insanity..nerffed?

[Bchampli]

as the title suggests, I have been playing this game trilogy a long time across multiple playthroughs over the years.. I have just started my insanity renegade run... and while I know ME1 isnt really difficult even on insanity, i thought it used to be more challenging? is anyone else feeling this?

[stabbykitteh]

I don't think it was nerfed. Insanity still makes enemies bullet sponges, but the upgrades to combat make it feel easier.

[Aperama Entertainment]

Oh definitely, ME1 is ridiculously easy now, I was running around punching enemies with little fear. ME2 is still decent so far, the Collector Ship mission kicked my ass several times still! ME3 I haven't started yet so can't comment.

[Bchampli]

ok cool thanks for the responses

[Kroko[SVK]]

I played insanity with new game + so each game was much easier than it would be otherwise. ME1 was relativelly easy, ME2 was much harder with Horizon being worst mission to beat. ME3 was quite easy with Garrus.

[solidFOX]

ME1 is much easier now. The original ME1 was bordering ridiculously hard. Even on Eden Prime, you can take out the Geth very easily. I remember them not going down as easily in the original ME1. The side missions on the ships and uncharted worlds are easier. I won't die to quickly as before when getting swarmed. Still, the Rachni mission in the Styx Theta cluster is still pretty tough!

ME2 is just as hard as before. Horizon took me a few tries, as did the Collector Ship with the 100K husks at the Reaper Core.

ME3, seems to be just as hard as before. But if you give a teammate the N7 Typhoon with the ignore armor % mod, it will become very easy . I just started ME3 not long ago. I'm about to head to Palaven.

One thing I know is that the DLC weapons in ME2 and ME3 are not available straight from the get-go. You have to purchase them with in-game credits, so there is a slight grind with the normal weapons, thus it's a little harder at the beginning levels of both games.

[Replica]

That's going to be my pricey weapon purchase for ME 3, a wonderful Typhoon for my squad to go nuts with... obviously overpowered but worth it for any Insanity run.

[Jon_Smith]

ME1 is easier yes and they did change it.

They removed weapon specialization stuff for a start. Previously, for example, if you didn't have specialization for sniper rifles you couldn't even look down the scope, with other weapons you'd be wildly inaccurate. You need to add skill points to these weapons to stop the 'weapon drift' and hit the centre reticule regularly and reliably.

In ME1LE they removed that, all character are pro snipers from the word go and all guns are extremely accurate off the bat, as such you'll hit your targets way more in the early game, making it much much easier and can use your skill points elsewhere.

Now, arguably the gatekeeping on weapons and the deliberate missing based on dice roll the game had before was annoying, but removing it changes the entire game balance and has resulted in the game becoming super easy.

[Foxpass]

That's probably it. Early game is easier because you can actually hit enemies. Late game feels about the same. Immunity was nerfed, so you can't have 90% damage reduction all the time, but it is nerfed for enemies too. Also seems like Colossus armor is easier to find.

[Jon_Smith]

Yup, makes a huge difference, especially because enemies still have the poor weapon spread, so they are still bad at hitting you, despite you being able to nail them.

Cooldown on stuff like medigel is also lower, that also makes it easier as you can use it more often.

[76561198040841481]

Honestly, ME1 only feels 'easier' because the game is more responsive overall... allowing for much quicker response times and more accurate shots/actions, and some mild improvements to ally AI.

ME1-2 where cake walk for me because the enemy AI just falls over with the slightest interuptions in targets (such as going invisable), and is worse when you drop into or out of stealth yourself..
-- ME3, is another matter.

THough the shorthand... the real difference is numbers... Some abilities basically nullify it, and even still you can still die if you act dumb or attempt to use what you aren't spec'd into or got the improved gear of.

Though overall, ME:LE insanity is 'easier' because the games are more responsive... and the AI is still built around the more sluggish responses of the original games with plenty of leeway to either get away or get the situation under control.

[Jon_Smith]

Originally posted by DePhoegon:

Honestly, ME1 only feels 'easier' because the game is more responsive overall... allowing for much quicker response times and more accurate shots/actions, and some mild improvements to ally AI.

