Okay, I'm Sorry but... Just What on Earth is so Great about Mass Effect?!

[WhyWasThat]

For some time now, pretty much since Mass Effect 2 released, fans haven't been able to shut up about how amazing the Mass Effect series is. This has always confused me, as having played the lengthy demos for both Mass Effect 2 and 3, I have to say that fair graphics, standard gameplay, okayish acting, and Jordan Shephard's glassy eyed mannequin head didn't even come close to impressing me. But I just rolled my eyes and got on with it.
However, in a very recent post on this very forum, a user claimed that Half Life 3 would probably not be worth the wait due to the Mass Effect series having very likely eclipsed Valve's flagship series in the meantime.

Mass Effect. Better. Than Half Life.
That was the final straw.

So I ask you all... What the fuck is the big deal?

 

[CAPTCHA]

Fictional girlfriends, soft core space porn and Garrus.

But seriously, Mordin and the whole Geneophage plot line carries the series. Everything else is kind of mediocre in my eyes.

ED: mediocre is the wrong word, more like everything else just makes par or worse.

 

[Able Seacat]

Opinions! People can like and dislike what they want. Some people like Mass Effect for many a reason such as the universe you play in, certain characters or perhaps the combat. Other people may not like it for similar reasons such as yourself or because of the ending to Mass Effect 3.

 

[Fappy]

The lore and the characters of Mass Effect ensure that the series will always be one of my favorites.

Also, I don't care for Half-Life. Didn't mean to blow your mind with my opinion OP.

 

[Hazy992]

Personal preferences are wonderful things aren't they?

Mass Effect. Better. Than Half Life.
That was the final straw.

It's not an objective fact that Half Life is better than Mass Effect. You prefer the former, others the latter. Who cares?

 

[Acier]

I must have missed the memo that opinions are supposed to be universal.

If you don't live Mass Effect, cool story. You don't have to ask people why you should like it. Just carry on and play something else.

 

[MetalDooley]

So I ask you all... What the fuck is the big deal?

To be honest I could ask the same question about the Half Life series

 

[Kahunaburger]

Characters are incredibly likable, writing is solid and occasionally very good.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

Characters are likable, writing is solid and occasionally very good.

As long as they aren't Human members of your crew. Funny thing that. Kaidan, intolerable whiner. Ashley, bigot. Jack, psychotic emo *****. Jacob, Ambien in a Man. Miranda, horrible obnoxious ass creature. Zaeed and Kasumi were tolerable - actually likable, really - but weren't as deeply entwined with the crew as the others and were DLC. Maybe they fix that in ME3, I dunno.

But yeah, Mass Effect is like many series - strong first act, mediocre second act, and a strong beginning to a third act that took a sudden and horrible turn downhill with a side of MacGuffin. If it weren't for the ending horror, the series probably would end up in a similar boat to Jade Empire in a few years, a series fondly remembered but not really remarked upon much.

 

[Tallim]

I was fantastically disappointed in it. Terrible writing for Bioware and everyone is just annoying. Combat is clumsy and there are some really strange mechanics choices, especially in the second one.

The universe and lore is quite nice but they just didn't back it up with anything worthwhile.
But that's just my opinion. Shame as I really want a good scifi RPG but Mass Effect didn't even come close for me.

 

[Cheesepower5]

I don't really like the series, since cover shooting (or, just shooting) aren't really my things and the environments tend to be a little stiff. But I can tell it has its high points, most of the characters are at least likable, and usually fairly fleshed out. Shepard's dialogue comes across as insanely douchey to me, but a lot of the little NPC scenes are quite clever and entertaining. And capping that off, the plot tends to be good, from what I've seen/heard. Aside from a few, ahh... Controversial moments.

 

[SweetShark]

So you flip out cause one user said Mass Effect is better than Half-Life?
You must at least spEAK with the guy to tell you his reason.
Also it is an opinion.

 

[Terminate421]

Half-life sucks.

Mass Effect is better because I can sit down and have a decent conversation with Garrus.

 

[D Moness]

Half-life sucks.

