II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
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II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 20, 2017 21:14:30 GMT
Alright, so.. Former official BSN member. About a gazillion hours played in the Mass Effect trilogy, including a decently high international MP rating and solo Platinum history. In other words, HUGE Mass Effect nerd.
New user name, new account, same old me - a nice guy with bastard undertones. Happy to make your acquaintance and looking forward to playing with anyone regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or religion on Xbox One as long as you're not a douchecanoe.
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
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37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 20, 2017 20:54:29 GMT
The whole judging the game by how it holds up to different kinds of games argument doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. The fact is that expectations are high because of the brilliance of the ME trilogy. It has become a benchmark franchise. If anything, it's a rod Bioware has created for its own back, but in a way a good problem to have.
Now, with all the issues surrounding the game (and my personal experience from 10 hours of gameplay), the overall feeling is that it has been rushed. There are things in the game that are unacceptably bad regardless of how "harshly" you judge them. The CC is a mess, writing is subpar, the conversation animations would have been a negative talking point 15 years ago and the fact that you can't quick save in an open world game is mind boggling. Yes, expectations are very high (as they should be!), but these issues have nothing to do with them. The expectations in these regards would have been the same for any AAA game. You don't expect basic, entry-level problems. That's it.
As for the game being the last of its kind or series, well, we'll see. I haven't seen the sales figures, but would assume they're at least going to be decent. However, this is a vocal community. If the game isn't up to snuff - and it's way too early to tell - Bioware will hear it. They can either let the game kill the franchise dead, ending it on a very sour note, or they can make sure that they do what they can to improve it and that when MEA2 is eventually released, it makes up for everything wrong with the first one and then some. Given the success of the trilogy, I know what I'd do.
Either way, I think it's only fair that the community expects a lot more than "that'll do".
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
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37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 19, 2017 23:19:06 GMT
They have done, in my opinion, fully acceptable animation in previous games. What's a bit concerning is how they have, it would appear, gone backwards in MEA. Some of the animations are, without hyperbole, on par with games from 15 years ago. The lack of body language, unnatural head turns, unrelated emotional responses etc. just aren't acceptable in a game of this supposed calibre, in this year.
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
0
37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 19, 2017 23:06:37 GMT
I'd say "room to improve". Some parts are as pretty and impressive as anything I've ever played. Others are reminiscent of games I played 15-20 years ago. It's an odd mix of a game thus far, which makes me think it was rushed. Some things are simply so obviously either ignored or in what should be alpha testing that I cannot fathom them being overlooked, as it were. It has to have been pushed to make a release date.
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
0
37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 19, 2017 23:01:39 GMT
Well.. The original trilogy was rated M (18+). The new, according to the trailer anyway, is rated 16. That's not a promising sign. However, only ten hours in, it's really way too early to say. What I'm somewhat concerned about though, regarding the story in particular, is that it feels a bit lowest common denominator, if you know what I mean. It is, so far anyway, Michael Bay writing rather than Michael Mann writing. Which is completely wrong for a game such as this, in my opinion. Old saves have no impact, as far as I can tell. The only thing you can decide is whether Shep was male or female, that looks to be it. Which is unfortunate given that the female Krogan whose name escapes me says the genophage wasn't cured, even though it was in many a playthrough (including mine). The Genophage isn't cured for them because the Arks left before the events of 3. They weren't there for the Genophage to be cured for them. That may be true (2185 vs 2186). Which makes the origin story of the arks somewhat shallow, come to think of it. But you are probably right.
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
0
37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 19, 2017 22:49:41 GMT
A step in the right direction and likely to save a lot of people a lot of time until the devs get their proverbial sorted.
Kudos.
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
0
37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 19, 2017 22:44:00 GMT
So...my fears about being more childish...what you think after this 10 hours? the complexity of the story..the emotions..the characters...you think it will grow within the game or...its that bad. By the way the old saves of the trilogy have no meaning in Andromeda? Well.. The original trilogy was rated M (18+). The new, according to the trailer anyway, is rated 16. That's not a promising sign. However, only ten hours in, it's really way too early to say. What I'm somewhat concerned about though, regarding the story in particular, is that it feels a bit lowest common denominator, if you know what I mean. It is, so far anyway, Michael Bay writing rather than Michael Mann writing. Which is completely wrong for a game such as this, in my opinion. Old saves have no impact, as far as I can tell. The only thing you can decide is whether Shep was male or female, that looks to be it. Which is unfortunate given that the female Krogan whose name escapes me says the genophage wasn't cured, even though it was in many a playthrough (including mine).
