Soon the day will be upon us! The day of Mass Effect! Yet as the day draws closer mixed feelings arise. On one end, i think back to KOTOR and the combat system, which i despised. Despite the intriguing storyline i could not force myself to go through the combat system past the tunnels. On the other hand, Bioware also made Jade Empire, which despite the simplistic combat, really immersed me into the storyline and RPG elements of the game. When i played it at first, i was enthralled and spent the next couple of days with Jade (which unfortunately was during finals ;) ) and loved it. So in the long and short of it, Combat really makes the game for me and RPG's. So with the incoming days of Mass Effect, my doubts are setting in. So far the combat seems relatively fast paced, with tactical elements (ala older rainbow six games, a very very good thing) which could really be a home run for me. What worries me though, is that the shooting wont feel right. On multiple RPG's of FPS that have tried to combine the two, it has come across in a very watered down approach. Is the combat going to be able to achieve this happy medium? Will it be able to have Form, Fun and Function?

I can't actually comment too much on the combat system because I don't understand how it compares to what combat systems have been like in the past from BioWare, or in comparison to other games in a similar genre. That said, everything I have seen of Mass Effect so far has been awesome and the game is definitely one of my most anticipated of '07.

I like the idea of having a whole universe to explore, with planets and star systems and the like to travel to. I like the idea of having the Normandy as your ship and the fact that you can control it and its crew. I like the art direction that the game seems to have, I like the way you have options when conversing with NPCs and yeah, the game just comes across as something special.

Better yet, if recent word is anything to go by then we will all be playing this gem in just a few months. My god it is going to kick absolute arse!

Probably one of, if not my most anticipated game this year. Bioware always recieve my strict attention, words cannot describe how much I absolutely adored KotOR and Jade Empire. If all goes to plan, Mass Effect has the potential to surpass them both in my eyes. Right now I really want to know what those six classes are. At the moment i'm guessing it's the regular classes, plus the combination classes (Combat/Tech, Combat/Biotics, Tech/Biotics), but I always assumed they'd be similar to the prestige classes from KotOR II.

I've got a fair bit of confidence in the combat system, primarily beacause it's fully real-time. When you press a button, you'll preform the action assigned to that button, and if a shot from weapon hits an enemy, it will do damage. Also, there's no dice rolling for hit checks, though your stats obviously do affect how easily you can hit the enemy.

Oops, double post...

Release Date?

Gamespot is pretty reputable, and if it wasn't confirmed they'd surely still have it up as TBA, right? I'd say it's a safe bet to consider it true, but perhaps i'ts just wishful thinking on my part due to the date being one day prior to my birthday. :D

This is my most anticipated title for the entire year. I loved Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire. The combat, the exploration, the NPC interaction and conversations, the story, the graphics...everything looks so freaking sweet.

Hey what do you know, 3 days before my birthday...:P

Brand new E3 trailer here!

Whilst it was incredibly awesome to watch, it did leave me slightly confused. It seems to show a somewhat different plot than I had been expecting. I thought the games main focus involved fighting off killer robots who seek to eliminate all sapient life, not a rogue alien who wants to eradicate humans? I'm sure there will be some sort of tie with the main plot, but the trailer kinda made it seem like it was all him, no robots.

Great that we finally have some concrete information on It's release date too. I was predicting late August / early September. November is a little later than I anticipated.

In all honesty I couldn't care what any trailer suggests with regards to the story.

Like, I don't want anything to be spoiled obviously but at the same time I'd like to just wait and experience the story of the game rather than speculate over it via the footage seen in trailers.

So you can speculate on your own there Mach. :P

Seriously though, the new footage was hot and it's going to be an absolute blast to play through this in November. Sure, BioShock is my most anticipated title at the moment but as soon as that hits late next month, Mass Effect will be taking over...

DAMN it looks good.

Many explorable areas right, but there are many planets, sure.. But how big is each planet? I wonder if it will be fully explorable too, or will it be like a narrow area (mountains to the side,road leading the entire way with hordes of enemies on the trail.)

If you know the answer, please fill me in. I'd really appreciate that. :)

I think some planets will be quite large and fairly open ended, while others are a lot smaller with not much to see, the entire universe of the game seems so expansive though! It's hard to believe just how big the game seems to be! :o

^ Yeah I agree.

I reckon when we all start playing through it we are going to be blown away.

Not necessarily by the events of the game, but by the sheer scale of it. No actually, scrap that. We'll be blown away by both the events of the game AND the sheer scale of it.

Bring it the fuck on too. :D

I seriously must be the only person in the world who is NOT looking forward to this game. After the media/internet circlejerk over the KotOR games, they were very underwhelming and ultimately forgettable (aside from HK-47). Unfortunately Bioware are now being remembered for them instead of Baldurs Gate.

*Stands firm as the only person on earth who found Baldurs Gate to be as fun as pulling teeth*

Your not alone. Theres plenty of other releases to look forward to...

Well, to put things into perspective for you two - I have never played Baldurs Gate or KotOR or any other Bioware product prior to Mass Effect. I really wanted to get my hands on either of the KotOR games but never got around to it.

