Mass Effect 3

[Opty]

Nice "teaser" write up in this month's issue of Game Informer. I'll spare you spoilers (not that they revealed too much) unless you want to know but don't want to go get the mag.

This IGN article gives a brief overview of the Game Informer article but leaves a lot out.

I'm so geeking out in anticipation for this game. Sucks that we have to wait another 7 or so months for it.

 

[AlexPiper]

Want.

WAAAAANT.

 

[efkelley]

Want? That's all?

FUCKING NEEEEED!!

Ahem. Not that I'm a Shepard fanboi or anything. (No, I don't own the armor.... but I'd like to. I also like to poke around in crates for spare credits.....)

 

[LOG]

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199562

 

[Ludicrum]

I'm a bit more cautious about this release. I'm a big fan of Mass Effect. A Commander Shepard statuette stands atop my Xbox 360, and I have a Saren Arterius and Captain Anderson lithograph hanging on my wall. Still, knowing Bioware's recent trends, I'm worried that Mass Effect 3 might turn into a Gears of War clone.

I'm still super excited for this game, I'm just hoping that it doesn't become the victim of Bioware "streamlining" a la Dragon Age 2.

 

[Opty]

This could either be one of the most epic games ever (if not THE most epic) or it could be a dismal failure. I doubt Casey Hudson would let it be the disappointment that was Dragon Age: Kirkwall...I mean, Dragon Age II...especially now that Bioware has the time to learn from that mistake (and hopefully will).

So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be the multiple geekgasm that I'm wanting it to be.

(I am disappointed that, apparently, the planned ME film will take place during the First Contact War rather than during the time of the Reapers).

 

[Zoombie]

Here's my thinking

ME2 was amazing and a half. Applying what they did to ME2 to DA2 was a mistake, because ME and DA are...different games that appeal to different things.

But that means that ME3 will most likely be amazing.

<fingers crossed>

 

[AlexPiper]

Ahem. Not that I'm a Shepard fanboi or anything. (No, I don't own the armor.... but I'd like to. I also like to poke around in crates for spare credits.....)

I have the N7 armor stripe hoodie, and the N7 windbreaker... among a depressing number of Mass Effect t-shirts gathered at PAX. (Yes, I am a fangirl.) It is a never-ending source of amusement to me the number of reactions I get to those.

When I went to Panera to work on my writing one day, I had the N7 hoodie on, and I hadn't thought about it. But as I go to the counter to pick up my soup and sandwich, the guy behind the counter gives me a look and remarks, "I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite soup joint on the Citadel!"

Another time, I went to the supermarket with the windbreaker on, and one of the cashiers remarks, "Ohmygod, WHERE did you get that jacket? Did you have to kill a Reaper to find one?"

 

[Zoombie]

I so far have had only ONE person comment on my N7 armor stripe hoodie.

 

[LOG]

(I am disappointed that, apparently, the planned ME film will take place during the First Contact War rather than during the time of the Reapers).

I'm not.

 

[efkelley]

When I went to Panera to work on my writing one day, I had the N7 hoodie on, and I hadn't thought about it. But as I go to the counter to pick up my soup and sandwich, the guy behind the counter gives me a look and remarks, "I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite soup joint on the Citadel!"

Absolutely brilliant.

 

[Opty]

When I went to Panera to work on my writing one day, I had the N7 hoodie on, and I hadn't thought about it. But as I go to the counter to pick up my soup and sandwich, the guy behind the counter gives me a look and remarks, "I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite soup joint on the Citadel!"

LOL! Nice!

I usually don't play as a renegade...I dunno, I just can't because I'm not a mean person...but I've been trying to select more renegade dialogue options because they're freaking hilarious.

Last playthrough, after I blew up the Collector Base and Illusive Man is bitching at me for it, I selected the renegade response and Shep said something like, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that last part. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line."

Hilarious!

 

[Ludicrum]

I susually don't play as a renegade...I dunno, I just can't because I'm not a mean person...but I've been trying to select more renegade dialogue options because they're freaking hilarious.

I play two Shepards, one male and one female. The male is a paragon, because that's my natural play style. I don't like playing "evil" characters and get more satisfaction from being a big goddam hero. My female, however, is a complete and total bitch. The renegade options are hilarious. I like how renegade isn't evil, but rather ruthlessly efficient ... and snarky.