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
0
37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 19, 2017 21:59:17 GMT
Odd thing to say in this thread. The Dev asked us for feedback. He isn't asking for us to tell him what a great job he did, he wants to know about bugs and problems. I'm just kidding around. If you're unfamiliar with Mass Effect, it's kind of known for having a sizeable number of fans whose only happiness seems to come from looking for ways to shit on the games. That's true, but also expected. People LOVE the Mass Effect games in ways that people love, say, Star Wars. When expectations aren't met, people go ape. To a certain extent, it's also a rod that Bioware have created for their own back by consistently putting out world class content. A nice problem to have, in a way.
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II So Close II
N1
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: II So Close II
Posts: 36 Likes: 37
inherit
5059
0
37
II So Close II
I used to be a space adventurer like you, but then I took a Krysae sniper rifle shot to the knee.
36
Mar 19, 2017 13:30:02 GMT
March 2017
soclose
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda
II So Close II
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Post by II So Close II on Mar 19, 2017 20:53:57 GMT
Have to say I agree with pretty much everything that Cassandra said, but I'll add a couple of own thoughts.
Having played about a gazillion hours in the ME trilogy (my favorite games of all time) and being, well, I used to be a solo Platinum MP player, I was looking forward a great deal to ME Andromeda. The ten hour trial hasn’t really put a damp on my moods, but I’m being somewhat cautious.
I’ll start with the good: -The overall graphics are, for the most part, beautiful. It’s a huge step up for the franchise. -The Tempest in general, and the option to actually see out of it in particular, is spectacular. -The movement is extremely fluid and smooth. -The voice acting, with a couple of notable exceptions, has been solid. -It’s still a Mass Effect game.
Moving onto the bad: -The AI is severely lacking both in terms of enemies and squad mates. Enemies will jump out of cover, then back again, then out of it, then back again etc. in continuous loops. Meanwhile, your team will randomly jump around with their jetpacks and fall down cracks. -The lack of pause/proper squad mechanic means the people you bring into a fight have less importance. Also, they die. All. The. Time. -The Multiplayer feels underdeveloped. Falling off the edge of a map is now a thing (not sure I agree with it, but whatever), but doesn’t kill you, only takes your shields off as you immediately respawn. Hmmkay? The sound is annoyingly inconsistent and with headphones can be downright confusing. Also, there are lag spikes, frame drops and disconnects despite me sitting on a 500 down/100+ up connection with pretty much perfect performance. -Anomaly/scanning is.. ..odd, although that may be my lack of understanding of it. I get told – ad nauseam – that there’s an anomaly. I go to the planet and can’t scan it. Not intuitive. -The two seconds of tram going through a tunnel as you travel around the Nexus? Just.. ..ugh.
Finally, the fugly: -The conversation animations are unacceptably bad at this level. The glass eyes, solid face, zero body language conversations would have been alright maybe 15-20 years ago. Today, they simply are not. I had one conversation with a person who had the same exact expression all the way through it, the rest of her body rigidly frozen except for three random shrugs. It simply will not do, Bioware. -CC is.. ..come on. -Writing is woeful at times. The protagonist’s reaction to what should be a life changing event is an emotionless “ok, moving on”. Mass Effect should be aimed at 18+ audiences expecting and receiving high quality, intelligent, writing brilliance. Not John Carter levels of stoic nonsense, clichés and immaturity. You have to think Michael Mann, not Michael Bay, Bioware. -The not being able to quicksave/whateversave during priority missions? You know this is an open world game, right?
TL;DR: Although I’m still very much looking forward to the game release, the ten first hours haven't exactly blown me away. There are so many great games out there that you compete with and with the ME trilogy the best ever created (in my eyes, but objectively also one of the standout franchises in history), your internal demands and standards have to be higher than this, Bioware. MEA needs to be more than this. Better than this. "Good enough" and "that'll do" is simply not good enough. I hope it will be as good as it could be. Right now, it feels.. ..rushed.
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