Mass Effectiveness

[jetpack_monkey]

My last entry totally failed to mention what's consuming most of my brain these days -- Mass Effect. Specifically Mass Effect 2. Which, you know, I wasn't super fond of the combat or inventory systems in Mass Effect, but Mass Effect 2 made combat so much harder and also just completely did away with the inventory system entirely, which seems a little extreme.

I complain more about Mass Effect 2, but I'm also playing it more obsessively. Every time I run into someone with whom I formed a relationship in Mass Effect the 1st or receive an email updating me on their status, I get a little shot of serotonin in the brain. I really wish I'd done more side missions in ME1, but I bought into the game's sense of extreme urgency and rushed headlong for the finish line. Not making that same mistake twice.

I need to finish ME2 soon, though, because I have Bioshock Infinite on preorder (digital, download-only preorder -- welcome to the future).

Comments

[laura47]

Every time I run into someone with whom I formed a relationship in Mass Effect the 1st or receive an email updating me on their status, I get a little shot of serotonin in the brain.

SO MUCH YES. I adore the characters so much, and being part of their lives, and when I know that I actually helped, it could have gone worse... just damn. Bioware knows how to just grab hold of me in my hind brain.

[violace]

OMG SOMEONE TO TALK ABOUT MASS EFFECT WITH. I just finished ME2 last night and it's ALL I can think about. (Won't spoil you!)

It took me almost one year to finish the first game - I always heard nothing but great things, but I personally felt rather "meh" about it and had a hard time getting into it, but I really liked the ending and so I definitely wanted to play the whole series. And oh my god, ME2 was so good. So good. Had me in its grip right from the beginning, due in large part to the amazing, amazing squad mates that I cared about so much more than in ME1. (AND ALL THOSE FANTASTIC WOMEN.)

Had to get used to the new inventory and combat system, too, but ended up prefering it to the old one. No more endless comparing of stats and having to get rid of a bunch of duplicate items, instead just letting the game handle it by replacing the weapon I'm carrying for the better/improved one as soon as I pick it up somewhere.

I was surprised, since the combat system was now much more like a traditional shooter and that's not my kind of game at all, but I actually enjoyed combat this time, whereas in ME1, I cheated and got myself the best weapon, killing enemies with a single shot all the time. Ahem. I just hated having to fight.

I have a vid to finish by March 31st and need to avoid starting ME3 until then. SO HARD, but I already lost like 100 hours this month to ME and ME2 that I should have used to vid, so it's necessary. Can't wait though! I just want to look at all the fan art and things and vids without the fear of catching spoilers.