Mass Effect is better because I can sit down and have a decent conversation with Garrus.

Unless he is calibrating. When i was trying to decide if i should go with garrus or liara in ME3 the calibration joke made me think he could hump the ship for all i cared.

 

[Terminate421]

mediocre second act.

Personally I never saw it as that way. Alot of people go on saying "Oh the second one was awful!" when I find it was the best of out all three.

Still, its just opinions.

 

[ratzofftoya]

I actually like the lore and storyline a lot, but the gameplay is asinine, in my opinion. I enjoyed how the first one played, but the mission-based structure of the second was a turn for the worse, I thought. There's not a ton of enemy variety, and I don't think the powers are really all that different from one another, either. Don't get me wrong, I played through the thing and enjoy it more than your average game, but I still think that the first was the best in the series. The "streamlining" really didn't do it for me.

 

[SpectacularWebHead]

For some time now, pretty much since Mass Effect 2 released, fans haven't been able to shut up about how amazing the Mass Effect series is. This has always confused me, as having played the lengthy demos for both Mass Effect 2 and 3, I have to say that fair graphics, standard gameplay, okayish acting, and Jordan Shephard's glassy eyed mannequin head didn't even come close to impressing me. But I just rolled my eyes and got on with it.
However, in a very recent post on this very forum, a user claimed that Half Life 3 would probably not be worth the wait due to the Mass Effect series having very likely eclipsed Valve's flagship series in the meantime.

Mass Effect. Better. Than Half Life.
That was the final straw.

So I ask you all... What the fuck is the big deal?

Half Life is eclipsed by everything, it's an over hyped shooter that only gets any publicity because it's made by valve. It has been eclipsed by mass effect in the same way that it's been eclipsed by countless other new series' that have appeared in the increasingly long and boring wait for half life 3.

Mass Effect... I guess it draws appeal in the level of detail, morality and story complexity that it has. As a series, it's kinda hard to get into if you are more of a "game of thrones" over "Star Trek" kinda guy, but it is most definetly worth while to play. It's just fun, really, it's an in depth adventure story where you are the hero. Not a character predetermined to go on a certain path, you, and the decisions that you make.
Aside from that, I dunno really...

 

[krazykidd]

For some time now, pretty much since Mass Effect 2 released, fans haven't been able to shut up about how amazing the Mass Effect series is. This has always confused me, as having played the lengthy demos for both Mass Effect 2 and 3, I have to say that fair graphics, standard gameplay, okayish acting, and Jordan Shephard's glassy eyed mannequin head didn't even come close to impressing me. But I just rolled my eyes and got on with it.
However, in a very recent post on this very forum, a user claimed that Half Life 3 would probably not be worth the wait due to the Mass Effect series having very likely eclipsed Valve's flagship series in the meantime.

Mass Effect. Better. Than Half Life.
That was the final straw.

So I ask you all... What the fuck is the big deal?

Okay , i don't even like mass effect that much , but even i can tell you that you should play the game first before judging a game . You said you only played the demo . Fine . But you know nothing of the story , the characters , the setting , the immersion .

You chose not to buy/play a mass effect game , fine , but don't judge it when you know NOTHING about the game . You are allowed to not want to play it , but you are not allowed an opinion of the game since you know nothing about it.

 

[Karoshi]

Half-life is a brilliant game, but ME allows shaping your story and integrating your choices from three different games. Maybe it's not a new feature, but it's the first series which allows it in such scale. That alone makes ME stand out.

Also, it has many aliens, flashy "epic" stuff and much eye-candy.

Whereas the best word to describe HL is "subtle". Without the details and Valve's talent, the story would be nothing but bland, but in its current form it managed to completely blow me away. I can't even put my finger on what exactly makes it so awesome.

I guess HL has a greater artistic value (dont kill me for this choice of words...), whereas ME has better entertainment value.

 

[Zhukov]

Characters are incredibly likable, writing is solid and occasionally very good.

Who are you and what have you done with Kahunaburger?

...

OT: Attention, internet. Cease liking what the OP does not like. It makes him very cross. There might be tears.

(Personally, I like both series. So there.)