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Mass Effects vs. Lost Odyssey
- Thread starter pmark
- Start date
Depends on what you like more. Mass effect is more of 3rd person shooter type game with rpg elements (heavy in game dialog/chat choices, leveling up, gearing, etc) Lost Odyssey is more like the older final fantasy with a lot of in game cut scenes, turn based combat, etc. Both are fun imo, so you'll probably be happy either way
Modeps
Lifer
I have not played Lost Odyssey, but I absolutely ADORE Mass Effect. I truly cannot stand tons of cutscenes or un-interactive, unspoken dialog which many jRPGs seem to like (Lost Odyssey, from what I've read, also has tons of cutscenes and text to read). There was a point in my life I didn't mind the jRPG style, but now with my limited recreation time, I just want to PLAY my games, not watch them.
Still, I've heard Lost Odyssey is one of the better RPGs out for any system right now. It really depends on what you're looking for.
Still, I've heard Lost Odyssey is one of the better RPGs out for any system right now. It really depends on what you're looking for.
I'd like to go ahead and recommend Mass Effect unconditionally, but I haven't played Lost Odyssey. What RPGs have you liked in the past?
Lost Odyssey is from the Square Enix/Final Fantasy mold while Mass Effect is from the Baldur's Gate/Knights of the Old Republic mold.
Given the choice, I'd probably replay Mass Effect for the 5th time before playing most other games. 😛
Lost Odyssey is from the Square Enix/Final Fantasy mold while Mass Effect is from the Baldur's Gate/Knights of the Old Republic mold.
Given the choice, I'd probably replay Mass Effect for the 5th time before playing most other games. 😛
The two games are so different from each other that I wouldn't base your decision by comparing the two. Instead, figure out if you are in the mood for a final fantasy like turn based RPG or if you want something that more like KOTOR. Both games are fantastic so it really boils down to what you are in the mood for.
stevty2889
Diamond Member
I bought an Xbox 360 because of Lost Oddesey(I was being tortured watching my roomate play the game, and couldn't resist!!)
I heard LO battle animation is long and can't be skipped - that's the only thing preventing me from getting it.
ME on the other hand, is too linear - all the discussions and choices you make, won't affect the way the game is progressing.
Which RPG have you played?
I think you'd be able to decide based on your past experience.
For me, I've played Oblivion, Blue Dragon, & Eternal Sonata.
Blue Dragon was the best IMO. True classic and complete JRPG.
ME on the other hand, is too linear - all the discussions and choices you make, won't affect the way the game is progressing.
Which RPG have you played?
I think you'd be able to decide based on your past experience.
For me, I've played Oblivion, Blue Dragon, & Eternal Sonata.
Blue Dragon was the best IMO. True classic and complete JRPG.
R Nilla
Diamond Member
I think it's a mistake to call ME linear. There is a predetermined narrative, so yes the main plot points are fairly clear/established (linear), but what you do along the way, how you get there, how those moments unfold as well as how the ending is presented certainly does change depending on what you do.
For the majority of the game you can go anywhere and do anything you like. During the middle (beef) of the game, the main quests can be visited in whichever order you choose (not to mention all the side quests that can be similarly thrown in along the way).
Some of the differences are more subtle/detailed rather than huge differing plot points, but anyone who has played the game can attest to the variety of playthrough possibilities.
This is true.
Mass Effect is much more NON-linear than any Final Fantasy game I've ever played - and I've played most of them. The fact that I can complete 1 mission in 5 different ways, each giving a different outcome (even though the ultimate outcome remains the same) - is more than I can say for a JRPG such as Lost Odyssey.
Unless, of course, by linear he meant linear level design - in which case, yes, I would agree, Mass Effect is quite linear. I never got lost, and I never was unsure of what to do next.
Yes, and (without spoiling anything) the decisions made during the climax of the game lead to VERY different endings. It makes me wonder if they'll pick a "right" ending that will potentially serve as the starting point of ME2 or if they'll try to work the ME2 story so that any ME1 ending will fit.
