Mass Effect And The Importance Of Theme
Mass Effect 2My review of Mass Effect 2 will go up later tomorrow; in the meantime, consider this a preface.
As time goes on and technology advances, developers are capable of delivering bigger, deeper adventures that feature gigantic size and scope. At first, it was all about size: the bigger it was, the more amazed we were. Remember the impact Grand Theft Auto III had on the gaming market? If it was bigger, there was more to explore, although not necessarily more to do. Also, because we were still somewhat limited, the lack of detail would contribute to a corresponding lack of player involvement.
But these days, every virtual landscape supported by a big budget and talented developers can be both enriching and entrancing. However, as the environment becomes more authentic and more believable, it also becomes more important. In other words, I think we've reached the point where if we're not a fan of a particular theme or setting, no matter how great the game really is, we'll always feel a little...out of touch. We'll feel as if the designers sort of missed us; like we're outsiders. Perhaps it's akin to all the girls who were dragged to the theater to watch "Star Wars" by their boyfriends. They're pretty sure that what they're seeing is special in some way, but that "way" just isn't resonating in their minds.
Take Mass Effect 2, for example. The sci-fi setting is quite vast and intricate; it actually does remind me a lot of "Star Wars." There are different species of humans and other creatures, there are space stations and a whole universe of planets and moons and what have you, and you even travel about on a full-fledged spaceship. Therefore, the sci-fi enthusiasts will almost surely be hooked from the outset. In contrast, I have always been partial to the more medieval surroundings; i.e., the sword 'n staff theme rather than the guns-in-space theme. Therefore, I can absolutely guarantee that if ME2 was identical in terms of story, presentation, gameplay and just about every other element of game design, only it was set in a time of yore, I'd be overjoyed.
As it stands, I sort of feel like that girlfriend back in 1978 who could only shrug her shoulders after watching the movie and go, "well, I'm glad you liked it." And as theme becomes more and more crucial in our increasingly larger interactive experiences, I have a feeling that personal preference will begin to play a more significant role than ever before. There are some potentially universal themes, though; I'm not sure how anyone could be turned off by the Uncharted setting. I mean, it's like Indiana Jones and who didn't like that? ...well, wait...I'm sure there's someone. The point is, we must always remember that for games that strive to engage us on every possible mental level, we will have to make the connection ourselves. And if we can't, something will just feel out of place.
Finally, I would like to add that I try not to let personal opinion impact professional reviews, so don't think that this editorial gives away a lower-than-anticipated score. I will assign the score I think it deserves, with only a dash of my personal reaction. Call it reviewer tilt, if you like.
1/21/2011 Ben Dutka
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Comments (124 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:53:33 PM
4 up, 0 down
frylock25
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:44:54 PM
i still remember the tank code and how fun that was to get a hold of. man i loved playing those old gta games.
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:06:52 AM
1 up, 1 down
ps3sownsxbox360
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 9:46:05 PM
Reply
0 up, 12 down
Jawknee
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:04:44 PM
10 up, 3 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:15:24 PM
13 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:18:08 PM
Oh well, with that nick one should be surprised he can read at all... :D
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/21/2011 11:18:50 PM
3 up, 0 down
Douchebaguette
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 9:54:28 PM
Reply
This is a reason why FFVI & FFVII are awesome.
FFVI: apocalyptic steampunk.
FFVII: distopian cyberpunk.
-------------------------------------
I may add that the still camera shot allowed the artistry for older games to shine more, whilst camera scoping now is so flashy & realistic along with the less prerendered & close to realistic graphical design that you can't really sit down properly to a game such as FFXIII & let the the setting engrave into your head as much as the older titles would. Perhaps. I try.
Oh, and Mass Effect 2 is a must buy.
7 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:55:37 PM
8 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:09:27 AM
Oh how wrong I was. And now I know what to look for in the reviews of XIII-2.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:20:54 AM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:09:32 PM
Reply
I do of course agree that the theme do matter along with other personal preferences (ref my aversion for anything too linear), but I would have thought that no sci-fi interest is required to enjoy this particular case - just a general patience to enjoy fine storytelling.
4 up, 0 down
PorkChopGamer
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:16:55 PM
2 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:33:11 PM
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/21/2011 10:36:43 PM
2 up, 0 down
PorkChopGamer
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:54:44 PM
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:57:26 PM
4 up, 1 down
PorkChopGamer
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:11:03 PM
You're right. I just find ME2 to be in that universal category. I know guys (and a girl) who don't do any other sci-fi except ME2 and a few other games. ME2 is just great.
