I've been a huge fan of the Mass Effect franchise since day one. Ever since Bioware, who I fell in love with after playing the amazing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the Xbox, announced that they were making their own original sci-fi trilogy of RPGs I was on board.
The first Mass Effect was an interesting blend of traditional western RPG and cover-based 3rd-person shooter mechanics. It had some issues, serious texture pop-in being the most prominent and let's not forget about the Mako sequences, but it was still and amazing experience thanks in no small part to the story and characters that drove the game, and the franchise, forward.
Bioware took all of the feedback from the fist game into consideration while making Mass Effect 2, and the game that resulted went far beyond anyone's expectations. They made an incalculable number of changes, tweaks, and improvements to the way the game played and they came out with what many people, including me, consider to be one of the best games of all time. There were a few people who didn't like the changes, but these were most likely the kind of sticklers who will ALWAYS claim that the first iteration of a franchise was the best, no matter how clearly wrong they are. Mass Effect 2 was amazing, simply amazing, with how it propelled the story of Shepherd and the Reapers forward while taking their unique blend of Shooter-RPG gameplay to the next level.
And then it was time for the end of this epic sci-fi saga, Mass Effect 3. Having nailed the feel of the gameplay in ME2, fewer changes were necessary for the series and the focus could be put squarely on expanding the customization option, wrapping up the various storylines, and making every moment as epic as possible. After all, this is the time when the conflict with the Reapers would come to a head and all questions would be answered.
I have finished Mass Effect 3 once with my male Paragon Shepherd and am currently running through it with my Renegade FemShep, and I feel that Bioware has delivered on most of the promises they made for the franchise. The entire game was full of some of the most epic and touching moments I've ever experienced in a video game and, unlike seemingly most of the internet, I thought that the ending was pretty good. I liked that they left the ending somewhat open so that you, the player, could wrap things up in your head however you wanted. I also thought that (*SPOILER ALERT*) the way the ending (at least the one I've seen) kind of reset the universe by destroying the Mass Relays was genius. It means that now all of the species in the galaxy have to start back at square one and rebuild on their own terms without piggy-backing on the technology of the Reapers. Remember, none of the civilizations in the ME universe would be as technologically advanced as they are if it weren't for the Reapers leaving behind various bits of technology to guide their development as a culture. And, after being devastated by the invasion, it will take centuries for these cultures to pick themselves back up again, but at least life will be allowed to flourish on it's own terms, instead of being unduly influenced by unseen synthetic overlords. (*SPOILER OVER*)
I went into a sort of internet blackout after the game was released, checking only my emails, but not Facebook, video game websites, or anything else so that I could avoid spoilers. I was satisfied with the ending of my favorite franchise but, when I came back online, I found that the entire internet had EXPLODED into a sea of outrage over the ending of Mass Effect 3.
I dove into the fray, reading reviews and comments, just trying to get a sense for what people were so upset about. Now, I think that some of the points being made are valid; maybe the endings aren't dramatically different from one another, and I wouldn't mind getting a little more closure from some of the friends I made along the way but, as I said earlier, I think that leaving the ending a little bit open to interpretation was kind of the point; they want you to be able to wrap things up in your head the way you see fit.
I also think that some of the demands and steps that people have taken are beyond ridiculous. Some people are yelling for Bioware to patch in a new ending immediately, while others are demanding refunds to the point that Amazon.com has offered full refunds to people who were disappointed by the ending. Really? One jackass even filed a complaint with the FTC about the game(http://gamerant.com/mass-effect-3-bioware-ending-response-ftc-benk-138911/). Seriously, if you think the government needs to step in on an issue regarding the ending of a video game than you have got to be one of the most pathetic, government-reliant sheep on the the planet. Don't you think they have bigger concerns like, I don't know, the economy.
If that wasn't egregious enough, then you have people lobbing personal attacks against people who worked on the game. The fact that you didn't like the product is one thing, but don't begin spitting vitriolic hatred at the people who worked so hard to bring it to you.
Ultimately, I think that people need to calm down; Bioware has said that they are listening to the CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and will address people's concern soon(http://gamerant.com/bioware-cofounder-mass-effect-3-endings-dlc-johnj-139277/) I don't know what their solution will be, but I hope that Bioware sticks to their guns and doesn't try to fundamentally change the ending and here's why: What happens if they do change the ending and then these fanatics aren't satisfied with the "new" ending? They will begin yelling and screaming even louder because now Bioware took a second crack at it and missed in their eyes. Then what choice will Bioware have but to either change it AGAIN or tell them to just deal with it and look like a bunch of jerks. It's a slippery slope that will only lead to more heartache for the fans and developers alike. If they should do anything with the endings, I think it should be to simply include some finals scenes to show where all of your party members or major characters ended up.
Playing on the indoctrination theory(http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2012/03/21/did-the-real-mass-effect-3-ending-go-over-everyones-heads/) would be another way to go if they do want to give fans a new ending, but I still worry that people either won't be satisfied with whatever new ending they come up with or they will start a new controversy; claiming that it was Bioware and EA's plan the whole time as a way to suck more money out of fans if they charge for it.
