Is Mass Effect 2 worth $5?

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:45 pm

Saw it on a Steam sale, and the premise intrigues me, but I gather that if you've played one Bioware game (so far as the storyline is concerned) you've played them all.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:47 pm

I enjoyed Mass Effect 2, but Mass Effect 1 was better solely because of Mako planet exploring. I would say $5 is ok.

Edit: You've also got 3 hours left to buy it at that price according to the Steam Sale Countdown Clock.

Edit: Edit: It's showing up as $12.49 for me!

Edit MK3: Mass Effect 1 is on sale for $5, not 2. In which case then yes, yes indeed buy it for $5. So much Mako exploring.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:31 pm

Assuming you still haven't made up your mind, ME 1 is not a very good RPG nor a very good shooter, but it is (was) quite unique and enjoyable to go through. The writing's not out of this world but the story makes a decent amount of sense. As far as entertainment goes, it's a fair bit above those insufferable Syfy channel shows. Also, excellent ost. Definetly worth 5$.

2, on the other hand is a much better shooter, but a much worse everything else. What story/plot there was is completely and mercilessly murdered about 5 minutes in, the interplay with companions is lower-tier mexican telenovela affair, what little RPG there was is gone, planet scanning is as much fun as watching paint dry and the ending manages to be even more ridiculous than anything up to that point, and that's saying something. 5$, yeah sure, but 13$? Eh.... It's bubblegum entertainment, so if that's what you want, then sure, it's worth 2 movie tickets, I suppose it'll last you longer than 2 average films.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:40 pm

It's official. Koc has been killed in an egyptian riot and been replaced by a masochist. We shall weep.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:47 pm

Shows up at $4.99 for the normal and $7.29 for the deluxe on my end.

Something in my gut tells me I'd be happier with the $5.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 4:59 pm

It's official. Koc has been killed in an egyptian riot and been replaced by a masochist. We shall weep.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:01 pm

IMHO, Mako exploring would have been a great deal more entertaining had the planets in ME1 had logical design rather than near-random heightmapping. The spikes in terrain are a serious pain in the ass when the sole interest is getting to mineral deposits.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:11 pm

Exactly. The controls are fine, the section breaks up the repetitive talk-shoot pace (or should I say talk-[elevator]-shoot pace), but why in the hell have I got do drive around in the most obnoxiously hilly square kilometer of an otherwise enormous planet? Don't they have non-action heroes to do this kinda prospecting?

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 2:56 am

Yes I would go for the Xbox 360 version it's the only game I've ever gotten all the achievements for. Even though Mass Effect 3 looks kinda stupid to me they seem to put a heavy emphasis on importing characters from previous games so if you plan on playing the 3rd go for it. What's the worse that will happen if you hate the game you know you'll punch the wall because you couldn't buy a pack of cigarettes instead.

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:17 am

I liked ME2 quite a bit, I thought it had a cool set up in which its like this "hey this game your going to recruit a bunch of bad ass negr0s to fight some alien dudes."

The bad stuff was that they completely eliminated any aspect of items or weapons. You don't have to worry about really anything weapon wise because they will automatically equip the best one and none of them have stats, you just assume what you have is the best weapon. I think the only real decision you have is what weapons you want to take like a rocket launcher or shot gun but your unlikely to change it much.

Mako missions were shit in ME1 and anyone who thinks they were good are freakin idiots. None of the missions were anything but "drive here kill some dudes", that's literally the amount of description they give.

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 6:20 am

Like Dragon Age (especially 2) - both Mass Effects are testament to Bioware's increasingly lackadaisical approach to game design. They are quite aware that they can not only get away with things like banal, often outright recycled characterisation and narrative, puerile, stiflingly linear writing, pseudo-consequentialism ; blatant cut and paste world building and tedious gameplay elements, they are mostly lauded for it. While this phenomenon is hardly unique to Bioware, they are a prominent and egregious example of this design philosophy.

I could point you to a variety of illuminating topics and posts from their social network, contributed by both writers/developers and their disquieting sycophants - but that would be like seeking a selection of specific turds in a sewage treatment facility.

So . . . go ahead if you haven't any better prospects available. Might I suggest nailing your scrotum to the underside of a cable car instead ? icon_drunk

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 6:39 am

I never said Mako missions were any good. But Mako exploring, now that was the highlight of the game. Physics breaking jumps off of the top of mountains clear across the map...that was what Mass Effect was really all about.

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:10 am

That's what I used to do until my scrotum tore off.

It was no fault of the cable car. My sack was bitten off by a badger.

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:39 am

You are not funny.

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:55 am

do you do this at social gatherings as well when someone tells a joke?

also, talk about a pot burning a cross on a front yard

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:27 am

Since Stalagmite's MO is making negative comments to get a reaction, demonstrating all the wit of a schoolyard bully, I'd be convinced he enjoyed the joke if not for the fact most Australians don't understand humor.

Plus I'd bet he's upset that the banter was part of an exchange with his arch-nemesis Blargh icon_drunk

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:52 pm

I think our friend with the Deus Ex "trailer" said it best. icon_drunk

Also, on the subject of good OSTs, the indie bundle people are selling a bunch of indie game OSTs on the occasion of this negro weekend thingy you americans have. Dunno about the rest of them but the VVVVVV soundtrack alone is well worth the 1$ minimum.