James McGeachie Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) The mako was probably the worst gaming experience of the last decade. Good fucking grief it sucked. Happy to see that go! I assume though that despite disliking the Mako, you LIKE the idea of planet exploration? Like I assume you still enjoy the concept of exploring planets? It's not just the "Mako" that's gone, it's the whole free roaming planet exploring system that went with it, that's the problem. There was no reason that they couldn't just have replaced the Mako with a much better vehicle and refined the process of exploring planets. Imagine a vehicle with faster speed and flight capabilities zooming around planets. For example, you're driving along the ground towards a mountain with a base on top of it, you switch into flight mode and quickly ascend up above the mountain, then reconvert into ground mode and land yourself on the plateau. Shit like that would've been great. Taking the whole system out and replacing it with a minigame isnt an improvement, it's sidestepping the problem and replacing it with a lazier substitute. I actually complained about the fact they've removed this on a few places and it seems like everywhere people just see the word "MAKO" and go "oh good fuck that shit glad it's gone" and don't stop to think it could've been replaced or improved instead. Edited December 5, 2009 by James McGeachie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aimless Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 It's not just the "Mako" that's gone, it's the whole free roaming planet exploring system that went with it, that's the problem. I wouldn't be so sure about this. There's been several references to the game having a new vehicle to mess around in, both back in July and more recently. To give you an idea of what to expect: We have a completely new vehicle in Mass Effect 2, and it's a similar idea, but the way it works and the controls are fundamentally different. We're not talking too much about it yet, in part because it's one of the things that's just gone in and we want to make sure that it's going to stay the way it is in the final game before we talk too much about it. But it's definitely a different design. It's a similar idea, in that it's a vehicle about the size of the Mako that you can use to explore these really rough alien worlds. The difference is, it moves fundamentally differently from the first Mako, where now…it basically moves similar to the way your character moves. You can strafe from left to right, you can shoot wherever you want, it's easier to target enemies that are standing right in front of you or directly overhead, and it just navigates the terrain a lot better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James McGeachie Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) ^Well I'm confused about that because the more recent interview you linked had the quote I'd been basing my thoughts on. And, when you arrive at a planet, you have an actual minigame for scanning the planet. It's really cool, you actually see the planet spinning below you, you turn it around, and you can scan for resources and the controller will rumble, and hear different sounds. You can kind of close in on resources. This part basically replaces the less interesting aspects of resource gathering from Mass Effect 1 and places it into a minigame...it's a lot more interactive. This is how you pull up a lot of the resources that then tie into the economy of the game for getting upgrades and stuff like that. The other thing that happens is, when you're scanning planets, in addition to finding resources than you can pull out of using space probes, you can also find signals and radio anomalies...that you can close in on and, through the minigames, actually find the location on the planet where something is going on. It's not lack of vehicles I care about remotely, just the lack of exploring expansive planetary regions. I don't care about them being empty because that's what space is like. I just liked it giving a sense of scale and freedom to the game. Edited December 5, 2009 by James McGeachie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aimless Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I'm sure you'll still have a sense of scale, the game just probably won't throw you into a rectangular sandpit to play Hunt The Mineral Vein anymore. Reading between the lines it sounds like all resource gathering is done from orbit now via a scanning minigame, through which you can also uncover areas of interest to investigate on foot/wheels/thrusters. Presumably you'll then be able to land on the planet at said location, although it's unclear exactly how that will play out. They've said each side mission has far more authored content, so it's possible that you'd simply touch down in a linear zone a bit like Therum, the location of Liara's dig site in the first game. On the other hand perhaps each LZ is something of a miniature overworld like the first game's uncharted worlds, albeit with more hand crafted terrain and more unique content. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Dare Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 What I'd like to see is something like: you find a planet with a pirate base on or something you do the scanning bit, whatever. then when you go to the pirates, it's not that warehouse we saw in every goddamn planet first time around, but a linear mini mission in a properly designed area. I'm thinking a jungle camp, cave systems and towns or something. If we get that the mako and random terrain generation, I'm sure the game will be better. Exploration is all well and good as a bullet point on the box but I never had the reason and motivation to do so before. I'm not bothered it's gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James McGeachie Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Well Dan Dare what you said is basically how it is in the game now. Maybe exploration is just a bullet point for you but for me at least it was a big part of the game. I'm in space, I have a space ship, there are shitloads of planets. My natural instinct is to want to explore them. It just made it feel like a real universe to me. I mean space is full of empty rocky planets with next to nothing of interest on them, that's just the way it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViPeR Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I was never a big fan of the mako but I didn't hate it. I hope the exploration isn't totally gone. The biggest draw for me is the storyline. I loved the first it plays out like a film, and the music is amazing. I must've played through it about 5 times and not got bored once. Best part music wise is the credits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cube Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Couldn't they have made a fast, easily-controlled (perhaps moving similar to a Helicopter) shuttlecraft-type thing for exploring planets? That way, it's easy to get around and you still get to explore and land/walk on foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Dare Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Quite the cast: * Martin Sheen (Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez's dad) -- Illusive Man commanding Cerberus * Shohreh Adhdashloo (sexy voice lady from FlashForward) -- Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay * Seth Green (hand in your geek card if you don't know) -- Joker * Yvonne Strahovski (wiener lady, lust of Chuck) -- Miranda Lawson * Adam Baldwin (a man named Jayne... or the man they call Jayne) -- Kal 'Reegar * David Keith Keith David (Halo's Arbiter) -- Admiral David Anderson * Michael Dorn (Star Trek TNG's Worf) -- Gatatog Uvenk * Tricia Helfer (2020 Oscar winner after people stop treating her like meat) -- EDI, voice of the "new Normandy" * Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh) -- Captain Bailey * Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity from The Matrix, singular, no sequels exist -- especially not Revolutions) -- Aria T'Loak edit: from Joystiq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mundi Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Personally I would have referred to Martin Sheen as the most badass president of the United States in that list instead of him being the father of two has been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Dare Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Fuck that, He's still in Saigon if anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mundi Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Well I am an uncultured bastard who has not seen Apocalypse Now so that reference went way over my head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Dare Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 God damn it, you uncultured bastard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I liked the Mako. I even liked exploring endless barren planets. Sure I would've liked to see some more variation, some worlds with water, greenery, caves... but I didn't have a problem with any of the Mako stuff. And I didn't mind the controls either. The little thrusters were fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mundi Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Voice actor showcase video: http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/masseffect2workingtitle/video/6242706?hd=1&tag=topslot;title;1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViPeR Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Just seen the cinematic trailer on XBL. Seriously can't wait. I was tempted to get the Collectors Edition off of GAME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LegoMan1031 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Just seen the cinematic trailer on XBL. Seriously can't wait. I was tempted to get the Collectors Edition off of GAME. I'm still tempted! Still got bit of time to decide mind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I love Mass Effect and the second title is my most anticipated game since... I can't remember. Years. But is it worth £55? I can't really justify it for a few reasons: 1. Big special edition boxes just look out of place on your shelf, especially next to a vanilla predecessor. 2. Special armour granted to you for nothing? Isn't that like... cheating? Surely it will just make the game easier and shorten the overall experience. 3. The art book will be nice but you'll flip through it once and never again. 4. I have never, ever watched a special features DVD that came with a game. 5. Fifteen extra English pounds. I have learned my lesson after Gears of War 2. *Pre-orders the regular version* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViPeR Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 (edited) I love Mass Effect and the second title is my most anticipated game since... I can't remember. Years. But is it worth £55? I can't really justify it for a few reasons: 1. Big special edition boxes just look out of place on your shelf, especially next to a vanilla predecessor. 2. Special armour granted to you for nothing? Isn't that like... cheating? Surely it will just make the game easier and shorten the overall experience. 3. The art book will be nice but you'll flip through it once and never again. 4. I have never, ever watched a special features DVD that came with a game. 5. Fifteen extra English pounds. I have learned my lesson after Gears of War 2. *Pre-orders the regular version* Well i've decided to order the Collectors Edition because there are quite a few things which do interest me. A) The Dark Horse comic as i'd like to know how good it is. B) The armor, well, you don't HAVE to use it so i'll check the stats before I check that one out. C) I do actually enjoy watching special features DVD's so probably will enjoy that. D) You get VIP access to the Cerberus Network which is some live in game feed, possibly story related I think. E) Lastly i've never owned a Collectors Edition in my life and Mass Effect is one of my favourite games ever so :p Edited December 29, 2009 by ViPeR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solo Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I agree with Shorty, special aditions aren't worth the extra cash, the game itself is what you actually want (and waiting for) and is the only thing I'll be spending my money on. These trinkets are pointless you could use the left over money for more games etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViPeR Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Each to their own I guess. Weird connection but the default Shepard looks a little like Jack Shepard from Lost. No I didn't intentionally search for a funny shot of Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aimless Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 The default male Shepard is actually based on Dutch model Mark Vandaloo: There's your bit of pointless videogame trivia for the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizmo Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Female shepherd all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I just thought of a real good argument for me not to get the special edition: the box might be too big to get through my door while I'm at work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Dare Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Female shepherd all the way. Agreed. Much better VO if you ask this pundit. Long hair was a problem though- ME had that horrible shadowing problem that games have these days where it flickers around constantly and the effect on the hair was frequently catastrophic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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