3 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:16:37 PM
7 up, 3 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:25:02 PM
2 up, 2 down
PorkChopGamer
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:30:50 PM
Last edited by PorkChopGamer on 1/21/2011 11:31:48 PM
3 up, 2 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:32:05 PM
"Universal" means my mother would love ME2's story...and that isn't going to happen. People can shove ME2 down my throat all they want; the plot has holes and the mundane often overrides the significant. It's hardly perfect. I don't think we can overlook that, either.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 1/21/2011 11:33:14 PM
6 up, 4 down
Temjin001
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:33:37 PM
"Ken: Barbie, we can't be together anymore.
Barbie: it's someone else, isn't it? ISN'T IT?!
Ken: We're just not the same people anymore... we've changed....
Barbie: NO! I didn't change. You did. I was always here fo....
anyway... puke
I think I've made my point =p
3 up, 2 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:33:48 PM
4 up, 0 down
PorkChopGamer
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:46:17 PM
1 up, 1 down
Underdog15
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:01:42 AM
1 up, 1 down
Highlander
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:12:17 AM
I feel the same way. Review scores will have an impact as well.
1 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 1:06:43 AM
World: It's true that I'm not a fan of Westerns but because we've never really had much of a "Western" genre in gaming, I was only referring to movies, really. It's why I didn't think I'd like RDR.
But sci-fi has been a part of gaming forever and I know what it's like, and I know I'm not partial to it.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 1/22/2011 1:08:30 AM
6 up, 3 down
Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 8:04:17 AM
Really, as long is it isn't COD and all things jingoistically chauvinistic, I'm game...except for most movie adaptations, franchise/label cash-ins, uninspired rip-offs...
1 up, 0 down
Veitsknight
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 8:06:01 AM
ME1: Learned about Reapers
ME2: Team-up agains Reapers
ME3: Defeat Reapers
0 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 3:31:13 PM
1 up, 0 down
Gordo
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:24:04 PM
Reply
I'm looking forward to Mass Effect 2 a lot as I love sci-fi such as Bladerunner, Firefly, Aliens, Pitch Black and Starship Troopers.
I can understand that if you don't appreciate the theme then that does detract from your general enjoyment.
Final Fantasy is always a bit too emo/medieval/anime/cyberpunk for me.
Can't immerse myself into the story.
Similar to Batman Arkham Asylum. If cartoons aren't your thing then you are never going to appreciate it as much as a devotee.
Each to their own I guess... One mans trash is another mans treasure!
3 up, 0 down
Shams
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:36:03 PM
Reply
*Potential, mild spoilers ahead....
There were so many moments in the story that caused reflection. With the Geth, for example, one questions what is sentience, individuality, collective conscience, and the rights of existence, particularly when one is forced to choose whether to brain wash them to cooperate, or destroy them. Another moment was with one's suspect alliance with Cerberus and the Illusive man. Does one's loyalty to the political wing one belongs to come first, and achieving what can be done and is practical through the powers-to-be, or does one break ties even with one's own to stick to the principles of the greater good, no matter the consequences. The story of the game, and the side missions, are chalk full of these thought-provoking moments that made the experience shine for me.
Last edited by Shams on 1/21/2011 10:38:17 PM
1 up, 0 down
Shams
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:47:56 PM
0 up, 0 down
NoOneSpecial
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:01:00 PM
Last edited by NoOneSpecial on 1/21/2011 11:02:05 PM
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:05:53 PM
Good stuff
Last edited by Temjin001 on 1/21/2011 11:06:57 PM
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:17:05 PM
Also, I think games like these prove that the best games do not depend on frames per second, what render engine or other technical specifications are being used. Those things becomes critical only on titles with little more to offer:
Mass Effect 2, with it's Unreal engine and cross platform release is the hands down best gaming experience I have had (still has!) so far on the PS3. And noone shall tell me that I am wrong in thinking so. Content wins.
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:18:58 PM
When the focus is on the plot and the characters, the theme becomes paramount. That's when personal preference for settings comes into play; if I don't care as much about the surroundings and can't get into the history, lore and storylines floating around...we have problems.
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:21:19 PM
But I'll leave that for the review.
