tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post7631563530475885780..comments2024-03-17T03:51:46.681-04:00Comments on Hardcore Gaming 101 - Blog: How Mass Effect is Important to the RPG GenreDiscoalucardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04206257399887664488noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-91225953602126722402010-05-12T23:23:15.486-04:002010-05-12T23:23:15.486-04:00Adventure games are games that play like the Atari...Adventure games are games that play like the Atari 2600 game "Adventure." It was a lengthy game for its time as it could take you hours to beat and it had no save battery. Essentially, the biggest expansion of that formula in the 8-bit days was The Legend of Zelda. So games that are similar to Zelda are seen as the best examples of adventure games. They are typically games that are not purely an RPG or an action game, but some sort of combination of both. These games have very differing formulas as to the mix of action and RPG. Zelda games, with the exception of Zelda II, are typically VERY light on RPG elements, to the point where the only thing they have in common is a lengthy quest and grinding for money. Other games, such as Secret of Mana, have heavy RPG elements with things like HP, MP, and a party. You may also have heard games like Secret of Mana called an Action RPG. The line between adventure and action RPG's is slim, if there is a distinction at all, and is heavily debated.<br /><br />Games like Monkey Island and Discworld are "Point and Click Adventures." Some people may shorten the title of the genre to simply "adventure" because they are technically part of the genre (remember these games have a lengthy quest and story), just a more specific part.<br /><br />Both Zelda and Monkey Island games are adventure games, it's just that when people want to talk more specifically about Monkey Island, they usually say "Point and Click Adventure" to avoid confusion.<br /><br />At any rate, the Mass Effect games have both heavy ties to action games and RPG's, but really doesn't fit with either genre. It's not the same kind of game as Gears of War neither is it the same kind of games as Final Fantasy XII. It's somewhere in between. So the best way I've found to categorize the Mass Effect games is as an adventure game. Of course this distinction is debatable, as is all genre classification.vysetheboldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13184317471156918926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-88341981869901540172010-05-12T19:52:54.182-04:002010-05-12T19:52:54.182-04:00Great article!
But I thought that "Adventure...Great article!<br /><br />But I thought that "Adventure" games meant stuff like Monkey Island and Discworld, not Zelda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-92044516149790633252010-05-11T19:37:28.766-04:002010-05-11T19:37:28.766-04:00I have a problem with the Mass Effect series. I t...I have a problem with the Mass Effect series. I think they are extremely interesting games and that I've actually completed them is a testament to their strengths, I just don't find them to be great games. What is underneath the games is fantastic. The romance, branching dialog options and strong story make this series hands down the most interesting RPGs in games right now. I just had a problem with a lot of the game pieces.<br /><br />I wrote an article on destructoid (link below) about the numerous issues I had with both games. While I felt my article was fairly simple, the responses following and my responses to those responses gave me a new found respect for what this series gives to gamers. I still refuse to praise it as a game, but I respect it for what its doing differently. <br /><br />http://www.destructoid.com/e-for-effort-the-mass-effect-series-so-far-170789.phtml<br /><br />Also, some people were arguing about the structure compared to a TV or a movie and I agree with you above. Mass Effect had those side missions that felt like a Chuck or a Smallville with single episode arcs (the side missions) tied to a larger mission. Mass Effect 2 had a lot of missions that tied into the main mission ala Heroes.manasteel88http://www.destructoid.com/e-for-effort-the-mass-effect-series-so-far-170789.phtmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-25861094084623730782010-05-11T01:28:33.736-04:002010-05-11T01:28:33.736-04:00@Dragoonkin:
