greylord

I was being sarcastic. I know, hard to convey that on a forum. Exaggerating it to the point of making a point about what some feel about inventories and their complaints of ME2's simplification (I actually loved the simplification. At first it was sort of...WTH...but once I settled into the game...I started to love it, and when I replayed ME1 started realizing how much I missed ME2's inventory in comparison. Of course, in ME1 I had a LOT more money...and omnigel...) Addendum: As for form...I've been working on the form for ages...but my technique just leaves it sloppy...so I've given up on getting good form since then. I guess that explains all the scars I have showing. (Diving and ME2 reference for those who don't get it, so no one takes offense again).

I'm HOPING that it doesn't turn out like DA2...waves of enemy appearing out of nowhere...with reused maps being seen for the thousanth time.... ME2 was the best game I've played...BUT I'm hoping that they take what they've learned from ME2 and make it even BETTER (like they did with ME1 to ME2) with ME3. ME2 was a little weak on story...ME3 needs a killer story and an epic ending. So, I have no real opinion right now, just hoping it will be great. Even if they simply do it almost exactly like ME2's gameplay, but with a stronger story...and real C&C (not DA2's C&C which really made no sense...and you really had no effect on the end, you fought the same fights and enemies and had remarkably little differences on how the story actually ended), it will turn out AWESOME...and probably better then ME2. On the other hand, if they tweak certain things to be even better, maybe a slightly better HUD, if they include mining, make it better, if they HAVE to include something like the MAKO...make it so that travelling is actually FUN and that the Hammerhead actually has some ARMOR and better indications on what status your vehicle is at (sort of like the MAKO...but not something that takes forever to get where you are going and bounces like the ATV from heck)...and other tweaks...it could be great. OR, if they feel too rushed on time and use three areas recycled over and over again, with a massive inventory which you only fill with junk you can never use anyways, and romance options that are simply a bunch of psychos who somehow got out of the psych ward to intrude on your life...it could actually be the low point of the series.

i love it here, most of the bashing i find amusing, and there can occasionally be genuine or (semi-interesting at least) discourse on games, which is more than I can say for any other forum I've been to. also to monte: you really didn't play ME2? its a damn fun game, not really an rpg, but fun nonetheless. I consider it the dang best RPG I've played. That means it beat out all of Bio's and BI's older games (and by BI I mean both BI and Obsidian) for gameplay and story. It has more complexity in leveling up than many an japanese RPG, and a few Western RPG's as well...so people complaining about that are simply elitest in my book. I already tried the gold box games...you can take those super RPGs back since I constantly died on them anyways...I think they cheated...and let me play the new shiny ones.... Addendum: Actually, now that I think about it, ME2 has deeper leveling then the Gold Box games overall...where you basically just levelled up...and that was it...I guess you had inventory management...but if you consider that is what makes an RPG...I bet your loving accesorizing your Grand Turisimo games.

we don't follow the awards news at all. couldn't tell you who won any game industry awards... for any year. some group o' "experts" telling us which games we shoulda' liked? HA!. however, the info we shared were posted on this board relative recent, so we remembered. that being said, if we were interested in such things, and were inclined to draw conclusions 'bout games based 'pon such awards... *shrug* in any event, we has been offered copies o' da2 from two peoples who quit the game. even so, as is our custom, we is gonna wait 'til a patch is released before we plays the game. so, am suspecting we will be waiting for another month before we get to play da2 as bio tends to release patches, meaningful patches, a considerable time post release date. in bio's defense, it seems that since the multi-platform era took hold o' the industry, most patches takes a long time to reach gamers... and the inevitable 1.01 stuff that is fixes o' pre-release issues not count in our estimation. HA! Good Fun! Err...call me confused??? http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches Has been out for days... It sure looks like it says Oh wait, you mean like a REAL patch or something (whatever that is...mayhaps 1.02 or 1.1...or something released for both PC and Consoles simultaneously)???? AKA...something that might not really fix the bugs (as for consoles it had a few, but overall seems pretty solid to tell the truth...at least compared to some older releases a while back on Consoles by Bio...not naming names though), but more towards content? I consider the 1.01 a pretty official patch and have heard it fixed issues. or, maybe you are asking for something else???