2 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:39:40 PM
But if you then started talking about how it "could have been better if it was exclusive", "I spotted a tearscreen", "the game did freeze once", "The Unreal engine spoiled it for me - they all look the same" and those usual rants I'd be disappointed cause that's just *so* totally not what this game is about.
(I do however not expect that from you, just so that is said.)
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/21/2011 11:40:23 PM
0 up, 1 down
Highlander
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:14:26 AM
3 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:24:04 AM
I would need no more than 30 minutes before I could lay before thee at least 100 quotes along the lines of "Exclusive titles are just SO much better", "a multi? Uninterested", "a multiplat can never be better than an exclusive", "I'll buy it, unless its multi" etc.
What I have tried to say (MULTIple times too ;) is that the quality of a *really* good game (in my eyes ME2 is just that) depends on so much more than just platform optimized code. Ergo a multiplat CAN be as good, or indeed better, than an exclusive. It not only can, in many cases they *are*.
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/22/2011 12:31:25 AM
2 up, 2 down
Highlander
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:34:13 AM
3 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:51:05 AM
There I have been thumb-spitfired (not that that's any unfamiliar experience) when trying to speak against such claims.
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 1:04:58 AM
Personally, I don't think it's a matter of preference; I think PS3 exclusives are the cream of the crop. But then again, I'm not exactly in the minority on that.
As for reviews and editorials, yes, there are dozens of examples of me supporting that which the PlayStation fans might not like. I dedicated entire pieces to telling everyone how great Alan Wake was, and of course, we were the ones who recommended the 360 version of Dragon Age: Origins, and the more obvious, like the 360 version of Bayonetta.
5 up, 1 down
Highlander
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 1:27:30 AM
2 up, 0 down
Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 2:10:14 AM
Regarding KZ2 and R2, besides presentation, and artstyle, really it's theme and story that differentiates FPS's sp campaigns especially from each other, and it's theme and story that causes one to follow a series.
It's really only mp campaigns that revolves purely around gameplay.
0 up, 0 down
Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 2:25:38 AM
In my childhood, I adored Star Wars, but didn't care much for Star Trek. It wasn't until I was older that I appreciated the literary value and meaning behind the occasional Star Trek show or movie I'd happen to see.
To me, theme to a movie or game is really just a cover to a book. It won't attract me if the underlying content is lacking, and it won't deter me if it is filled with meaning and artistic value...Well, except for Vanquish. Vanquish rocked!
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:09:11 AM
As for Final Fantasy... not so much. She tried watching FF: Advent Children with me and thought it was way bizarre and nerdy.
I think it's awesome.
But I've always thought FF's didn't have particularly good dialogue.. and in FFXIII's case, some, at times, pretty poor character interaction. I totally didn't buy Snow's reaction to Hope's pointed assertion that led to them exploding over the top of a building.. and don't get me started with Vanelle... oh man.
But hey, that's just FF. It's good geeked out fun.
oh and FYI. I helped a Gamestop manager last night sell ME2 to an older dude.. (could've been Biker Saint =p )
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:22:20 AM
It's about immersion. This isn't a book. We have to be PART OF the adventure, which means if we don't particularly like our surroundings, we lose a bit of interest, regardless of how great everything else is.
But for the record, theme even matters in books. "A Passage to India" is fantastic and I love Forster, but I'll never like it as much as "A Room With a View" mostly because I don't like the Indian setting.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 1/22/2011 10:25:06 AM
0 up, 0 down
Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 3:53:46 PM
If I don't like Italian food, it's probably pointless for me to review Italian restaurants, UNLESS my aversion to Italian food isn't enough to distract me from fairly comparing an Italian restaurant to other Italian restaurants, or to other restaurants in terms of attributes I can fairly assess (quality of service, wait time, quality of preparation, asthetics, price, comfort, etc...).
However, if I got something like a gluten allergy, I'd best leave the reviewing to someone who doesn't. Not saying that such is the case with you and ME2, but I think the point has been driven home.
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 9:24:16 PM
<<<<oh and FYI. I helped a Gamestop manager last night sell ME2 to an older dude.. (could've been Biker Saint =p )>>>>
LOL, no,no, no no, that would never be me.
I'm the older dude who's always trying to sell the young dudes on all the great PS3 games.
