I think that's the heart of the problem. Mass Effect 1 was very much an RPG with third-person shooting for combat. Lots of shooter fans bought it, complained about the heavy RPG stuff so they stripped it all out and made it more third-person shootery... and also ruined the moral choice system for some reason.TheLizardKing said:I never really thought of Mass Effect as an RPG. Just a tps with rpg elements. But if any of them could be called an rpg, it would be the first one.
I know the 'it gets better later' response can really sound like a fanboy excuse, but in ME's case it really does get better later, both in the action and in the story. It's definitely a slow burner at the start (and like most on this thread although I still love it it's my least favorite of the trilogy), but as you progress the combat gets a lot better due to better weapons and skills, and you also get the chance to connect far more with the characters. That said, if you're just not getting into it enough to want to play on, then that's perfectly valid. I'm not going to say that you're not giving the game a chance or any of that crap. Like the first guy said, different folks for different strokes.Zero Serenity said:Don't know how to say I'm not flamebaiting but here goes anyway. It seems that even you guys admit the first game doesn't live up to much of the whole game thing but rather is more for storytime. *Shakes head* I guess it's really not for me then.
Basically this.Anthraxus said:Don't let the new ones fool you into thinking all WRPGs are shit.
And (particularly if your response to Mass Effect was "just the gameplay, ma'am") I'd also recommend RPG roguelikes - IMO Dungeons of Dredmor, Shiren the Wanderer* (the original SNES version, which also has a DS remake), and Brogue are good starting points.DoPo said:Go for Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines. It is great and delivers greatly, although it's flawed (be sure to pick up the latest Unofficial Patch [http://www.patches-scrolls.de/vampire_bloodlines.php] to fix most things). Other than that, it's older stuff still - Deus Ex, Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment. I'll toss in Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura because it's awesome (although it is somewhat close to Fallout). And if you liked M&M, maybe Neverwinter Nights will be very vaguely reminiscent of it. And I would even say Morrowind
SextusMaximus said:Mass Effect
?Que?SextusMaximus said:combat handling like a WRPG.
Doesn't it feature FTL, telekinesis, and "embrace eternity"?Thoughtful_Salt said:hard science fiction
Well to be fair, ME packs most of its characterization in the main plotline missions, talking to the squad after each mission (main or sidequest) and during the long elevator rides. The last of those actually has some rather nice gems if you're bringing along the right characters. That said, I did feel that ME2 did a LOT better at making the characters feel alive and interesting. Mass Effect 1 was largely concerned with introducing you to the universe, which Bioware put a great deal of effort into (as the Codex entries alone can testify).Zero Serenity said:Update: So I'm 15 hours in and I can say I feel more invested in the plot, but couldn't care really about the characters.
Whoa, Whoa! Now I agree the ME2 had some really cool characters and ideas. That game was gutted of all its RPG heart. The inventory was redone, as well as the skills system. Now a lot of people feel like that was an improvement, but by condoning these actions from (at least used to be) a beloved RPG developer, it was only encouraged to continue on this path of action shooter from sci fi action RPG. The original ME is my favorite by FAR, it had a wonderful storyline, compelling choices to make, good dialogue and writing. Combat is weak in this installment, but this was because Bioware had decided to make this non-turn based which is okay if the combat flows correctly, ie current Fallout series. Whenever I play Mass Effect, I always wonder if this would've been a better game if the on-foot combat had been turn based. Anyhow, the RPG's you've listed don't necessarily match up with what of Mass Effect which is a true RPG/Action hybrid, at least that's what it was attempting. The other titles in the series are more shooter than RPG, with a scaled up dialogue system and side missions. My suggestions to you are to get your hands on a copy of Fallout and Fallout 2. They are exceptional examples of western RPG's, which is why I can't wait for Wasteland 2. EXCELSIOR!Zero Serenity said:Don't know how to say I'm not flamebaiting but here goes anyway. It seems that even you guys admit the first game doesn't live up to much of the whole game thing but rather is more for storytime. *Shakes head* I guess it's really not for me then.