Poll: Mass Effect 2, from satisfied to disappointed

[lordmardok]

I can see where you're coming from. However it is worthwhile to consider that rather than thinking of the changes they made as taking things away, it's more accurate to call them design choices.

For instance: the weapon system in ME1 was like every other RPG, you have a weapon, you go out you kill 30 geth, now you have 23 more weapons. Then you begin the task to checking the stats of the weapons against yours and your allies, just in case the geth dropped something better. ME2 just dropped the whole inventory thing for the sake of streamlining their game, yah we got a few less choices but we also got to spend less time playing inventory-manager the minigame and more time filling aliens and pirates with hot metal.

The planet-scanning was another example. Now a lot of people complain about it but lets face it guys, this one was really our fault. We complained pretty hard about the driving portions of ME1, I know, I was one of them. I posted on at least a dozen forums just like this about the unwieldiness of the vehicle. Bioware got a lot of flak from its player base about the physics so they did what they thought we wanted, they just chucked it. There aren't a lot more options honestly, its either go down to the planet or.... what? I can't really think of a good alternative. Also, people should take into consideration the DLC pack that contained the new vehicle sections, that was a very good improvement.

It feels like this: Bioware was unable to significantly improve the physics engine that governs the vehicle sections, therefore rather than anger their player base by leaving in something that got complained about for so long they instead just thought: "Lets try something new" and did the planet scanning. Meanwhile they continued to work on the physics engine of the vehicle and eventually gave us that DLC pack. Which was actually free I think, if you bought the game new.

Anyways I just think people give ME2 some unfair flak when some of the things that are complained about were only changed because... well... we wouldn't stop complaining about what was there before.

 

[Still Life]

I can see where you're coming from. However it is worthwhile to consider that rather than thinking of the changes they made as taking things away, it's more accurate to call them design choices.

I tend to approach the issue as one of 'design choices', but I guess I didn't elucidate that sufficiently in my previous post. I pretty much assume that the removal/reorienting, etc. of game-play elements is commonly known as a design choice by developers working against the clock to produce a successful product.

I'm not convinced that Bioware removed vehicle sections as a result of the 'Macko' backlash, but more to address the need for more engaging and varied environments. Many of the planets scanned resulted in a side quest which, most of the time, where nice distractions that added a little extra to the universe.

Overall, I thought the idea of planet scanning was cool, but the way it was implemented was bit incongruous with the rest of the game.

 

[Netrigan]

1. Simple guns work like in ME2 until you run out of thermal clips to reload. Once that happens they revert to ME1 style overheating and cooling until either the mission ends or you pick up more clips.

I know how it would work in broad strokes, but I'm more curious of how you'd pull it off without seriously unbalancing combat. And if you were given a limited number of thermal clips, you'd also risk pissing off action gamers who habitually change out magazines between battles. There would be a fair number of kinks that would have to be ironed out for this to work well.

But it occurs to me that there would have been a fairly simple solution to the problem. A manual vent that operates much like a clip change does. If you do fire the gun until it over-heats, then you'd have to deal with a longer cool-down period.

Mind you, RPGs never seem that worried about unbalancing combat. Seems unbalanced combat is what they're all about with you starting off as weak as a baby fart and ending up a virtual superman. Then if they make a sequel, they have to change characters or depower you, because there's no way they can make an interesting game where you start off with a full host of powers and an assault rifle with infinite ammo and no over-heating problem.

And with all the talk of how this particular ret-con completely undermines the plot. I say the fact that you're a war hero who is up for the coveted position of Specter... is completely undermined by your rookie status with fire arms at the start of the game. I would further question how two organizations seem okay with sending you off on a galaxy saving mission... with totally crap weapons. Why not give them the assault rifle with infinite ammo and no over-heating problem

But these are the type of questions I try not to ask myself when playing RPGs because the answer is usually a variation on "leveling".

 

[Savber]

Only 20% thought ME2 was worse?

Then why the hell does it sound like the entire community wants ME2's blood?

 

[Netrigan]

Only 20% thought ME2 was worse?

Then why the hell does it sound like the entire community wants ME2's blood?

Cue Nixon's Silent Majority.

When you're happy with something, you're far less likely to comment on it than when you're pissed off.

 

[nbamaniac]

Presentation and Graphics-wise, ME2 wins.

Story wise, i'm still divided in my opinion.

Virmire, Ilos and Battle of the Citadel vs Horizon, Derelict Reaper, Collector Base.

Hmmm...

 

[Abedeus]

Overall better. Just throw out mining.

 

[lowkey_jotunn]

I went with "kinda better" though mostly better would have been more apt.

The only thing I didn't like was the addition of a Global Cool Down (if you'll excuse the WoW terminology) If I have 2 strong powers, I should be able to use them as a 1-2 punch. The GCD prevents that.

The heat clips were a minor inconvenience. Might have been a bigger deal if my first character was a Soldier or Infiltrator, but my first run through was an Adept, so ammo wasn't an issue, and subsequent characters could pick a bonus power to lessen ammo usage. Perhaps a combo would have worked better; heat sinks for continuous rapid fire, then you downgrade to the heat bar (perhaps a bit less forgiving than ME1) once you run out. Again, a minor inconvenience for me.

The ending choice ... was perfect. ME2, in my opinion, nailed the paragon vs renegade dichotomy in that final decision. A paragon will do the right thing, simply because it's the right thing to do. Even if it makes the road ahead more difficult. A renegade will do what makes the job easier, and what makes the most logical sense, even if it's a little shady (like shooting a Krogan while he's monologuing) or a lot shady, in that last choice. Perhaps some people think that a Renegade should just run around kicking puppies just to prove what a jerk he is. I'm not one of those people, and much prefer the way ME2 handled it

 

[lowkey_jotunn]

Oh, and yeah mining sucked in ME2 ("Really, commander? *Sigh* Fine. Probing Uranus")

But as bad as that was, it was a definite improvement over the horrendous inventory and upgrade system from ME1.