And with 1791 games(just did my inventory count last night), I could help the GS register bisquits before they'd ever be able to help me. Matter of fact, with just the games I've got right now, I could open up my own games shop & totally run circles around GS, anyone wanna buy a mint 1977 Telestar Alpha? still in the box LOL
Last edited by BikerSaint on 1/22/2011 9:26:04 PM
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 9:36:20 PM
If so, cool =)
0 up, 0 down
Shams
Sunday, January 23, 2011 @ 2:06:21 AM
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Sunday, January 23, 2011 @ 8:36:12 AM
and btw, I was initially concerned about Ben's negative disposition about sci-fi myself a few weeks ago =)
But the review turned out well, don't you think?
=)
Last edited by Temjin001 on 1/23/2011 8:36:51 AM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, January 23, 2011 @ 10:58:13 AM
The setting of Passage to India in the last days of the British Raj is not remotely like the India of today, or for that matter the India before the British arrived. That's not to say that what went before the British was necessarily much better for the common man/woman in India, the feudal rulers of India before the British were not exactly kindhearted pacifists. And before anyone asks, no I am not Indian, I am British, and I know enough about what went on in India under British rule to know that there is plenty to be ashamed of. Of course there were good things too, but I'm not qualified to quantify either or weigh them against each other.
Either way, not liking a book set in the last years of the British Raj, is by no means indicative of a general attitude towards India. That's like someone saying that you dislike Africa because you didn't enjoy Lawrence of Arabia, or The Wind And The Lion.
::rolls eyes::
Shams, I'm surprised at you.
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Sunday, January 23, 2011 @ 1:39:04 PM
1 up, 0 down
Shams
Sunday, January 23, 2011 @ 3:13:05 PM
Highlander, this is the 2nd time Ben seemingly randomly mentions his aversion to India (first time being in reply to Qubex's comment after Q's business trip to India when he highly recommends everyone to travel). I'm not taking personal offense, as I'm not Indian as I said before.
But after close to 4 years of reading articles and comments here, I think I know my friends here well enough :) And by friends, I do mean Ben, yourself, Qubex, the recent S.Temjin (last but not least), etc. This should be no surprise to you.
0 up, 0 down
NoOneSpecial
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:54:57 PM
Reply
Going back to the days of pong and forward ahead to space invaders, pac-man etc, games had little to no emotional connection. The objective was quite simple (hit the ball, escape thre ghosts, shoot the aliens, etc) and we just played them. The word "play" is the key here. These days, games are meant to be experienced. With games like Mass Effect, Uncharted and Heavy Rain, you don't just play as the character, you are the character. You feel sadness, excitement, adrenaline, and anger as Shepard or Drake might in their respective situations.
Video games have crossed the threshold of just being a novelty. They have now joined the ranks of books and movies where you get sucked in the story and you feel like you are there. If the genre doesn't suit you, it won't feel the same.
All in all, I predict that the misconception that games are for kids and are a waste of time will fade. I'm not saying that it will go fast, but you simply cannot brush it off any longer. Video games are an art too.
4 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:47:16 PM
0 up, 1 down
Temjin001
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:58:34 PM
Reply
ANd to change gears a bit, I happen to really enjoy sci-fi and Tolkin'ish fantasy. Those two themes have always gone together like PB&J for me. Which has me a little curious. Ben, does it bother you that Final Fantasy has had more of tendency to go sci'fi'ish lately--like Star Wars. It seems ever since FFIX the content has a lot more space ships, and futuristic technology. Basically, I'm not feeling a gritty swords and staves vibe from it like a purist would expect from something like Dragon Age. Basically, FF does sleek, stylish and sexy.. where Dragon Age does not.
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:38:40 PM
... j/k
... sorta.
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:56:58 PM
I actually feel somewhat obligated to play Heavy Rain because it seems to me that it's a genre birth'er. I do want to stop and appreciate the titles that created something drastically new for us. Even if it deals with content that I'm not exactly interested in.
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:14:11 AM
Heavy Rain is one worth putting in a little time in for. I could really see a lot of people going "This is lame" by the time you are just playing with your kids (as Ethan), but once the overall tenseness of it starts your heart pounding and your thumbs searching in microseconds for the proper sequence you know something incredible is happening to entertainment. The demo is really just that one fight scene, and that doesn't capture the real noir of it.
1 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 10:59:17 PM
Reply
I can't stand space/sci-fi stuff (specially the stories), same with Western/cowboy stuff. Explains why I can't get into Read Dead.
