Galactic annihilation could be an emotional experience

Saving the galaxy from annihilation has to be emotional, according to a Canadian video game developer who wants players of action role playing title Mass Effect to weigh their choices carefully as they fight for the future.

BioWare Corp, the Canadian game house being bought by Electronic Arts, is giving players a big swath of outer space to explore and defend with its upcoming Xbox 360 title.

But with some of the most realistic and best looking digital actors available in any video game to date, BioWare is also out to prove it can make players feel passionately about the characters in the story.

[Twizlex]

I think it's going to be Mass Effect or Assassin's Creed for Game of the Year. What is everyone else's thoughts for GOTY?

[wageslave]

Mario Galaxy, Lost Odyssey, Mass Effect, BioShock or Halo 3. I think the last two will pickup most GotY.

The First one may get many "Platform GotY". ME GotY Adventure and Lost Odyssey GotY RPG.

[the worst]

Ratchet & Clank Future or maybe Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
game of the year
Warhawk will win best online game
Assassin's Creed ,lair ,two worlds will be up
most disappointed game of this year
eye of judgement will win some kinda of award

[wageslave]

Ratchet & Clank Future - maybe platformer of year or adventure of year, will probably loose to Mario Galaxy in these classes. Not in the running for GotY 2007.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - will end up mediocre, no awards. My guess? 7.0 / 10 - 7.5 / 10 on Metacritic.

Warhawk will win Nothing.

Assassin's Creed - GotY 2007 Candidate, if not, GotY Adventure

eye of judgement will win some kinda of award - maybe, very unique title. Maybe "best casual"...

[MK_Red]

My faves for GOTY are also Assassins Creed and Mass Effect along with BioShock.
But I believe Halo 3, Mario Galaxy and Orange Box all have chance as well.

[BLACKJACK VII]

Mass Effect vs. Bioshock in a steel cage match.

I'll give Uncharted a nod for a possible dark horse.

Please... no Mario... how many Mario games exist now ? New IPs deserve more recognition in the interest of innovation. I don't think GOTY awards should be about "Franchise Clone #27" - it should be about the best game of the year that represents both innovation & critical acclaim - something new & fresh. I mean, if it's not about new IP's or innovation, but rather sales & critical acclaim, then Halo 3 would win hands down.

LOL, I really think Assassin's Creed doesn't stand a chance, IMHO.

[Zhuk]

Mass Effect is definity GOTY for me at least. It has everything a next gen title should and its from the masters of RPG's Bioware, it's truly a great time to own a Xbox 360

[skagrerrrr]

it's an awesome game

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

I beat it six times trust me it has everything. By the way is it released yet?

Just kidding , but seriously don't judge a game before you play it.

[IdontTakeSides]

Assasins Creed over this.. I dont own a 360 so of course I dont care for this game at all....i'll wait for INFAMOUS...!!!

[dachiefsman]

okay you don't have a 360 so.....some of us WILL enjoy this game....Mass Effect WILL be a good game.....just like FF series produces good games....

fanboys go jerk your gerkin on different website

[IdontTakeSides]

hmm I dont see where did I state this game wouldn't be enjoyable...btw I was answering that dudes question..about which game will get GOTY..

if I had come here and bash the 360 then i could have seen why you got ur panties so up in a bunch..I made it clear that I dont own it..nor do I care for this game...you guys through around the word fanboys to freely around here...ur the Fanboy geting all defensive..!!

[wageslave]

@dachiefsman.

The designer and creator of Final Fantasy is no longer involved in the games.

Hironobu Sakaguchi is the creator of FF. He has left and is now making exclusive games for Xbox 360 with his own studio Mistwalker.

Blue Dragon recieved a 37/40 from Famitsu, and his next title Lost Odyssey is due in Japan in Decmeber.

Two more games are in the works, Cry-On (no details yet) and an untitled rumoured MMO.

If you enjoyed or respected Final Fantasy, skip the "Faux Fantasy" that square enix is going to be shilling, and get Hironobu Sakaguchi's work; Lost Odyssey or Blue Dragon.

