Mass Effect 3 - Impressions Incoming! Leviathan DLC released!

[CeeKay]

Game Informer has a couple of new screenshots.

Warning: the descriptions of those screenshots on the site contain potentially significant spoilers, both of a plot location and a story element itself (far more than the shots themselves, because they're pretty generic from a purely visual point of view).

- Ash

I hope I didn't spoil anything you didn't want to know.  Both things have been mentioned in the early previews and seem to be major elements of the game.  Unless you're under a total information blackout of the game, I think they'd both be difficult to avoid learning about.

thankfully I pulled those up on my iphone and didn't zoom in on the text, so all I saw were some guys in armor and.... you know, I can't even remember the other picture 

[Turtle]

Honestly, the architectural style in that image isn't what I was thinking for that locale, looked more like the Citadel actually, but it's not.

Here's direct links to the screens:
http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts/bioware/masseffect3/screens/screen1280.jpg

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts/bioware/masseffect3/screens/screen1152.jpg

And here's the spoiler info about them:

Spoiler for Hiden:

Those are Cerberus troops, if you couldn't tell from the white, black, and orange motif on them and the shotguns they use which were the illegal Cerberus issues gun from ME2.

The location is the Salarian homeworld, but honestly you can't tell since it looks like the same buildings as the presidium on the citadel.

[CeeKay]

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts/bioware/masseffect3/screens/screen1280.jpg

that one reminds me of a section from Halo Reach architectural wise.

[Turtle]

Thank/blame Sid Mead for that. He's one of many who helped pioneer that style of future blocky and pristine look that Mass Effect leans heavily on, as does Halo for all of its forerunner architecture.

[Asharak]

I hope I didn't spoil anything you didn't want to know.  Both things have been mentioned in the early previews and seem to be major elements of the game.  Unless you're under a total information blackout of the game, I think they'd both be difficult to avoid learning about.

Meh, I'm not likely to hunt you down and murder you over it, unless I wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something tomorrow.

I just know there are some people who are in total blackout mode about the game, so I figured I'd toss out a warning for their sake. The location isn't really much of an issue but the other detail they give away could be a bit of a surprise.

- Ash

[CeeKay]

I hope I didn't spoil anything you didn't want to know.  Both things have been mentioned in the early previews and seem to be major elements of the game.  Unless you're under a total information blackout of the game, I think they'd both be difficult to avoid learning about.

Meh, I'm not likely to hunt you down and murder you over it, unless I wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something tomorrow.

I just know there are some people who are in total blackout mode about the game, so I figured I'd toss out a warning for their sake. The location isn't really much of an issue but the other detail they give away could be a bit of a surprise.

- Ash

  then there's sites like Joystiq where they splash what the screen is about in big bold letters across the headline.  of course I'm not sure who would find what it's about surprising; I thought it was a forgone conclusion.

[Appollo]

Just give me the damn game already

[Scuzz]

There is a decision you make at the end of ME2 that would seem to me to have a great relation to what you may be doing in ME3. I wonder how they will work with that.

Spoiler for Hiden:

The choice to destroy or not destroy the collector base.

[CeeKay]

Just give me the damn game already

no.  no game for you.

[Appollo]

Just give me the damn game already

no.  no game for you.

  Yeah got 5 months or something like that ahead of me, this is the one game I realy am hanging for.

Scuzz

Spoiler for Hiden:

Considering you are now hunted by The Illusive Man I am glad I blew that sucker to hell

[Scuzz]

Just give me the damn game already

no.  no game for you.

  Yeah got 5 months or something like that ahead of me, this is the one game I realy am hanging for.

Scuzz

Spoiler for Hiden:

Considering you are now hunted by The Illusive Man I am glad I blew that sucker to hell

I didn't get that at the end. I thought we were still on a friendly, need to know basis partnership.

[Appollo]

Just give me the damn game already

no.  no game for you.

  Yeah got 5 months or something like that ahead of me, this is the one game I realy am hanging for.

Scuzz

Spoiler for Hiden:

Considering you are now hunted by The Illusive Man I am glad I blew that sucker to hell

I didn't get that at the end. I thought we were still on a friendly, need to know basis partnership.

Scuzz,

Spoiler for Hiden:

This comes in ME3 or so they are saying, he turns on you for whatever reason

[Turtle]

New info:
- There will be a new class that's melee oriented.

- Some of Shepard's new melee moves in general include the usual punches, kicks, and class specific moves. There's also movement related rolls, a SWAT turn, and dives into cover.

- More varied combat environments, with more things happening in them. For example, there will be instances of civilians in combat zones, fights happening in the distance, etc.

- Confirmed a new planet scanning system.

- Space battles possible, but unconfirmed right now.

- The Engineer class can now build turrets.