I understand where you're comin...@Dragoonkin: <br /><br />I understand where you're coming from, but then again, ME1 didn't have that many "main" missions either. Eden Prime, Citadel, Feros, Noveria, Virmire, Ilos/grand finale.Martin Penwaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-76371018596779760532010-05-10T20:02:27.201-04:002010-05-10T20:02:27.201-04:00My issue with ME2 over ME1 was the fact you just f...My issue with ME2 over ME1 was the fact you just frankly don't _do_ anything in the game. The overarching plot has almost zero progression and basically nil to do with what goes on.<br /><br />There's so many characters with so many quests and subquests and loyalty quests that you spend, I'd gather, over 75% of the game doing THINGS NOT RELATED TO THE ACTUAL PLOT.<br /><br />If you strip the actual, entire game down to the non-sidequest bits you end up with:<br /><br />(Trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible, here. Doing my best.)<br /><br />[Initial Escape] - [First Exploration] - [Recruit Scientist] - [Next Exploration] - [Obtain F/F System] - [Ship Event] - [End Mission]<br /><br />And that's it. 7 "missions", one that hardly counts in my opinion. Everything else, EVERYTHING, is sidequesting.<br /><br />That's the feeling I got upon completing the game. "Wait...that's it? I didn't actually DO much but recruit and loyal-ize people."Dragoonkinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-50424572569798215762010-05-10T11:09:31.852-04:002010-05-10T11:09:31.852-04:00The balance between "action" and "R...The balance between "action" and "RPG" is a delicate one. Most of the old Princess Crown/Odin Sphere article I wrote a few years ago talked about them, because I don't think either game did it particularly well. ME1 was servicable in this regard but ME2 really stepped it up.<br /><br />As for Ys, Elena falls for Adol at the end of the game so he technically has an effect on her emotions...but she falls for him more because his role as a "tool", or perhaps given Adol's state as an avatar, is meant as wish fulfillment for the player.<br /><br />My favorite random bit of NPC dialogue was at a bachelor party for a salarian, where he swears that the rules of attraction for his race are totally different and just doesn't understand the appeal of the Asari dancing on his table, whereas the human and turian suspect him of BSing.Discoalucardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04206257399887664488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-13598740292856423882010-05-10T10:57:29.800-04:002010-05-10T10:57:29.800-04:00^That's why I love Suikoden III.
(That and Chr...^That's why I love Suikoden III.<br />(That and Chris is a contender for the best female protagonist ever)cj_iwakurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015379443713889163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-32847008930559137292010-05-10T06:25:31.668-04:002010-05-10T06:25:31.668-04:00I, too, agree with your thoughts on silent protago...I, too, agree with your thoughts on silent protagonists. Even though I love the Suikoden series dearly, it has always bothered me that the main character remained silent (except for 3, Tierkreis and the Suikogaiden games; not sure about Tactics). However, back in the olden days, this was tolerable since the characters around you would usually have conversations among themselves, with your opinion on things being implied. They didn't talk to you, the talked "around" you, if that makes any sense. <br /><br />Cue Dragon Age: Origins. I had a friend of mine show that game to me, and I was incredibly put off by the fact that it has silent protagonists. Just like in Mass Effect, there's a lot of one-on-one talk, where whoever you talk to looks straight at you while he or she talks. You, however, only choose text; no voice acting whatsoever. In other words, you're basically listening to what sounds like a monologue with missing parts. Personally, I found this absolutely terrible. <br /><br />Also, I'm sure this has been pointed out in several comments that still await approval and thus haven't shown up yet, but it's "Saren" (not "Seran") and "turians" (not "taurians"). Gotta know you ME lore! ;)Martin Penwaldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-297585125927309162010-05-10T00:54:07.989-04:002010-05-10T00:54:07.989-04:00The Witcher is a game that I've wanted to play...The Witcher is a game that I've wanted to play for a while now. For a time, I was waiting for the console version to come out as it was supposed to have an updated engine and such. That port is unfortunately dead now so I picked up a copy of the Enhanced Edition of the game for PC. I played only a half-hour or so and I really enjoyed it. I'll have to go back to that one...vysetheboldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13184317471156918926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135815543912646655.post-16181021865681979872010-05-10T00:04:49.333-04:002010-05-10T00:04:49.333-04:00I certainly agree in regards to the thoughts on a ...I certainly agree in regards to the thoughts on a silent protagonist. I love when the guy I'm playing as has a personality.<br /><br /><br />Another good example is The Witcher. Geralt is fully voiced, and he has a personality; even if you decide most of it through your responses, his voice(and the fact that he has one) allows every choice you make to have character.cj_iwakurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015379443713889163noreply@blogger.com