Whatever the code-monkeys at Square churn out and slap "FFXIII" on will be so in name only. Fcuk Faux Fantasy.

[IdontTakeSides]

Hmm yeah yeah Blue Dragon wasn't better than FF12...so I guess those code monkeys at Square don't really need him...BTW..FFX111 will single handly out perform all the exlusives he makes for M$..have fun switching disc's ..!!!

[ParaDise_LosT]

Anyway, Don't put down Sakaguchi just because He isn't making games on your console.....He's still a very good dev and Blue Dragon
Is alot better than what western reviewers gave it......

Anyway....Back to the topic
Yeah Mass Effect is gonna be one heck of a great game :D

[jaja1434]

I know your just reacting to the posters above but don't stoop to their level and start bashing the MS. I really hope FF13 is a great game as one day I'll want to play it myself.

But you know something about 12 didn't grab me. Maybe it was because I didn't get particularly drawn into the story like I did with 7 and 10(but dear god I hated the Clystor trials). Though 12 did have top notch combat, the only real complaint I have in that department was the board system. Near the end of the game my main 3 all had pretty much the same skills. I kind of missed have a white/dark mage and my tank. But that CGI scene at the end with the air battle. Pure eye candy. :)

[Zhuk]

I've played nearly every Final Fantasy (still never finished FFVII to this day, but that's another story!) and the only ones I hated was FFXI and FFXII they are definitely the weakest in the series with FFVI and FFVIII being the strongest.

In fact I thought that Blue Dragon was a far better game which was very truthful to old school JRPG's that Sakaguchi is known for while making some great gameplay advances on the standard ATB format.

[IdontTakeSides]

I think i've made it clear alot of times that im all for sony ...but you don't see me going around bashing the 360 or wii in post's either..I mostly stick to the post's about PS3...

@ Paradise - about the name you think I didn't choose it wisely knowing that im actually taking sides..ala.."PS3"..i t was to be ironic..kk..I could care less that "Hironobu Sakaguchi" isn't making ne games for the PS3 life goes on..where did I state that he isn't a good dev..or that his game sux...I said FF12 is better ..get over it..wageslave lil b!tch..!!!

@Zhuk I dont think FFX1 should be compared to the others..kk..

@PoG - you have the nerve to call me a fanboy when your one of the biggest Sony bashers here..i see you posting negative sh!t in most PS3 post..i hardly ever post on 360 news unless it also shows up in the PS3 section...when I read this post IF i recall some dude ask a question so I gave my opinon which was ASSASIN CREED should be GOTY..and I would rather play it over Mass Effect ne day...

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Hey Zhuk, blue dragon wasn't that good got it. All the ff games destroy it in terms of gameplay.

[Shaka2K6]

No exclusives.
game will flop so it will eventually drop on PC.

[wageslave]

Ratchet & Clank has a metacritic score of 9.0 - The highest rated exclusive PS3 game.

Resistence 8.6
Warhawk 8.4
Motorstorm 8.2

Those are the top 4 exclusive games on PS3.

I'm willing to bet (metaphorically) that Mass Effect will join the following at 9.0 or above:

2 BioShock 2007 96
3 Gears of War 2006 94
5 Halo 3 2007 94
8 Virtua Fighter 5 2007 90
9 Forza Motorsport 2 2007 90

Mark my words. Write my name down and PM me if I'm wrong.

Mass Effect 9.4-9.6 / 10 on Metacritic. Which will EXCEED every single exclusive on the PS3.

Just to note, Xbox 360 owners can play these games _TODAY_:
1 Orange Box, The 2007 96
8 Virtua Fighter 5 2007 90

You might like to take it easy what you call a "flop". ME will probably exceed any game yet on the PS3.

[power of Green]

Its a front I'v read alot of that guys comments. Kind of like people using 360 game pics for avatars. Like the PS3 fanatic that uses a Too Human pic amoung other Sony fans.

