Mass Effect 2: A Minor Preview

I suppose I could be called a Bioware fanboy. I wouldn't have thought so before the release of Dragon Age: Origins. Another game being released by Bioware is Mass Effect 2, which is surprisingly the sequel to Mass Effect. ZOMG RLY?

Everyone here at Neon Turtles has played Mass Effect. I don't think Dennis has finished it but has still been enjoying it. Mark and I enjoyed it but agree there were flaws. Flaws we hope to see fixed in Mass Effect 2. Bioware has slowly been releasing snippets of what is to come in Mass Effect 2. They have revealed new characters such as Subject Zero and Thane- to name a few -and teased the possibility of returning characters such as Garrus and Tali. These videos (except Subject Zero's) probably have made most Mass Effect fans squeal like a little girl.

Additionally to the clips of characters, Bioware has done a few developer walk-through videos with big game sites showing off new game-play mechanics such as the new reloading system that replaces the overheating weapons system. Most recently they have done interviews and videos around the revamped classes such as Biotics and Engineers. Which brings me to a criticism of Bioware. While I understand by boosting abilities and powers they are too increasing the fun of the game. But as seen with the Subject Zero trailer I am starting to see a trend by Bioware of selling their games through boobs and violence to appeal to a wider audience than RPG fans (they did this with Dragon Age too). While I don't mind them doing this, or changing the game-play to further become like an action game, I just pray this doesn't have a negative effect on the RPG side of things.

Besides all the mumbo-jumbo in relation to the game itself, Mass Effect 2 on Xbox 360 will feature two discs.
“Even though there is a disc swap, it occurs at a carefully planned place in the game (that does not interfere with gameplay) and is done once,” Priestly wrote on the Mass Effect 2 forums. “You do not swap back and forth. 1 swap and then done.” - Bioware
So it doens't sound like a problem, and having two discs gives me the impression that it is going to be a long game which in my opinion is a good thing, and won't have an effect on the PC version which I plan to get. To rap this up Bioware have also changed the Boxart for the standard edition to this. I feel that this new cover is trying to appeal to action gamers opposed to the Mass Effect boxart which had a similar feel to a blockbuster movie cover.

Having just talked about everything Bioware has revealed, I feel there is so much more to be found out too. Such as are Liara and Ashely going to make returns? Will the explorable planets/systems have more depth? Will there be elevators? Australians will know the answer when Mass Effect 2 is released here January 28th next year.

The Dragon Age toolset arrives.

And so it was that a fantastic RPG released it's mod creation software. And so the writers of Neon Turtles did raise their hands to the skies, and cry out in joy. For theses people had plans, plans to use the hallowed software to create reasonably shitty mods.

Yeah... We're planning a mod. Like that'll turn out well. Anyway, it's out, you should get it if you have Dragon Age: Origins for the PC, and make actually good content. If Neverwinter Nights is anything to go by, there should soon be some seriously good user-created stories available for all. You can find the toolset here.

Borderlands thoughts..

I figured I should stop playing Borderlands to talk about it for a bit. For those unaware, this GearBox(the guys behind Brothers in Arms), developed game is described by them as an RPS(role playing shooter), combining skill trees and loot(in the form of a bajillion guns), with actually good shooting mechanics(I'm looking at you, Fallout).

I've only got a level 26(out of 50), so don't take my word as everything(and why would you anyway), but Borderlands is awesome. It's focused on co-op, which is always fun, and for lovers of loot(like me), this game is fantastic. The art-style is sexy(no, not in that way), the shooting really does work, and the netcode(though sadly through Gamespy), is still good enough to connect with your buddies and have a rip roaring good time.

I'd love to say more, but i have midgets to kill and quests to hand in. Go and buy Borderlands, unless you don't have any money, or hate games(or all these god damn brackets made you sad).

Dungeon Hunter

Just finished recording the very first podcast. It was fun but I'm sure it'll sound like three demons crying into the abyss. Actually that would be kind of badass.

Anyway, I recently purchased Dungeon Hunter ($9), for my iPod Touch, off the recommendation of a friend. It's by Gameloft, a company well known for it's shameless ripoffs. This one is no exception, using just about every fantasy cliché it can. That said, it's also pretty good.

A straight up RPG(rocket propellened gonorrhea, for those unaware), Dungeon Hunter has everything one would expect; quests, a story, equipment, experience, graphics, etc. What's so impressive is the amount of stuff in it. I haven't played all that much, but this really does have everything you want from an rpg; nothing has been lost(except a map, weirdly), in the process of making an iPhone hack n' slash Role Playing Game.

It's not perfect, but it's pretty impressive, and has given me some solid funtimes. For those who like the genre, I recommend buying it(or just steal it, I know all you fuckers have jailbroken your handhelds).