Does anyone else think that Mass Effect is a really bad game?

[Skaarphy]

- deleted -

[Kargor]

I don't know whether it's "bad" since I haven't played it.

I have removed it from my shopping list for one simple reason: there appears to be a late-game quest that kills your party members unless you've done the right things during the game. And those are not simple "buy the right weapon for each character" or something like that conditions.

Of course, it's also possible that there are other things I wouldn't like. I don't remember the exact thing that I asked -- looking at the store page, it's probably the "Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome." since something like that always raises concerns for me.

[Aachen]

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

…. - Character progression: Linear, simplistic, with little palpable impact ….

Biotics seemed fairly impactful.

…. - Exploration: Largely non-existent. Particularly on planets: Always the same square mile, with always the same 4 or 5 POIs that always yield the exact same results ….

It’s an RPG. And they didn’t exactly retain this “open-world” attempt in the subsequent games, so you aren’t as contrarian on this point as you think.

…. - Level design: Generally, nothing to write home about. Lots of copy & paste jobs in "dungeons" though. Was it really too much too ask for to occasionally shake things up at least a little bit? ….

There are lots of different areas, so I don’t find “gee, a little variety occasionally would be nice” is a terribly fair perspective.

…. - Characters: Very trope-ey. Almost cardboard-cutouts. And you don't even "get to know them" (at least not until I stopped playing which was about three quarters through). You can't talk to them during missions and outside of that you just get one-line remarks without any dialogue options ….

Which characters are copies of each other? I don’t recall such indistinguishability.

…. So, I'm wondering, does anyone else see it that way? Did anyone else stopped playing the game because they found it to be really bad?

I didn’t. Finished the second and third, despite having enjoyed them somewhat less.

[Qbert ⭐]

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

I've made a post criticizing the game in the Mass Effect forum some time ago and it's obvious I won't get a single "Yes" if I would ask this question there. Or basically any other reaction than accusations of being a troll. But it really bothers me.

I just don't understand why this game is held in such high regard. I'm not a contrarian or an elitist or anything like that. I like lots of things that are popular, I'm not very particular or nitpicky or have impossible standards..
But I find that this game is just plain bad! A few points:

- Character progression: Linear, simplistic, with little palpable impact.
- Exploration: Largely non-existent. Particularly on planets: Always the same square mile, with always the same 4 or 5 POIs that always yield the exact same results.
- Level design: Generally, nothing to write home about. Lots of copy & paste jobs in "dungeons" though. Was it really too much too ask for to occasionally shake things up at least a little bit?
- Characters: Very trope-ey. Almost cardboard-cutouts. And you don't even "get to know them" (at least not until I stopped playing which was about three quarters through). You can't talk to them during missions and outside of that you just get one-line remarks without any dialogue options.
There is just so little to work with.
- The story: I know the story, even though I haven't played it. I have no problems with the story. It's a good one, I think. It's actually the one thing that kept me going well beyond losing interest in anything else the game has to offer. In the end it wasn't enough though.

That list goes on. In summary, outside of the premise and the overarching story I cannot see a single aspect in the game that I would consider good. Afaic, all to often it barely scratches mediocre. My overall impression is for it be a lazy, lackluster and dull effort by either old and tired or talentless developers just going through the motions. And I guess this sounds troll-ey but it's not. That is really what I get from this game.

So, I'm wondering, does anyone else see it that way? Did anyone else stopped playing the game because they found it to be really bad?

You have some valid points, I do not share them, but they are valid

I enjoyed the first one, by the time they released it, it felt awesome, love the story and some of the characters.

I never went in deep with the design or other stuff. I enoyed the game as a whole package.

Never played the other ones, my game taste started to drift away to indies by that time

[Grimsdottir]

I felt your list was lacking and then I found out why when the simple line,
"The story: I know the story, even though I haven't played it. I have no problems with the story. It's a good one."

That makes no sense. "I don't like the game. I didn't play it, the story, solid though"

Something tells me this is poor bait.

[Reggaejunkiedrew]

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

I find that this game is just plain bad!

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

I haven't played it

lol

[wesnef]

Originally posted by Kargor:

I don't know whether it's "bad" since I haven't played it.

I have removed it from my shopping list for one simple reason: there appears to be a late-game quest that kills your party members unless you've done the right things during the game. And those are not simple "buy the right weapon for each character" or something like that conditions.

That sounds more like Mass Effect 2 - the game where you're gathering a team for The Suicide Mission(tm). And gee, if you make mistakes or don't prepare enough, people can die during the suicide mission. Appropriately.


There's a main quest in ME1 where a character has be chosen to stay behind/die to stop the enemy. But there's no way around that, it's just part of the story.

[Aluvard]

Originally posted by wesnef:

Originally posted by Kargor:

I don't know whether it's "bad" since I haven't played it.

I have removed it from my shopping list for one simple reason: there appears to be a late-game quest that kills your party members unless you've done the right things during the game. And those are not simple "buy the right weapon for each character" or something like that conditions.

That sounds more like Mass Effect 2 - the game where you're gathering a team for The Suicide Mission(tm). And gee, if you make mistakes or don't prepare enough, people can die during the suicide mission. Appropriately.


