Mass Effect 2 Vs Dragon Age

[coloumb]

Just curious- Did anyone play ME2 with a controller? It's a port so I'm wondering if I pick it up whether to use a controller or mouse/kb

I couldn't fathom playing with a controller especially during the last battle [maybe the console version is slightly different]...and quiet honestly, ME2 doesn't feel like a port - it feels like it was built for the PC from the ground up.

 

[Qbah]

I'm pretty sure you can't use a controller on ME2 PC as the UI is very different from the console. I played both versions and both work fine. However I refuse to get DAO for my Xbox. Once I get a new video card, I'm getting it for PC.

 

[KeypoX]

These games are almost on complete opposite ends of the RPG spectrum.. Asking which is the better of the two hardly makes sense because they are so completely different.

Mass Effect is a space shooter with a few RPG elements tacked on; Dragon Age Origins is a medieval hack and slash game that is a full fledged RPG.

yeah pretty much.

Just curious- Did anyone play ME2 with a controller? It's a port so I'm wondering if I pick it up whether to use a controller or mouse/kb

HUH why pc game if you dont use a mouse/kb?

Though ME2 would be bad ass on a big screen 50inch with surround sound. With a computer at full resolution. It does have the best cinematic scenes ever.

 

[Liet]

I couldn't fathom playing with a controller especially during the last battle [maybe the console version is slightly different]...and quiet honestly, ME2 doesn't feel like a port - it feels like it was built for the PC from the ground up.

It feels like a port, but a well-done port without many of the offensive technical issues that other ports have (like running mouse/kb input through an analog controller emulator, UGH).

One example: The same button used for run, take cover, jump over obstacles, skip dialogue, and select answer. This is an issue with console controllers requiring multiple mappings due to lack of buttons. Why this is bad for PC games is mainly because you'll want to skip dialogue and wind up accidentally selecting a dialogue answer you didn't want.

Another is a lack of content. There aren't many missions that deal with the main storyline, and those missions take only 10-15 minutes each. There also aren't many side missions / plots... and those there are also last only 10-15 minutes. If that. I would've loved to have seen more missions, and lengthier maps. My gut says that more weren't included because of console limitations, or maybe they figured console gamers don't have the attention span to do that many missions? Dunno.

 

[you2]

Yea - I just started ME2 (had to replay ME) and already the game feels 'dumb'ed' down. The controls are really kind of annoying (I'm sure by the end of the game they will feel more natural). This is not to say ME2 is un-enjoyable; like DA (another 'dumb'ed' down game) it starts with a bang and I'm sure it will be an extremely well done interactive movie; with very solid combat mechanics. I like those types of games; so I'm not unhappy with the purchased; but I am a bit disappointed that they dumb'ed it down.

However, given the market success of DA and ME2; I suspect bioware will continue this trend. After all it is about $$$ not providing sophisticated or complex pc games (and yea I wish they had not overloaded the space bar to the current extent it is overloaded; esp given that in ME1 space pauses the game and brings up the player console; so at least at the start I keep hitting space (action key) when I want to pause and issue commands )

It feels like a port, but a well-done port without many of the offensive technical issues that other ports have (like running mouse/kb input through an analog controller emulator, UGH).

One example: The same button used for run, take cover, jump over obstacles, skip dialogue, and select answer. This is an issue with console controllers requiring multiple mappings due to lack of buttons. Why this is bad for PC games is mainly because you'll want to skip dialogue and wind up accidentally selecting a dialogue answer you didn't want.

Another is a lack of content. There aren't many missions that deal with the main storyline, and those missions take only 10-15 minutes each. There also aren't many side missions / plots... and those there are also last only 10-15 minutes. If that. I would've loved to have seen more missions, and lengthier maps. My gut says that more weren't included because of console limitations, or maybe they figured console gamers don't have the attention span to do that many missions? Dunno.

 

[daishi5]

One example: The same button used for run, take cover, jump over obstacles, skip dialogue, and select answer. This is an issue with console controllers requiring multiple mappings due to lack of buttons. Why this is bad for PC games is mainly because you'll want to skip dialogue and wind up accidentally selecting a dialogue answer you didn't want.

I hate that, I keep doing it, and I just can't mention how much I hate it when I do it.

 

[Ika]

It feels like a port, but a well-done port without many of the offensive technical issues that other ports have (like running mouse/kb input through an analog controller emulator, UGH).

