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[Column] General: Mass Effect 2: Best RPG of Its Generation?
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
Somewhere out there in the inscrutable network of eBay delivery, there’s a PS4 that’s making its way excruciatingly slowly towards my apartment. In preparation for this new addition to the family, I’ve been going through some older console games that have taken a back seat to newer titles and PC exclusives. One of the games that has been collecting dust is Mass Effect 3, and I’m currently building up the mental energy required to tackle the long-winded capstone to Bioware’s scifi trilogy.
Read more of Som Pourfarzaneh's Mass Effect 2: Best RPG of Its Generation?
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Comments
I did think that ME2 was the best "linear" RPG. Meaning it's one of those RPGs that give you a role to play.
Skyrim was the best "sandbox" RPG. For me those are the RPGs that allow you to craft your own role.
Witcher 2 says hello
Personally, I don't really think so, but that may have been in large part to my personal feelings on the combat. It just entirely gutted the game for me, where I made it a sort of "game in a game" of pointing out every single time I would get ambushed, or attacked in an area by the presence of chest high walls. The number of times I was surprised by enemies? Once, where I was walking through a corridor, and a Geth was around the corner.
It very well may have been because of that, that I didn't really get into the story, but I don't remember much about it. Primarily just that it was actually much -less- sweeping in narritive than the first. Being focused primarily about just gathering, and gaining the trust of your party with a bunch of essentially unrelated things. You knew the reapers were the threat, that they were basically gonna come wipe out -everything-, yet you spent so much time doing...fluff. Occasionally you'd fight the harvesters or whatever they were called, but the first one was spent with a clear bad guy (Saren), and finding out what he was up to (Finding the prothean markers, investigating his ship), by systematically defeating his allies (Matron Benezia, the Geth, etc.), before finally coming to head for a big boss battle against the enemy you have been fighting the whole time.
But like I said, it may have just been my dislike of just how much they cut from the game to make it a more "mass friendly" game (Pun definitely intended), but my time spent with it wasn't nearly as fondly remembered or enjoyed as the first.
I don't know about best but the characters where interesting and I enjoyed the story. I didn't hate Me3 like some people seem to and ME1 was a great game but new and kind of rough around the edges.
That whole genre has had some many great titles in the last few years I think it would be really hard to pick a best one. Of all the games out there the rpg genre has seen the most innovative, highest quality and biggest selection to choose from. I mean look at skyrim and ME2. They really are nothing alike.....at all. How could you ever really say one was better than the other. They're both RPGs but they're still apples and oranges when it comes down to it.
I think if you enjoy rpg games you should just be thankful that we've had it so good for so long and not really worry about which one is the best.
Smile
Why is this true? What is in the definition of role playing game that demands imposed story?
I like ME2, but I enjoyed Skyrim as a RPG far more because it DIDN'T have a strong overarching story line pushing me through it. The lack of one didn't effect my immersion or playing the role of my character in the world at all.
Your "key thing" is actually a pretty disposable to a lot of others. Your "just no..." is really, "well, not in my opinion".
You aren't giving facts here, you are just pushing preference.
serious ME2? ME1 was the best on the whol trilogy and you say ME2 is the best of its generation? sorry kid but too many RPGs out there who outclass the trilogy, so no way in hell the weaker game of the 3 will be the best, persona 4 is also better then the ME trilogy
i'm even wondering if ME2 could be called a RPG at all, not much RPG too much shooting, also they killed a lot of lore they did on ME1 to put bullet reload and ME3 let too many question without answers, tehy simple ignored then.
paid to do this column or just opnion, I belive you should play more games, more RPGs before stating such a thing
I loved ME2 right up until the end battle against the hybrid baby... That one was the "jumping the shark" moment of the series to me. While ME3 had its moments, the ending of ME2 had permanently derailed the franchise for me. Sadly.
"If I offended you, you needed it" -Corey Taylor
Not the best of its' generation in my opinion but to each there own. Mass Effect is a great series with a solid story line and some really nice RPG elements of course, just not my kind of game I guess.
Best? Maybe so, maybe not
Most enjoyable? Absolutely
Very memorable group of characters.
My opinion (preference) here...
Storywise Mass Effect 2 was the top game.
Gameplay wise Skyrim, Witcher 2 and Dark Souls 1 were far better RPGs in that generation.
i never got to play 1, but i loved 2 and 3 although i sold my ps3 before getting to ME3´s end. Im waiting on an origin sale to buy the trilogy on PC and start from the beginning.
Somebody, somewhere has better skills as you have, more experience as you have, is smarter than you, has more friends as you do and can stay online longer. Just pray he's not out to get you.
Mass Effect trilogy sure is my favourite gaming experience ever. There is heavy competition against it such as the new Fallouts or Skyrim, but there's just something about Bioware games I like a bit more.
One thing definitely that I always seem to miss on other rpg's is the lack of Bioware style companions. Characters that are there, not only in the action but in the conversations too, they have personality and opinions, personal missions etc, they add a whole new dimension to the game.
There might be Lydia running behind you in Skyrim but she's a mute packmule and it matters very little if she survives the next encounter or not, just pick up the next boring mute meatshield to company you.
Witchers might be really tough competition too, but I just dont play rpg's where I cant create my own character. I tried the Witcher from steam summer sale, but didnt get very far because of the premade main char. Pure shooters can get away with that, but rpg's where I roleplay the main character absolutely must be at least visually customizable, preferrably both sexes available for some extra replay value if possible (assuming you can make choises that impact the world).
Cannot wait to hear about the new Mass Effect project, I hope there's as good single player in it but vastly expanded multiplayer from ME3. Perhaps even some sort of co-op system for the main story, as long as it does not "dumb it down"
I replayed the complete Mass Effect series the last couple of weeks. And although they are really pretty good, for me they barely classify themself as RPG at all. Moreso the later parts. They are so on rails (especially the later parts), it's not even funny.
I enjoy Mass Effect for its storytelling, but for me real RPGs such as Planescape Torment (all time favourite !!!), the Baldur's Gate series and Neverwinter Nights (regularely replay them as well) are much better. I miss the old way of RPGs to be honest.
And when it comes to modern RPGs I prefer the Witcher series. I highly recommend them to all fans of singleplayer RPGs. Phenomenal storytelling, choices that really matter, a badass main character (Sheppard is not bad, but Gerald of Rivia outclasses him) and a world so beautiful you can lose yourself in. It lacks much of the freedom of the older RPGs as well, but at least it feels more like a RPG than Mass Effect.