0 up, 0 down
matt99
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:12:42 PM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:52:08 PM
0 up, 2 down
matt99
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:43:41 AM
0 up, 0 down
DarthNemesis
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:12:37 PM
Reply
I enjoyed Dragon Age: Origins and can not wait for DA2,but I think a game like Deus Ex is more interesting because they offer more variety due to technology and the customization of weapons/armor.
So ME2 gives you a more exciting feel and atmosphere.I could not put ME2 down and have already played over 10 hours of the game and I think I barely scratched the surface.To anyone that is interested,I highly recommend the game as the demo did not do it justice.
I never liked the Unreal Engine,but this is the best game to use it and I think it's better technically than Gears of War and Batman AA.
It's beautiful and it does not have that shiny look of the other games.
The environments are detailed and the art direction is wonderful.Controlling your character feels great too and the controls are smooth.
3 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:36:12 PM
Reply
The argument in this editorial seems sound, but has exceptions. Why? Because anybody who plays games on a regular basis can tell you they have been hooked into a story or theme related to something that they never before considered to be something that would go in their "I like this" column.
RDR grabbed folks who didn't give two pieces of poop about a Western story. Fallout 3 and Bioshock brought an affinity to many for all things retro. I'm certain somebody somewhere got into Anime because they liked Valkyria Chronicles.
That's about the long and short of it.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 1/21/2011 11:43:46 PM
5 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 11:59:49 PM
Example: I can't stand Fantasy. And I am ashame of that. It annoys me, cause there's just SO much of that stuff out there.
To me it's just an eternal grinding of the same content over and over and over.
Then Dragon Age came and took me totally off guard and went straigh to GOTY for me that year.
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/22/2011 12:00:25 AM
2 up, 1 down
johnld
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 2:03:41 AM
my advice is stay far far away from the valkyria chronicles anime. i mean i played and loved the story of the first game so i figured i watch the anime for the hell of it. after watching the series, i was really pissed that they made so much mistakes or changed up parts of the story that they were telling. the main idea of the story was there, the bare main idea, but it was told in a different way. The story of valkyria chronicles was already amazing and i didnt see a reason why they tried to change things.
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:40:34 AM
Somehow Ben can love FF and JRPGs and hate Anime though. The man's a mystery to me in that way. They are essentially the same thing.
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:55:44 AM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 9:40:55 PM
I'm extremely selective with anime and I do like sci-fi.
The last good anime series I've watched was Ghost in the Shell: Stand ALone complex. It's well written, and quite interesting.
When I was younger, Ninja Scroll was the greatest anime ever =)
Oh, and I liked the Macross Plus shows, too.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 1/22/2011 9:41:46 PM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, January 23, 2011 @ 10:47:06 AM
As for Akira and FFVII or any other FF being the same? Well, they are moving images, but that's where the similarities end. The stories are nothing alike, the characters really aren't much alike, and the design and art don't really share many similarities if any. OK, Akira is anime, and FF games have an anime aesthetic, but then so does Atelier Iris, Persona, Ar Tonelico, Xenosaga and shows like Please Teacher and Hand Maid May. Not one of those is remotely similar to the other, except to say that the games are all JRPGs and the shows are all harem romantic/comedy Anime.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:07:03 AM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:39:40 AM
Damn youre good.
;)
0 up, 0 down
matt99
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:46:36 AM
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 8:45:01 AM
Single life changing events don't define characters. They define their motivation, yes, but not who they are. This is something overlooked by most modern storytellers.
0 up, 0 down
___________
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:11:05 AM
Reply
i got about 90% of the way through this on the 360 version till i sold my 360 so ive been dying to find out what happens for like a year!
when will publishers learn to release their games properly!?
we have had all of december, and 3 weeks of jan empty so they have to release there game when 3 other games are releasing.
yea, thats common sense!
than they wonder why they sell poorly.
0 up, 3 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:14:50 AM
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:21:26 AM
3 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 1:48:40 AM
0 up, 0 down
Gordo
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 6:27:28 AM
Thought I had a week to wait!
0 up, 0 down
___________
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 8:34:06 AM
WHERE?
i had a look in the parra store and they said its not out till the 27th, EB and game said the same thing.
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:29:34 PM
Yeah... I forgot that it wasn't meant to be out 'til next week. They must've missed the memo.
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___________
Sunday, January 23, 2011 @ 7:10:29 AM
there is no street date for ME2, so whenever the stores get there stock they can sell it.