Bioware is in a tough spot to say the least but I for one still love Mass Effect. I think it is one of the greatest franchises and one of the biggest accomplishments in video game history. And once this has all blown over I hope that people will be able to look back and see this series as the amazing piece of media it is.
The blog of a gamer following the latest industry trends, giving you his thoughts on the latest games and gaming news today.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
2011: The Year of 3s
2011 has been a great year for gaming; it's also a year with an odd convergence across many different franchises and platforms. A ridiculous number of games released just over the past few months either had the number 3 in their title, or were the third of their kind. It began with Resistance 3 a few months ago, followed by Gears of War 3 shortly thereafter. There was a short gap and then it was a bedlam of tris with Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, Saint's Row: The Third, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, and there were probably a few more that are slipping my mind.
While most of these games are wildly different thematically, most of them shared a common tone. A lot of them carried their storylines with a heavy weight as they were trying to wrap up a trilogy in a big way that gamers will remember for years to come. The majority of them played it very serious, with the exception being Saint's Row, which was decidedly not serious and just went for over-the-top fun; which helped it stand out as being refreshing after so many games hitting the player with heavy, emotional beats.
And when you think about it, even some games that didn't have 3 in their title still fit this trend; Assassin's Creed: Revelations is the third game starring Ezio Auditore. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, while obviously being the 5th game in the franchise, is the third ES game released on consoles. Later this year we'll see Star Wars: The Old Republic, which sounds like a new franchise but is actually the third game set in The Old Republic timeframe. If only Mass Effect 3 and Bioshock: Infinite(the 3rd Bioshock game) had made it out this holiday season heads would've exploded!
While most of these games are wildly different thematically, most of them shared a common tone. A lot of them carried their storylines with a heavy weight as they were trying to wrap up a trilogy in a big way that gamers will remember for years to come. The majority of them played it very serious, with the exception being Saint's Row, which was decidedly not serious and just went for over-the-top fun; which helped it stand out as being refreshing after so many games hitting the player with heavy, emotional beats.
And when you think about it, even some games that didn't have 3 in their title still fit this trend; Assassin's Creed: Revelations is the third game starring Ezio Auditore. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, while obviously being the 5th game in the franchise, is the third ES game released on consoles. Later this year we'll see Star Wars: The Old Republic, which sounds like a new franchise but is actually the third game set in The Old Republic timeframe. If only Mass Effect 3 and Bioshock: Infinite(the 3rd Bioshock game) had made it out this holiday season heads would've exploded!
Monday, April 25, 2011
L.A. Noire: Prophesied
When Rockstar Games talks, the gaming world listens. And with good reason; this is a developer that's created and cultivated some of the most ambitious and successful games and franchises in the last ten years. Grand Theft Auto was a phenomenon during the PS2 era and Grand Theft Auto IV was a mega-hit for the current generation of game consoles. Then there was Red Dead Redemption, a re-invigoration of one of Rockstar's older franchises that took the GTA formula in a whole new direction. It won a multitude of Game of the Year awards, changed the way people think about open-world games, and is regarded by many as a modern classic.
And now, in less than a month, Rockstar and developer Team Bondi will be releasing their next game, L.A. Noire. This marks the beginning of a brand new franchise for the heavy-hitting developer/publisher and it seems to be following the design tenants of Red Dead; Take the GTA formula and twist it into something completely unexpected.
For the uninitiated, L.A. Noire takes place in the late 1940's and puts you in the shoes of a man named Cole Phelps, a soldier just back from World War II whose trying to find his place in the world. Deciding to put his military experience to use, he joins the LAPD and your main goal throughout the game is to climb the ranks of the police force to go from street cop to detective and then you must work your way up through the hierarchy of departments like traffic, homicide, vice, etc..
The gameplay seems to blend the open-world freedom, driving, and gun fights from GTA IV with detective work similar to that of the Ace Attorney series or Heavy Rain. This means you'll be exploring crime scenes for clues and, once you've found them, you can take a closer look at them to reveal more information about the case. The cover system and shooting control seem to have been tightened up since GTA IV and should work even better here. The driving looks similar to GTA but I suspect that, although there will be car chases, the cars will probably drive slower than they did in Liberty City since these are all cars from the 40's. This is probably for the best since driving too quickly in GTA IV would sometimes cause the game to hitch up and objects often wouldn't appear until you'd already crashed into them.
Stylistically, this game already gets the thumbs up from me. How often do you see 1940's era America depicted in a video game? And how often do you see it done to the quality on display here? Never.
L.A. Noire looks like crime drama at it's absolute best and with a powerhouse like Rockstar to back it, May should be great month for a trip to the City of Angels.
Here's an official trailer that sets the stage very well and should pique your intrest if this post hasn't already:
And now, in less than a month, Rockstar and developer Team Bondi will be releasing their next game, L.A. Noire. This marks the beginning of a brand new franchise for the heavy-hitting developer/publisher and it seems to be following the design tenants of Red Dead; Take the GTA formula and twist it into something completely unexpected.
