The game hasn't aged well. Compared to Half-Life, the shooting mechanics are bad, as is the AI. I know the game isn't meant to be played as a shooter, but the AI keeps stealth from being a viable option. I didn't like the hacking. The UI was pretty bad as well. It just wasn't my type of game, I guess. HOwever, from watching HR videos, I've seen it is better in a lot of these departments, particularly shooting, stealth, and hacking.

How's Mass Effect 2? I was going to buy it for my PS3 (now down to $20) and a few years ago, I might have bought it instinctively because of the BioWare label, but recent endeavors by BioWare and complaints about the game being more of a third-person shooter than an RPG are putting me off. What do you think?

How is the new Assassin's Creed, from the one person I know who has it, they told me that it was pretty good with story and gameplay and stuff, possibly great. But the new minigame comes to often and is uneeded. Any other thoughts?

I am really enjoying it, my biggest complaint is it feels almost identical to Brotherhood....

Largely depends on what you look for in an RPG if you want a lot of statistics and to be fiddling with an inventory constantly where you're supposed to get excited about the gun that does 2% damage and the one that does 3% damage etc then you won't enjoy it. If you're looking for a wide and interesting cast, great dialogue, a more episodic structure that takes you on a hectic journey where there are big and small consequences interspersed with a solid action game then you'll enjoy it.

Do you want to define your character through their actions, choices and relationships with people and events or through numbers on a table?

I found the environments varied, interesting and atmospheric. The characters entertaining and worth listening to. You'll be in for a treat with Mordin! Action was varied depending on class and satisfying. Great music and presentation. Really enjoyed it.

Planet scanning takes the Mako's place from the first Mass Effect. Neither were enjoyable that was about the only downside for me.

That and that the game ended.
Roll on Mass Effect 3.

I'm looking for clear RPG character progression, choice, and customization in stats and story, lots of refreshing, non-rehashed gameplay (It's not any shorter than other BioWare RPGs pre DA II, is it?) and settings (setting looks so cool... and setting is a major part of my consideration for any form of entertainment), a bit of breathing room to explore (Is it like other BioWare RPGs pre DA II in that regard?), and likeable characters. Basically, I'm looking for a game a Baldur's Gate, KotOR, and DA: Origins and general RPG fan may enjoy. It is blatantly a well-done BioWare game not "dumbed-down" to the point of DA II, right?

Edit: Oh, and I will not have played the first one, so will I be lost or still in the clear?

If you do buy ME2 then it's certainly worth getting the first. Mainly for the continuence of character decisions and tertiary encounters that add that extra flavour to the world. You can get away without playing the first one, it's just nice to have the continuence of the imported character, events and misc descisions into ME2 and subsequently ME3.

The first Mass Effect had both inventory (terribly done) and threw a bone to the number obsessives. Downside was it had bland side tasks in recycled locations, the actual task ideas were pretty good though. Just the settings and how you went about them was disapointing. The key story though was solid and well done. Combat was pretty weak and the Mako....... Really you were playing for the story and characters.

ME2 threw a lot out the window. The inventory was practically eliminated and the stats were bare-bones. Instead they focused on the world, it's inhabitants and what you did. The shift from the largely linear story in ME in favour of the episodic style where you'd be assembling a team, gaining their loyalty, researching improvments for your gear, squad, ship - all the while progressing towards the big finale (and it's varying outcome) was an aquired taste. Made for more choice over what you did though which was nice. You were generally given a relaxed lead to run on. You'd recruit four characters, then a portion of the main story would unlock etc. Side tasks were more varied in location and nature also.

I never did try DA2. I loved DA Origins though.

As for length expect about 40 - 50 hours depending on if you get any of the addons. First time I played I finished in about 40 hours. That's without carrying a save over from ME1 or any of the addons. Playing through again with an imported character and some of the addons and it's looking to take around 50+ hours.

You'll get pretty much all that you'd like on your list apart from the numbers in tables. Not really much of a sacrifice?