EB just have not received their stock yet, nor has game or most JB stores.
just seems so weird why that store got stock and no one else did.
even on JBs website it says the 27th.
0 up, 0 down
FM23
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:37:44 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:54:02 AM
He will probably include a paragraph where some "personal observations" are let free.
3 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 1:01:42 AM
3 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 6:28:52 AM
Well, let's not get stuck in details, shall we? ;)
2 up, 1 down
Kevin555
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:53:46 AM
Reply
I personally, love ME2. I thought the theme was great & this is coming from someone that hated Star Wars & Star Trek altogether. But the big plus for me was the attachment to the characters around you, folk like Garrus & Tali were characters you actually gave a sh!t about imo & better still, being able to control the fate of your crew (letting your worst characters die & making sure your fave ones survive)felt like the experience was your own.
I liked the story & races within more than the theme itself but overall it's just a great game imo. It's good to see PS3 masses lapping it up too as i hear the game is in short supply already.
Good article overall, even if i don't agree with everything mentioned. Like all games though; some will love it, while some will hate it.
Fin.
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Lawless SXE
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 2:18:49 AM
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I used to absolutely adore spec-fi. Everything to do with it astounded me, and for a long time I thought nothing would ever surpass it in my mind. But then, I started to turn much more towards a preference for the fantasy settings. Entire worlds and universes based on their own laws of reality. And again, for a long time, I thought that fantasy was the epitome of human creativity.
Int he past two years though, I've found myself turning away from that for more realism based entertainment. Stories that are set in the real world, whether now, or in the past. It seems to allow for a much more realistic set of characters, or rather people that are easier to relate to due to the 'real-world' connection.
I still love SF and fantasy, and all that, but anything set in the real world, even if it has overtones of other genres (Stephen King's novels, Heavy Rain, and Stephen Baxter's works for example), is preferable for me now.
So, based on my personal experience, I think that you are incorrect in this assumption, but at the same time, I also know that I have a far more diverse range of tastes and a greater propensity towards tolerance and acceptance than most people I know, so I may be a bad example.
Taking myself out of the equation, and looking at other people that I know I think that, yes, as games become more and more like movies, and as the gamer base grows, we will begin to see greater fragmentations as the same expectations and biases generally attached to movies becomes more commonly attached to games. We will begin seeing people turn away from certain productions because it doesn't fit in with their 'style', rather than people simply appraising it based solely on its merits. It really is unavoidable. I don't see it happening yet though, and proof of this comes in the form of sales figures.
Surely, there can't be 18 million people that adore the Modern Warfare setting. Surely there was more to those 5.5 million people who purchased FFXIII than the dedicated fantasy lovers. I think niche titles are affected more by these preferences, as people will intentionally seek out genres and backdrops that appeal to them while avoiding those that don't.
But there is still a long way to go before story telling in games is equivalent to that found in films and novels, so I don't think the setting is as important as it will be in another five or ten years when people are sitting down to play a game that is as involved as MGS4 in its depth. The future, as always, is inscrutable.
Peace.
P.S. Does anyone else think that we REALLY need another word for video games? To me, the 'games' moniker instantly brings up connotations of youth and immaturity, and I firmly believe that most gamers have moved beyond that, thanks in large part to the explosion in popularity of the hobby. It needs to be something short and catchy. Something easy to remember that explains what the interactive entertainment experience delivers. Like my luck today, I'm sh** out of ideas.
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aaronisbla
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 4:17:13 AM
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Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 6:55:14 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:23:47 AM
I said the way it was structured didn't necessarily appeal to me, and the MANY smaller issues kept hindering my experience.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:42:36 AM
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PasteNuggs
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 8:57:02 PM
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kraygen
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 4:44:41 AM
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However I know exactly what Ben is talking about. I love sci-fi movies, but for some strange reason have never been able to get into 90% of sci-fi games.
I will at some point play ME2, but not until I can pick it up for ps3 for $20. It's just not that big a deal to me.
More than that, I have not played Bioshock or Bioshock 2, because they don't appeal to me, I've watched a friend play them both and he's tried to convince me, but it just has no appeal to me.
Also, I will not be playing Dead Space 2, I couldn't even finish Dead Space, because I don't really enjoy horror.
One common element in all these is shooting, not a big shooter fan, some third person is a lot of fun, but not the style that DS and ME2 utilize, not for me.