You seem to have forgotten ME2 has only three default "camera speed"s - it's not even called mouse sensitivity! Moreover, it's absolutely horrible. At the lowest setting I was still flying around the screen on my G5. It's fixable via config files, but that's a google and an extra step away. They should've put an option for real mouse sensitivity in the game at the start.

 

[you2]

What is this bullshit with hit ESC and select squad or journal command. Why can't they just have a keyboard command like in mass effect 1 (or any other pc game for that matter). Crise who moron developed this interface ?

 

[Ika]

What is this bullshit with hit ESC and select squad or journal command. Why can't they just have a keyboard command like in mass effect 1 (or any other pc game for that matter). Crise who moron developed this interface ?

It's a console game first and a PC game second. Pretty obvious.

 

[aigomorla]

There both great games.

And i like waiting for the DLC contents on both games.

Dragons Age is more of a story. Its longer, but a lot, but its lacking guns.
ME2 is a bit more fast paced, and being renegade vs paragon makes things more interesting.

Also the different classes in ME2 you can pick.

 

[Liet]

you2, Aflac... Yep, the GUI is insulting. Can it really take that much effort to map J to Journal, and M to map?

Apparently.

Man, I'm so fucking fed up with consolish GUIs, lazy devs who don't bother with basic input support, let alone additional content (like we should fucking get because we own capable platforms), and publishers pushing incomplete half-baked shit out early and hamstringing any dev they lay their bloodshot pigfucker eyes at.

Rant done, just need a drink, long day.

 

[you2]

Yep; the more I play the less I enjoy this game (only about 6 hours in). The interface just sucks rotten egg and is quite distracting. Not sure how any pc review gave this game a 8 much less a 9. I think gears of war combat was better; ME 1 story AND rpg elements were better. Hell even dead space crappy interface was more natural.

you2, Aflac... Yep, the GUI is insulting. Can it really take that much effort to map J to Journal, and M to map?

Apparently.

Man, I'm so fucking fed up with consolish GUIs, lazy devs who don't bother with basic input support, let alone additional content (like we should fucking get because we own capable platforms), and publishers pushing incomplete half-baked shit out early and hamstringing any dev they lay their bloodshot pigfucker eyes at.

Rant done, just need a drink, long day.

 

[Ika]

Yep; the more I play the less I enjoy this game (only about 6 hours in). The interface just sucks rotten egg and is quite distracting. Not sure how any pc review gave this game a 8 much less a 9. I think gears of war combat was better; ME 1 story AND rpg elements were better. Hell even dead space crappy interface was more natural.

Fortunately if you can get past the GUI and want to get into story and character development, ME2 still has a lot of the old BioWare touch. Sure, there's not as much as BG2, but the amount of dialog and character the NPCs have is pretty surprising. I've played around 30 hours now, still have a few loyalty missions and the rest of the main storyline to complete, but I'm having a pretty great time. My personal favorite part of this game are the powers - I love the low cooldowns; I get to use biotic powers all the time now to rampage the room. It's awesome.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Yep; the more I play the less I enjoy this game (only about 6 hours in). The interface just sucks rotten egg and is quite distracting. Not sure how any pc review gave this game a 8 much less a 9. I think gears of war combat was better; ME 1 story AND rpg elements were better. Hell even dead space crappy interface was more natural.

I, on the other hand, can't imagine how you could compare this game to either of those.
To compare any interface to the mouse movement in Dead Space is a bit of an exaggeration imho.

I don't like the de-RPG'ing of ME2, but I found myself quite a bit more involved with the characters and quests than I was in the original (or even, more recently, in Dragon Age). The action is actually fun this time around, whereas it became somewhat of a chore in the first game. Taken as a package I still rank this among the most enjoyable games I've played.

 

[you2]

Well the game is also very buggy. I was doing garrus mission and ended up on top of one of the plants and there was no way off; other than to load an older save.

I made a save in the 'bug' position if you want

I, on the other hand, can't imagine how you could compare this game to either of those.
To compare any interface to the mouse movement in Dead Space is a bit of an exaggeration imho.

I don't like the de-RPG'ing of ME2, but I found myself quite a bit more involved with the characters and quests than I was in the original (or even, more recently, in Dragon Age). The action is actually fun this time around, whereas it became somewhat of a chore in the first game. Taken as a package I still rank this among the most enjoyable games I've played.

 

[slag]

I'm finding it really hard to get into Dragon Age. Not a fan of that combat system at all.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Well the game is also very buggy. I was doing garrus mission and ended up on top of one of the plants and there was no way off; other than to load an older save.

