I've had Mass Effect (360 version - ROFLTUNASANDWICH) since last year, which I traded in a few crappy games for. I played the first mission, ended up on the Citadel, and haven't touched the game since. I might actually get back into the game one of these days, once I decide what kind of butt I prefer staring at.

 

I've heard the game is short. I've heard the sidequests can be outright boring. Planetary exploration was apparently one of the big features of the game before it was released, but I've heard that it mostly consists of exploring empty landscapes.

 

Just going through the main quest, will the game still be satisfying? Which sidequests could be considered worth playing, or should I just ignore them altogether? I don't mind a short game, I just don't want a 'hahahahahahhaa, that's it?' feeling - just depends on how complete the main game feels.

 

Thanks, Hades!

Side quests are good for the most part. Only bother going to planets of you have a quest to got there, and don't waste your time with the random collection type quests seen in your journal. Do that, and side quests/planets shouldn't bother you too much. Actual side quests that actually have plot usually are interesting. Otherwise, ignore 'em.

Main quest is entertaining but short

 

All the sidequests suck for the most part as most of them are;

1. fly to planet (which are all the same, just a different landscape skin)

2. clear out generic bunker of enemy

3. reach target (example: boss, item, hostage)

4. shoot or converse your way out of nasty situation

5. return to ship

 

it's all good fun the first few times but it gets stale pretty quickly. The main storyline quests are worth a play though as the story is pretty interesting.

I never bothered doing the sidequests on the uncharted worlds. Totally boring. The main game quests though are overall good, but relatively short. I can beat Mass Effect in 12-15 hours easily while doing all quests except those uncharted worlds.

I am wondering whether Mass Effect is worth it as a game for me. I think the crucial factor is whether the game-play is twitch-based or not.

IMO, it's worth playing at least through Ferros and Noveria, two of the main-plot worlds. The design, story, and atmosphere on those two planets were really good (i.e., at least as good as anything else I've seen out of Bioware). Once those are done, going on to finish the game will just leave you disappointed.

Edited July 7, 200817 yr by Enoch

You guys are actually taking Llyr's post seriously?

Thanks for the help, guys.

 

It's a serious post, you troll. I'm reporting you.

Llyr, you making a serious post about something is as rare as an informed Fox News panelist. Also, what is up with the obnoxiously abundant pics in your sig? Pick one, already! Preferably the LOLcopter.

 

Edited July 7, 200817 yr by Sand

If I could be bothered, I would report your signature for ultimate fail.

Besides, if you already own the game, Llyr, just play it and make up your own mind.

Besides, if you already own the game, Llyr, just play it and make up your own mind.

 

He makes sense.

 

I mean, you paid for it, why not go through it at least? Ignore the sidequests if you want, but they're useful for getting to high levels.

Edited July 7, 200817 yr by WILL THE ALMIGHTY

I didn't pay for it, I traded in crappy games for it. I'm not wasting XX hours only to find out later on I hate the game. That's why I was looking for info on how crappy the sidequests were, and whether to avoid or not.

 

Thank you, Volourn.

Thank you, Krookie.

Thank you, Morgoth.

Thank you, Enoch.

 

I will make an informed decision based on your advice.

I don't own the game, and untimately, like Llyranor, don't want to spend money on somthing from which I come away from going 'meh', Like BG and Fallout, so this is a relevent question.

Besides, if you already own the game, Llyr, just play it and make up your own mind.

 

He makes sense.

 

I mean, you paid for it, why not go through it at least? Ignore the sidequests if you want, but they're useful for getting to high levels.

 

 

I did almost none of the sidequests, and when I realized I'd started the end game sequence, I really thought I was going to have a hard time since I was so low level...

 

I didn't. It was mind numbingly easy and I'm not even very good at that kind of game. Whee.

It's almost as if some people like the side quests, while others don't. How bizarre.

It's almost as if some people like the side quests, while others don't. How bizarre.

 

Isn't that the same for any game?

Its been a while , since I played it when it first came out on the 360. But for the most part , they are pretty redundant (riding in the mako is kind of a bore, the same interiors are used over and over again, etc.).

 

I feel like there were some interesting tidbits of knowledge you got regarding a shady organization

called Cerberus

, but most of the info you got seemed relegated to little data disks or purely-text observations your character made.

 

Nothing spectacularly cool or anything..

Question to help me make up my mind whether I should or shouldn't buy Mass Effect: Is the gameplay twitch based or not?

Yes.

I'd say Yes and No. The nice thing is that there's a pause button. The first thing I'd do when entering combat was hit the space bar to pause and aim. If the target moved, I'd pause and aim again.

 

I suck at FPS, but because of the ability to pause, the gameplay was much more tolerable.

Question to help me make up my mind whether I should or shouldn't buy Mass Effect: Is the gameplay twitch based or not?

 

There is nothing twitch about it. There is more auto aim than any other shooter I've played, and you can pause to aim. Also, most of the abilities for the magic user and the bomb person are AOEs, so aim isn't too important.

Thank you for the feedback. Based on that I am leaning towards getting the game, though I have meanwhile been scouring for information and came across information that the Securom DRM on Mass Effect is truly draconian, so I am now unsure based on that aspect of the product...

NEWSFLASH: Real Time Doesn't Always Equal Twitch

That is correct - Real Time does not necessarily equal twitch - that's why I asked about it in the first place.