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| | Title:
Mass Effect
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System:
Xbox 360
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Genre:
Action/RPG
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Publisher:
Microsoft
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Developer:
BioWare Corp.
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Release:
TBD
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
Rating Pending (RP)
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When it comes to RPGs, there are very few companies that actually "get it". Those who understand what makes a good story, how to present it for the most punch of emotion, and who can create a battle system that mimics the pace of the story and world where the narrative is set. Several names may pop into a gamer's head, but the one company that has nailed this formula is BioWare. It isn't too far of a stretch to say the men and women who populate BioWare's offices are some of the most talented videogame designers in the industry. Anyone who can take the Star Wars universe (KOTOR) and actually make it engaging again, or create a completely unique world (Jade Empire) and really sell it, is worthy of much praise. Now with the Xbox 360 selling more and more units, BioWare is set to "wow" audiences once again with their original title known as Mass Effect. At E3 this year, I was able to sit down with two reps from Bioware and go over some of the interesting changes they've made to the conversation system. But the meeting was much more telling than just conversations. I was able to get a feel for what direction BioWare was taking Mass Effect... and so far it seems just as epic, if not more, than KOTOR or Jade Empire!
The demo began with the main character and two of his ship mates piloting their starship into a docking hold. This main character, like in previous Bioware games, is completely customizable through specific archetypes or completely unique distribution of skills. As the starship docked I was told that the starship would be the primary way of getting around the galaxy and was completely upgradeable. The ship itself was white in color and much sleeker looking than anything Bioware has created before. It was certainly a change from the very circular and bulky Ebon Hawk. After getting over how different the ship was, the Bioware rep rotated the camera around to get a good view of just where we were. The best way to describe it is: a huge city with the buildings being built not only on the walls, but the ceilings as well. The metropolis seemed to go on forever in almost every direction. With previous Bioware games I've always found myself at times just standing in the world and admiring how small I felt in the grand vista BioWare had created. Mass Effect takes this feeling to new heights and I couldn't help but smile as more and more of the city was shown.
The rep then walked the main character and his two partners to a space bar. A warm red glow filled several spots in the bar with huge windows giving a nice view of the city outside. This is where the conversation changes were introduced. In previous BioWare games, like KOTOR and Jade Empire, the conversations were amazing, while the content presentation was very bland. Typically the camera just sat off to the side of whoever was talking and then would just switch the back and forth until the conversation was over. Physically, at times it was hard for the videogame characters to express emotion and even though there was beautifully written dialouge, it was sometimes hard to sell the moment. These types of occurrences seem completely absent in Mass Effect. Replacing the stoic camera is now a system which presents the conversations in a much more up close, personal, and cinematic way. Sometimes when someone spoke, the camera was pulled in tight to their face and at other moments, the camera was situated in a location that invoked some emotion and feeling. Having taken some film classes, I can say that BioWare is employing the techniques of film very well. And, as a whole, it is making the conversations not only more interesting, but more rewarding.
The other aspect of the conversation model the BioWare rep was showing, was the faster and more intense system that responds to conversations. In previous BioWare games, dialogue choices were available for the gamer to choose which path to go next. Mass Effect seems to have done away with this in favor of a new reaction system. Now gamers will have a red, circular, HUD (heads up display) that portrays several reactions the gamer can choose. How these reactions will play out is a surprise to the gamer. In the situation we saw with the demonstration, the main character was trying to get some information from the bartender. As all typical bartenders are, this one was not willing to give up anything. The BioWare rep quickly selected an option that led to an intimidating encounter with the main character pulling his weapon and yelling at the bartender. Needless to say, the information was acquired. Although this was the only example of the conversation model, the potential for this type of conversation system is huge. I was really impressed with how the game tempo was upped considerably, thanks to the new system.
After the conversation demo was over, the BioWare rep then explained just how big Mas Effect was going to be. In previous BioWare games the locations which could be visited and explored only dealt with the main story. There was no such thing as locations that were "just there". While KOTOR was a great game, it had only between five or six different locations to check out. Mass Effect is not going in this direction. Instead Mass Effect is going to offer the entire galaxy to the player's finger tips. The BioWare rep showed off the navigation system and how one starts off with the Milky Way Galaxy, can zoom in to a certain sector, then to a certain system, and then finally to a certain planet. Needless to say there is a heck of a lot of planets to explore. Once on a planet gamers will be able to take control of a huge tank like ATV vehicle, which is not only upgradeable, but can attack enemies as well. This is probably the part of the demonstration that got me the most excited. In past BioWare games, the experience was amazing, but I always felt constricted in a way. Seems like BioWare has decided to fix this problem by giving games an enormous amount of freedom in choosing just where they go next.
Every time I experience a Bioware game, I become more and more impressed. They always seem to be pushing the envelope in story telling and player experience. While I did not get to see the combat system in play, I'm told it is action oriented much like Jade Empire, but to a whole new level. If Bioware put the same love and care into the battle system as they did everything I experienced thus far, then Mass Effect is going to be one hell of a game!
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