Mass Effect
Platform: Xbox 360
Publisher: Bioware
Review Type: Looky
Version: E3 Preview
In the same closed off meeting room that I saw Mercenaries 2, I was given a look at Bioware's Xbox 360 exclusive Mass Effect. Unlike Pandemic's game, this RPG looked close to finished. But then, this game is due in the winter not "sometime in2007."
The look is not far off from Knights of the Old Republic. Only where the previous game tapped into McQuarrie's signature look, Mass Effect seems to be paying huge homage to Syd Mead. Look out a window in an alien metropolis and the city lights look painted on the sky in impressionsitic blots, like concept art from Blade Runner. The music playing in the background looked to be hitting similar notes. I'm thinking Giorgio Moroder and Vangelis were high on the lists of influences.
We were specifically told that the game is "not a shooter" despite the fact that many characters are armed with blasters. Combat seemed to play out in real-time much the way it did in Knights of the Old Republic.
The designers seemed particulary proud of the game's conversation mechanic. They've streamlined player response, making it quite easy to create diverse and believalbe sounding discussions between your character and the NPCs. If Bioware really can eliminate the huge pauses that now gap our in-game communications, they'll effectively unlock a huge new world for game writers to explore.
My biggest fear for Mass Effect is that it will be as joyless an experience as Jade Empire. Lighten it up a little, guys. Okay?
Publisher: Bioware
Review Type: Looky
Version: E3 Preview
In the same closed off meeting room that I saw Mercenaries 2, I was given a look at Bioware's Xbox 360 exclusive Mass Effect. Unlike Pandemic's game, this RPG looked close to finished. But then, this game is due in the winter not "sometime in2007."
The look is not far off from Knights of the Old Republic. Only where the previous game tapped into McQuarrie's signature look, Mass Effect seems to be paying huge homage to Syd Mead. Look out a window in an alien metropolis and the city lights look painted on the sky in impressionsitic blots, like concept art from Blade Runner. The music playing in the background looked to be hitting similar notes. I'm thinking Giorgio Moroder and Vangelis were high on the lists of influences.
We were specifically told that the game is "not a shooter" despite the fact that many characters are armed with blasters. Combat seemed to play out in real-time much the way it did in Knights of the Old Republic.
The designers seemed particulary proud of the game's conversation mechanic. They've streamlined player response, making it quite easy to create diverse and believalbe sounding discussions between your character and the NPCs. If Bioware really can eliminate the huge pauses that now gap our in-game communications, they'll effectively unlock a huge new world for game writers to explore.
My biggest fear for Mass Effect is that it will be as joyless an experience as Jade Empire. Lighten it up a little, guys. Okay?
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