Mass Effect General Thread

[gachadegenerate451]

it's still retarded as fuck, technobabble and "lore-explanation" won't change that.

What the fuck are you saying? We could probably build something like an omni tool less than a century from now.

 

[ZMOT]

What the fuck are you saying? We could probably build something like an omni tool less than a century from now.

a mini-3d printer you can carry around on your wrist, printing in a material that can serve as an actual weapon out of thin air, and then is totally is able to disintegrate the thing it just build specifically, running on magic juice you also carry around? how convenient...
yeah sure, but if you're at that stage, why even carry it around? there are plenty of applications where it would make even more sense, why do those not exist in-universe? like why would you need ammo? just generate it on the fly!

it's retarded however you slice it. what's next, mini mass-effect relays built into buttplugs so you don't even need a ship anymore to zip around between systems jimmy neutron style? just put it in the lore and all makes sense! just have shepard survive by bionic breathing! sounds fucking badass. the omni blade is already kept stable by another convenient mass effect field. must be a reason you saw it appear in the same game where the writing took an absolute nosedive and not earlier.

 

[gachadegenerate451]

a mini-3d printer you can carry around on your wrist, printing in a material that can serve as an actual weapon out of thin air, and then is totally is able to disintegrate the thing it just build specifically, running on magic juice you also carry around? how convenient...
yeah sure, but if you're at that stage, why even carry it around? there are plenty of applications where it would make even more sense, why do those not exist in-universe? like why would you need ammo? just generate it on the fly!

it's retarded however you slice it. what's next, mini mass-effect relays built into buttplugs so you don't even need a ship anymore to zip around between systems jimmy neutron style? just put it in the lore and all makes sense! just have shepard survive by bionic breathing! sounds fucking badass. the omni blade is already kept stable by another convenient mass effect field. must be a reason you saw it appear in the same game where the writing took an absolute nosedive and not earlier.

Yes to all of it. That mass relay thing you mentioned is basically what Vanguard Shep does when he uses a biotic charge, the omni-tool (along with the settings technology) has been established as using energy sources that are exotic to us from the very beginning and the omni tool is called an omni tool for a reason. It's not just a smartphone from Watch dogs, it's basically an entire tool set. You use it in physical tasks in the very first game when you repair the Mako and disassemble weapons.

 

[Verdun_Salient]

So, late but some cool mods got released on N7 Day

Firstly, one guy ported over the powers from the later games such as charge and tech armor to ME1, https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectlegendaryedition/mods/2467

Then another guy replaced Kai Leng's role as the assassin with either Miranda or Jacob, https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectlegendaryedition/mods/2507

Finally, one guy made the Collectors enemies you fight during the Leviathan DLC, https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffectlegendaryedition/mods/2445

 

[Ensok]

Then another guy replaced Kai Leng's role as the assassin with either Miranda or Jacob

Does it have an excuse of them being indoctrinated or messed up by the Illusive Man because I can't see them filling that role of their own accord. Maybe an angry Miranda if you don't win her loyalty but Jacob? Never.

Of course when it comes to Miranda, it bothered me on my first playthrough of 2 when I didn't have her loyalty (thanks to siding with Jack after her loyalty mission and not having enough renegade or paragon points to make up with Miranda) that she still sided with me on the Collector Base and betrayed Cerberus. It doesn't feel earned or right for her character that she does that after I lost her loyalty.

 

[augment]

If you talked to Miranda at every point, you'd gather that she believed in the ulterior purposes of Cerberus, of protecting humanity's interests and safekeeping Earth. When the Illusive Man magically beams his transmission just as Shepard is getting ready to blow the whole base up, she would surmise on the spot that Cerberus' ideals and goals have taken a machiavellian toll on her boss, thus choosing to "resign". Miranda is not above making drastic choices on the spot like that; she does so at the start of the game with that scientist, and she does it again to her friend on her loyalty mission.

 

[Testacles Maximus]

what's next, mini mass-effect relays built into buttplugs so you don't even need a ship anymore to zip around between systems jimmy neutron style?

Now you’re dipping into fanfiction. Specifically mine.

 

[BlankSpaceBaby]

Mass Effect 3 is, IMO, half a good game, but my god, it's probably the last game BioWare put out that provided a fantastic immersive experience.

Sure, the facial expressions are uncanny valley, the Earth act feels rushed and unfinished, but...

- The catch in Mordin's voice as he hums while waiting for death. I can tell that he's trying not to completely break down in his fear during the last few minutes of his life.
- The soaring music and the sight of the Genophage cure being disseminated. Cheesy, yes? But I earned this victory, and I won't let Mordin's sacrifice be in vain.
- Thane's death. Despite the janky animation and the missing pillow under Thane's head, the voice acting is on point and the scene is poignant. Plus, the series are great in making me care about the companions (AND YES, I LIKE THEM ALL) so this scene hurts the fee fees a bit. "His wish is for you..." ouch.
- The quiet lunch with Kaidan in the Cathedral. Sanity check, huh? Yes, please. It's a nice example of how this game spaces out quiet moments for the player to take a deep breath and exhale before rushing off to the next action. Not going to lie: I am a hopeless sucker for Kaidan's voice so I will always have a soft spot for the cheesy romantic version.
- Goodbye, Legion. Again, corny, but again, it works so well.
- Liara's project. Beautiful, peaceful, introspective, and yet, cute - Liara's clearly enamored of Shepard even if one didn't romance her. Drives home the bond between Shepard and Liara through three games. Seems like three lifetimes. "I suppose I just did write your name in the stars" is the perfect poetic ending to this scene.
- Anderson's death. It hurts. It really hurts. Many people love the cut extended version, but I find that version tad too cheesy. I like the shorter version better, and let's face it, this isn't a Bollywood movie; if you're dying, you won't be having long conversations.
- The music. Oh, the music.

