ME2 is an ARPG?
You surely are jesting. Not even Volourn can still call it an ARPG with a straight face, for the simple reason that it doesn't have enough RPG elements. You guys calling it ARPG, have you actually played an ARPG at all? Bloodlines, Gothic, Divine Divinity. Compare the character system of these games with the "character system" of ME2. R00fles! There's not even a comparison possible, because ME2 only has a rudimentary character system. Like Deus X, Bioshock etc.
3 skills + 1 unlockable skill for party members is not a character system. It's cute that Shepard has 2 bonus skills for the tremendous number of 6 skillz to "level-up" but that can't be called a RPG (or ARPG) character system FFS. It's like the very definition of *dumbing down*. STREAMLINED.
Yes it's a sad truth but the presence of cutscenes, dialogues and C&C - yes ME2 does have C&C - don't make a RPG. A proper RPG character system otoh does. A dissappointment for the local C&C crowd.
Monocause said:
The game is good. Much, much better than ME1. Not much sense in looking at it as a fully fledged RPG, it's simply got some RPG elements in it - but the story, characters and the action sequences have been greatly improved. It's a very enjoyable package that provides solid 20-30 hours of entertainment.
So the game is good/entertaining. I'm inclined to agree. Except the planet scanning which is absolutely unbearable. Five fucking minutes per planet, continiously pressing the right mouse button (ever heard of tenosynovitis in the mouse hand BIOWARE??, it's causing physical pain FFS), I only regret that I can't personally thank the genius who invented this. He should be forced to scan every fucking planet in this game -toroughly - one after the other. And then start over again - to fully experience how awesome it really is.
Monocause said:
In ME1 action sequences felt half-arsed and sparse throughout the game. ME1 gave me the impression that it's just a giant cutscene with a combat mini-game to give the illusion of interactivity. There's more combat in the second installment and it's improved in numerous ways, from the introduction of ammo (which makes you switch weapons to conserve fe. the small clip the Widow sniper rifle has), to the AI (it isn't great, but serviceable and far from the dumbfuckery that was the ME1 AI), to the abilities which you'll finally have a reason to use (ME1 ability based classes were completely useless when compared to the soldier) finally to the level design.
Yes it's a better shooter than ME1. The level-design is much better though, no more copy-paste. Pretty varied and interesting compared to ME1.
If you think that anything but Soldier was useless in ME1 you're a fool. I played a mage and barrier (bastion) made me invulnerable entirely whereas the offensive abilities were good enough too. Being able to only use a pistol wasn't much of a disadvantage either.
Monocause said:
The most visible improvements are in the story though. Party members have much more depth and most of the bland ME1 ones were ditched, except for Garrus and Tali. Dialogue has improved too, it's not as rigid and bland. Cunts and fucks emerge sometimes, but in the proper context and from the proper people, none of them feel awkward of forced. There's very little dialogue that doesn't have anything to offer (in terms of information or entertainment).
Yes the general athmosphere, dialogues, story etc are improved.
Monocause said:
Don't want to spoil stuff seeing as how some want to give the game a spin, but believe me that the general premise is also much better, as are both the main quest and the side quests. The annoying Mako driving got replaced by sending probes. I've seen people claim that it takes hours, it's bullshit. I've spent maybe 30 minutes on gathering resources during the whole 30h playthrough.
I need 5min per planet. And ~30 probes. So stop the lies. If this minigame is supposed to be skipped - as you obviously did - why is it there in the first place? It would be a vast improvement to remove the necessity to press the right mouse button continiously. That's fucking annoying.
Monocause said:
You peeps who haven't played the game shouldn't base your opinion on the "dumbed down RPG, watered it down!" crowd. The game doesn't try to be strong through it's RPG elements. They're rather an addition that spices things up a bit. If it makes you happy, consider it a TPS shooter or a story-driven action game.
Are you drunk? So the game doesn't try to be a RPG hence it's untrue that it isn't one?
It's not a RPG. It's not a ARPG. It's a shooter with a few RPG elements. That's just a conclusion, and it does'nt evaluate the quality of the game.
Monocause said:
Anything to back that up? I recall trying to play an adept and found the class infinitely worse - when you used up your abilities you were practically dependent on your party members - and the AI didn't work as it should, leaving most of the dirty work in your hands. You ended up having to waste a lot of time harvesting the baddies with a pistol - the soldier did it much faster with his better weaponry skills.
Nonsense.
1) There are kickass pistols, dealing a lot more damage than they should.
2) Barrier makes you invulnerable. The difference to Soldier invulnerability is - if you increased the rights skills that contribute to longer duration, shorter cooldown - you're always under the effect of Barrier, if it ran out, recast it. No waiting neccessary.
2) There were several powerful offensive abilities too.
Monocause said:
I finally played as the soldier/tech hybrid class, but never really found a use for the talents during combat, I simply sniped my way through the game.
Sounds as if this is your fault and has nothing to do with the potential of the class.
In my party the next powerful char(except the Krogan maybe) was Tali. Inpenetrable shields and powerful offensive abilities.
Monocause said:
There is a difference between reduction and dumbing down. I believe that simplifying the character system provided an ultimately better solution for this type of game. I'd prefer the inventory to still be there with a revamp, of course, but I like ME2 option better than the clusterfuck full of useless garbage that ME1 provided.
But of corz there's a difference - it's called streamlining now. Glad you like it.