Mass Effect Legendary edition impressions: Two steps forward, one step back

[FakeSympathy]

I've been playing a lot of the side-content in ME1, and one thing that I have noticed, is how much the game repeats rooms.

I've seen the same mine, the same underground lab, the same space ship, and the same warehouse, about half-a-dozen times each.

It makes me wonder, because Dragon Age 2 got a lot of shit for this - and is often named as the number 1 thing that most people point to, when criticising that game, yet this is barely ever even mentioned in ME1.

Combined with the uncharted planets, and IMO, this game has a lot of low-quality environments.

I wonder why it is barely ever brought up?

Yeah, I agree it is repetitive, but I'd also argue Some of their older games like KOTOR also had this problem, and they learned from it in DA:O, ME2 and ME3. Maybe it's the nostalgia goggles or the fact that I haven't played them in a long time, but I remember those three games not having recycled map layout

 

[laggyteabag]

Here are some more observations:

The rewards can sometimes be... confusing. A short while ago just turned in a quest, and because I had a high enough Charm skill, I managed to convince the quest giver to give me 750 credits, instead of 500. Right now, on a mission, I just killed a single random Krogan mercenary, and I got 11,000 credits. The main quest I completed a minute ago, rewarded me 175,000 credits.

Secondly, I can assume that Infiltrators have received quite the buff in this version of the game, between the removal of Sniper Rifle sway, and the inclusion of a headshot bonus on a lot of humanoid enemies. I've seen quite a lot of people scoff about how crazy it was to try and complete the original version as an Infiltrator, but here, I am pumping out silly amounts of damage, with consistent, Assassination buffed headshots. Im starting to think Hard - or whatever this difficulty is called - is a smidge too easy.

2. ME gets a pass because a lot of the repeats are semi-justified. A pre-fab space base looks like another pre-fab space base. Ships share layouts. That all mines look the same is weird but you can accept that all these space pirates have similar looking lairs because they obviously just picked them up at Space Wal-Mart. In DA2 the basement of some archmage's mansion looks exactly like the enchanted cave of a Daelish legend, only there's a boulder instead of a barrel blocking off the obvious doorway in the cave. The fact that the same map was used for so many different purposes and clearly doesn't fit several of them makes it stand out much more in DA2.

If this is the lore explanation, I guess it makes sense - but it still doesn't create any interesting or unique environments.

It also exhibits the exact same problems as DA2's implementation, except instead of fantasy, it is sci-fi. Both the Geth, and Space Pirates, inhabit the same two-storey warehouse, except one has crates all over the floor, and the other has metal bits glued onto the walls.

I suppose Dragon Age 2's is more egregious, because it stumbles into the same issues that ME1 had, 4 years prior, but at least there were more than 4 reusable caves in DA2 to choose from.

 

[SilentPony]

If this is the lore explanation, I guess it makes sense - but it still doesn't create any interesting or unique environments.

It also exhibits the exact same problems as DA2's implementation, except instead of fantasy, it is sci-fi. Both the Geth, and Space Pirates, inhabit the same two-storey warehouse, except one has crates all over the floor, and the other has metal bits glued onto the walls.

I suppose Dragon Age 2's is more egregious, because it stumbles into the same issues that ME1 had, 4 years prior, but at least there were more than 4 reusable caves in DA2 to choose from.

To be fair I think with ME specifically there's a sense of ownership of these bases changing hands alot. Like the Geth control an outpost somewhere that looks exactly like a Blue Suns base. Well they're both supposedly human built outposts made by the Alliance's colonization programs, one was captured by mercs, another by the Borg.
Like I see what you mean in that it does feel lazy, but I think in practice it allowed them to save some space, build a few more side missions, and there is technically a reason.
Dragon Age gets a lot less pass because everything is not only hand built, its built over ages by different cultures. The deep road darkspawn lairs built by ancient Dwarves looks identical to the modern human high nobility palace after a dragon attack. Wat?

At least in space you can reasonably assume two bipedal species from similar enough planets would build space outposts that look pretty similar. I'd hardly expect the Quarian or Asari to build like conch shell shaped buildings, Turians build giant tree buildings and humans always do those silly rounded dick-tip bases. I can get myself to a point where two fairly similar species, especially considering the whole idea of creators and genetic engineering that underlines Mass Effect history, can create similar enough looking structures in the limits of space.

 

[Worgen]

So I just got to my first Mako section... and yeah, its still terrible.

Its still a bouncy, floaty, terrible mess to deal with. It somehow accelerates too quickly to be easy to control, yet its top speed is too slow to feel like you are getting anywhere, quickly.

You will find yourself immediately mounting/getting stuck on literally any scenery possible.

I have no idea what I was expecting from the Mako improvements - but I do know that I was expecting better than this.

