XboxOttawa.ca

[Pwalex]

Anyone playing/played it yet?

I'm maybe halfway through at the moment (with about 20 hours clocked) and absolutely loving it. While I liked the original Mass Effect, I always thought it was one of BioWare's weakest games (in terms of gameplay/structure) but also had a lot of promise in the story. Mass Effect 2 definitely changes that. I can't put it above KotOR, but it's damn close. Definitely one of the most cinematic RPG experiences out there.

What I'm really liking about it is the freedom it gives you. It's a little less formulaic than other BioWare games (though it's still in the typical BioWare formula). In previous BioWare games, you usually go through maybe a 3 hour linear intro story, then you get a choice between 3 or 4 dungeons/planets that you can do in any order you choose (they sell this as the "freedom", but it really doesn't matter how you do it in the end anyway) and then you get set back on the linear path again. Mass Effect 2 sticks to the same basic formula (so far - I haven't beaten it yet, though) but there's just a lot more to do in the "freedom" part of the game.

After the initial linear intro, you get sent out to start gathering your team. It starts you out going after four team members, then another story mission. At this point I thought the game must be already hitting its linear ending part, but then it opens up again. This time you get to gather even more team members, and the party members' personal quests start to open up.

And those personal quests (and all the side-quests, really) are actually *good*! They feel like proper missions, and are a decent length too.

So... anyone else playing it?
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Left4Dead: Pwink

[Stereoface]

I'm waiting till there's a deal on steam for it- 25% of maybe?
Looking forward to watch my marks drop a bit then...

In other news I pre-ordered BF BC2...

[Pwalex]

Heh, I think my work has certainly suffered from it.
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Left4Dead: Pwink

[kristianHAHAHA]

hells yeah iv been playing it. just up to the ending nao but i kinda find it felt much more "light" in rpg terms. I mean comon, theres a total of 3 diffrent pistols, assault rifles, snipers, shotguns and machine pistols. They have really just ripped out the whole rpg concept to the game and slotted in a average upgrade system that youd find in a game like god of war or zelda. Perhaps darksiders. I know that alot of people hated the inventory system of the orignal mass effect but thats what drove people to play through again, to get sweet gear and awesome guns.
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FTC, forever.

[Pwalex]

Nah, I'm totally in favour of the axing the inventory. It didn't suit Mass Effect 1 in the first place. I'm sure it could have been streamlined, but the game's way better when the focus is on story, action, and choice. Inventory doesn't make it an RPG.

Borderlands might be a great alternative if you do like going-for-the-gear type gaming.
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Left4Dead: Pwink

[Pwalex]

I beat it yesterday. And then today my 360 red ringed. Damn lucky timing on that...
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Left4Dead: Pwink

[andrew]

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[Pwalex]

Yeah, I'm not a happy camper. I thought I had one of the good systems or something, because I've had it for over 3 years and aside from an occasionally faulty DVD drive (I get dirty disc errors for no reason from time to time) it's been perfect. I was luckily able to get a free repair even though I'm not technically covered by warranty, so that was nice... and they said they would have a look at my DVD drive while they were at it. Hopefully when I get it back it's good as new.

On the plus side, Mass Effect 2 was awesome.
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Left4Dead: Pwink

[kristianHAHAHA]

yeah i spose the story was epic but it was better in the first than in the second. More of those OMG EPIC moments. and borderlands..... dont even talk to me about that.. 200 years my left testistcal!
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FTC, forever.

[xmoose]

Forget RROD, BSWD (Black Screen White Dots) is the cooler error. Looks like my Xbox's video card has bit the dust. This is going to the be the third time I've sent it away however this time I don't have a warranty so I might just buy a new one if the quote is ridiculous.

First error: It just froze and use to sound like a vacuum.
Second error: RROD
Third error: Faulty video card

It's really starting to annoy me. The original Xbox was as solid as rock you could chuck that thing down the stairs and it would still be playable. The 360 gets one piece of dust inside it and it goes to crap.
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[Pwalex]

kristianHAHAHA wrote:

yeah i spose the story was epic but it was better in the first than in the second. More of those OMG EPIC moments. and borderlands..... dont even talk to me about that.. 200 years my left testistcal!

Yeah, the story had more shock moments in the first Mass Effect. In fact, I would say that it's overall story was far better than in 2. However, in Mass Effect 2 they really created great characters. And each character's story was pretty cool in and of itself.
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Left4Dead: Pwink

[SnipingGoldie]

Working through the first one on my friend's steam account. Just started last night, not even a Spectre yet. One little annoyance is when I'm pressing space to skip through dialogue sometimes it selects a dialogue branch for me. Any tips?
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[Pwalex]

Skipping the dialogue can be tricky, since if you tap the skip key on the final segment of dialogue it generally just goes with the default option. Fixing that isn't really a simple fix, since it basically requires you to know which segment is the last one. All I can recommend there is not to mash the skip key, but the tap it just once per line.

Also, I already started my second playthrough. And that's saying something, because I usually never play a game twice - and even if I do it's usually not for some time after my first playthrgouh. All renegade this time, mofo!
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Left4Dead: Pwink

[SnipingGoldie]

Yeah, I'm just being extra careful. I'm going pretty much all renegade Infiltrator. I wish I was the Turian Agent class, though. It has all the stats I want. Still, Garrus and Wrex rock.

I also understand everyone's gripe with the inventory. Buying and selling items sucks nuts. I can't organize things easily, and buying from the guy on the Normandy is an exercise in frustration.
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[Fanboy]

Stereoface wrote:

I'm waiting till there's a deal on steam for it- 25% of maybe? Looking forward to watch my marks drop a bit then... In other news I pre-ordered BF BC2...

http://www.amazon.com/Mass-Effect-2-Pc/dp/B001VJ4DHK

I take your 25% and raise you 15%
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