Ah well, I was doing well with persuasion without Varric. The only stats I pumped with the Rogue was Dex and Cunning, and I was the awesome guy with traps and locks. I'd imagine Cunning must have something to do with it, or I'm just talented with being able to be proficient enough with conversations in BW games to have the persuade options without Varric? Edit: Or am I missing something here. I had other options available to me with the Rogue than with other classes, including more diplomatic and persuasive options. I assume we are referring to the same things here.

ah...how do I reply without spoilers? I don't think I can answer the question without including spoilers.

The irony is strong in this post. The dudes at Blizzard are the only ones you get this stuff right. That game has been suspiciously long in development... Nah...some do a decent job. You are right that most clones are absolutely trash. I liked Dungeon Siege 2...that was pretty awesome. Torchlight was pretty awesome for what it was as well. Okay...that's all that have really impressed me for PC since D2...and that was mostly SP so gameplay was NOT as multiply awesome as D2 Multi...but for SP and the limited time they lasted they would be chalked up with D2 in my book. On console, Champions of Norrath, Xmen Legends 2, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance (1) were pretty awesome action RPG's in the Diablo range...but made for consoles instead.

Varric can be useful, but not as useful as my Rogue was. Persuasion is based upon Cunning, if I recall correctly. Just like some skills for conversation were based on Cunning in DA:O, now it's simply Cunning all on it's own. Cunning also helps in other areas, especially for Rogues. This is why Varric is more useful in persuasion...but my Rogue had a higher Cunning then he did (and hence was also better at skills).

Kasumi was crazy good at lower levels for me. Almost addictively good. As the levels got higher, I seemed to have her less useful to me, maybe just my playstyle. By the end she would be mowed down pretty quick, still, I liked the DLC. I probably wouldn't use Kasumi if I had already beaten the game, I don't think she'd be worth it just for end game stuff. I'd say you'd at least want half the game left in order to best enjoy what she brings to the fight.

For me the quality of Bio games has always bounced up and down. While that is my personal opinion, this might be the first time so many customers have been so dissatisfied about a Bio game, so perhaps this might be a big negative turning point. I don't think this will be that moment though. If Mass Effect 3 is as rushed as DA 2, that might be the straw that breaks the camels back. Maybe this was the beginning of th end... I hope not though. They do make great games from time to time. Maybe. I know for me ME3 is still an absolute buy. If it's trash though, after how I feel about DA2, I'm probably going to stay away from BW games until a bunch of people say it's pretty stellar.

That's a pretty good statement. DA1 cost in time and effort compared to DA2 probably was less cost effective now that you mention it in those terms. The chart isn't that bogus...there are other agencies that you can watch as well...most you pay for. The big mix up I find people have is confusing shipped to retail sales vs. retail sales. Some actually try to twist the numbers to say things they don't. What will be more telling is how long the price stays high (aka...doesn't fall to the 29.99 price point), how long it stays high on the d/l charts for price and number of d/l's, as well as how it does in comparison to games such as Sims Medieval, or other games that are or will come out. For example, I imagine with the price point of Starcraft 2 staying high, and it's stock levels...either Blizzard really is blowing it (VERY UNLIKELY) or, despite the DRM schemes it has, it is selling rather well...even though it's only a PC game vs. consoles.

Even the PC gamers I know pick up console versions for some absurd reason. And by "PC gamers I know," I mean "guys who complain that games are being made for consoles over PC." Part of the problem, you idiots. Part of that would include me then. I didn't buy DA2 for PC though. Most of the time DRM is a turn off, which is why I'll buy console over PC. Sometimes I'll buy PC but find out it has DRM and so buy the console version so I can play it without an install limit or stupidity like that. For me DRM DID kill the PC market.