In my personal opinion, I thought Mass Effect 2 was ok, but it felt a lot more like an action game to me. Compared to Dragon Age: Origins, KotOR, and Mass Effect it feels like a Bioware story (I didn't like that much at all either) and character interaction thrown on a Third Person Shooter. Just how it felt to me though.

Well, the PS3 didn't really get the first Mass Effect and that's my primary platform. I'll have to go without the first or I'd have to play the first with poor, but possibly playable, performance on my weak laptop and still not get the benefit of my imported character, so I'm afraid I'm just going to have to go without the first, although I heard they did something for the PS3 version so us first-timers would have a briefing about the first game's general premise.


I... I get my own ship?! Is this like KotOR all over again?!

bump

Never played KotOR not being a Star Wars fan and all. The ship you get (Normandy though there NEEDS to be a mod where it becomes the Quib Quib) is where you'll be spending time inbetween missions, you'll get to research, upgrade, organise what armour and weapons you use, talk to your crew and squad (part of gaining their loyalty as well as developing their and your character) there's little miscellaneous things also such as messages you might receive on your terminal, training videos, your fish and space hamster. You won't get to actually pilot the ship though (aside from guiding it round a star map). Not having played KotOR I don't know what you could do in that.

I vaguely remember there being something about an origins addon comic for the PS3 that would allow you to establish what choices you would have made in ME1.

Hope this was of some help.

How are the newer games in the Heroes of Might and Magic series? I've only ever played the original and three and remember having fun with them.

Shep dies at the start and never mentions it again after telling tali as if it were an everyday thing. Assuming you wnt that kind of progression, if its a gameply wise one, there isnt that either.
Choices in mass effect are illusions, they dont really change anything at all. Also its not moraly grey, even if it were they kindlt put the good on top and evil on bottom. "renegade" is just racist thug, while paragon is niave and stupid.
Stats... There are around 6 skills to choose to put points in, you end up filling all of them except one if you focus on them... Also you can play the game without upgrading anything, ever.
Gameplay is imo rehashed. Main enemies are robots, mercs and collectors, you go through corridors and hide behind walls, pop out to shoot then go back behind a wall.
The setting was good, it makes it stand out, but not much else going for it, and personally I liked ME1s places more, the citadel in ME2 is a joke, Noveria in ME1 was a corporate thing, feros in ME2 was a prothean city still intact as people searched the ruins.
Some are likable, but shllow, then you have the unlikable... Also shallow.

PS3 has some interactive comic to get the gist of the plot, you could read lore on the wiki if interestd.
I would sy to avoid the game becuase its not a real rpg in my eyes, its a gears clone with some dilouge and the illusion of choice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLnbTzP_HHY
Thats the combat, which is all you will be doing when your not talking in cutscenes.

Have you tried http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/planescape_torment? It pretty much meets all the things you ask for, though the combat is pretty mediocre. It's really the setting, story and the quests (interesting and full of choices) that carry it.

Is half life any good? I'm getting a laptop soon and was thinking about getting the games.

Yes. Get all of them.

Get Garry's Mod too.

Better yet. Buy any game that has to do with Valve.

Will do.

Is Fighting Force 2 any good? I'm thinking about getting it. And also Is Time Splitters: Future Perfect any good? And how about Naruto: Ninja storm 2?

That last one os horrible. Save your money and don't buy it. Not sure about others.

Distinctly average. The second one was an improvement though. Give Stalker a try if you'd like atmosphere.

Has anyone bought Anno 2070?

I do like city builders but bought CityLife and thought it was severely meh. Nothing's really done anything original since SimCity 3000 imho. But with this seeming to have an emphasis on creaturing a more futuristic city it could have a niche?

I won't pay ￡34.99 for it but these games always come down in price pretty fast so it will be in a Steam sale sooner rather than later I'd have thought.

How is trine 2 ? Im unsure even after the demo.

Also divinity 2 dks. Played the demo, wasnt impresed. But apparently it gets better. I play on xbox 360.

How's Heavy Rain?