Mass effect will take GOTY the reviewers are taking their sweet time with the game the complexity of the games(RPG etc) will give it the edge.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

If its complex don't expect western rpg fans to like it. They are too idiotic to understand what to do.

[Twizlex]

Western RPG fans? Do you mean fans of western-style RPG's or western fans of RPG's? I would consider myself to be both, and I think this game looks AWESOME, and I LIKE complexity. I don't know what you're basing your comment on, unless you're basically trying to say that Americans are stupid.

[power of Green]

"I know your just reacting to the posters above but don't stoop to their level and start bashing the MS. I really hope FF13 is a great game as one day I'll want to play it myself."

If you're talking to #4 you're wasting your time... one: no one was being out of hand in this 360 thread... Two: The guy's a Rabid Sony fan(came in here to say as a PS3 fanboy" he choses the Multi platform game over an exclusive for GOTY).

[RadientFlux]

I have no doubt that Mass Effect will be another ground-breaking game from one of masters of RPG genre (bioware).

I just hope Bioware doesn't share them same fate as Origin

[Fighter]

We should wait and play those games (both PS3 and 360) before they are actually released.

IMO, I hate to say this but an Xbox game MIGHT win GOTY. PS3 has a lot of good titles that are getting under reviewed because people are expecting them to be better that 360 games. I have no problem if a 360 game is good but to take out marks for PS3 titles because they don't surpass those 360 games is unfair.

Right now Ratchet and Uncharted are the underdogs to win GOTY but the game that will pull an upset victory is most likely Wii sports.

I love RPGs and Mass Effect looks really promising. I will not buy a 360 for Forza 2, Halo 3 or Bioshock but I might for Mass Effect. that being said I may wait a while to see if the Mass Effect trilogy will make its way to the PS3 since EA bought the company and that EA does not believe in exclusives. But with Peter Moore now at EA you never know what will happen.

Sorry Xbox fans, I still hear the the RROD problem is still in existence and not in small numbers. That is the only thing that's preventing me from getting a 360 today.

[power of Green]

I agree with your Peter Moore comment. But the rest of what you said is PS3 fanboyism. Only a small few people would buy a console just to play a couple of games its the wrong reason to buy a console.

You'll have to buy a 360 to play Mass Effect 1.

The point of the restructuring of EA is to let devs do what they wan't while being great and making money for EA. EA would have to force the very busy dev team behind ME to rebuild the engine and tools made for the 360 for the other games to be on PS3(you think a back-up EA team can develope a PS3 version when they have trouble with average games?).

PS3 games don't get under reviewed they get punished for being boasted as ELITE when they are not; if anything!, has nothing to do with the 360.

MSFT scouts fresh idea's and and cutting edge hybrid title's with well thought out gameplay, thats always been an signature of Xbox(more complex games and gameplay)this is why games score differently for the 360.

Xbox games are differnt, at their core games for MSFT are more focused on Gameplay 1st, and what it looks like and all the other godly abilities come 2nd, then the specs and how the game can do this! and that" jive comes 3rd.

Remember the game has already won many awards in the end most other games are in realality half the game Mass Effect is.

[Mallow]

Well if we're going to be guessing for GoTY then my picks would be

Bioshock
Mass Effect
Uncharted

But hell, ME and Uncharted might end up being bad, who knows really, need to play it and see reviews.
Oh and to idiots. This game isn't going to flop, I love PS3 much as the next guy but if you think this game will bomb then you're insane.
wageslave, you're right but it took Xbox a year to get Gears of War and year 2 has been the best year for 360, halo, bioshock, ME, etc, etc. PS3's year 2 will be MGS4, FFXIII, Killzone 2, LBP, GT5, etc. Year 2 and 3 always kicks ass, the first one sucks.