I actually had that battle

you're right, one of the male members of your party do not...Varric...he doesn't hit on the females either. Every other male hits on you however...unless you have the DLC with Sebastian, I believe he's only for the females.

I enjoy ME1 a LOT. However, the cheese factor in some of it (especially the little heroic picture of your Sheppard and a planet in the background at the end being exemplary of this) is waaaaay over the top of what ME2 had. ME1 has a stronger villain, more defined enemy, and stronger plot if you simply stick to the core quests. ME2 has FAAAAAR better gameplay, better writing overall (but much weaker story) with all things centered on a single point of getting together a team to strike back at the bad guys...and I enjoyed it far more. In ME1 I absolutely HATED roaming over planets. I cursed the idea they have of bringing it back for ME3. The Hammerhead is okay...but it brings back too many terrible memories of the Mako. Putting buildings on top of cliffs in ME1 (why the heck do they do that...if you can't just fly in with your ship, and you can't really drive except with a vehicle that bounces like crazy but has wheels that grip like a spider so you actually climb the cliff to get there) made no sense...and they must all use a set module made for colonizations (like the modular homes) because they all have the same layout. Loved ME2. Really liked ME1...but ME2 wins out. Loved what they did with skills and the simplification of inventory. ME1 I had so many items I simply Omnigel'd most of it or got the achievement for over a million credits quite easily. ME2 had a MUCH better inventory system. I should stop...as I could go on and on about how much I like/liked ME2.

I saw the Bhelen/Harrowmount as a better gray area choice than anything they gave you in DA2. In that, with research you find that it's most likely that Bhelen is a murderer, criminal of sorts, and will be a closed fist hard nosed dictator if he becomes King. His father knew his son was like this, and was completely against his son ever becoming King, which is why he chose Harrowmount instead. He knew Bhelen was short tempered, and would do anything for power, which included killing his own family apparantly. Harrowmount was balanced and fair, and would keep the throne to a high standard. On the flip side, you can see the terrible life that is held for those in the lower castes. It's not like the slavery thing in DA2 with the mages, but they really don't have anything, and most don't have a way to get ahead in life due to the caste system. If you want to do away with that, the ONLY choice is Bhelen...tyrant as he will be. In the long term, perhaps he will destroy the entire caste system and society will rebuild with more equality for all. This has another downside in that it could destroy the dwarven society in the short run with Bhelen going around killing all the nobles he hates or disagree with him, but in the long run giving the lowborn the chance to rise up in society. Harrowmount on the otherhand, would keep the caste system, keep dwarven society pretty steady, and keep things fair...but those born to low caste would continue to live in a path of poverty where they can never get out of such a state. The rebellious side of me chose Bhelen...not because I felt he was the correct choice to be King, or that was the legitimate successor (Harrowmount was), but because I disliked the Caste system enough that I was willing to put an evil tyrant on the throne to do away with it. It even meant that a good dwarf had to die in order for it to occur, and the possible destruction of dwarven society in the next decade...but in the hopes that in the long run the terrible caste system would disappear.

Another thing which has been mentioned in other forums, and I was thinking about last night again. Is there a connection between the Tholian and the Reapers. Many have mentioned the similarities between the Husks in ME and those used by the Collectors in ME2. Is the Tholian old because it's from the Reapers themselves perhaps or perhaps it's the original reaper unmodified?

I'll definately have to give it a shot then.

Nice straw man. Wot? Leopold's Bloom day in Dublin is retold constantly? Awesome. @greylord: Descent to Undermountain I don't think I ever played Descent to Undermountain. Sounds almost like dungeon Hack...in which case why would anyone ever compare the storyline or writing as it would be almost non-comparable/existable as any sort of good writing at all. Maybe it was a different type of game with a better story though...can't recall ever playing it. I DID play the HECK out of Dungeon Hack when it was around however.