I made a save in the 'bug' position if you want

Fair enough, this actually happened to me twice XD. I save often enough that I tend to not think about it very long. That was the only bug I witnessed, though - no crashes, etc. - so on the whole it wasn't too bad in my case.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

No poll = fail.

Having played and beaten both, Mass Effect 2 is far better. I struggled to beat Dragon Age: Origins towards the end since it was so boring and I had to fight just to keep enough interest to beat the game. I'm on my third play through of Mass Effect 2 now (Soldier on Insanity FTW), and I see no reason why I wouldn't play through it a fourth time. ME2 is incredible. Not perfect, but it is awesome. I tried to play through DA:O a second time, but I quit after trying out each of the origin stories and getting bored shortly thereafter. I have since uninstalled DA:O and have no real desire to ever play it again. ME2 is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I just beat Mass Effect 2 and was a bit disappointed with the end battle. The ending cinematic was cool, though.

Spoiler

I was hoping to get to fight a tough incarnation of Harbinger, but that never happened. The baby reaper wasn't that tough, either. It didn't do much - its death ray thing was easy to dodge and it never knocked me off a platform.

Spoiler

Oh, and who was in the coffins at the end? I thought only Mordin and Garrus died, but there were 3.

In contrast, DA had an awesome ending fight. I did the last fight without a spirit healer too, so that made it really tough - my characters were on their last legs at the end. And Alistair's awesome finishing move was...awesome.

ME2 is a great game, though. And I'll play it again. I beat it as an infiltrator, but I want more of a taste of the other classes. And I need to do a Paragon run-through. It feels much more polished than ME1 - it's like they realized it wasn't an RPG, and they just made it a shooter. And it worked - the battles are much more engaging than in ME1 with the addition of ammo, cooler powers, and more kick with the weapons. Cover is actually useful now, too. I never used cover in ME1.

 

[AlgaeEater]

I'm on my third play through of Mass Effect 2 now (Soldier on Insanity FTW), and I see no reason why I wouldn't play through it a fourth time. ME2 is incredible. Not perfect, but it is awesome. ME2 is the gift that keeps on giving.

As a Sentinel on Hardcore with Tech Shields, I can't imagine a YMIR Mech battle is on Insanity without Tech Shields. Does one rocket knock you out?

I finished a Solider on Veteran and plan on going Engineer or Infiltrator on Insanity once I'm done with this run. I heard in Insanity, pretty much 3 seconds under fire and you're dead, so I couldn't imagine life without cloak or drones drawing away fire. :S

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

As a Sentinel on Hardcore with Tech Shields, I can't imagine a YMIR Mech battle is on Insanity without Tech Shields. Does one rocket knock you out?

I finished a Solider on Veteran and plan on going Engineer or Infiltrator on Insanity once I'm done with this run. I heard in Insanity, pretty much 3 seconds under fire and you're dead, so I couldn't imagine life without cloak or drones drawing away fire. :S

Hardened Adrenaline Rush. I don't leave cover without it.

Plus, my soldier has like 400+ health and 300+ shields. He can take a few hits even without the 50% DR from HAR. It's tough but not "insane".

Mechs are pretty easy. Just lean out and shoot when HAR is up, duck back in cover when it's down. Squad Warp and Disruptor ammo make short work of any type of bad guy.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Spoiler

Oh, and who was in the coffins at the end? I thought only Mordin and Garrus died, but there were 3.

Spoiler

You had people die at the end?

It all depends on who you send on what mission during the last level. Some people can cut it; others can't. Also, your ship crew bites the dust if you don't rescue them quickly after getting Legion. Like, immediately after recruiting Legion and doing his loyalty mission.

 

[you2]

Hum; I'm playing a bio whatever character on hardcore; let me guess - this is a hard combo for first play through ?

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Hum; I'm playing a bio whatever character on hardcore; let me guess - this is a hard combo for first play through ?

Biotics have been severely nerfed in ME2. In ME1, you could chain cast Throws, Pulls, Singularities, etc. and disable all of the enemies, then use Adrenaline Rush and do it all over again if you so desired. Fun, but majorly OP.

In ME2, most biotics don't work on enemies if they have some sort of protection (AKA shields, armor, barriers) which most enemies have copious amounts of on the higher difficulty levels. Once you get past their protections, their health bar is actually a small amount of their total health, so using a power at that point is pretty useless.

 

[s44]

Check out the Adept on Insane threads (with videos!) on the official forums. Biotics are still very powerful -- they just require different use patterns now.