There's a main quest in ME1 where a character has be chosen to stay behind/die to stop the enemy. But there's no way around that, it's just part of the story.

So basically a reward for speedrunners.

Regarding OP of this thread - your sentence about how "you have not played this game", kinda strike down entire post.

[Xhoas]

The characters are the best thing in the game...

[Belbe's Phyrexian Toy Collection]

Originally posted by Skaarphy:

- deleted -

Low effort rage bait

[cf.barbossa]

Why was the original post deleted? I agree with at least some of the points regarding ME1, and I have finished that twice.

Yes, there are too many planets you can visit, that are mostly the same. All indoor parts share one of four basic designs- the mine, the small base, the bigger base, the starship. Half as many of them would have been plenty. The stroy planets are better.

Character progression is why this is not an RPG but an upgraded shooter. Plus, Shep is too hollow to be called a character.

Stereotype characters? Oh yes, verily muchly so. The Noble Savage, The Dirty Harry and The Sexy Chick, The Tech Kid, The Soldier. Oh, and there's Kaidan. Party interaction is mostly limited to talks in the elevator.

The story is what I find weakest. The sense of urgency from the main story is almost completely detached from actual gameplay- it feels like two games. Also, Babylon 5 did the same basic story arc, but better and 20 years earlier.

The setting throws together too many sci-fi premises. I could have done without Space Magick: even in-universe, biotics could be replaced with tech, which is needed for them to work anyway. The trekkish exploration parts (and preachy tone) don't really fit in a setting that mostly tries to blend Star-Wars and Stargate flavours.

Does all that mean I didn't have fun? No. I had a lot of fun, or I wouldn't have bought the LE after already owning and having finished ME. The battles were easy enough (on normal difficulty) to allow a casual session now and then. The game is entertaining, and that is enough. If I want to play a masterpiece of RPG though, I reinstall Vampire: Bloodlines.

[Rhoetus]

Originally posted by Kargor:

I have removed it from my shopping list for one simple reason: there appears to be a late-game quest that kills your party members unless you've done the right things during the game. And those are not simple "buy the right weapon for each character" or something like that conditions.

Wow.

I went into the Mass Effect universe a year ago knowing only one thing about it: choosing to have sex with a particular character will kill you. That was it.

I played my first time through "clean", that is: I didn't look up any spoilers or ways of keeping everyone alive or cheats.
Losing someone in the "sui*ide mission" was amazing. Awful, but amazing. Having something like that which actually changes how the game plays out was something new, for me.
Not only did it have a story impact, but it changed how I role-played the game after that. I went from hopeful to jaded. I sacrificed an entire species (almost) because if the person that got killed couldn't have what they wanted, then no one got it.
(probably best I don't really make decisions with galaxy-wide implications in real life)

Each playthrough is a slightly different story experience. (unless you make all the same choices and... well, that's a choice too, I guess) That is what makes ME so replayable.
I'm currently about halfway through MEA, and looking forward to going through ME LE again when I'm done.

Look, if you don't like it, that's fine. But calling it bad? That's putting an objective statement over a subjective experience. My experience is that it is terrific. Not perfect, but highly enjoyable.

[Belbe's Phyrexian Toy Collection]

Originally posted by Rhoetus:

Originally posted by Kargor:

I have removed it from my shopping list for one simple reason: there appears to be a late-game quest that kills your party members unless you've done the right things during the game. And those are not simple "buy the right weapon for each character" or something like that conditions.

Wow.

I went into the Mass Effect universe a year ago knowing only one thing about it: choosing to have sex with a particular character will kill you. That was it.

I played my first time through "clean", that is: I didn't look up any spoilers or ways of keeping everyone alive or cheats.
Losing someone in the "sui*ide mission" was amazing. Awful, but amazing. Having something like that which actually changes how the game plays out was something new, for me.
Not only did it have a story impact, but it changed how I role-played the game after that. I went from hopeful to jaded. I sacrificed an entire species (almost) because if the person that got killed couldn't have what they wanted, then no one got it.
(probably best I don't really make decisions with galaxy-wide implications in real life)

Each playthrough is a slightly different story experience. (unless you make all the same choices and... well, that's a choice too, I guess) That is what makes ME so replayable.
I'm currently about halfway through MEA, and looking forward to going through ME LE again when I'm done.

Look, if you don't like it, that's fine. But calling it bad? That's putting an objective statement over a subjective experience. My experience is that it is terrific. Not perfect, but highly enjoyable.

this is a rage bait post, no need to respond but I like your response c:. that being said his complaint is silly. Having interactions where choices matter and can affect opportunities and successes later is a hallmark of an RPG that is actually a role playing game and not a skill tree simulator. so if you're interested in Mass Effect you're interested in an RPG experience so why you would complain about something like this is beyond me and further indicates OP is just trying to rage bait

[v.aurimas91]

ME1 is not bad, just feels the most dated and the most simplest in terms of mechanics, hence can be boring at times to play. Not to mention that combat is slow as f*ck.

[Jonathan J. O'Neill]

ME1 isn't bad. It just didn't age well.

[Koala 4peace]

So you don't like a game you didn't even play. Glad to see only one person fell for this obvious jester award farming.