Earlier this week we published our verdict on BioWare's excellent Mass Effect 2... and you may have heard it's a bit good.
With critical acclaim raining all over BioWare's Canadian brickwork then, our gaze has naturally already turned to the third game.
The official word is that work on Mass Effect 3 will start proper once the second's DLC is done and dusted. So right on time for the designers to take note, we've compiled a list of the four things we want to see in Mass Effect 3...
1. Keep snubbing stats: Mass Effect 2 shifted the balance from RPG towards shooter, whilst maintaining the rich narrative and deep character interaction the series is famous for.
The most successful - and brave - part of this shift was the axing of the over complex stats and loot role-playing games traditionally rely on. With less game time spent stressing over your inventory and skill points, the second Mass Effect is allowed to show off its true strengths; a glorious cinematic experience, sci-fi combat and moral choices that have you pondering over your mouse or joypad.
We'd like to see Mass Effect 3 continue this balance; expand the combat, world and conversation system, while again trying to surprise us with more difficult character choices and surprising set pieces. The act of character building and weapon customisation doesn't need to be over complicated; that's what Dragon Age is for.
2. Less shooting, more adventure: That said, if it weren't for BioWare's glorious art design, Mass Effect 2's story missions could've wobbled dangerously close to repetition. Gorgeous environments and interesting characters do a good job of keeping you engaged of course, but actually in the second game Sheppard never really does anything other than shoot baddies and collect stuff.
For Mass Effect 3, it'd be nice to see some more adventure-style scenarios and mechanics introduced to the mission structure; more puzzles and unique social situations.
We're not suggesting that BioWare resurrect the dodgy vehicle sections from the original, but something that involves Sheppard not moving around rigidly with a rifle would be a breath of fresh air. Assassin's Creed II, Gears of War and Resident Evil 4 each do a brilliant job or making sure you're never doing the same thing for too long - BioWare should take note.
3. Less Squadmates: The follow-up did a decent job of injecting some personality into the cast of colourful characters you encounter during Sheppard's battle against the Reapers. Each crew member has their own surprisingly polished side quest, unique personality and way of dealing. It's also fun to try and have sex with them, of course.
But as they say, nine's company and ten is far too bloody many squadmates to be dealing with. For as much effort as BioWare's put in to defining each Normandy crew member, most players end up sticking to the same few for their missions anyway. With fewer characters to focus on, Mass Effect 3's cast could be gifted more back story, side missions and perhaps we'll actually end up using them all.
4. Make the Normandy a Sandbox: In the new game the Normandy is far more complex and interesting to explore than before, and you can even buy fish for your tank, ornaments and fiddle with the audio system in Sheppard's private quarters.
For Mass Effect 3 we'd like to see BioWare - or maybe even a hired outside developer - expand on this idea and shamelessly nick Ezio's Villa from Assassin's Creed II. Allow players to extensively customise and upgrade the Normandy through the in-game economy, earning cash through on-board traders and mining devices and making services and areas of the ship larger.
This idea is of course touched on in a very limited fashion through Mass Effect 2's research station, but not at the level Ubisoft achieved in its Renaissance adventure. Coming back to our first point, a proper Normandy sandbox could also be an answer to sensibly presenting the third game's RPG elements; collecting and switching your weapons through an in-game armoury or visiting the space barbers for a Princess Leia-style barnet sounds good to us.
Agree? Disagree? Have your own ideas? Sound out in the comments below...
Im not going to read what im sure is a great article until ive actually played ME:2, repost this in about a months time CVG and ill gladly contribute towards the debate.
Im not going to read what im sure is a great article until ive actually played ME:2, repost this in about a months time CVG and ill gladly contribute towards the debate.
Well, if noone else is going to bite, I will! I agree with most of what you put cvg! Especially number four. I was very pleased to hear thatelements of the Normandy where more interactive than before and would like to see it expanded on. I liked that element in AC2, also! Having not actually played the game, I can't really comment on their being too many teammates but I tend to use them all to find the different styles of them and see which is best for me, but I suppose I can see your point!
I obviously don't know about ME2, but in the first I would tend too use a different team depending on what character class I was! Adept= Engineer (Tali) + Combat (Wrex), that sort of thing! Can't wait to play the new one and find out!!!
I read it tentatively, expecting to jump away from the page at the slightest hint of a spoiler, and I can report it's a pretty safe read.
But I agree - how can we know what they should include in the third one when none of us "normals" have played the second game yet? Give us a chance, for god's sake
mine is on the way from play so i still haven't had a chance to see whether this is true or not but from what i've seen the skill trees and item micro management/upgrade's from the 1st me have been scaled back considerably.
if true and they have been "streamlined" to make the game more appealing to the cod crowd i'll be slightly disappointed.
i'm cool with the cack side quests,the mako,identikit planets/bases/enemies,lifts and the inventory limit being scrapped but i like to tinker with skills and accessories for weapons/armour in an rpg.
i'm sure it won't detract too much from what looks to be a top quality title but i'd like to see bioware find a more satisfying solution for the 3rd game than (apparently) 'tossing the baby out with the bathwater' .
The best thing that could ever happen to Mass Effect 3 is co-op play. I don´t think it is nice playign with a squad that needs to be controlled, because AI sux.
Erm, can I go on record to say that the customisation of your villa in AC2 was a pointless addition that had no baring on the gameplay at all. I only collected the necessary stuff to get the relevant achievement.