Again, I haven't played Mass Effect 1 properly, in almost 10 years, so I don't really have a personal experience to compare to - but I can tell you that it certainly does not feel any better, than the vehicles reputation from the original version of the game would tell you.

I have no idea how or why people liked the uncharted planets in the original version of the game, and I feel like my opinion on them is not going to change in the remaster.

The Mako was always fine. The problem isn't the vehicle, its that they tend to give you terrain with huge mountains and not an obvious path around them so you will just try and drive through them. Its much more fun to drive when you find some flatter planets with more of rolling hills then 90 degree mountains.

 

[CriticalGaming]

The Mako was always fine. The problem isn't the vehicle, its that they tend to give you terrain with huge mountains and not an obvious path around them so you will just try and drive through them. Its much more fun to drive when you find some flatter planets with more of rolling hills then 90 degree mountains.

Yeah I've not had trouble with the Mako, hell even going up mountains hasn't been much of an issue for me as of yet either. It definitely isn't great, but it's far from the worst carthing I've ever had to control. Have you tried last year's Fast and Furious game? Those cars control far worse and all that game is, is driving.

 

[laggyteabag]

The Mako was always fine. The problem isn't the vehicle, its that they tend to give you terrain with huge mountains and not an obvious path around them so you will just try and drive through them. Its much more fun to drive when you find some flatter planets with more of rolling hills then 90 degree mountains.

Okay, maybe I am guilty of a little hyperbole.

The new Mako still isn't good - hell, I wouldn't even say that it is average - but it most scenarios, it is at least usable.

The main culprit, as you point out, is often the terrain itself. Most planets are acceptable, but some of the big offenders like Nudacrux, are often an effort in frustration.

I am surprised that a lot of these landmasses weren't tweaked for the LE.

 

[CriticalGaming]

Okay, maybe I am guilty of a little hyperbole.

The new Mako still isn't good - hell, I wouldn't even say that it is average - but it most scenarios, it is at least usable.

The main culprit, as you point out, is often the terrain itself. Most planets are acceptable, but some of the big offenders like Nudacrux, are often an effort in frustration.

I am surprised that a lot of these landmasses weren't tweaked for the LE.

Agreed on that point. A lot of those random planets just feel like randomly made Unity maps that they just put random shit on here and there. There is obviously zero thought of level design put into them. And it is likely why they never bothered to do it in the other games.

 

[FakeSympathy]

Guys, it's OP, and I came back to add more stuff and hope to talk about other aspects of the first game

Leveling
I said in my first post that the whole faster leveling felt good. But not I realize it kinda sucks. I am currently 16 hours in. and most of them involved doing bunch of side quests and planet exploration. By the time I fought Benezia I was level 18 and me and my team steam rolled the fight. The new leveling system gives you 4 skill points in exchange for max level of 30, but the amount of xp I get was the same as before. It's ridiculous how fast I leveled up, and I'm pretty sure I can take on just about any encounters from now on. I think I'll try the highest difficulty in my next run.

Inventory
Still the same, and it can be frustrating to navigate. Why keep the small list size for the growing inventory is beyond me. Really wish there was a filter function for teh armor section that only shows what armor Shepard and his crew can wear.

Abilities
The abilities are still fun to use, but I find myself not usingthem often. Maybe it's because I'm not a biotic, but every encounter I was fine with using my guns. Only when the enemies came at me in a group or they were annoying to deal with did the abilities became useful. Probably because I was playing on normal difficulty

Squad/Enemy AI
Still kinda looks stupid. Not sure exactly what they meant by "improvements"

 

[CriticalGaming]

Inventory
Still the same, and it can be frustrating to navigate. Why keep the small list size for the growing inventory is beyond me. Really wish there was a filter function for teh armor section that only shows what armor Shepard and his crew can wear.

Agreed, ME1's inventory is ass. And frankly the gear system isn't as deep as it wants to be. It's just a waste of time and if it weren't for the exp from opening shit, I wouldn't even bother.

Leveling
I said in my first post that the whole faster leveling felt good. But not I realize it kinda sucks. I am currently 16 hours in. and most of them involved doing bunch of side quests and planet exploration. By the time I fought Benezia I was level 18 and me and my team steam rolled the fight. The new leveling system gives you 4 skill points in exchange for max level of 30, but the amount of xp I get was the same as before. It's ridiculous how fast I leveled up, and I'm pretty sure I can take on just about any encounters from now on. I think I'll try the highest difficulty in my next run.

Early leveling is very fast if you are a side quest maniac. You can get pretty OP pretty early. However that does die off around level 20 and your leveling slows to a crawl. Doing main missions will quickly have the enemies catch up to were you are and start challenging you again. It's a bit of a busted curve because it front loads you and makes you too strong early, but it tapers off fairly quickly imo.

