MEA Official Reviews Thread (Polarized 9.5-5.0 7.6av)

I came from a time when games weren't evaluated by que quality of it's facial animations, because they didn't even exist! so, when did this change? Now if a game introduces something new, every other game after that will be penalized if they don't implement something better than the other game, even if the other game is from another company?

It changed when the generations changed, then the standards became too high, beyond logic. Some are so ridiculous, that even the most insignificant form of nitpicking will make the game automatically crap.

This is a disingenuous argument. BioWare is one of the originators of the cinematic presentation you're discussing. They did it pretty efficiently in an old, clunky engine on tired old gaming consoles throughout the OT. Now, they've produced a lesser result with Fb3 and more powerful tech. That's why reviewers are offering valid criticism.

If you've read any of these reviews, you know that the animations are just a small part of why the game is scoring lower than you'd hoped. It has a great many technical issues. It is even frequently being criticized for its character writing and voice acting, which are typically two points we BioWare fans assume will be golden, regardless of all other features.

No one in these forums loves Mass Effect any more than I, nor has devoted more time to it and BioWare's other IPs. I have the 70+ completed ME playthroughs to prove that. I love this IP. That strawman preemptively slain, I don't understand this thin-skinned reaction to valid criticism. Where would we be in a world without criticism? All products would be shite. These reviewers are not attacking BioWare. Many of them seem sad, almost morose, about the fact that they're writing such a "disappointed" review of MEA.

The problem with the game review industry doesn't seem to be the reviewers or publishers; it seems to be the fans. Publishers are accused of buying higher review scores, but I've often seen fans bitching the most when a game doesn't get the score they wanted it to get. This thread is a perfect example of this. I'll gladly listen to the guy who has actually played the game and compiled a detailed accounting of its strengths and weaknesses. He has valuable insight. Only a fool plugs his ears to opinions that don't tickle his fancy.

The review, as in the written content, was worth a read. I don't feel Steve Wright's review score matched his review text. He cited serious technical glitches, including one that required a shutdown/reboot, yet said, "none of that matters". Okay, Steve. It doesn't matter for you, I guess. The thing you don't see me doing is getting upset about Steve's judgment that MEA deserves a 9.5, technical issues and all.

Some here, in contrast, seem so deeply and personally wounded by these 6 and 7 scores that it's ruined their day. Some perspective is needed. Criticism from a professional critic is not a personal attack. Likewise, Steve Wright and I could probably laugh about our differences in opinion concerning the review score, and then get to the fun part of discussing the game itself. Those getting upset are completely losing sight of the fun. No one here is paid to get ulcers over review scores. That's BioWare's job.

I've called out certain posters who have particularly thin skin myself. That's not what I'm talking about though. You wrote: Only a fool plugs his ears to opinions that don't tickle his fancy.

I pointed out that that exact sentiment should go both ways. Should people who think this game is crap disregard the review that scored it 9.5? Judging by your comments, no, they should not. Because the reviewer has played the game and has important insights. They should love the game because the reviewer does!

I don't think a person who dislike the premise of this game or whatever their reason for it has any obligation to take into account a reviewer's opinion that it is a great game, but the same goes for people who like the game, they don't have to listen to a reviewer who scored it a 6 or whatever. They don't have to be a fool just because they don't feel the same as that reviewer.

Personally, I like the game regardless of the technical issues. No reviewer can make me feel any different. Am I a fool? Maybe. But a very happy one in that case.

And of course people in the user reviews are dishing out the 0/10s.

Stay classy.

People do it because the memes are funny, at least to them. 

It doesn't even necessarily mean they hate the game. Mass Effect 2 is the most popular game, and that had no shortage of memes either. Harbinger, Jacob's romance content, and Shepard's badly animated smile were all subjected to mockery, even by people who loved the game.

In short, relax. Unless you're a Bioware employee there is no reason to take it so personal. Even if you are a Bioware employee you probably shouldn't. Most of it is in good fun and isn't intended to be mean-spirited.

yes the plastic props hair in andromeda and the MS paint beards are better.

Been playing it for awhile now, and I'm huge ME fan. Played all the originals more than once. The writing in ME:A is very subpar, and that's being nice.

Stuff like I linked below, is not acceptable, it's a 20 second breakout of a romance dialogue. It's tragic, and sad that this kind of stuff made it in the game the way it did. Serious problems in Animation, writing, and VO... it's just unacceptable.

The level of polish in tw3 is not to be argued about. And we should stop about tw3 , its a bioware forum here

It isn't a well written scene regardless of the intent. 

The dialogue is stilted and painful, rather than endearing.