For the uninitiated, L.A. Noire takes place in the late 1940's and puts you in the shoes of a man named Cole Phelps, a soldier just back from World War II whose trying to find his place in the world. Deciding to put his military experience to use, he joins the LAPD and your main goal throughout the game is to climb the ranks of the police force to go from street cop to detective and then you must work your way up through the hierarchy of departments like traffic, homicide, vice, etc..
The gameplay seems to blend the open-world freedom, driving, and gun fights from GTA IV with detective work similar to that of the Ace Attorney series or Heavy Rain. This means you'll be exploring crime scenes for clues and, once you've found them, you can take a closer look at them to reveal more information about the case. The cover system and shooting control seem to have been tightened up since GTA IV and should work even better here. The driving looks similar to GTA but I suspect that, although there will be car chases, the cars will probably drive slower than they did in Liberty City since these are all cars from the 40's. This is probably for the best since driving too quickly in GTA IV would sometimes cause the game to hitch up and objects often wouldn't appear until you'd already crashed into them.
Stylistically, this game already gets the thumbs up from me. How often do you see 1940's era America depicted in a video game? And how often do you see it done to the quality on display here? Never.
L.A. Noire looks like crime drama at it's absolute best and with a powerhouse like Rockstar to back it, May should be great month for a trip to the City of Angels.
Here's an official trailer that sets the stage very well and should pique your intrest if this post hasn't already:
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Mass Effect 3
This is the announcement trailer for the upcoming Mass Effect 3. I saw this a few weeks ago when it debuted at the Video Game Awards on Spike TV and i just had to post it because I am totally stoked about this game. I am a huge fan of the series and I can't wait to see what happens to finish out the trilogy. Mass Effect 2 is one of my favorite games and it won a TON of awards from various websites and magazines. Bioware has truly accomplished something great with ME and I wish them all the luck in making the fianl installment the best the series has to offer.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Bioshock Infinite
I just watched the new gameplay trailer for Bioshock Infinite and let me just say: this is uber-badassery!
I was a huge fan of the original Bioshock but I didn't play the second one; it just didn't excite me the way the original did. But this game is made by the designers of the original Bioshock, Ken Levine and his team at Irrational Games, and it look absolutely amazing. Here's an 45 minute interview with the man himself talking about the game:
I was a huge fan of the original Bioshock but I didn't play the second one; it just didn't excite me the way the original did. But this game is made by the designers of the original Bioshock, Ken Levine and his team at Irrational Games, and it look absolutely amazing. Here's an 45 minute interview with the man himself talking about the game:
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Demo Reel!!
Check out my new Demo Reel. This is still an unfinished version but it's getting there and it'll be posted on my website soon.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Mortal Kombat short film
So I came across this short film based on Mortal Kombat the other day and I just had to post it because it was so badass. Just take a look:
This film was made over the course of two-months by a guy named Kevin Tancharoen who wants to make this into a feature film with himself as director. Here's a link from Kotaku.com with a brief article about him:
http://kotaku.com/5559726/how-the-mortal-kombat-short-was-made-and-what-happens-next
I wish this guy all the luck in the world because I think he did an amazing job and I would absolutely go see this movie if he got to make; just to see his take on the various MK characters and story arcs.
Finally, here's the new trailer for the next Mortal Kombat game:
http://www.giantbomb.com/the-next-mortal-kombat-trailer-brings-the-pain/17-2621/
I looks pretty cool; they seem to be going back to 2D and they've clearly brought the fatalities back properly. Ed Boon, the creator of MK, is also back on board as creative director so it definitely has the pedigree to make a great new installment for the series.
I have to admit though: when I first saw the short film I was really hoping that is was a leaked E3 trailer made to show off the new visual style for an MK re-boot, something the series could definitely use. I saw this as being a re-imagining like Twisted Metal: Black, but for Mortal Kombat. Sadly, that wasn't the case but I still have high hopes for the next MK game and I will definitely be keeping my eye on it because these two videos have brought back my interest in the series.
This film was made over the course of two-months by a guy named Kevin Tancharoen who wants to make this into a feature film with himself as director. Here's a link from Kotaku.com with a brief article about him:
http://kotaku.com/5559726/how-the-mortal-kombat-short-was-made-and-what-happens-next
I wish this guy all the luck in the world because I think he did an amazing job and I would absolutely go see this movie if he got to make; just to see his take on the various MK characters and story arcs.
Finally, here's the new trailer for the next Mortal Kombat game:
http://www.giantbomb.com/the-next-mortal-kombat-trailer-brings-the-pain/17-2621/
I looks pretty cool; they seem to be going back to 2D and they've clearly brought the fatalities back properly. Ed Boon, the creator of MK, is also back on board as creative director so it definitely has the pedigree to make a great new installment for the series.
I have to admit though: when I first saw the short film I was really hoping that is was a leaked E3 trailer made to show off the new visual style for an MK re-boot, something the series could definitely use. I saw this as being a re-imagining like Twisted Metal: Black, but for Mortal Kombat. Sadly, that wasn't the case but I still have high hopes for the next MK game and I will definitely be keeping my eye on it because these two videos have brought back my interest in the series.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)