This article is meant to generate discussion around Mass Effect's plot and contains spoilers towards the end game of Mass Effect 2 and some spoilers concerning the whole franchise in general. DO NOT READ THIS ARTICLE IF YOU HAVEN'T BEATEN ME2!!
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
?Human, you?ve changed nothing.?
- Harbinger
It?d been a long time since I?d heard an empty threat that was so unintentionally loaded. The irony rang loud in my ears as I raced down the alien corridors with seeker swarms in hot pursuit. I could see the Normandy hovering just ahead. Joker stood in the opened air lock, firing controlled bursts from an M-8 assault rifle into the crowd of pursuing collector drones, buying me precious seconds. I see the impossible jump before me, but I didn?t come this far to die. I fall short! I scramble for a handhold ? anything to keep me from falling. Just as I lose my grip, Garrus forcefully grabs my arm and hoists me onto the ship. Still under a hail of gunfire, I spare myself one final glance at this terrible place and wondered?
?What in the Hell was the point of that??
The first iteration of this impressive franchise presented a wholly original universe to explore that was massive in scope and then bestowed a responsibility to the player that was just as considerable in its importance: the preservation of sapient organic life throughout the galaxy from an unknowable enemy called the Reapers. And best of all, you could approach this charge on your own terms. In the end, whether you attacked each objective as a ruthless renegade or a benevolent paragon, you succeeded in thwarting galactic genocide in an epic explosion of awesome.
ME2 lets you euthanize a baby reaper. That?s?pretty much it.
?????
While the new streamlined combat operates beautifully, this new ?path of least resistance? approach that Bioware took with their inventory and combat system (which rocks) has birthed a plotline that borderline emasculates its hero (doesn?t rock so much). It?s hard to imagine how Shepard is able to keep his chin up through it all. I mean the man has gone from first human Spectre to Cerberus human resources assistant and then add to that the underwhelming revelation provided end game.
This is not to say that the plot is bad. The process leading up to the finale is engaging and the amazing voice talent is still there. If anything, Bioware knows how to sweet talk you. It?s just that when you reach the climax of this second episode, your jaw drops (and not in a good way). Add to that several plot holes (i.e. why doesn?t the council or alliance offer so much as a half-assed investigation attempt into why THOUSANDS of people are disappearing) and you are standing on some fairly shaky ground. It never caves in on itself, but it?ll be enough to keep fanboys and newcomers to the series debating and screaming at each other for the next few years.
Mass Effect 2 achieved something amazing in its tight shooter mechanics complemented by a dynamic dialogue system. This is a game that can appeal to shooter fanatics as well as role playing enthusiasts. Add to that some very solid voice work, visuals that can?t be described as anything but beautiful, and Martin Sheen and you?ve got a recipe for kick ass; however, no matter how much Martin Sheen you pour into a game, there will always be some issues and nitpicks. Games that achieve such heights merit the additional criticisms. Call it gamer love.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
?Human, you?ve changed nothing.?
- Harbinger
It?d been a long time since I?d heard an empty threat that was so unintentionally loaded. The irony rang loud in my ears as I raced down the alien corridors with seeker swarms in hot pursuit. I could see the Normandy hovering just ahead. Joker stood in the opened air lock, firing controlled bursts from an M-8 assault rifle into the crowd of pursuing collector drones, buying me precious seconds. I see the impossible jump before me, but I didn?t come this far to die. I fall short! I scramble for a handhold ? anything to keep me from falling. Just as I lose my grip, Garrus forcefully grabs my arm and hoists me onto the ship. Still under a hail of gunfire, I spare myself one final glance at this terrible place and wondered?
?What in the Hell was the point of that??
The first iteration of this impressive franchise presented a wholly original universe to explore that was massive in scope and then bestowed a responsibility to the player that was just as considerable in its importance: the preservation of sapient organic life throughout the galaxy from an unknowable enemy called the Reapers. And best of all, you could approach this charge on your own terms. In the end, whether you attacked each objective as a ruthless renegade or a benevolent paragon, you succeeded in thwarting galactic genocide in an epic explosion of awesome.
ME2 lets you euthanize a baby reaper. That?s?pretty much it.
?????
While the new streamlined combat operates beautifully, this new ?path of least resistance? approach that Bioware took with their inventory and combat system (which rocks) has birthed a plotline that borderline emasculates its hero (doesn?t rock so much). It?s hard to imagine how Shepard is able to keep his chin up through it all. I mean the man has gone from first human Spectre to Cerberus human resources assistant and then add to that the underwhelming revelation provided end game.
This is not to say that the plot is bad. The process leading up to the finale is engaging and the amazing voice talent is still there. If anything, Bioware knows how to sweet talk you. It?s just that when you reach the climax of this second episode, your jaw drops (and not in a good way). Add to that several plot holes (i.e. why doesn?t the council or alliance offer so much as a half-assed investigation attempt into why THOUSANDS of people are disappearing) and you are standing on some fairly shaky ground. It never caves in on itself, but it?ll be enough to keep fanboys and newcomers to the series debating and screaming at each other for the next few years.
Mass Effect 2 achieved something amazing in its tight shooter mechanics complemented by a dynamic dialogue system. This is a game that can appeal to shooter fanatics as well as role playing enthusiasts. Add to that some very solid voice work, visuals that can?t be described as anything but beautiful, and Martin Sheen and you?ve got a recipe for kick ass; however, no matter how much Martin Sheen you pour into a game, there will always be some issues and nitpicks. Games that achieve such heights merit the additional criticisms. Call it gamer love.
