Does anyone else think ME is overhyped and overpraised?

[Romblen]

I wouldn't call Mass Effect over hyped. An over hyped game would be something like Modern Warfare 2. But then again, I love Mass Effect so I guess my opinion is probably biased.

 

[Marcus Dubious]

I like the game, it has faults but so do all games,

 

[psychic psycho]

I'm always stuck on some linear path, I can't freely roam around a place, They limit your exploration immensely, no jump button,etc.
In Bethesda RPGs, there is true freedom, being able to go anywhere at any time, When I mean anywhere I mean anywhere, not just some small path going through the woods.

I like Bioware RPGs for that reason. Why would I want to go anywhere and everywhere? In the end I'll just want to find the most efficient way to get to my destination. In open world RPGs I'll spend most of my time traveling from place to place. Yes, there are a lot of quests and secrets to find, but they could have made the world a bit smaller to reduce the boring traveling. I know that people do appreciate the ability to explore but to me it's just fluff.

Whereas in a Bioware RPG traveling is reduced and more time is spent on fighting or dialog. I find that a more closed path condenses the game and let's you get into Dialog/battle parts faster.

In my opinion both Bioware's and Bethesda's RPGs have the same amount of linearity to it they're just presented differently.

I'm starting to doubt you've actually played a Bethesda game.
Bioware games are much more restrictive combat and exploration wise.

Hmm...I guess it's weird that I said "same amount of linearity". I should have said non-linearity or something.

Just because Bethesda's RPGs allow exploration doesn't mean they less linear. By that logic GTA and other sandbox action games are more non-linear than Bioware games; that just isn't true. To me Bethesda's games are non-linear because they allow you to affect the storyline and let you tackle missions in different ways; not because they allow a lot of exploration. Bioware games also let you affect the story line and finish missions in multiple ways. This is why I said that both games have the same amount of linearity(or non-linearity) as each other.

So yes, while Bioware's games are more restrictive combat and exploration wise I still think they're as non-linear as Bethesda's RPGs.

I'm not trying to argue with you. I can understand why you feel Bethesda's style of RPG is more open. I'm just explaining why I personally think neither style of RPG is less linear than the other.

 

[TOGSolid]

Bioware have definately not "run out of ideas

http://gza.gameriot.com/content/images/orig_320200_1_1257581825.png
That just had to be posted.

Mass Effect and DA:O are horribly overhyped. The RPG genre in general is pretty much one giant flaming wreck right now with no one putting out anything very original or well thought out, which is sad because the RPG genre used to be incredibly fun. It's like nobody can think outside of the space marine/swords and sorcery box anymore. It's pretty sad that the greatest RPG ever made is 10 years old in three months, and it still hasn't been topped. (You get a cookie if you can guess what it is)

 

[Marcus Dubious]

Compared to what, Bejeweled?
My point is, I can't think of many better games that haven't been hyped as much but I can think of a load of really boring games that have been hyped far more.

 

[Nimcha]

Bioware have definately not "run out of ideas

http://gza.gameriot.com/content/images/orig_320200_1_1257581825.png
That just had to be posted.

Mass Effect and DA:O are horribly overhyped. The RPG genre in general is pretty much one giant flaming wreck right now with no one putting out anything very original or well thought out, which is sad because the RPG genre used to be incredibly fun. It's like nobody can think outside of the space marine/swords and sorcery box anymore. It's pretty sad that the greatest RPG ever made is 10 years old in three months, and it still hasn't been topped. (You get a cookie if you can guess what it is)

Going by this rant, is it Planescape?

I've been playing that game recently, and while I enjoy it the 2D kind of ruins it for me.

 

[P.Tsunami]

Mass Effect, overhyped and overrated. Let's chew on that for a moment. First of all, let's keep in mind who the target demographic for both ME and DA:O is. BioWare is very much aware that the people that keep coming back to their well are players that rate gameplay mechanics second, writing and narrative first. BioWare get accolades for their writing for a very good reason, people; for video games, they're ahead of the curve. BioWare offers gaming experiences that you really can't get many other places, and have gathered a pretty loyal fanbase for that very reason.

If the experiences these games delivered isn't to your tastes, you're probably not in the target demographic. So I'll just sum this up by saying that if BioWare's brand of immersive, involving RPG is to your tastes, it's not overhyped at all; it's exactly that good. If your tastes lie elsewhere, which is perfectly fine, of course you'll think it doesn't deserve its hype. Mass Effect is not a universal gaming experience that everyone will enjoy, people, so judging its hype is as subjective a matter as they come. In other words, we're not going to reach a consensus here.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Yes. Mass Effect is overhyped and definitely overpraised.

But...I still enjoyed playing both anyway.

 

[Grygor]

Bioware have definately not "run out of ideas

http://gza.gameriot.com/content/images/orig_320200_1_1257581825.png
That just had to be posted.

Mass Effect and DA:O are horribly overhyped. The RPG genre in general is pretty much one giant flaming wreck right now with no one putting out anything very original or well thought out, which is sad because the RPG genre used to be incredibly fun. It's like nobody can think outside of the space marine/swords and sorcery box anymore. It's pretty sad that the greatest RPG ever made is 10 years old in three months, and it still hasn't been topped. (You get a cookie if you can guess what it is)

Going by this rant, is it Planescape?

I've been playing that game recently, and while I enjoy it the 2D kind of ruins it for me.

It's Deus Ex.

 

[TheTim]

I thought Mass Effect and Dragon Age were both amazing games that were brilliantly crafted by bioware

 

[Nimcha]

Bioware have definately not "run out of ideas

http://gza.gameriot.com/content/images/orig_320200_1_1257581825.png
That just had to be posted.