[allforcalisto]

i think a lot of the buzz around this game comes from the fact that it's so "epic", there isn't a game out there (that i know of) that has such an enormous scale.
Travelling through space gives this game extra points to some of you above a game like assassin's creed which has infinitely better gameplay and dialogue(watch what happens when one of your targets is slain by you) which seem a lot more realstic.

tbh i haven't seen a trailer (or clip of ingame action) since the very early ones that have had me buzzed About Mass effect. I see a very empty and shallow experience, that's gonna get a lot of high marks and a sizeable number of 360 users will end up saying it's overrated, like what happened with gears.

All of the conversations that happen in this game seem to be unnaturally cerebral. There isn't a convo (that i've seen) that has been anywhere near earthy. I.e. a conversation about favourite kind of food/ childhood memories/hobby or something that isn't relating to a trade union, or a planet alliance, or a photon engine, or mining on some desolate moon. Everyone in the game seems to be a lifeless robot inspired by tired sci-fi archetypes.

And have you noticed that whenever you talk to someone in a bioware rpg everyone talking is standing up firmly and looking directly at you, or in a seat at a computer.

Have you seen a cutscene where shepard is walking and talking with npcs? think about all the little things you do when you talk, how you sit on a chair when your relaxed?
In mass effect You'll probably never have a normal conversation with anyone let alone a dynamic conversation with characters moving all about the place naturally, or lying lazily on sofa's.
i s'pose a response would be "well they're all soliders".
ask yourself why are most of the npc's military or part of some trade organization. Why aren't there bustling cities and earthy towns, where there isn't so much silver and where you wouldnt be able to use the excuse "well they're all soldiers".

the reason why the game seems so unnatural to me probably stems from the fact that near enough everything is held together by the annoying choice system.imo there shouldnt be so much dialogue choice. The devs should focus on trying to tell an emotional story and give you a solid backstory, so every now and then your shepard would react to things as naturalistically as nathan drake in uncharted.

Yahtzee PERFECTLY articulates what these devs get horribly wrong with these choice systems in the zero punctuation on fable lost chapters and in the bioshock one with the abhorrent endings. These choice systems are lauded, and are said to make games more realstic when in actual fact they make the characters we move about seem like lifeless marionettes who (if we so chose) can display schizophrenic behaviour, i.e. "Now i'm good and i've saved the scientists..." "now i've completely changed inexplicably and i'm butchering my partner" meanwhile my team mates rarely if ever realistically question me on my yo-yoing dispositions unless it concerns them somehow they'll stand by me even if i slaughter someone viciously..."now i've changed again and i'm trying to end a fight between two warring governors, even though i seem completely irreverant to anything"

your shepard will never ever appear as natural as a lot of digital actors this gen, like the character in Uncharted, Heavenly sword, i'm guessing alan wake, the characters in Lost odyssey, FFXIII, Versus XIII.

then there's the third person shooter gameplay in Mass effect....
i dunno which is more meh that or dark sector

dont get me wrong i think the plot in uncharted will probably be cool, but i reckon emotionally it'll be a completely vapid experience with lifeless characters.

[power of Green]

Man you go alittle too far picking it apart many times over, even more so than even Hardcore gamers would do, from another console even lol. I doubt the average gamer would even listen to that kind of opinion.

Well anyways from what I seen its unmatched and far more envolving than the standard RPG linear dialogue system where you sit and watch with now control in a completly linear storyline(play it like GRAW or turnbase).

Don't mean to make what you said sound ridiculous but the people that actually played it(and have commented on it) and the people that gave all the rewards to this title do that for me.

[allforcalisto]

firstly the average gamer is an idiot : )

the average gamer is comfortable having fps after fps rammed down their throat. The average gamer is comfortable playing through another mario game with another inane gimmick.
publishers exlpoit this fact and recycle stuff over and over. And reviewers go apeshit over it. Bioshock would've been axed because it was too weird, luckily it wasnt. Try to have a look at a game called "the city of metronome" ask yourself why it hasn't seen the light of day. Look at how dark sector used to look. The devs completely overhauled dark sector and made in generic for the average gamer.