Abilities
The abilities are still fun to use, but I find myself not usingthem often. Maybe it's because I'm not a biotic, but every encounter I was fine with using my guns. Only when the enemies came at me in a group or they were annoying to deal with did the abilities became useful. Probably because I was playing on normal difficulty

My problem is that the abilities aren't very realiable and there is no notice that abilities are off cooldown. I've been spamming abilities for the achievements and it's frustrating because of how often I'll go to use something only to find that squad member isn't ready, or the ability i need is on CD. And I can't just sit tight and let the enemies live until the ability is ready because I'm playing on Hard and I'll die if I sit around. So the ability system is rather poor in practice.

Squad/Enemy AI
Still kinda looks stupid. Not sure exactly what they meant by "improvements"

I've seen lots of geth running around doing nothing in firefights. I don't know what AI they are using but I'm playing on hard so I'll take the occassional easy win here and there.

 

[meiam]

Guys, it's OP, and I came back to add more stuff and hope to talk about other aspects of the first game

Leveling
I said in my first post that the whole faster leveling felt good. But not I realize it kinda sucks. I am currently 16 hours in. and most of them involved doing bunch of side quests and planet exploration. By the time I fought Benezia I was level 18 and me and my team steam rolled the fight. The new leveling system gives you 4 skill points in exchange for max level of 30, but the amount of xp I get was the same as before. It's ridiculous how fast I leveled up, and I'm pretty sure I can take on just about any encounters from now on. I think I'll try the highest difficulty in my next run.

Inventory
Still the same, and it can be frustrating to navigate. Why keep the small list size for the growing inventory is beyond me. Really wish there was a filter function for teh armor section that only shows what armor Shepard and his crew can wear.

Abilities
The abilities are still fun to use, but I find myself not usingthem often. Maybe it's because I'm not a biotic, but every encounter I was fine with using my guns. Only when the enemies came at me in a group or they were annoying to deal with did the abilities became useful. Probably because I was playing on normal difficulty

Squad/Enemy AI
Still kinda looks stupid. Not sure exactly what they meant by "improvements"

Ability always sucked in ME1, was never worth using them outside of the gun buff. By far the weakest class is sentinel (it gets its revenge is in the strongest class in ME2) and by far the strongest is soldier. But yeah they needed to do a full remake to change the gameplay in ME1, it's passable at best.

 

[wings012]

Ability always sucked in ME1, was never worth using them outside of the gun buff. By far the weakest class is sentinel (it gets its revenge is in the strongest class in ME2) and by far the strongest is soldier. But yeah they needed to do a full remake to change the gameplay in ME1, it's passable at best.

The 'hybrid' classes were all pretty terrible in ME1 since they just had the lower level skills from the 'pure' classes. ME2/3 did a good job in giving them unique skills and differentiating them from the rest.

I played Vanguard in ME1 and didn't have the best of times using my powers. But thank fuck the pistol was basically OP and could do everything. You could basically snipe with it in a pinch, with a lot of squinting involved. The Vanguard didn't truly become the Vanguard until we got the glorious Biotic Charge. I remember trying to replay ME1 as the infiltrator and just had a sad time of things since you didn't have Tactical Cloak then.

I always hear people say to just pick Soldier in ME1. If you want Tech or Adept abilities, just bring the relevant party member along and hotkey their skills. Now you got the full complement of guns and abilities.

I would love for there to be a version of ME1 updated to have ME2/3 combat/class mechanics.

 

[CriticalGaming]

I always hear people say to just pick Soldier in ME1. If you want Tech or Adept abilities, just bring the relevant party member along and hotkey their skills. Now you got the full complement of guns and abilities.

This is what i did. Just brought Liara and Tali everywhere to biotic the shit out of things. While i just went bang bang shooty bang.

Worked well enough. Got most of the trophies in a single run. Not really worth the plat honestly.

 

[laggyteabag]

Inventory
Still the same, and it can be frustrating to navigate. Why keep the small list size for the growing inventory is beyond me. Really wish there was a filter function for teh armor section that only shows what armor Shepard and his crew can wear.

My biggest critique with the inventory system, is how poorly the game translated information to you.

The three stats the game shows you, for any weapon, is the DPS, thermal capacity, and accuracy - and all of these stats are super vague. Then you have to read the weapon's description, for things like rate of fire, or whether or not the weapon is burst fire, or whatever else, but even then, you only got more vague "high", "low", etc.

What this often meant, is that I had no idea how a weapon actually functioned, until I was using it. And I often had no idea what differentiated a lot similarly described weapons from each other.

I think I take a lot of newer game's stat pages for granted.

 

[laggyteabag]

I just finished Mass Effect 1 last night, and it is definitely one of those games, where you don't quite appreciate how much the sequels changed/improved, until you go back and play it, or play one of the sequels immediately afterwards.