So yeah, basically what I'm saying is that I don't know anything about Bioware's history and yet I am still massively excited about Mass Effect. It just looks like a world that will be EXTREMELY immersive. Oh wait, I probably shouldn't say 'world' but rather, universe. :D

Brand New Mass Effect Video

Just randomly found it. Awesome gameplay detail.

If you're even remotely interested in this game you've got to see the new 1UP Preview of Mass Effect. It features a look at character creation, the new squad control system, and some other cool tidbits.

Shepard paying out Wrex is absolutely priceless, Renegade all the way baby! :D My hype meters just rocketed again, damn you Bioware! :argh:

This game really is going to be special and I'm liking the way how, as every picture, video and more is released my desire for the game is increasing.

It's a weird feeling knowing the credentials that BioWare have, but having not actually played any of their games before and now anticipating this game.

Okay that probably doesn't make sense, but basically what I'm saying is that you lot are excited about it because you know the developer can do with their games. I do too, to an extent, thanks to what I've read on forums or whatever, but I can definitely say that my level of excitement is different to most. Which is why I'm extremely happy to say that I want this game...

NOW!

Amen brother! November can't come quick enough, Bioshock and Halo 3 should pass the time quite nicely though. :D Some relatively new screenshots below, damn this game is looking absolutely gorgeous.

:o

I got about halfway though KOTOR before I got stuck but LOVED it up until that point.

What I am wondering is, Is the second half of the game just as fun or more fun than the first half? Because if the game starts to drop in quality later then there is simply no point in picking it up again.

Also, If I enjoyed the first game. Would I enjoy the second one? I am not sure on this but I think I remember hearing the second one getting mixed reviews from fans of the series.

Haven't really been following this game but... Ouch

This video shows us an example of a 'Renegade' type of conversation. :D

I'm liking the fact that we can be bad, even evil, but can't be a mustache twirling villain. It just makes sense having more of an "ends justify the means" type that prefers the quick and nasty means. Everything about this game reeks of awesomeness.

agreed! not really looking forward to it! plenty of other games coming out :ph43r:

Quick question, can you modify the male voice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikz7iSLrRq8 :lol:

Apparently BioWare toyed with the idea of a pitch distorter, it may end up in the final version of the game. Only time will tell. Whilst browsing around for some new Mass Effect information I stumbled upon this seemingly fanciful story...

Too good to be true? My excitement level for this game is nearing fever pitch, November better hurry It's arse up! :argh:

I fully expect this game to be critically acclaimed. Much in the same way that BioShock and The Orange Box have been recently - I dare say Mass Effect will also be pushing close towards OOT's crown as being the highest rated game of all time.

But yes, November needs to hurry its arse up. I want my Mass Effect already!

I've been a bit of a skeptic when it comes to review predictions, hovering at around a 9.0 - 9.5 from Gamespot and 9.4 - 9.6 from IGN. However, if they find the combat immensely appealing, then I would say it has a substantial chance at a 10.

does anyone know the release date for this game? Palgn says November 22, but it's let me down multiple times... I really need to find a better site for release dates :P

I've actually only latched onto Mass Effect now. I saw a trailer the other day, and wow, it looks great. I thoroughly enjoyed KotOR, so this should be no different. Plus, the fact that I haven't been embroiled in all the hype, well, that just makes it better.

So, does anyone know what planets you can go back and forth to? And is space-flight in real-time?

I don't know much about this game, but judging from videos, it's not a space-flight thing, but a teleportation type thing. You select your planet, you appear at your planet. Of course, I could be wrong.

that's probably right, and if it was realtime, that would be a bit crazy, unless your ship was supposedly going at the speed of light, in which case it would seem to the passengers to be an instantaneous trip anyway!

Inter-planetary travel or travel via the Mass relays is instantaneous. Not long now guys, less than a month. :D

I haven't really been paying much attention to this game, honestly, and since it comes out only a week before Super Mario Galaxy, it's going to have to be awesomeness on a stick to get me to buy it. I won't be too surprised if it is, though. I watched a trailer yesterday, the graphics are very awesome, I hope the game lives up to them.

I guarantee you'll buy it, the stress of not playing Mass Effect will make any man crumble. :D

New Mass Effect IGN Developer Documentary

This game is gorgeous, even on YouTube. :o Great to hear the developers talk about the evolution of their game design since KotOR. The documentary itself is nothing overly special, but so close to release, we need more Mass Effect media to get the hype train rolling.

Maybe not too good to be true.

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/masseffect

I can see a game like this getting GOTY, but imho it doesnt deserve it. They already won with kotor and this is exactly the same.

edit:

Just found these screenshots :lol:

God I hope this and Assassin's Creed are region free, $120 for the pair would be great.

According to the Play-Asia listing, the Assassin’s Creed collector’s edition can be played in any region.

So it'd be safe (we'll see) to assume that all the versions will be.

Come on Mass Effect. 7 needs a new pair of region free games.

I reckon.

Hey, look at this...

They did an excellent job with his likeness. :o

In kotor you didn't make your final turn to evil until the very end. I was maxed out to the Darkside in nothing flat, killing everyone I could, and the game still treated me as if I were a noble Jedi until 95% of the way through. I'm hoping Mass Effect lets me be evil and reap the reward along the way.