Mass Effect

[stinger608]

Has anyone got this game yet, and what do you think of it?

The graphics look pretty awesome, just wondering about the game play?

[gvblake22]

I just got the game last night but only got to play it for a few minutes. The graphics are decent, but not anything out of this world. You can tell it is a console game adapted to fit the PC though, but it's not a big deal. I still need to learn more about the controls and the skills, so I can't give you a whole lot of insight there yet. So far, it seems basically like an FPS with the elements of RPG thrown in to make it different.

[stinger608]

Cool, although I don't like the console game adapted to the PC aspect!!! And that is what I figured it was about!

I do however like the FPS aspect with the RPG involvement............Sort of like Oblivion in some ways as I see it............Keep me posted Blake!!!

[gvblake22]

Will, do. The holiday weekend should provide some good extra time for gaming.

Oh yeah, and I thought I should let you know that my X1950 Pro is choking on this game with high quality textures and a bit of antialiasing at 1920x1200. If you want to play this game at high resolution, you'll need a solid video card!

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Will, do. The holiday weekend should provide some good extra time for gaming.

Oh yeah, and I thought I should let you know that my X1950 Pro is choking on this game with high quality textures and a bit of antialiasing at 1920x1200. If you want to play this game at high resolution, you'll need a solid video card!

Oh I got a fair card, the XFX 8800GTS 512 Alfa Dog. Just haven't gotten my sig updated

[garetjax]

Is the inventory system for Mass Effect really as jacked up as they say it is?

[gvblake22]

The inventory system does suck. The whole thing is full of tabs and buttons and tabs within the buttons; you can tell it is a dumbed down GUI for the console. There are no pictures of the items in your inventory, just a list you scroll through and it will only tell you the full stats of the item when you click on it, otherwise it just says what it is. Besides the annoying inventory, the graphics and visuals are pretty decent. You definitely need a very modern video card to run this though. I had an X1950Pro and it was choking on the game even at 1680x1050 with no AA and medium. So I upgraded to an HD 4850 and it runs very smooth with high quality textures, AA, and 1920x1200 resolution.

Anyway, enough of the technical mumbo, jumbo... I still haven't played through much of the game, but the user interface of the inventory and skills is very annoying. Almost to the point where it is ruining the little bit of RPG aspect left in this very much FPS feeling game. The storyline is decent, and action pops up when you least expect it. It takes a bit of studying to figure out what the different things mean (upgrades, Bio-Amps, Omni-Tools, Omni-Gel, Medi-Gel, etc). Even figuring out the different classes is confusing, I'm still not quite sure what Tech is all about...

I also don't really like how much reliance they make you place on your squad. From the very beginning of the game, you are paired with at least one other NPC that fights with you. You can control them at any time (in or out of battle) by essentially pausing the game and issuing a command for them, which they complete when the game resumes. Not a very action-friendly way to keep yourself immersed if you ask me. So using your squad is a bit cumbersome at first, but I guess you just have to get used to it.

And speaking of combat, it is so-so. I feel like the weapons are really hard to aim, but that might be due to the fact I haven't leveled up my individual weapon skills much yet. Casting special skills (spells for you fantasy RPG players) is done by aiming at the target with the mouse and hitting a number assigned to a certain skill. Overall, I think it is just a very different kind of game you just have to get used to. If you can get over the poor inventory GUI and get used to hard-to-aim weapons, then you will probably like it! I'll keep playing though and keep you all updated...

[stinger608]

HMMMMMM, some of the things that you mention, just kind of turn me away from even considering the game
I kind of wondered from the early reviews on the game, and you have pretty much put the nail in the coffin so to speak!

Thanks for the update Blake

Probably will not purchase the game!

[Aquallama]

I personally really enjoyed the game, except for the fact that I payed 99 bucks for the game and when I had a glitch with my game I was blasted as a 'Thief' on the official forums, it seems, they are none to impressed with people downloading & cracking the game, as the cracks, caused alot of issues.

However for legitimate buyers of the game, it kinda sucks to get accused of stealing it when you have your cd key sitting 2 feet away, and never getting your problem solved, even when admin staff are telling you 'GTFO pirate', it seems the game was launched with a few nasty config glitches and achievement related bugs (some that cause weapons to flat out not work, or be permenantly stuck over heating untill you reload your save game), and a few isolated issues related to the cracks, but the Admin staff just chalk up any potential glitch to people cracking it, when this is not the case.

[gvblake22]

Damnm sorry to hear about your bad experience Aquallama. I haven't noticed any wierd issues with my copy (yet)...

I keep playing it in my spare time though and I'm just having a really hard time getting into it. :dontknow: