Stolen Pixels #171: Probe Away

[Tiamat666]

But you have to admit it's more engaging than wrestling with the Mako.

Why in the world would you prefer the ME2 mining to the Mako? With the Mako at least you where "playing" something. You where driving around on a planet surface. The problem was that the planets were repetetive and boring, not the Mako itself. And in ME1 you didn't need to collect all the resources to progress in the game. It was optional.

The "mining" is ME2 is incredibly boring and amazingly stupid and then they even dare force it upon you, making it a requirement if you want to upgrade your equipment. Way to go for artificially and tediously increasing the game time. I have to wonder how a respected developer such as BioWare could let that go through. Did someone there seriously think that would be fun? Is that someone at BioWare retarded? WHAT THE FUCK WERE THEY THINKING???

 

[Lazarus Long]

But you have to admit it's more engaging than wrestling with the Mako.

Why in the world would you prefer the ME2 mining to the Mako?

It's over more quickly, and the controls do what they are supposed to. There were times when the Mako worked, and was fun, but aside from the repetition, my Mako memories are mostly comprised of trying to get over those frigging mountains, and failing miserably.

Yeah, launching probes is dull, and not the right fix. But I see it as a step in the right direction. I'm hoping for something with the potential of driving around on alien worlds, with the simple functionality of probe-launching.

 

[Yelchor]

I did feel guilty at times as I mined planets dry of resources when there were colonies/expanding civilizations nearby. But then... I had endured the Mako throughout all of the first Mass Effect game.

So I'd say it was time for someone else to endure hardships!

 

[Tiamat666]

It's over more quickly, and the controls do what they are supposed to. There were times when the Mako worked, and was fun, but aside from the repetition, my Mako memories are mostly comprised of trying to get over those frigging mountains, and failing miserably.

I suppose that is true. Sometimes it was really a pain in the ass to get the Mako from A to B. But as I said, I don't think the problem was the Mako itself, but the bland, seemingly random generated worlds. They should have improved on that concept instead of completely replacing it by occupational therapy.
Simply having all resource locations marked on the map from the beginning, having less rough mountain peaks and a few more baddies to waste along the way, would have been a huge improvement.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

So, is Mass Effect 2 going to have Avatar DLC?

Spoiler: You mean like this?

 

[Lazarus Long]

Simply having all resource locations marked on the map from the beginning, having less rough mountain peaks and a few more baddies to waste along the way, would have been a huge improvement.

I remember the first time I saw the shuttle on the new Normandy I got really excited at the thought of being able to fly it around on planet surfaces. That hope didn't live very long.

 

[MantisN1nja]

That was a great comic. The best of the ME2 inspired ones.

I wish I could find a buttload of platinum. Always run out of that one. Mostly thanks to that med bay upgrade that I insist on buying for some reason.

 

[JEBWrench]

So, is Mass Effect 2 going to have Avatar DLC?

Spoiler: You mean like this?

Yes. Exactly like that.

 

[Sparrow]

Well, he's right. SMGs do suck ass. Heavy pistols for life!

 

[Distorted Stu]

God i hated probing. I hate nightmares about it after my 16hour ME2 spree. Also, i liked the SMG. Kicked ass.

 

[CoverYourHead]

So, is Mass Effect 2 going to have Avatar DLC?

Spoiler: You mean like this?

That just made my day. Seriously.

[small]I kinda like the SMG...[/small]

I also do this, mostly because I can't handle losing my squad in the suicide mission... I just can't.

 

[Abedeus]

Why do people still say it was "better than the mako"?

I mean, the mining sucks so bad.

Mako sucks even more. Trust me.

I played ME2, then played ME1 to get my saved file to the end of game, then played ME2 using that save. So, yeah, I think Mako sucks.

And I use saved game editor for resources. Really.

 

[TheyTookOurJobs]

So true. I actually liked the Mako, though. (runs for cover)

 

[Tharwen]

I have always thought about that myself, especially when I probe inhabited planets I can't land on. There's a good chance I hit a few settlements as well.

"I found a buttload of Irridium there."

I was mentioned in a Stolen Pixel comic! I'm so happy

How much of you is a buttload, though?

As much as you can load in a b-

A lot.

 

[Anaphyis]

But you have to admit it's more engaging than wrestling with the Mako.

Why in the world would you prefer the ME2 mining to the Mako?

You were driving a drunken cow in a bouncy castle around with a physics engine on the bad side of laughable. Wasting hours upon hours with a complete disconnect from the games storyline to chase after some really badly designed quests and XP on boring planets with repetitive dungeons if you want to have the ally achievements. It's tedious, motion-sickness inducing busywork. I just finished ME1 again, making sure to get all the quests and half the playtime (so 10+ hours) can be attributed to mako driving. And while you may have a choice with the minerals (which I largely skipped) you still have to use the mako for pretty much every quest not situated on the Citadel or some space ship.

The mining on the other hand you can deal with in an hour or two if you have some common sense

1. Get the scanner upgrade ASAP
2. Only probe the hot spots, everything else is a waste of time any money
3. Ditch a planet after it has degraded to poor. Or even moderate. There are enough rich planets in the galaxy and while trying to find the side missions you'll stumble over all of them.

Seriously, I don't get the hate. Maybe I would rage-quit too if I had to use a gamepad but even then I would probably prefer it to endless hours trapped in that goddamn tumble dryer called an APC.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

Yep, it wasn't exactly the best. Could've been better probably, if you could for example BUY FUCKING RESOURCES WITH YOUR FUCKING MONEY. GAH.
And also, they should've put in a lot more planets, with a lot more "anomalies". Those missions were pretty fun. (I'm looking at you, Mr. Shipwreck)
Anyway, I play on PC. The mining cursor moves fast with a mouse. Hah!

 

[Dectilon]

I was skeptical towards the SMG early on, but the last one you get is arguably the best gun. It never runs out of ammo, and it does a shitton of damage at the middle ranges (where I seemed to end up most of the time anyway). Harbinger went down in less than two seconds. Compared that to 4-5 seconds at the same range with the best rifle.

I always thought it was funny that you could mine for minerals in inhabited systems (even in Sol!).

I wish the mineral gathering was more like in Star Control 2. It didn't take nearly as long, and there was some actual gameplay to it (dodging environmental hazards and monsters while gathering). I'm sure Mr.Young agrees.

 

[The Almighty Grigard]

The SMG is NOT ASS. It is awesomely powerful if used right and with incendiary / warp ammo. I even like the first SMG. And i play a Vanguard, a class that should be in their faces with a shogun.

Very fun comic though!

 

[FBPH]

as a vanguard i can attest that the SMG is ass XD

im always low on platinum

As an Inflitrator I must say the SMG mows down everyone that gets through my sniping. Although platinum is always low and iridium is too damn plentiful.