Other than the combat, and other general mechanics, the biggest things that I noticed was how noninteractive a lot of the characters can be. On missions, your squadmates very rarely chat with each other, or chime in during decisions to offer their viewpoints. Most of the time, they just end up feeling like nameless, faceless mercenaries, instead of actual characters who are invested in the mission. On the ship, your squadmates only really have something new to say after a main mission - which is fine - but a lot of the extra crew like Presley, and Dr Chakwas, don't have any new lines after your very first interaction.

One thing that really did surprise me though, was how unphased your squad was, after the Vermire mission. Only Ashley/Kaiden have something to say, and everybody else is just business as usual.

But, I do notice that I have been quite critical of the game. At the end of the day, I did really enjoy my time with the ME Remaster. They took a game that I couldn't stand to replay, and polished it up, and changed it just enough, to a point where I can gladly play it, and be happy with the 39h I sunk into it.

The one thing that this game does an excellent job at, is worldbuilding. and setting up the story that the series would continue to tell. I was sold on the universe when I first played ME1, and I was excited to rediscover all of the little tidbits of information that I had forgotten over the years.

The game can certainly feel a little clunky at times, but it is all worth it, for the world.

 

[CriticalGaming]

I just finished Mass Effect 1 last night, and it is definitely one of those games, where you don't quite appreciate how much the sequels changed/improved, until you go back and play it, or play one of the sequels immediately afterwards.

Other than the combat, and other general mechanics, the biggest things that I noticed was how noninteractive a lot of the characters can be. On missions, your squadmates very rarely chat with each other, or chime in during decisions to offer their viewpoints. Most of the time, they just end up feeling like nameless, faceless mercenaries, instead of actual characters who are invested in the mission. On the ship, your squadmates only really have something new to say after a main mission - which is fine - but a lot of the extra crew like Presley, and Dr Chakwas, don't have any new lines after your very first interaction.

One thing that really did surprise me though, was how unphased your squad was, after the Vermire mission. Only Ashley/Kaiden have something to say, and everybody else is just business as usual.

But, I do notice that I have been quite critical of the game. At the end of the day, I did really enjoy my time with the ME Remaster. They took a game that I couldn't stand to replay, and polished it up, and changed it just enough, to a point where I can gladly play it, and be happy with the 39h I sunk into it.

The one thing that this game does an excellent job at, is worldbuilding. and setting up the story that the series would continue to tell. I was sold on the universe when I first played ME1, and I was excited to rediscover all of the little tidbits of information that I had forgotten over the years.

The game can certainly feel a little clunky at times, but it is all worth it, for the world.

But who did you romance though? That is the important part.

 

[09philj]

Ability always sucked in ME1, was never worth using them outside of the gun buff. By far the weakest class is sentinel (it gets its revenge is in the strongest class in ME2) and by far the strongest is soldier. But yeah they needed to do a full remake to change the gameplay in ME1, it's passable at best.

Biotics are mediocre, but tech abilities are very strong. Damping overloads weapons and prevents ability use, Overload quickly strips away shields, hacking makes robotic enemies go rogue, and Neural Shock does a large amount of damage to organic enemies. Engineer isn't as good as Soldier against biotics but that's balanced out by being able to make a lot of fights pretty much trivial.

 

[laggyteabag]

But who did you romance though? That is the important part.

No one, yet.

As soon as I can in ME2, though - definitely Garrus.

(In the past I have romanced Liara and Traynor - and I got a decent far way through a Tali romance, before I stopped playing for some reason).

 

[CriticalGaming]

No one, yet.

As soon as I can in ME2, though - definitely Garrus.

(In the past I have romanced Liara and Traynor - and I got a decent far way through a Tali romance, before I stopped playing for some reason).

I'm doing Ashley because I want to see how her romance carries over through to game 3. Usually I do Liara because alien mind sex is hot, but this time I'm going old fashion.

 

[CriticalGaming]

Just to test the collection and how it handles importing your previous game saves. I booted Mass Effect 2 and the graphical jump from the first game is incredible. It still looks dated by today's standards obviously, but they improved a lot graphics wise between the two games. Also importing was flawless and extremely easy so props on that.

 

[FennecZephyr]

Biotics are mediocre, but tech abilities are very strong. Damping overloads weapons and prevents ability use, Overload quickly strips away shields, hacking makes robotic enemies go rogue, and Neural Shock does a large amount of damage to organic enemies. Engineer isn't as good as Soldier against biotics but that's balanced out by being able to make a lot of fights pretty much trivial.

Really? I just finished a run with whatever class was Biotic/Soldier, and my most recurring thought through that was "Man, this is a little too easy."

And all the tech abilities are even better?