R Nilla
Diamond Member
I think the main complaint is that you can choose each ending at the end no matter how you played the game (I have only beaten it once so far, so I can't really comment on this part). I see this as giving you more freedom by allowing you to choose the outcome of all situations as you encounter them, rather than the outcomes being predetermined based on earlier decisions you made.
warcrow
Lifer
Heh--wait a second:
What exactly are you referring to when you say "battle animation". As in, when they perform the move you've selected, or are you refering to the winning battle animations/ wrap up? The wrap up takes maybe 4-5 seconds, and that includes the loot screens and such. Are you really that pressed for time?
So ME is linear? Define "linear" please. I've played through the game twice. Once as a good guy (Paragon) and again as an evil guy (Renegade). I would hardly define both experiences as linear. I had many many situations between the two play-throughs that had completely different outcomes and effects, especially including the ending--it was far from linear. Also, the discussions and choices you make "dont effect the outcome"? What? Have you even played the game?
The end portion of the game itself has two sequences where you make choices and the choices that become available to you are completely dependent on what you have done up to that point. There are 3 or 4 endings (not sure on how many but I know there is multiple and atleast two).
warcrow, I'm about to find out for myself.
I never said I played the game, I only said "I heard ..."
But thanks to your argument, I've purchased the game.
Hopefully it won't dissappoint.
Now my question to you, have you played any other RPG games (such as those I mentioned)? Maybe you would be kind enough to give a short comparison review.
LO is next on my list, I sure hope you guys know your RPG.
I'm always up to the challenge of "tasting" new RPG games.
That's about right. Basically, if you were cool with the load times for a battle in FF X then the load times in LO will not bother you at all. On top of that, the camera panning still entertains me because the graphics are so incredibly nice on my TV. Eye candy is enough to fulfill me if we are only talking some seconds. Most FF fans that I know who have seen/played LO agree. If you really enjoy a well thought out in-depth RPG story with an FF play style then do not pass up LO over some of the trivial things being talked about on the net. The vast majority of them are being described as much worse than what they actually are.
That is not true at all. There is still tons of money to be made if JRPGs. The numbers are proving themselves. You need to realize that despite the differences in current popularity, both of these styles of RPGs have huge fan bases. The popularity also differs a whole lot depending on what part of the world we are talking.
warcrow
Lifer
You made it sound like you had experience with the game firsthand and were speaking fact when you said ME was "too linear - all the discussions and choices you make, won't affect the way the game is progressing" (bolded above).
Both games are amazing and extremely different type of RPGs. LO is a tried and true JRPG with some flaws--but because of it's over all quality it's very easy to see past those flaws. If you would like more opinions on LO, including my own then head over to the official thread.
If you're talking about ME--yes, the game is amazing and a bit more of an Action-RPG. The game has some serious flaws, namely the horrid inventory UI, cookie-cutter sidequest (planets), the combat system is a little weak and the texture pop-in can be annoying--but much like LO, the overall experience is stunning. ME has a revolutionary conversation system that will keep you interested until the very end.
I put in roughly 65 hours of game time into both games (each).
The sooner everyone stops comparing Action RPGs to JRPGs the better. The two genres offer such different kinds of gaming experiences that I believe the only real thing they have in common is that they are both listed as "RPGs". When it comes to the comparison of LO and ME particularly, if your goal when it comes to the comparison is to figure out which you will like more then you are going about it the wrong way. Instead, compare you past experiences with KOTOR and any one of the better FF games. The comparison between those experiences will provide you with a much better estimation about which game you will enjoy more. Getting advise over the internet is ok, but keep in mind that JRPGs and Action RPGs tend to attract very different audiences so you will be gettign a ton of biased opinions. You are better off using the net to gather facts about the games such as how the battle system and character progression systems work than you are using it to gather opinions about "quality".