mass effect: short version and long version
Instead of doing anything useful on Thursday when I cut class (despite being a novel or two behind in every class, and hungarian chapter quiz is coming up ergh), I finished Mass Effect and started Mass Effect 2. Here's the short version of my thoughts.
Anyway, verdict on Mass Effect: profoundly average, occasionally charming. I suspect I would've had issues about race portrayal/inclusion if my Shepard weren't so Asian.
Verdict on Mass Effect 2 after the first couple of missions: SWEET HOLY FUCKING BATMAN THIS IS A FANTASTIC MOTHERFUCKING GAME.
(And re: race inclusion in ME2: Asian!Shep, Jacob, and Miranda currently look like they're always posing for some Cerberus viewbook as a picturesque example of racial integration in terrorist organizations or some shit. It's kinda hilarious.)
ME1 was really a huge let-down. It's barely engaging, and the gameplay is eh. The last run through Citadel was a lot of fun, loved all the encounters. Honestly, I wish I had switched--if I even CAN switch--out of easy mode, because it was all stupidly easy. In general, the game's been super easy ever since I figured out how to play/maxed out sniper rifles. Honestly though, I suspect that unless I played on hard, the final boss battles would've been a cakewalk no matter what.
Going to say that the paragon-renegade system flat out didn't work. It's way easier to build up paragon points, and it makes zero sense that half the renegade dialogue choices are racist as fuck. I apparently can't be a hardass without being racist. Ugh.
Anyway, Mass Effect 2 is a lot more interesting, and I'm barely anywhere in it. Ability to give a shit has skyrocketed enormously. It helps that the battle system is now fun as opposed to kinda silly.
I remade my Shepard's face because I'd wanted to for the latter half of ME1, plus the imported face still looked waaaay papery and ugh. I meant to make her look like Lucy Liu at first, then I decided I wanted to give her Olivia Wilde's jawline, because she was looking too fucking dainty. Then I stuck her hair in a bun, because hair down looked totally fake.
So enter this Asian chick with these really pretty eyes and a strong ass jawline that beat people up. I realized I was playing Mulan, which makes me feel 100% safe saying that my Shep is hotter than yours.
Stopped just before I'm supposed to find the professor+other characters. All I've got are Jacob and Miranda, neither of whom I particularly like, so yeah, I'm excited for more squad members.
Anyway, verdict on Mass Effect: profoundly average, occasionally charming. I suspect I would've had issues about race portrayal/inclusion if my Shepard weren't so Asian.
Verdict on Mass Effect 2 after the first couple of missions: SWEET HOLY FUCKING BATMAN THIS IS A FANTASTIC MOTHERFUCKING GAME.
(And re: race inclusion in ME2: Asian!Shep, Jacob, and Miranda currently look like they're always posing for some Cerberus viewbook as a picturesque example of racial integration in terrorist organizations or some shit. It's kinda hilarious.)
ME1 was really a huge let-down. It's barely engaging, and the gameplay is eh. The last run through Citadel was a lot of fun, loved all the encounters. Honestly, I wish I had switched--if I even CAN switch--out of easy mode, because it was all stupidly easy. In general, the game's been super easy ever since I figured out how to play/maxed out sniper rifles. Honestly though, I suspect that unless I played on hard, the final boss battles would've been a cakewalk no matter what.
Going to say that the paragon-renegade system flat out didn't work. It's way easier to build up paragon points, and it makes zero sense that half the renegade dialogue choices are racist as fuck. I apparently can't be a hardass without being racist. Ugh.
Anyway, Mass Effect 2 is a lot more interesting, and I'm barely anywhere in it. Ability to give a shit has skyrocketed enormously. It helps that the battle system is now fun as opposed to kinda silly.
I remade my Shepard's face because I'd wanted to for the latter half of ME1, plus the imported face still looked waaaay papery and ugh. I meant to make her look like Lucy Liu at first, then I decided I wanted to give her Olivia Wilde's jawline, because she was looking too fucking dainty. Then I stuck her hair in a bun, because hair down looked totally fake.
So enter this Asian chick with these really pretty eyes and a strong ass jawline that beat people up. I realized I was playing Mulan, which makes me feel 100% safe saying that my Shep is hotter than yours.
Stopped just before I'm supposed to find the professor+other characters. All I've got are Jacob and Miranda, neither of whom I particularly like, so yeah, I'm excited for more squad members.