Though overall, ME:LE insanity is 'easier' because the games are more responsive... and the AI is still built around the more sluggish responses of the original games with plenty of leeway to either get away or get the situation under control.

I'm pretty sure not missing most of your shots due to weapon spread and lack of specialisation has a much, much bigger impact than it being 'more responsive'.

Changing it so shots don't deliberately miss and accuracy is no longer really a thing is the main issue ME1LE is easier. Not the responsiveness.

Go compare to ME1, try firing guns on Eden prime, you can't even use the scope on a sniper rifle and with a pistol maybe 1-2 out of fire shots will be in the centre by the reticule.
In ME1LE every shot nails the target, even with zero points invested into pistols. Hitting your enemy more often makes the game easier...

[76561198040841481]

Originally posted by Jon_Smith:

Originally posted by DePhoegon:

Honestly, ME1 only feels 'easier' because the game is more responsive overall... allowing for much quicker response times and more accurate shots/actions, and some mild improvements to ally AI.

Though overall, ME:LE insanity is 'easier' because the games are more responsive... and the AI is still built around the more sluggish responses of the original games with plenty of leeway to either get away or get the situation under control.

I'm pretty sure not missing most of your shots due to weapon spread and lack of specialisation has a much, much bigger impact than it being 'more responsive'.

Changing it so shots don't deliberately miss and accuracy is no longer really a thing is the main issue ME1LE is easier. Not the responsiveness.

Go compare to ME1, try firing guns on Eden prime, you can't even use the scope on a sniper rifle and with a pistol maybe 1-2 out of fire shots will be in the centre by the reticule.
In ME1LE every shot nails the target, even with zero points invested into pistols. Hitting your enemy more often makes the game easier...

umm
Well, that's why it was easier for me.. I played .. the patched (Origin Version), the original version for PC.. ME1.. and never once had a problem.

Though It was slower & I couldn't just pop off shots.

Perhaps they kinda took that stabilization CD away or it got nuked as a side effect of the engine tweaks it received.

Though ME1 & ME2, are more responsive & give you more time to react then the Regular PC versions for sure (mind you I've not played them for alteast a month or two before LE released, so any patches I wouldn't know about)
The aim is faster, the running is faster... a bit derpy if you spam keys by mistake.

[Jon_Smith]

Originally posted by DePhoegon:

Originally posted by Jon_Smith:

I'm pretty sure not missing most of your shots due to weapon spread and lack of specialisation has a much, much bigger impact than it being 'more responsive'.

Changing it so shots don't deliberately miss and accuracy is no longer really a thing is the main issue ME1LE is easier. Not the responsiveness.

Go compare to ME1, try firing guns on Eden prime, you can't even use the scope on a sniper rifle and with a pistol maybe 1-2 out of fire shots will be in the centre by the reticule.
In ME1LE every shot nails the target, even with zero points invested into pistols. Hitting your enemy more often makes the game easier...

umm
Well, that's why it was easier for me.. I played .. the patched (Origin Version), the original version for PC.. ME1.. and never once had a problem.

Though It was slower & I couldn't just pop off shots.

Perhaps they kinda took that stabilization CD away or it got nuked as a side effect of the engine tweaks it received.

Though ME1 & ME2, are more responsive & give you more time to react then the Regular PC versions for sure (mind you I've not played them for alteast a month or two before LE released, so any patches I wouldn't know about)
The aim is faster, the running is faster... a bit derpy if you spam keys by mistake.

I was trying to find a comparison video I saw recently, sadly I cannot find it and watched it incognitio. It had a bad title I can't quite remember that is making searching hard and there are so so many MELE videos recently.

Anyway it did a side by side of all the guns, the game didn't seem noticeably more responsive, but the shots differed wildly.

This was a deliberate choice of the devs to change, it was not tied to the engine optimisation. ME1 still had alot of RPG roots. In the original whenever you took a shot there was a dice roll that happened to determine accuracy. It was affected by gun accuracy aswell as the characters weapon skill points. If the DC was passed the shot would be on target, failed and it would veer off from centre and often miss.
It made getting more accurate weapons, mods and skill points super important and early game you missed a bunch of shots.

In ME1LE accuracy is basically a meaningless stat. All weapons have perfect aim as they removed the dice roll.
This is a very large change on early game difficulty.

