[Costin Moroianu]

I dunno I kinda dislike the planet exploration of ME1, simply because they where just so empty! Though I did like driving around in a Mako it did get boring after the 3rd playthrough to do everything as a hardcore RPG completionist I couldn't stand it.

As for number of skills, most of them where just useless really, not to say there aren't useless skills in ME2 but I prefer it to ME1....though in truth ME3 has a really good skill set and gameplay mechanics, the best in the series actually as far as I am concerned. Now if only ME3 wasn't about shooting clone after clone after clone of enemies in every mission then I might like it more gameplay wise and yes I know ME1 and ME2 had a lot of clone troopers as well but in ME1 and ME2 you had mini-bosses in many areas or full blown bosses, in ME3 you don't have squat besides...Kai Leng.

In regards to story...well I dunno if you like TIM and Cerberus or outright despise them but what they did with them in ME3..makes the BS of DA2 look like fucking Shakespeare!

[.Volsung.]

I got ME2 for free after EA tried to compensate for their super shitty DA2. I always considered ME to be a shooter with level progression, so I was actually positively suprised by ME2.

Not that it was an RPG of any sort, but I liked the narration, the small bits of adventure/exploration, and I thought the tactical cover-based shooting was entertaining. The setting felt very rich and interesting. Now that might be in part because I focused on the good parts, because honestly some gameplay mechanics are HORRIBLE. Mostly the morality system. Apparently they measure how many paragon/renegade points you have out of the total presented to you so far, which means if you straddle the fence and play neutral (both sides), at some point you won't be able to choose either! Also NPC interaction is extremely lame and shallow. And of course character customization.

So in my opinion ME2 is OK if you expect an action game, since it actually gives you a little more: exploration, dialogue, talent trees. And the setting is kind of interesting. If you expect an RPG, you'll be utterly disappointed.

[slimgrin]

Well my second order of Severance has shipped!

The first order got canceled. The seller only had two copies, both of which were damaged. Not many copies of this title floating around, really.

[Costin Moroianu]

Isn't that game abandonware?

[slimgrin]

Costin Moroianu said:

Isn't that game abandonware? ›››

I don't know. Maybe I could have downloaded it legally if it's abandonware and there's no copyright enforcement. Too late now.

[gregski]

slimgrin said:

I don't know. Maybe I could have downloaded it legally if it's abandonware and there's no copyright enforcement. Too late now. ›››

It's so good that you're not going to regret a cent.

[Bloth]

Rebel Act studios don't exist anymore, I know that, and Codemasters aren't selling it straight off their website like they used to. There used to be a couple of fan websites I used to peruse about the game, for the latest mods and whatnot, think one was called Bigtruck and the other Arokh's lair, they might know if they're still running.

[Prince_12]

KnightofPhoenix said:

I was referring to the Connor one. But after having cooled off, I'll say that the endgame was decent, but the game was so amazing throughout that it deserved more than decent.

As for Connor. I love him, and I will write about him soon although I won't rank him (but if I were to, he'd rank highly). A lot of the reasons I've sen for people who dislike Connor are meh, especially those who say it's because they miss Ezio or Altair. Their stories are done (esp Ezio, he had3 games), get over it. ›››

Glad to hear it! About Connor being a good protagonist, I mean. Really loved Altair and Ezio, and was afraid they messed up Connor, since I was "looking forward" to playing as him.

Appreciate the input!

[secondchildren]

There is one thing that I don't really get of ME2: reason why the CPU jumps to 95C in full screen and around 75C at window mode. Except that window mode is unplayable.

is that Bioware is trying to fry my pc or what?

[Bloth]

I never really minded both Mass Effects, I just saw them as dips into brainless power fantasies, good space opera stuff. ME2 did seem to take a giant leap into even deeper pools of idiocy with its plot and characters however, especially when the game railroads Shep into just going along with Cerberus' actions. Then again the whole ressurection thing was utterly pointless, both game and plot wise.

[M4xw0lf]

I liked Mass Effect 1 because it's good science fiction. But then they went and threw it all out of the window.

[gregski]

New trailer for Bioshock:Infinite...bloody brilliant if you ask me:

[Coroner(Zg]

Now that is a good teaser trailer. Nice one.

[KnightofPhoenix]

My thoughts on KOTOR2 so far (Finishing up Nar'Shadda, my first planet after Telos).

Kreia is of course very awesome and she dominates every scene or convo she is in. A great character.

But so far, the game is meh. Other than Kreia, everyone else is meh with the possible exception of Atton. Nar'Shadda is dull and annoyingly stale. It takes way too much time to get a lightsaber (which as a guardian I can't afford), so I cheated and conjured up lightsabers. The plot in Nar'Shadda is really mess and not that well thought out. And those moments where they force you to fight as one of your companions against bounty hunters is poorly thought out (the way I built Atton is as a support ranged fighter, he can't take on two melee beasts on his own!).

Telos was boring and the potential Czerka / Ithorian divide which could have been interesting, is instead portrayed as good vs comically stupid evil. And IIRC Dantooine was also boring.

But I remember Onderon being good and so I'll wait for that. But for now, even with restored content, seems like KOTOR2 is still the unfinished gem.

[Pham]

KnightofPhoenix said:

My thoughts on KOTOR2 so far (Finishing up Nar'Shadda, my first planet after Telos). ›››

You kind of went with a different planet order. Usually Dantooine is the first planet people go to after Telos (and you get a lightsaber there pretty quick). But to be honest, conjuring a lightsaber is not a bad thing. I have a mod installed that skips the whole first planet/tutorial/area and ports me directly to the Ebon Hawk + gives me a lightsaber.

I do agree that KotOR2 was not as much fun as the first one though.

[Bloth]

Kotor 2 suited my own aesthetics far more than the first, but if you're not enjoying it Knight i'd just go and watch the highlights on Youtube. Kreia's threats and manipulations of the various npcs, few bits on Korriban, her tutelage of the Exile, the showdown at the rebuilt jedi academy etcetera.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Blothulfur said:

Kotor 2 suited my own aesthetics far more than the first, but if you're not enjoying it Knight i'd just go and watch the highlights on Youtube. Kreia's threats and manipulations of the various npcs, few bits on Korriban, her tutelage of the Exile, the showdown at the rebuilt jedi academy etcetera. ›››

Yea I'll probably do that.

Also did an entire page of the thread disappear or something?

[Bloth]

In Hairy Bear.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Yea got confused there for a sec

[~Fandango~]

Fired up Max Payne 3 for the first time last night and sunk a few hours in. Kind of underwhelmed overall, despite the fantastic visuals and solid gameplay. Back to Baldur’s Gate for me (just opened the city map).