FUCK YOU, ELECTRONIC ARTS.

[thoughtspiral]

Mass Effect was possibly BioWare's most anticipated CRPG ever. I have held off on buying the PC version because it comes with unreasonably invasive SecuROM DRM, which under some circumstances limits you to three installs, ever, and periodically "phones home" to make sure, I don't know, you aren't on the NSA's Supervillain Watch List or something. (

Comments

[maltlick]

The game can't be good enough to justify jumping this many hurdles just so I can figure out how to play it.

It's not. You just saved yourself from nine thousand hours of dialog trees which yield nothing unless you ask EVERY possible question.

[thoughtspiral]

You mean there are people who play computer RPGs and DON'T ask every possible question?

[maltlick]

Yes. People who expect games with trees and branches to have consequences for choosing a particular path, and who expect a game to be programmed with sufficient brain-meats that starting off being a total BASTARD to an NPC means that trying to switch to the nice route won't suddenly change his opinion of you and make him give you the answer you were looking for.

I also live in a fantasy world where good things don't get canceled and crappy things do, instead of vice-versa.

[thoughtspiral]

As it happens, I linked that comic from the original post. :)

[thoughtspiral]

The first combat scenario is surprisingly difficult as well- particularly as it bills itself as a "tutorial." Usually you can sleepwalk through the first hour or two of a BioWare game, as the early opponents are ridiculously weak and the objectives clearly stated. ("Travel to the Cave of Pushing the Red Button, and push the Red Button with your Red Button Pusher. Beware the fearsome Elderly and Asthmatic Yorkshire Terrier that guards the Red Button.")

On the plus side, the plot seems promising.