Thoughts on Mass Effect 2

I am not done with the game so this is just some initial thoughts.  I will also start by saying that I have the PC version.  I tend to gravitate to the PC for games like this as I am more comfortable there (plus I have a machine powerful enough to make it look gorgeous).  I can’t think of a BioWare game that I haven’t like and I fully enjoyed the first Mass Effect.  The stories are very involved and I like that the choices that are made actually cause a ripple throughout the game.

When I first started Mass Effect 2 I was greeted by a dialog asking me to login to EA.  I did so, as I had an account from DragonAge.  Then the screen froze at a “Please Wait” message and I had to kill the process.  I did research and I found it was an issue many people were experiencing.  Eventually, they resolve the issue and I was able to login.  I could have bypassed it but I wanted to get the free content (as I had purchased the Deluxe edition via Steam).  After a little download time I had all the extras and I was ready to play.

I wasn’t sure what “type” of character I wanted to play this time around.  I was pleased to learn that I could import my character from the first game, which I did.  I thought this would give me a completely different start then starting the game without the import, allowing me a little extra replay value.  It isn’t a direct import but your imported stats are used to give bonuses and somewhat influence your character for Mass Effect 2.  It is stated that choices that were made (such as any party members who died) would be carried over as well.  I don’t know to what extent but I feel that adds a potential interesting twist to playing from an import.

Once I got the character generation all wrapped up I started on the prologue.  I was very impressed with the opening story and the graphics as well.  It really pulled me and imeediately had me interested in what was coming next.  The action started immediately as well, which I like.  I also noted that the interface and character interaction was updated between the two versions of the game.  I have to say I like the changes.  Holding LEFT SHIFT freezes the action and displays a menu where actions can be chosen.  Releasing LEFT SHIFT executes those actions.  A very simple and well done approach.  I have made it even better for me by binding one of the extra buttons on my mouse to LEFT SHIFT.

There are other chanegs I have come across.  Many of them are on your new ship.  The ship navigation is differen as is planetary exploration.  I like these improvements as well.  So far I haven’t had to drive around that annoying little buggy looking for materials, you just scan for them, form your ship, and launch probes to collect.  I think it is a neater approach.  The buggy may still show up but it hasn’t yet (accept for comming across an older one already on the planet).

All told, it looks gorgeous and the story is great.  I have played through a couple of the main missions (mainly gathering team members) and dealt with some side quests.  I don’t find the combat or play tedious and the voice acting, story and graphics (as I have said) are fantastic.  I will state that I have noticed a couple over sights though.  The biggest is that the game doesn’t seem to understand what you are wearing.  For some reason, when I am on a base or inside, my character insists on walking around with his space helmet on.  He looks rather like an idiot.  This was a big problem when he ordered a drink at a bar and didn’t bother removing his helmet as he tilted his head back and took a big gulp.  The armor I was wearing was a bonus set from the Deluxe edition so I don’t know if this issue occurs for all suits or not.  I think it is only a minor issue but it seems so small and simple that it should have been taken care of.

I wanted to add an additional note about the graphical bugs.  I have come across a few more weird scenarios related to it in the game.  Drinking with the helmet on was bad enough but it appears I am too lazy to take the helmet off when kissing as well.  Maybe it is just a fetish that I am unaware of.

Even with the minor technical glitches, so far, I really enjoy the game and I am looking forward to playing it more (right after I finish this article and grab some lunch).

Keep On The Border Lands

This is not the first article that I intended to write.  I was going to write about something more technical.  Perhaps some code example related to Silverlight or a discussion about my recent virus related fiasco.  That all changed when I decided to give my office a “spring cleaning”.

I stopped by the local Lowes store to pick up some storage bins and some other required items.  I then proceeded to strip my office of nearly everything that wasn’t connected to something by a wire.  I am rather amazed that a 9 x 9 room is capable of storing the amount of crap that I have currently relocated to a giant pile in the living room.

I decided that I was going to have to actually throw some things out this time, or at least move it to storage.  I am a bit of a pack-rat and have some difficulty letting go of some things.  I just looked over and saw the manual for Sid Meir’s Alpha Centauri.  When am I ever going to need that again?

Anyway, my main thought was to move my Dungeons and Dragons stuff into storage.  I don’t think I can bring myself to actually throw it out.  I spent most of my youth (and some later years) immersed in battles against countless foes.  I still have the dice and still have the original manuals and books.  As much as I should have been cleaning I found myself pausing and basking in the history of it all.  I still have my character sheets written in #2 pencil when I was a teenager.

Then it happened.  I flipped through a stack and found a module without a cover.  I think I instinctively knew what it was but I started flipping through it any way and then I saw it in bold print:  Keep On The Border Lands.  I think I almost cried.  As with many other people, this module was my first.  It really made me think back of how I spent my youth.  All those hours and years poured into playing various role playing games.  I stopped for a moment and wondered how different my life would be if I had never discovered the joy of D&D.  Or if I had listened to all those people who felt the game was evil and I was destined to kill myself because of it.  I truly believe that I would be a wholly different person in either case and that I made the correct decision.

I suppose I need to continue on with the task at hand and get my office in order.  I have many hours left of work and I am sure it will spill over into tomorrow.  I also think I need to go buy some more bins as I am afraid that I will be throwing out less than I expected.

As an added note, one of the founding fathers of Dungeons and Dragons (and the author of Keep On The Border Lands) was Gary Gygax.  Gary finally lost all his hit points in March of 2008.  He effected the lives of many people and I think him for what he gave me.