices from the previous game affecting what's happening now in Mass effect 2". :/

Your choices from two will still go in to the choices for 3. You might not get the full experience, but you still get something.

 

[spidl]

They don't. If you look at all new copies of Mass Effect, lets say, the one on Steam, you'll notice that the publisher is EA, not Microsoft. Microsoft seems to have only published the XB360 version.

Just because EA published the PC version does not mean Microsoft still does not have exclusive publishing rights for the consoles.

 

[mdo7]

Microsoft was not the Publisher for Ninja Gaiden. Techmo was the publisher.

Yes for the series, but for the xbox 360 version of Ninja Gaiden 2, it was published by Microsoft. You can look it up for yourself. Even Gamefly has labeled Ninja Gaiden 2 publisher as Microsoft, even Wikipedia said this:

It was developed by Team Ninja and published by Microsoft Game Studios, marking the first time a Team Ninja developed game was not published by Tecmo.

Yet it somehow found it's way to the PS3 as Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. So it's still possible we could maybe see Mass Effect 1 go to the PS3, but it too soon to tell, as I said we have a 50/50 chance for this to happen.

 

[DarkAngel]

I started playing ME2 recently, and wanted to post some initial thoughts on it:

So far, I'm liking it a lot. The game looks great and the action feels much more fluid. I really like what they did with the classes. In the first game, I didn't feel much incentive to try all the different classes. I think I played just two, soldier and vanguard. But I'm very intrigued by the classes in ME2 and what seems like a lot of variance in how the combat will play out between them. I also love the new Normandy. Giving it greater size is nice, but I especially like the increased interactivity. Things like the captain's cabin, the different uniforms and armor adjustments, the research station, personal console for messages, and the addition of the yeoman add an interesting feel and ship that feels more alive. It feels different with a new crew being assembled, and yet it also feels familiar with the similar deck layouts and the presence of Joker, Dr. Chakwas, and, of course, Shepard.

The story hook is great, too. What a great move to place Shepard under Cerberus. I'm guessing most who played the first game developed a strong negative opinion of the black ops group, so what they've done here forces us to confront those opinions and look at them from a different vantage point. Already, I'm finding myself much less critical of them. The Illusive Man also adds some more depth to Cerberus and I really like the staging of his meetings with Shepard.

Can't wait to continue playing.

 

[Mr. Obsession]

Sorry, to quote something old, but the answer is actually available now.

Isn't kind of awkward to throw Mass effect 2 on the ps3 though? Kind of ruins the feel of "making your own choices from the previous game affecting what's happening now in Mass effect 2". :/

Mass Effect Genesis. A collaboration project with Dark Horse that lets players follow the story of ME1 via an interactive comic and make the major decisions that carry over to ME2. It will come packaged with the PS3 version and will be available for 360 and PC later. Sure it wouldn't be as much fun as actually playing the first game, but at least PS3 players won't be completely shafted.

Also, if anyone hasn't been following Cerberus Daily News (there's some entertaining stuff in there) they've revealed that more ME2 DLC is coming.

The Cerberus Daily News will begin a hiatus on January 24th, finishing its run of one full year. Daily postings will cease except for three weeks in 2011: a week of posts will precede a downloadable content release, and two more weeks will lead up to the release of Mass Effect 3.

 

[Daxdiv]

A weeks of post leading up to the DLC eh? Two weeks towards ME3 eh? I hope the DLC brings out the same fun and enjoyment that Lair of the Shadow Broker cranked out. That to me was the best DLC for Mass Effect 2 and well worth the price of admission. Shame about the end of the Cerberus News, I thought that was a nice feature once I noticed that the story changed daily.

 

[mdo7]

I played the demo of Mass Effect 2 for my PS3, that game is amazing from playing the demo . Now I know why it's a game of the year contender.

 

[Scirel]

I find it funny how the PS3 people will essentially be experiencing the whole trilogy in the span of one year, while those from the Xbox side will have been waiting since 08. XD

It'll be interesting to see this topic active again, nevertheless. Still is a huge ripoff that they get all the DLC for free.

 

[Mynd Hed]

Whatever, PS3 owners had to wait an entire year (more than two if you count from when the first ME was released) to play the game that Xbox owners and PC gamers have been raving about. I won't begrudge them the bone Bioware is throwing them. I'll be very surprised if there isn't a GotY edition for the Xbox that packages in all the DLC anyway.

 

[DarkAngel]

I won't begrudge them the bone Bioware is throwing them. I'll be very surprised if there isn't a GotY edition for the Xbox that packages in all the DLC anyway.