- Combat rhythm is described to be about 10%-15% faster overall. Sounds like this is due to Shepard, Teammates, and Enemies being much more maneuverable.

- No vehicles from previous ME games (Mako and Hammerhead) will return. Instead, we're getting all new vehicles, yes, that means more than one.

- There will be a digital comic, like the PS3 version of ME2, that fills in the backstory and sets up what's happening. Let's hope they don't use Shepard's voice for narration this time, as the whole self introspective Shepard voice really didn't sound right.

Spoiler info, with locations you visit, your ship, and more:

Spoiler for Hiden:

- You'll visit London, New York, the Salarian home world.

- The Normandy SR2 is still around, however, it was taken by the Systems Alliance, taken apart, then rebuilt so they could figure out its construction and technology. Now it's sporting a Systems Alliance logo and paint scheme, along with new room configurations. Overall it still looks like the SR2.

- Reapers now come in many different sizes, all are pretty huge though, ranging from 200-300 meters, to the original 2 kilometer sizes of Soverign.

- The current rumor is the James Sanders is somehow related to Kahlee Sanders of the novels. Not sure if it's a brother or her son.

- Anderson may make a return as a combat capable character, early previews show him in Alliance military wear, sporting a military cap, but the devs have said that outfit is only a placeholder. Anderson has left his position in the council by this time and returned to the Systems Alliance. No word on Udina's status.

[Appollo]

Would be cool if the melee class uses some sort of sword but it would have to be a light sabre thingee to cut through armour

[jersoc]

More varied combat environments

does this mean less boxes like it's fucking moving day in every facility? because that would be great.

[Turtle]

Just an update:
- The melee class I listed above was just a translation mistake. There is no new melee class. Just new melee options for all classes.

- Multiple ways to obtain "loyalty", not just a quest or a dialog choice.

- While planet scanning, you will still be mining, unknown to what extent, but the mining aspect is not gone.

- More items to loot (no specifics).

- "Lighting Up" is a special melee charge attack where Shepard uses his omni-tool to set someone on fire.

- The class specific melee attacks will be one hit kills, or finishers.

- Vanguard class' charge move will return.

- The DLC items obtained from Dr. Pepper's marketing will return in the game. Not sure if still tied to marketing. This is nice, as those were some useful items.

Spoiler info:

Spoiler for Hiden:

- Jack returns with a more mature appearance. That's mature as in mentally mature.

- Liara's family issues will be explored.

[cheeba]

Spoiler for Hiden:

- Liara's family issues will be explored.

Spoiler for Hiden:

What family issues?

[Blackadar]

Spoiler for Hiden:

- Liara's family issues will be explored.

Spoiler for Hiden:

What family issues?

http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Liara_T%27Soni

[CeeKay]

in case anyone wants to catch up on the comics, Dark Horse Digital has them for sale online now. 

[CeeKay]

WANT

[jersoc]

game delayed until early 2012 now.

[CeeKay]

Anyone surprised?   Anyone?  You, in the back?  Really?  Oh, you have a question.... No, sorry, we're all out of toilet paper, can you hold it?   No?  Ok.... Just use jersoc's pillow case.  It's the Justin Bieber one. 

[jersoc]

you're just jealous he gave me it.

[CeeKay]

you're just jealous he gave me it.

I just don't want to know why he had a hole cut out where the mouth is on it....

[cheeba]

The gridlines on that Normandy are way too dark.

[CeeKay]

well isn't this just fucking peachy.

When asked about the delay, EA boss John Riccitiello said, "Essentially, step by step, [BioWare is] adjusting some of the gameplay mechanics and some of the features that you'll see at E3 that can put this into a genre equivalent of shooter-meets-RPG, and essentially address a far larger market opportunity than Mass Effect 1 did and Mass Effect 2 began to approach."

[Ridah]

It was an earnings call, he just had to say something to please investors most likely. I don't think we have to worry about them "CoDing" Mass Effect 3.

[EddieA]

The combat mechanics in ME1 and ME2 were fun, but they were also the weakest part of the game, so I'll be glad if they improve on them.  There's no reason you can't have a game that's both a great shooter and a great RPG.

[CeeKay]

I'm reading that last part as 'we're making the game more casual friendly', and considering how much I didn't care for the aerodynamicizing of ME2 and DA 2 that set off all kinds of warning bells.  I'm glad I held off on pulling the pre-order trigger on D2D during the 25% off sale.

[CeeKay]

at least I'm not the only one worried.

[Wargus]

at least I'm not the only one worried.

This was bound to happen once Bioware sold their souls to EA. 

[jersoc]

oh god, don't dragon age 2 this game too.

does this mean more corridors stuffed with boxes where you can predict fights :|

[Turtle]

That piece is just more rumor and speculation like everything else.