The best thing that could ever happen to Mass Effect 3 is co-op play.
please god no. this idea killed resi stone dead.
i'll happily deal with shoddy ai before i have to rely on an internet connection and some tw@t on the other side of the atlantic to randomly drop in and f*ck a mission up while screaming "DUDE! AWESOME!! DUDE!!!" during the cut scenes.
anyway,that's easily sorted with the d pad squad commands. it actually surprises me how many people don't even know they are there.
I agree with the too many squadmates thing, I usually stick with the same characters in all my playthroughs with ME1. The same with Dragon Age, and any other game with squadmates.
That said I find squadmates annoying, they either don't do what I want them to do being a pain to control when things get heated when you've got your own hide to worry about, or get in the way and get shot, by me. Needless to say mine go down quite a lot.
Yeah CVG, stop rubbing it in. I bet you nabbed that DLC for free too!
I am personally against co-op for THIS trilogy (ie. ME3) since it is (as they keep saying) "Shepard's story" and having different people playing different characters would detract from this.
THAT SAID, once the Shepard saga is over and done with, I'd love to see a separate co-op game (or even MMO - once Bioware has earned their MMO chops!) using your own custom characters, or two different characters defined in the same way as SHepard (personalised but integrated into cut scenes).
I dont agree with the 'snubbing of stats'. Having just freed Jack from Purgatory and clocked in about 9 hours, I miss the depth that your powers and equipment had in ME1. I want to be able to choose whether I have that Geth assault-rifle that doesn't overheat for sustained fire, or another AR that deals heavy damage but is slightly innacurate, and I wanna work my way up to a heavy duty Spectre-esque one that does everything. I don't like being lumped with simplistic guns with little choice.
As far as the combat-to-RPG depth ratio goes, I think a balance can be struck. If Bioware want action and to simplify the role-playing, then I want Mass of Duty with crisp and precise guns and enemies that are intelligent, responsive, and can feel pain all over their bodies and react to it..... A balance would be easier, though.
Solid ideas CVG, IMO. In regards to trying something different as opposed to just running "rigidly" around how about a section or two of intense space shuttle/craft dog fighting? Similar to what was done in "Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter" back in 2003 but better.
In The Netherlands it is on the shelves today, a day earlier than advertised. I saw it with my own eyes. Of course that is of little comfort if you don't find yourself in The Netherlands at present time with the means to buy the game.
In case anyone is interested, no, I am not a Dutch citizen nor do I desire to become one.
I couldn't disagree more with the first suggestion. Mass Effect 2 already dumbed-down the RPG aspects far too much and became too much of a shooter. BioWare needs to bring it back to its roots more, not go further away from them and just turn this into Gears of War Effect with interactive cutscenes.
I've played about 2 hours on Mass Effect 2. I am very impressed with the game, however I do not get the same feeling compared to Mass Effect 1.
The graphics and sound are superb and Bioware couldn't have done it better, but for me it feels as though something is missing from the game. I am not getting that same feeling that I got when playing the first game.
I want to see more adventure and dialogue in the 3rd Mass Effect. Mass Effect 2 feels very action driven for me. It doesn't feel as though it's driven by dialogue like the first Mass Effect. Moreover, . All your recruits are displayed on a planet. The planet is tagged on your map and it displays who you will be able to recruit there.
This truly cuts out the sense of adventure and it doesn't feel like a challenge at all.
Nevertheless, the game is superb, despite these little issues and Bioware should take note of this.
Face scanning Natal/Vision Cam - map your face onto Shepard (and your friends faces to certain key squad members) Change your skin and eye colour, i.e. blue skin like in Avatar, to make yourself look like an alien race. Seeing your face in the cut scenes will make you feel more involved.
Head tracking via Natal or Real D 3D - to give that illusion of depth of field, floating objects etc. again bringing you into the experience.
Voice recognition via Natal - instead of selecting your reply with a joystick, simply say it aloud. You may feel like a prat but it is far more natural and instinctive, and worked in games like Endwar. Obviously the self concious amoung us can turn this option off!
what then? y'just there for a 'smoke' or something?
Hehe. Negative. Haven't smoked a cigarette or other such things at any point during my life. I work here although I'm looking forward to leaving the country shortish.
I would like the elevators to return, I prefered the banter between squad mates to a loading screen. When you put Tali and Wrex together it was quite amusing.
Otherwise cannot think of anything else off of the top of my head but then I haven't played 2 yet.
I've played about 2 hours on Mass Effect 2. I am very impressed with the game, however I do not get the same feeling compared to Mass Effect 1.
The graphics and sound are superb and Bioware couldn't have done it better, but for me it feels as though something is missing from the game. I am not getting that same feeling that I got when playing the first game.
I want to see more adventure and dialogue in the 3rd Mass Effect. Mass Effect 2 feels very action driven for me. It doesn't feel as though it's driven by dialogue like the first Mass Effect. Moreover, . All your recruits are displayed on a planet. The planet is tagged on your map and it displays who you will be able to recruit there.
This truly cuts out the sense of adventure and it doesn't feel like a challenge at all.
Nevertheless, the game is superb, despite these little issues and Bioware should take note of this.
Have to disagree, as you're given a dossier by someone who has his eye on pretty much everything, therefore it's not inconceivable that you'd know their exact location.
For me ten recruits is fine, as I played with everyone on the first game, which I've completed 8 times! I can already tell I'll be playing this again and again.
All the things mentioned in this article aren't bad ideas, but what I'd really like to see is some sort of galactic economy, where you can buy goods for cheap somewhere and then sell them for a profit somewhere else.
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