That's what I was planning on waiting for. But then I was able to grab the game for about $12 from walmart.com, and purchased some of the DLC for 200 MS points each when they had that sale in late December. Worked out well.

I'm definitely loving the game. Planning on checking out some of the novels, too.

 

[GWOtaku]

Just beat Mass Effect 2 with a Paragon Female Shepard (Jennifer Hale's voice acting = great in this). Awesome ending, even if the final boss was a tad too easy on normal difficulty. Of course it helps that right at the start I nuked it with the Cain, which I saved just for that occasion. It was one hell of an epic bang. Must've taken 70% health off of the thing right there!

In the end, I decided to destroy the Collector Base since I never trusted the Illusive Man. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, but when "my enemy" goes away...well, you've got a human supremacist with what's probably the most advanced facility in the universe. Doesn't help that Shepard's ties to Cerberus made it very hard for her to get the trust of the Council, of aliens in general, and other humans for that matter. I'd rather have the galaxy on my side than Cerberus in Mass Effect 3.

That said, who knows how the Collector Base decision will impact the game.....also worried that EDI might be a chekov's gun waiting to go off despite the AI being more or less in my corner. I remember what it told me about it having protocols & failsafes it isn't even aware of.....

For now though, very satisfied. Blew up lots of stuff, kept my team alive, watched Miranda go from a Cerberus flunkie to agreeing with me. Told the Illusive Man to stay out of my way at the end. Will be interested to see what role he plays next time.

As usual, Bioware did a great job with characterization. I favor Garrus, Miranda and Tali so hopefully they do come back. Legion's also an interesting case, especially since I chose to rewrite the Geth to agree with his perspective and make that faction a lot stronger...seems to me that choice is potentially as consequential as the Rachni issue from the first game (I spared them).

Never got loyalty from Zaeed and Jack because my persuade scores were too low. Wouldn't let Zaeed be an idiot and couldn't get Jack on my side again after siding with Miranda. But since I like neither very much I'm not too bothered. Especially Zaeed, I almost left that bastard behind to burn. Almost.

Must say that I'm curious how Mass Effect 3 will handle squad members. Do you keep your crew, does it compensate if most of them die, will Ashley/Kaiden come back (I sacrificed Kaiden), are they going to recycle loyalty missions or think of a new mechanic since Shepard should have people willing to follow him/her into hell at this point?

The game seems to be a fine port on the PS3. Didn't really notice a difference from the 360 version, but the packaging of DLC and opportunity to make big Mass Effect 1 decisions should've been enough for anyone without grandiose promises about this being the definitive super special perfect version. All the talk about that and the Mass Effect 3 engine was a marketing ploy in my book. Unnecessary. The game stands on its own.

I may prefer Dragon Age 2 to this, but the Mass Effect series is definitely special in that it makes the player a participant in what really can be called an epic saga. Shepard does the impossible and yet the first two games are basically literal preparation for the big threat at the end. Also in the first Dragon Age, at least you're taking on the big bad against the odds with an army at your back. In Mass Effect 2, it's you and an elite squad against a horde of enslaved superpowered aliens. And unless you really screw up the game, Shepard wins and lives to tell about it!

 

[savedbythebell]

I think I'm the only person that didn't like ME 2....It's strange because I loved part 1

 

[TheGunheart]

The first was the worst gave I've ever played through, but I loved this one when I first played it as a Vanguard.

Replaying on a harder difficulty level as a Soldier...not so much. Too much hiding behind walls.

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

The first was the worst gave I've ever played through, but I loved this one when I first played it as a Vanguard.

Replaying on a harder difficulty level as a Soldier...not so much. Too much hiding behind walls.

Seriously? Worst game you've ever played? Are we perhaps indulging ourselves in a bit of hyperbole, here? It has its frustrations, but it's not garbage.

 

[Beat]

I can't say enough good things about this game, even if I did play 1 and 2 a while after the release of both. The characters, the action (Shooter gameplay > FFXIII's turn based battles), the setting, it was all this beautiful thing that was bought together in a way that felt organic, if not necessarily super-realistic. Getting actors like Martin Sheen to do the work didn't hurt either. A lot of the character development felt organic, and the choices you made actually involved some roleplaying. I will say I miss a lot of the weapon customization from 1 and I'm glad they're bringing back elements of that for Mass Effect 3. Also, I didn't care much for Miranda as a character, but I think that was kinda the point that she is loyal to an organization, an ideal, and a Martin Sheen that you disagree with and don't trust. (I have it a point I can import 3 with either a Tali romance or a Jack romance, but that's neither here nor there)

On to Dead Space, the other game my friend keeps recommending I play.