I like the morality choices in Mass Effect because, unlike so many other games with a karma system, it doesn't always boil down to either being Gandhi or Hitler. I especially like the situations where the choices are more ambiguous, and the right call isn't clear cut ... at least until you make the call and get paragon or renegade points. Seriously, I think the moral choices in the game would have more meaning if they weren't labeled as the "paragon" choice or the "renegade" choice. Having them so labeled diminishes their impact.

 

[Zoombie]

Or if both choices gave renegade points :3

 

[AlexPiper]

I so far have had only ONE person comment on my N7 armor stripe hoodie.

Evidently, Seattle is better supplied with geeks than many cities. This may have something to do with having the Science Fiction Museum here. Or possibly it's just something in the water.

Mind you, I will be happy if my fish are dead in ME3.

Kelly is too creepy for me to trust her in my rooms to feed them, since I'm pretty sure she's collecting Shepard's hair or undergarments. And apparently, despite the fact that we can master interstellar travel, we cannot put the damn 'Feed Fish' button on a timer. So my TODO list ends up looking like:

Feed fish.
Investigate disappearance of colonists.
Feed fish.
Earn loyalty of every crew member.
Feed fish.
Strip mine half the known galaxy.
Feed fish.
Defeat Reaper, save everyone.
Celebratory sushi dinner.

 

[crunchyblanket]

Kelly is too creepy for me to trust her in my rooms to feed them, since I'm pretty sure she's collecting Shepard's hair or undergarments.

She blatantly has a Shepard shrine in her closet, with an effigy of Shepard crafted out of hair and dead fish.

I thought ME2 was a big improvement on the first game, although the cast was a little bit too extensive for comfort (too...much...choice) Still, as long as Garrus, Tali and Mordin return, my little fangirl heart can rest easy. (Jack would be cool too, but I don't hold out much hope)

 

[efkelley]

I'm an unabashed Zaeed fan. Metal dude is metal. Always have time for his stories. He shouldn't have been DLC. Goddam integral is what I'd call him. Or is he channeling through me?

Anyway, on the Renegade vs Paragon debate, I'd argue that the Mass Effect Universe just likes Shepard. If you're a complete bastard or a total badass, royal bitch or fucking knight in armor, the universe just loves everything you do. The writing makes no judgments. Go forth, and slay Reapers.

 

[crunchyblanket]

I love Zaeed because he basically has the same accent I do. And he's badass.

 

[AlexPiper]

Still, as long as Garrus, Tali and Mordin return, my little fangirl heart can rest easy. (Jack would be cool too, but I don't hold out much hope)

I WANT KAIDEN BACK. (Luckily, I'm informed that I get my wish.)

I would be sad without Mordin, though. His dialogue options are HILARIOUS, especially when you find out he used to be in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan, and get him to do his own version of Modern Major-General.

o/` I am the very model of a scientist Salarian... o/`

 

[crunchyblanket]

The first time I saw that bit I almost died laughing. Mordin is comedy gold.

"So don't........ingest"

 

[efkelley]

Mordin is one of the most memorable squadmates, no doubt. He really shows the importance of strong characterization. I strive to make all my characters that unique in my books. In an ideal world, I'd like for people to be able to tell which of my characters is talking from the dialog alone. Mordin is a great example of that.

 

[AlexPiper]

The first time I saw that bit I almost died laughing. Mordin is comedy gold.

"So don't........ingest"

"Got a minute?"
"Not now. Trying to determine how scale-itch got onto Normandy. Sexually transmitted disease. Only carried by Varren. Implications... unpleasant."

Really, it's the deadpan delivery, combined with those pauses that suggest perfect comic timing. You're never quite sure if Mordin is actually joking or not!

 

[Opty]

Ha! I love when you're starting to romance another character, Mordin will notice and give you advice on prophylactics and say he's going to send some reading material to your cabin.

 

[ElizaFaith13]

I WANT KAIDEN BACK. (Luckily, I'm informed that I get my wish.)

I would be sad without Mordin, though. His dialogue options are HILARIOUS, especially when you find out he used to be in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan, and get him to do his own version of Modern Major-General.

o/` I am the very model of a scientist Salarian... o/`

oooo Kaiden!!! Me too! Thane just didn't cut it...

 

[efkelley]

Ha! I love when you're starting to romance another character, Mordin will notice and give you advice on prophylactics and say he's going to send some reading material to your cabin.

Ha! Yeah if your FemShep is hot for Thane, he'll say something like 'recommend avoiding direct oral contact. May cause hallucinations.'

I just about died.