Comments on: Thoughts: Mass Effect 3, Part Two.

By: hentzau

hentzau — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:35:11 +0000

What was the point in me fighting that boss fight if, at the end of it, the game was simply going to go “LOL!” and have me lose anyway in a cutscene? Not only is that shitty narrative, it’s shitty game design since it makes my actions — in a game series that’s pretty much built around player actions having consequences — it makes *my* actions totally meaningless, instead trumping them with what the head writer wants to happen.

Let me put it another way. What is the difference between Kai Leng beating the shit out of me and taking the MacGuffin (which would result in a game over screen) and what the game actually does? Nothing, that’s what. The line separating the two outcomes is completely arbitrary and meaningless, as is most of the game’s main plot-related writing which is why I brought it up in the first place.

Also I don’t think I should have to fork out extra cash for crucial backstory that makes the game make sense. Also also the writers lampshading the enormous turd that passs for the Catalyst doesn’t excuse it one jot.

By: g2-79d9f3f806c7b729d68eb34e6079a4d2

g2-79d9f3f806c7b729d68eb34e6079a4d2 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:39:13 +0000

Um, they mention the Catalyst the very first time they mention the Crucible and the lack of it was the reason why the Prothean’s couldn’t/didn’t use it.

Also if you get Javik (From Ashes DLC party member) then you get some nice additional background to this.

And they don’t take player agency away from you when Kai Lang beats you and takes the Prothean VI – the enemy blow the floor up from underneath you! Doesn’t really matter how the fight has been going up till then if they do that.

By: innokenti

innokenti — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:09:21 +0000

So yeah, the ending is hilariously awful, as are the other bits the lead writer did. I mean, that’s quite a few levels of disconnected poor writing. I guess he’s been taking his tips from David Gaider and closely studying Dragon Age 2.

I think the high point for ME3 came fairly early on and the last third really struggled along because the volume of the awful started to overwhelm the solidly good.

There are lots of things that felt out of place or a bit flat for every great or poignant moment. It just seems sad that it is the individual writers who have produced the best in Mass Effect 3 than the people with the overall vision for the game. And the problem of the ending doesn’t just lie at the feet of Mac Walters, it is also at the feet of the producer, lead designer and the Drs, all of whom presumably signed off on it at some point. That’s rather sad.

Still, enough good stuff made it in and I quite enjoyed the combat, and pretty much all of the main missions apart from the last one.