Mass Effect and DA:O are horribly overhyped. The RPG genre in general is pretty much one giant flaming wreck right now with no one putting out anything very original or well thought out, which is sad because the RPG genre used to be incredibly fun. It's like nobody can think outside of the space marine/swords and sorcery box anymore. It's pretty sad that the greatest RPG ever made is 10 years old in three months, and it still hasn't been topped. (You get a cookie if you can guess what it is)

Going by this rant, is it Planescape?

I've been playing that game recently, and while I enjoy it the 2D kind of ruins it for me.

It's Deus Ex.

Oh! Well usually when I ask people what they think the best RPG ever is they say Planescape.

Should I try Deus Ex?

 

[OliverTwist72]

Honestly, I enjoy the ME games for the "epicness" of them. I enjoyed the first one more because it felt like you were saving the galaxy, whereas in the second one it seemed like you were more saving humanity.

Not that this was bad, it was definately more focused, but I enjoyed the thought of singlehandedly (ok I guess your crew helps you too) saving the universe and the shear vastness of the gameplay universe (which most was empty to drive around in, zing!). The combat in ME2 is definately improved a little. But the dialog options keep me thoroughly entertained, especially how the voiced lines are slightly different than the text (saying what I just selected is a little boring).

I'm not sure what it is, but I've come to the realization that I have to play Bioware games and I hate myself for it. I just love most every game they make, and it isn't even because it's a Bioware game. I HAD to play Baldur's Gate, I HAD to play Neverwinter Nights, I HAD to play Mass Effect...I didn't even realize until around ME launch what all these games had in common, and that is they are all Bioware made.

Maybe its the subject matter that I like I'm not sure. I know I played Baldur's Gate and NWN because I was a D&D fan, tho I'm not sure what drew me to ME. I will admit this, I have not played KOTOR or Jade Empire. KOTOR because I'm not that big a fan of the Star Wars Universe (love the original movies tho), and Jade Empire because it seemed kinda meh to me. I'm still on the fence about the upcoming MMO tho. I feel like I'm torn between 2 worlds, 1 that dislikes Star Wars games (except X-wing vs Tie Fighter, buahaha), and 1 that loves Bioware.

 

[bpm195]

Mirrors Edge is incredibly underhyped and underpraised.

 

[Thunderhorse31]

I don't hear much overblown hype for ME among the mainstream (unlike Halo, CoD, anything from Nintendo, etc.), and its strengths generally outweigh its weaknesses, which is why you hear more praise than criticism. Even the fanboys (like myself) readily admit it's a flawed masterpiece, but a masterpiece nonetheless.

So... no?

 

[G-Force]

Bioware have definately not "run out of ideas

http://gza.gameriot.com/content/images/orig_320200_1_1257581825.png
That just had to be posted.

Mass Effect and DA:O are horribly overhyped. The RPG genre in general is pretty much one giant flaming wreck right now with no one putting out anything very original or well thought out, which is sad because the RPG genre used to be incredibly fun. It's like nobody can think outside of the space marine/swords and sorcery box anymore. It's pretty sad that the greatest RPG ever made is 10 years old in three months, and it still hasn't been topped. (You get a cookie if you can guess what it is)

Resonance of Fate goes for a more episodic feel and ditches space marines, swords and magic for John Woo style gunplay.

 

[darkecofreak]

Dragon Age: possibly. It wasn't the be-all-end-all for RPGs, but it was worth the sixty bucks. Mass Effect 2: you really should try to play it, since they fixed a lot of what was wrong with Mass Effect 1. No more constantly upgrading weapons and armor, new abilities and actual ammo effects that make straight soldiering a more evened affair when compared to having access to biotics, and the fact that the story focuses less on Shepard and more on the people s/he has to recruit, turning the majority of the game into a series of short stories wherein you learn about these people as people and not just archetypes. That said, you should wait for the PS3 version, since a fair amount of the interest, outside of the actual game mechanics, lies in seeing how your choices in ME1 have affected your game in ME2. As you couldn't finish ME1, you'll want PS3 ME2's "press X to win or lose the battle" option of crafting your story. In conclusion, give ME2 a shot and see if you like it before completely writing off the series based on one bad experience.

 

[Zechnophobe]

Ok guys I want to ask a serious question here and I fully expect to be flamed or ran out of town for saying this, but does anyone else think that ME and even Dragon Age while we're at it are overpraised for what they are?
Keep in mind I haven't played ME2 and I wont claim to have since I couldn't, no matter how much I tried, enjoy the first one. I thought there was way too much boring dialect and too little combat to make the game appealing. Dont mistake this as "I want less talky and more shooty" because I've played Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain and loved those. The stories were just so much more compelling (until the whacked out super powers part) and it just seems as though the Bioware guys run short on this area.
So, what do you guys think? Is there anyone else out there besides me that didn't like ME and didn't think Dragon Age is the best thing to happen to RPGs since 3D?

I didn't think the Original ME was incredible. It was good, and had great moments, but the pacing was rather off. They leave you on citadel station for a bit too long without any real goal in mind.

ME2 is a slick mean machine that does everything better. Quite literally every game system was improved. Missions are to the point, and challenging. Dialogue is intriguing but never verbose. The actual game mechanics are presented better, and work better too.

I don't think ME1 was overhyped. I think it was a quality game that just got a little mish mashed about. You had to get 'over' that before you could really appreciate it. ME2 is the same, but without the clutter... so it is just awesome fun the entire time.