I know all of these games have top notch everything, great production, graphics, story telling. They do everything right, but at the end of the day, if you don't like peanut butter, the best pb&j still has peanut butter. I still believe tho you can be objective and believe Ben will give an honest and fair review.
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Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 7:10:08 AM
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Ain't no harm in "reviewer's tilt", if it's positive, and promotes what is good in the industry, but it shouldn't be a euphemism for personal bias that robs a game for the credit it deserves.
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Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 7:46:38 AM
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If you don't like one of those games, it still might be worth checking out. If you dislike 2 out of 3 or all, you'd probably might want to pass on this one.
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crunchy_nut_kid
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 8:51:29 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:41:46 AM
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And that's exactly the point. In certain games where immersion is paramount, the theme is crucial. It goes double for something like ME2 that has an even bigger emphasis on the story. If the characters are aliens on a spaceship, it makes a difference, regardless of the dialogue or concepts involved.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:46:31 AM
But a noir tale about L.A. in the 40's? That alone makes LA Noire worth a buy to me.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:56:45 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 11:02:27 AM
Because, like RDR, it doesn't revolve around the storyline like Mass Effect, I could get into any of that open-world goodness. I may not LIKE a setting as much but I'd still play it.
Take San Andreas, for instance. I loved Vice City's theme but as soon as I heard the setting for SA, I knew I wouldn't like it as much. But it was still GTA...and I still loved SA. However, IF the game had been like ME; i.e., a heavy storyline about the thug life on the west coast, there's just no way I would've been able to get into it.
And that's the point.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:08:42 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 10:54:24 AM
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Maybe our tastes are a tad too specific for any broad generalizations, but need to simply be one factor we consider (depending on how important it is to us) in considering a purchase.
I can enjoy a great story in many settings, but no matter the accolades or hype you couldn't get me to wade through a game about the Mob to experience it.
My 2 cents with a little sense.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 3:43:02 PM
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 1/22/2011 3:43:40 PM
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RadioHeader
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 6:49:35 PM
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Teddie9
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 12:00:51 PM
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Alienange
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 1:01:57 PM
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What Mass Effect and games similar want us to do is delve into that universe for dozens of hours on end. When it's already not your favorite subject, you tend to get tired of it and put it down.
The focus on theme, as you say, is therefore very crucial in this generation of gaming and the ones to come. Making a game that appeals to everyone will not be enjoyed by anyone. For gaming, you have to target a certain fan base because only they will put that much commitment into your game.
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Shams
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 3:08:34 PM
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RebelJD
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 4:05:57 PM
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At first, it was a bit hard to get over the fact that this game came out on the 360 a year ago. How can I trick myself in feeling like this is a brand new experience to me? My brother-in-law loves the series and I casually caught him play both with the notion that I could only enjoy this game if I actually played it.
I made up an excuse and told myself "It doesn't come with any pre-order perks or Limited/Collector's Edition" so it's not a launch date release for me...I can wait.
Then I saw the trailer and was impressed instantly by this world that I deserve to experience and add to my memory bank next to other awesome franchises. I support my PS3 and this title is now a part of my amazing collection. To me, this is a new experience and I'm excited to crack open the Mass Effect world on my PS3.
I was sold on Mass Effect 2 from the beginning, I don't care to play the first Mass Effect either. This game is awesome and I'm glad it's selling like hotcakes :)
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Fane1024
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 4:57:27 PM
I will never understand why anyone cares how old a game is if they personally haven't played it.
A great year-old game is still a great game. A great ten-year-old game is usually still a great game.
Do you really have the same attitude about games as teenage girls do about clothes?
OMG that's like soooo last year.
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swapnilgyani
Saturday, January 22, 2011 @ 7:57:09 PM
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I personally could not get into the universally acclaimed Bioshock. The gameplay was sweet, and the story seemed to develop very well. But there was just something about that setting that turned me off.
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fdgtyr568
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 8:20:18 AM
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frylock25
Reply
Friday, January 21, 2011 @ 9:40:37 PM
while i do want to play this just to play it, i might not have the time for a while. maybe your review will make me want to play it more Ben. im sure it is a great game as i have heard a lot of good stuff about it. so many games to play i will add this to the list and work towards it.
doesnt gta3 seem like it came out a long time ago? like twice as long as it actually was.
Last edited by frylock25 on 1/21/2011 9:41:57 PM