Mass Effect 2 is on track to be a fantastic sequel, as Bioware seems focused on enhancing the strengths and addressing the weaknesses of the original. The upgrades to the dialog system should widen the gap between Mass Effect and the competition in the area of cinematic story-telling, and the refinements to the combat system should help ease some of the disconnect that RPG and FPS purists had with the shooter/RPG hybrid mechanics in the original. While at first glance there don't appear to be any revolutionary additions to the gameplay, the fact that many decisions may lead to the death of the main character could lead to a greater level of emotional investment and careful decision making than gamers have ever seen or felt in an RPG before.
RPGs are often huge, sprawling endeavours. With limited playtime, we have to choose wisely, so here's the best western RPGs available today.
"I started playing games yesterday" the List... Meh!
How about a few RPGs that deserve some love instead?
1 - Alpha Protocol - Now on GOG
2 - else Heart.Break()
3 - Shadowrun Trilogy
4 - Wasteland 2
5 - UnderRail
6 - Tyranny
7 - Torment: Tides of Numenera
And for a bonus game that flew under the radar:
8 - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Not only glorious jank, but the idea that the story can completely change depending on what you do, or say, or side with, makes it one of the most forward thinking games ever. The amount of story permutation is the equivalent of a Hitman level but in Story Form. And it wasn't just that the story changed, no, it was that you met completely new characters, or missed them, depending on your choices. Made Mass Effect feel static in comparison.
Alpha Protocol was absolutely glorious, indeed. And it was, and still is, more Next Gen than most anything out there these days. In this regard at least.
Pity.
Wealth of Geeks explores some of the best gaming romances that have stolen our hearts over the years.
Diandra worked on Diablo 4 and also other games at Blizzard including WoW: Dragon Flight. She’s also been at Bioware, Carbine, RIOT, and she is currently working at Crystal Dynamics.
Brian was the Lead Writer on Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls, worked on StarCraft: Heart of the Swarm, StarCraft: Wings of Liberty, and was also a writer on Mass Effect 2. He’s also been involved in movies such as the Iron Giant.
Diandra and Brian discuss their industry experience, the games they have worked on, how the writing process works, and much more.
I'm glad to see a lot of these 2007-sequels are really expanding on their gameplay in natural and impressive ways. Mass Effect's changes are far more subtle than say, Uncharted, but if you go back to the first game after watching these videos you'll notice what an amazingly vast improvement it is. I'm so foxing excited for these games..