Everything they've actually shown has them putting more RPG aspects back into the game in terms of character customization. If you didn't notice, ME2 was actually way way more shooter than RPG in the combat gameplay department. Balancing the "shooter-to-RPG" ratio would mean putting in more RPG elements, which it seems they're doing.

The main enhancements to the shooter gameplay seems to be making it so that the movement is on par with with games, instead of being so static. And make enemies more interesting to fight.

Sounds more like they're just taking the time to make sure those aspects work as intended. Traversal stuff like rolls between cover, swat turns, diving into or over cover while on the move, all actually take a lot of work to make sure they work properly in every circumstance. Especially so if they wanted to have more interesting battlegrounds to fight in.

3-4 months more from their original target of Holidays 2011 is not enough time to make any radical changes to the formula like people are freaking out about now. Instead, that's a good amount of time to do extra bug squashing and polish, along with implementing systems and story that had been already planned from the beginning but hadn't had time to be implemented until now.

Also, the writer who posted this was not one of the people who actually got to see the game, and taking one comment in the worst possible way he can imagine.

[CeeKay]

Also, the writer who posted this was not one of the people who actually got to see the game, and taking one comment in the worst possible way he can imagine.

and I right there with him.  after DA2 Bioware has one hell of a hole to dig their way out of, and with EA pulling the strings I'm not sure they can.

[Razgon]

    “One of the things that Ray Muzyuka and the team up in Edmonton have done is essentially step-by-step adjust the gameplay mechanics and some of the features that you’ll see at E3 to put this in a genre equivalent to shooter-meets-RPG,” he said, “and essentially address a much larger market opportunity than Mass Effect 1 and Mass Effect 2 began to approach.

    “We’re huge believers in the IP and are purposefully shifting it to address a larger market opportunity.”

From RPS - http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/05/05/mass-effect-3-aimed-at-larger-audiences/#more-58597

Soo....is it okay to shout Doooooom now?! Larger Market Opportunities... Can you say CoD market share wannabees? Every damn game wants in on that juicy piece of meat, and while I can't fault them for it, I don't like what it does to many AAA titles.

[Bob]

I don't understand how you could dumb down ME series more... and still call it an RPG.

Adding more options and controls to combat, making it say Gears of War-ish in the control deptartment, wouldn't be dumbing it down, it'd be increasing the complexity.  If that's the route they go, I approve.  As stated, ME's shooting has been it's weakest aspect.  Action combat has always been the weakest part of Bioware's games. They could use some help there, I really don't think they get it. They thought Jade Empire had a great fighting engine. It was like they had never played a fighting game.

[Turtle]

Exactly.

Let's face it, even though ME2 improved the combat gameplay over ME1 by leaps and bounds, it's still really not on par with the latest shooters in terms of polish. The movement and animation is still pretty stilted, things like running, going in and out of cover, and other interesting moves are finicky or don't exist.

None of that stacks up to modern shooter. Thus it's really not equivalent to a shooter-meets-RPG right now because the shooter aspect needs work. Heck, even the RPG aspect needed work too, and they have that part covered with the new loot items, weapon customization, and new character customization.

It's getting to the point of absurdity how quickly people will jump on the sky is falling bandwagon from a few small quotes taken with no real context, especially when we have a full article pointing out ways that they've gone and improved the RPG aspects.

I'll be negative when they start talking about how they're handling paragon and renegade choices, the real meat of the story and role playing, and if they haven't made any improvements or changes to it, then I'll start clamoring for changes. My main gripe is that there's no interesting middle ground with those in ME1 and ME2, so that you're really only playing 2 versions of the story, the paragon or renegade version.

[Turtle]

New info, mostly from neogaf:

- The story is more in line with ME1 than ME2.

- No new Romance in ME3. Romances you've had from previous games will pay off, and there will be consequences for being unfaithful.

- Smaller pool of teammates than ME2, but more done with those in your crew.

- Every character will be back in some way.

- Will have some sort of save game generator for those coming into ME3 without an imported save.

- Biotics will be more useful, doing specific things like ripping combat shields out of opponents' hands to make them easier to attack.

- Combat areas will have more instances of multiple levels now. With a new class of enemy equipped with rocket boots that make use of them.

- Powers on a single class will now combine, example: "Soldier still has an arcing attack called Concussive Shot, but it now behaves differently depending on the ammo ugrade he/she is using. Cryo ammo lets you use that same trajectory to deliver a blast of ice that canfreeze every enemy in the area."

- Enemies are so much more varied that you will need to use those combinations and those of your teammates.

Spoilers (usually about levels, encounters, events, and characters:

Spoiler for Hiden:

- Tali is now confirmed as a full teammate that travels with you.

[disarm]

- No new Romance in ME3. Romances you've had from previous games will pay off, and there will be consequences for being unfaithful.

uh oh...

[CeeKay]

- Every character will be back in some way.

Even the one that got nuked?