[76561198040841481]

Originally posted by Jon_Smith:

Originally posted by DePhoegon:

umm
Well, that's why it was easier for me.. I played .. the patched (Origin Version), the original version for PC.. ME1.. and never once had a problem.

Though It was slower & I couldn't just pop off shots.

Perhaps they kinda took that stabilization CD away or it got nuked as a side effect of the engine tweaks it received.

Though ME1 & ME2, are more responsive & give you more time to react then the Regular PC versions for sure (mind you I've not played them for alteast a month or two before LE released, so any patches I wouldn't know about)
The aim is faster, the running is faster... a bit derpy if you spam keys by mistake.

I was trying to find a comparison video I saw recently, sadly I cannot find it and watched it incognitio. It had a bad title I can't quite remember that is making searching hard and there are so so many MELE videos recently.

Anyway it did a side by side of all the guns, the game didn't seem noticeably more responsive, but the shots differed wildly.

This was a deliberate choice of the devs to change, it was not tied to the engine optimisation. ME1 still had alot of RPG roots. In the original whenever you took a shot there was a dice roll that happened to determine accuracy. It was affected by gun accuracy aswell as the characters weapon skill points. If the DC was passed the shot would be on target, failed and it would veer off from centre and often miss.
It made getting more accurate weapons, mods and skill points super important and early game you missed a bunch of shots.

In ME1LE accuracy is basically a meaningless stat. All weapons have perfect aim as they removed the dice roll.
This is a very large change on early game difficulty.

you .. know.. .... you can get ME1 still (0utside of LE) right? and even get it without patches. well.. only enough patches for a modern system.

Not sure than.... while it was 'slower' for sure, and that caused me some end or grief .. I never missed a shot that was centered on them.

It's easier, and being able to snap scope & fire on a far more wide variety of enemies is crazy strong with infitrator. (even late game, it gets more broken.. if you spec out the talents that basically turn a 1-2 shot sniper w/ insane headshot bonus damage & ammo type swaping, into 6-18 shot multi fire power house.
-- honestly ME1 infitrator is utterly cracked, if you push sniper upgrades in the talent, and that's even with the very heat productive upgrades for the guns.

I promise you there are engine tweaks. or changes made to base level stuff that could be engine/combat related.

Before LE, those same upgrades.. while as powerful... where countered by a much slower system be it choice or engine.. it completely affects the balance.... and every class has something like that really, with some more than others getting the best use from it.

[Jon_Smith]

Originally posted by DePhoegon:

you .. know.. .... you can get ME1 still (0utside of LE) right? and even get it without patches. well.. only enough patches for a modern system.

Not sure than.... while it was 'slower' for sure, and that caused me some end or grief .. I never missed a shot that was centered on them.

It's easier, and being able to snap scope & fire on a far more wide variety of enemies is crazy strong with infitrator. (even late game, it gets more broken.. if you spec out the talents that basically turn a 1-2 shot sniper w/ insane headshot bonus damage & ammo type swaping, into 6-18 shot multi fire power house.
-- honestly ME1 infitrator is utterly cracked, if you push sniper upgrades in the talent, and that's even with the very heat productive upgrades for the guns.

I promise you there are engine tweaks. or changes made to base level stuff that could be engine/combat related.

Before LE, those same upgrades.. while as powerful... where countered by a much slower system be it choice or engine.. it completely affects the balance.... and every class has something like that really, with some more than others getting the best use from it.

Yeah man, I still have my original disc (although no drive) and the digital version on Origin already.

I still prefer the MELE despite the changes, don't think I was ranting that they were bad.
I don't think they are, just that they go abit tooo far. ME is obnoxious in many many ways, such as the uncharted planets, Mako driving and weapon accuracy. I think reducing that pain is good, but should perhaps be balanced so its not so extreme as to eliminate the accuracy stat aswell as making it apply to enemies abit too.

I won't argue with you that there are some engine fixes that also make combat easier (again I know there are a bunch of engine fixes, the load times and graphics are way, way better). I'm just more acutely aware and find the weapon changes to be more obvious and therefore impactful.

Happy to agree its a combination of both factors however if you are sure the controls are much less slugish.