I just d/l'd that the other day. Haven't got to play it yet. Decided to do a replay of the ME series after finishing up DA2...but I'll give it a whirl after I finish the ME paly throughs.

I don't believe I ever claimed any of those had stellar writing either. I did claim ME and ME2 had pretty good writing. Storyline in ME2 was a little weak, but the writing was still good. Addendum: Also, still haven't figured out what people are referring to with the DTU series????

I'm not certain why people are praising the writing in DA2, to me it's about one of the worst written games I've ever played. There are a LOT of things that make NO sense at all, and much of the dialogue is extremely cringe worthy. It's like a Fantasy Movie dialogue made by Syfy...but worse. I went back and played the ME series...and the differences in writing is night and day. In addition the Storyline in DA2 isn't all that coherent and doesn't really make sense. So you have one leader inspired by a magic weapon that influences attitude...but the other leader...their decisions at the end of the game make NO sense really. In fact, there's much about the basic set up of the entire game that really don't make coherent sense. It's like whoever made the storyline wanted to make 3 different games and then tried to link them all up nicely at the very end. Sort of like if I wanted to create a movie out of three different movies, so I take where they are jsut starting out with Fellowship of the Ring, then have some epic battle with Return of the Jedi...and then include Indiana Jones and the last Crusade as the last little bit and try to write an end that ties all three into one movie...doesn't really work. Yes, I wasn't impressed with DA2's writing. It seems some are though. I have no idea why, but if they enjoy it, I guess that's their type of story. I suppose SyFy get's it's audience for it's made for TV movies from somewhere.

Bad Game writing is where you decide to defend some mages, fighting Templars, beat the snot out of everything the Templars send you, so the Head Mage whom you are allied and are protecting decides to turn to blood magic, become and abomination, and attack you because he feels that they are winning and beating you so badly....though all evidence that he sees before his eyes tells the EXACT OPPOSITE...that you are beating the tar out of the Templars. AKA...makes absolutely NO sense. Bad Game writing is where you are a Mage standing in front of Templars who send every mage to the circle...and they let you wander around freely doing whatever you wish... Bad Game writing assumes that though you or your sister are a Mage, and they sent your sister to the Circle...that you would ally against your family so that you can slaughter all mages (which theoretically would include said only sister and closest remaining member of your immediate family...because she has loved you from the start, has friendship maxed from the start, and obviously because of that deserves to die along with all the rest of the mages for the actions of one single terrorist Mage who isn't even part of the circle...and who also they let run freely about). AKA...makes NO sense... Bad storyline is when you create a three act story that really doesn't connect together in the third act, instead each having their own separate story line with only slight inferences to an overarching plot that resolves itself in three single quests (out of almost 75 quests to put it in perspective) that each take less than 1/10 of the game time to actually play through. Hmm.... Oh wait...I think DA2 had all of those items...does that make bad storyline AND bad writing?

I had a thought recently whilst playing over the ME series again. What if you've been playing as the bad guys. I mean, the Council is responsible for Xenocide (Rachni), semi-Xenocide (Rogan), and seem to have an incredibly bad track record where every time they do technological innovation or research it backfires (if they aren't human, no wonder humans are catching up so quickily to races that have been technologically advanced for thousands of years previous...though human research seems to backfire half the time as well). Perhaps the humans and the reapers are actually the good guys (though ME2 would make it harder to argue with the whole human DNA dissolution to make Baby reaper aspect) and it's a battle to keep them from being assimilated into the Council races/empire. The only way the Reapers know how to do this is to make the Humans one of them...or maybe it's a choice of two evils, the Reapers who eradicate and commit xenocide...or the Council which also commits xenocide. Still haven't developed this line of thinking all the way through...but a thought that hit me as I was playing ME1 today and encountered the Rachni in this playthrough.

I hate my Little Ponies. Daughter wants to play them all the time...can't stand them. But if a game came out like that advertisement...I might actually give it a shot. I want to breath fire....