Mass Effect

[Mr. GOH!]

Yes, there would be no time dilation, but the fundamental concept of causality would go out the window even if you teleported instantaneously from one spot to another light years away. That is, there would be outside perspectives (frames, in relativity parlance) in which it looks like you traveled back in time. It's pretty simple: if there's FTL, then causality as we understand it breaks. Effects happen before causes. 

 

Well, there could be special rules that prevent breaking causality, but they would involve restrictions on beginning and end points of FTL travel that could not apply to the mass relay system and would not allow for Shepard to zoom about willy-nilly in the Normandy.

 

It really doesn't bother me; I love space operas with FTL. But I do know that if FTL were truly possible, it means the universe is a very weird place that cannot really be understood by human brains.

[Mal]

Surprised you guys are not on this.

 

I honestly only played Mass Effect 1 and a tiny bit of 2 (I just remembered that I have it). I liked what I've played but god, does the initial outcry for 3 turned me off. Hopefully the path that Andromeda takes us on will be worth it (i.e., Bioware doesn't have to go back and fix things).

[TheMightyEthan]

Forget about the tantrum about 3, they fixed the problems long ago.

 

*Edit - Having watched the trailer now: oh, so we'll be fighting against Citadel races.  That's boring.

Edited December 2, 2016 by TheMightyEthan

[Thursday Next]

Perhaps that's just the prologue and they don't want to spoil the later stuff?

[TheMightyEthan]

Hopefully.

[Mr. GOH!]

What? ME3 was never fixed. The ending was made slightly less bad, but ME3 failed to live up to the promise of the first two games. The Reapers were way less threatening and scary than they should have been, and the mystery behind their actions was dull. And the stupid endgame choice! Ugh.

 

But I'll still be buying this near launch. They've hyped the new alien races, so it's odd they weren't in this trailer, but I'm not worried we'll only be facing Citadel races. 

 

I just hope the wildlife isn't the same across all the different planets. I hated that thresher maws seemed to be an interstellar race.

[TheMightyEthan]

Sorry, I didn't elaborate enough on what I meant: they fixed the problems with the ending that people mainly threw a tantrum about (specifically it's abruptness), but you are correct they did not make massive story overhauls to fix the fact that it didn't capitalize on a lot of the stuff they'd hinted at in previous games.

 

Despite that, it is still a good game overall and the ending is no longer so terrible as to ruin the experience.

 

*Edit - to elaborate further: originally the way the story ended was disappointing, and was presented horrendously. Now it is still disappointing (though slightly less than initially) and the presentation has been improved immensely.

[Hot Heart]

No, things are either great or terrible, and it was terrible. It sucks. Booooo.

 

Anyway, I'm liking most of what I'm seeing. I'm sure I'll come to like the new characters (although, I know the people who created ones like Mordin left the writing team after 3) because nothing is standing out yet. I almost don't want to see too much more before it comes out anyway.

 

The combat seems a little "busy" but then I think 3 could get like that (and I got used to multiplayer where there is no "pause" to gather yourself) and it looks like there are lots more cool options.

 

Onto what I do hate... those "big creature kills you" animations. They were shitty in 3 with those big brutes or banshees where it just happens sometimes if you're too close for a couple of seconds; there never seemed to be any consistency for what triggered it. Fortunately, the jetpack makes you a lot more mobile so maybe it's easier to avoid being too close in the first place.

[deanb]

 

I've a feeling you'll be involved in the upgrade process.
 

But yeah bit of a bummer that citadel factions potentially playing a decent role as potential antagonists. I guess it'll be a thing to see more of, see how they balance old races with new ones. (and hopefully not make it seem like Andromeda is mostly uninhabited).

[TheMightyEthan]

I love all the things she says that totally just sound like euphemisms for attacking and kicking out the natives in true colonial fashion.  "Once the Pathfinders have completed securing these new habitats..."

[TheMightyEthan]

Also, if you go to the Andromeda Initiative site, sign in with your EA/Origin account and watch the trailers on there instead of Youtube or whatever then you get a free bonus helmet in the game!  Exciting!  (I make fun, but I've totally be doing it.)

[Thursday Next]

I am now doing this thing too.

[Mr. GOH!]

Damn it, so am I. The things we do for free virtual hats.

[TheMightyEthan]

Updated the poll.

[Eleven]

There should be a "PC if there is controller support" choice.

[Mr. GOH!]

They'll support controllers on PC. They did for the last Dragon age, so that bodes well.

Edited December 13, 2016 by Mr. NOEL!

[TheMightyEthan]

Yeah, it's been ages and ages since a major multiplatform release didn't support controllers on PC.  It will support controllers.

[deanb]

 

Huh, amazed no one posted this while I was asleep.

 

Anywho Destiny Mass Effect Andromeda trailer revealed at Nvidia CES, and also a release date of March 21st.

[Mr. GOH!]

I hope this isn't as boring as Destiny. 

 

The weird skill system for the main character also gives me pause. I think I may wait until reviews are out before buying.

[TheMightyEthan]

Destiny isn't boring from a gameplay perspective, it's a fantastic shooter, it's just boring from a long-term engagement perspective.  But yeah, that trailer put me off.

 

Mass Effect 2 is free on Origin right now (keep forever once you've added it to your account).  Sadly all the important DLC still costs a total of about $15,000.  It does come with Zaeed, but not Kasumi, Overlord, LotSB, or Arrival.  Overlord is skippable, but you're really missing out with the rest of those.

[Mr. GOH!]

Yeah, the full ME2 suite is very good. I think, in the end, ME2 > ME3.

[TheMightyEthan]

The more I think about that video the more disinterested it makes me in this game.  I liked the slower, more tactical cover-based combat of ME2 and 3.  I'm sure this combat is supposed to look "dynamic" and "exciting", but as Hot Heart said on Twitter it just looks messy.  

[Mr. GOH!]

I agree. ME should not be like DOOM 2016, excellent as DOOM is.

[Thursday Next]

When are they going to do the next briefing thing? If I'm gonna buy this I expect to be wearing a fancy hat.

[Mr. GOH!]

Apparently, this will not have a season pass, according to a dev on Twitter. It remains to be seen how they will gouge fans on DLC pricing.