Sure, there are also funny moments, like everything about Javik, Zaeed threatening a Volus, and everything about Blasto, but this game also knows how to tug at the feels. It's not a well-structured game, but my god, it is a spectacle and an experience, nonetheless. While I'm playing it, I am living it. It has so many moments to cherish.

Had Mass Effect Andromeda succeeded in creating an immersive experience, a lot of its flaws may be overlooked. Sadly, the writing is just too jank along with everything else, while the combat is pretty decent but gets repetitive fast.

That's the old BioWare magic - the immersion experience that it used to present so well in its games to make up for other, sometimes glaring flaws. Sad that it no longer has that magic. I really miss that.

 

[NPZCC]

Sad that it no longer has that magic.

 

[Miller]

- The music. Oh, the music.

- The fall of Thessia, the Asari on the radio crying for help as the Reapers destroy the planet
That bit at the end of the track (1:26), perfect.

Also about the music, I wish they got Clint Mansell to score more than one track used in the prologue and Shepard's Dream.

 

[Snekposter]

- The catch in Mordin's voice as he hums while waiting for death. I can tell that he's trying not to completely break down in his fear during the last few minutes of his life.

"Would have liked to run tests on seashells."

 

[Absolute Ego Dance]

Mass Effect 3 is, IMO, half a good game, but my god, it's probably the last game BioWare put out that provided a fantastic immersive experience.

Sure, the facial expressions are uncanny valley, the Earth act feels rushed and unfinished, but...

I mean, the game was seriously rushed. They had just over two years between Mass Effect 2 and 3, and they also had to work on the DLC for ME2 while working on 3. It's a real shame that they gave the talented people two years, and then the clowns who made Veilguard got eight.

 

[Back me up!]

I mean, the game was seriously rushed. They had just over two years between Mass Effect 2 and 3, and they also had to work on the DLC for ME2 while working on 3. It's a real shame that they gave the talented people two years, and then the clowns who made Veilguard got eight.

On the flip side it gave the multiplayer team no oversight to do what ever they wanted and man did they knock it out of the park.

 

[WTBOnlineFather]

I mean, the game was seriously rushed. They had just over two years between Mass Effect 2 and 3, and they also had to work on the DLC for ME2 while working on 3. It's a real shame that they gave the talented people two years, and then the clowns who made Veilguard got eight.

At least the DLCs were pretty good. Lair of the Shadow Broker is gaming's gold standard of a great DLC imo, and some of the ME3 stuff was nice too, I really enjoyed Leviathan for example.

 

[Absolute Ego Dance]

On the flip side it gave the multiplayer team no oversight to do what ever they wanted and man did they knock it out of the park.

Hell yeah, the MP was awesome. It was possible to cheat, too, as a lot of the configs were client-side, so you could unlock everything easily. Same with Andromeda, too, and the MP for that is still fun

At least the DLCs were pretty good. Lair of the Shadow Broker is gaming's gold standard of a great DLC imo, and some of the ME3 stuff was nice too, I really enjoyed Leviathan for example.

The DLCs were great, too. It's a shame that for LotSB they don't add any new dialogue for anyone but Liara. It's weird playing it because your squadmates have no dialogue.

 

[Breadquanda.]

At least the DLCs were pretty good. Lair of the Shadow Broker is gaming's gold standard of a great DLC imo, and some of the ME3 stuff was nice too, I really enjoyed Leviathan for example.

I always remember Kasumi's DLC fondly, for some reason. The mission surrounding it was cool and interesting. I quite liked exploring that side of the universe with things based around understanding the economies of some of the planets and what their cities are like. Obviously exploring the galaxy is great too, but it's sometimes nice to be confined to one planet for a bit to explore it in greater detail. I liked being a spy/infiltrator, too; instead of being a soldier like you usually are, it was a subtle side I wished they would explore more.

 

[Raisincrest]

I always remember Kasumi's DLC fondly, for some reason.

Kasumi's DLC was fantastic, and is legitimately one of my favorite missions in the trilogy. Also, Shepard's fancy suit was a nice contrast to the Cerberus/renegade-themed outfits.

It's a shame her appearance in Mass Effect 3 is so limited, and that her mission is only memorable for the "big stupid jellyfish" quote.

 

[WTBOnlineFather]

I always remember Kasumi's DLC fondly, for some reason. The mission surrounding it was cool and interesting. I quite liked exploring that side of the universe with things based around understanding the economies of some of the planets and what their cities are like. Obviously exploring the galaxy is great too, but it's sometimes nice to be confined to one planet for a bit to explore it in greater detail. I liked being a spy/infiltrator, too; instead of being a soldier like you usually are, it was a subtle side I wished they would explore more.

Kasumi herself is a pretty cool character, although the whole dead lover's legacy ordeal is a bit cliche and she's obviously not as cool as Zaeed. Unfortunately the self-containedness of all the content of her DLC just like Zaeed's kinda makes it obvious she's just a DLC character and I can't help but feel some of its potential is squandered. It was a bit of a small miracle to me that they even appeared in ME3 again.

 

[Maude Snew]

That DLC SMG was also my favorite weapon overall so I did her mission as soon as possible every time. Geth shotgun was fun too.

 

[Snekposter]

That DLC SMG was also my favorite weapon overall so I did her mission as soon as possible every time. Geth shotgun was fun too.

Its the only SMG that's remotely usable at distances other than "right in the enemy's face", that's why.