For every Heavy rain or alan wake there are a hundred fps/or generic tolkien-inspired rpgs.

it's not like the average gamer wouldnt enjoy some of these other games if they got the chance to play them. They just keep buying the same crap with different labels.

the reason why i've criticised mass effect as much as i have done is because of the attention it's getting. All this talk of giving us an "emotional experience".
the comments people are saying about it; especially the devs.

btw i'm not saying bioware shaped Mass effect for the average gamer. It's definitely more than that.

and dude i've seen pretty much every mass effect vid out there, i've been a bioware fan for years and i still am, i just expected a LOT more.

[mesh1]

ur not a game rjusta forum troll if u dont understand mass effect u have no clue what games are go and play uncharted if u think that is what is classed amazing to u run and gunplay hahah/I HAVE PLAYED warcraft 1yr/and tons of game like thief 3/duex x/mgs1/zelda on the nintendo/bioshock/siakuden/obl ivion/half life 1+2/and all great games that i cant remember and i can tell u that uncharted is not a real gamers game no chance same with ratchet and clank they are kiddish in play/difficulty/and storyline when everything in the game is geared in 1 way not to mention the linear type gamestyle of uncharted it makes me laugh .

[power of Green]

No one cares, all they see is a popular shooter style (point of view/ drive around in the hover tank) with an Epic story. The game is just an RPG hybrid? it has more to offer than most games on the market now and in the near future.

The collective attatude for this game is going to be abnormal with high expectations, held to a high standard, probably the highest ever seen for a game. As long as people don't go anal about it as you are it should be fine judging from people that actually played it have said.

Devs have said ther is some great action and that they've only shown about 7% of what the game will offer. Plays Like GRAW.

The game actaully isn't talked about all that much ofcource its going to release in a few weeks so 90% of whats been shown or talked about has been in the last month or two.

It has been respectfuly been talked about and not boasted about(can't stop the reviewers and others from telling the truth about what they see).

[allforcalisto]

you could have just said "you entitled to your opinion" but you had to be a jerk.

saying i'm being anal for noting things i find terribly wrong with a game is lazy. Most reviewers considered Zelda twilight princess and Final fantasy 12 great games, what so if i and other fans of the series pointed out all the flaws in those two games we'd be called anal? being anal is disliking a minute facet of a game like the costumes people wear, not disliking the most talked about features (choice system) of the game, and the meh gameplay. Those aren't minor features dude.

you didnt even attempt to tackle any of the comments i actually made about the game.

None of the performances in mass effect are as convincing as about 2 minutes of uncharted or a minute of heavenly sword.

"The game actaully isn't talked about all that much ofcource its going to release in a few weeks so 90% of whats been shown or talked about has been in the last month or two."

This game gets a previewed or vid featured so much its insane (i've lost count of all the vids i've seen of it), gaming blogs and sites are hyping it so much its insane.

[BLACKJACK VII]

LOL, for all the whiners, you must have forgotten:

E3 2006 BEST RPG = MASS EFFECT

E3 2007 BEST RPG = MASS EFFECT

E3 2007 BEST CONSOLE GAME = MASS EFFECT

Based on that, the first & only review out being a 9.75, the pedigree of Bioware... just about every game they've made gets a GOTY...

I think it is more than fair to suggest it is a strong contender for GOTY.

MASS EFFECT FTW !!!

[bootsielon]

Halo will win some awards, and so will Mass Effect.

Mario will get the platformer of the year game.

Sony will win a bunch of "runner-up" honors with their line-up, which is great, but not genre re-defining or genre creating.

2008, however, will be another story, with so many games coming out for PS3.

I think this will be the year of the 360, and next of the PS3. That's when the tide's will change. You can blame Japan for that, and Microsoft for not making more AAA japanese games than just Lost Odyssey and maybe Blue Dragon.

The Wii's year was in 2006 when it stole the show with Wii Sports, but so far there's nothing else that isn't available on gamecube or PS2 or wasn't started on Gamecube dev kits.

I can't wait for the next sequels of the classic Nintendo franchises... not.