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Rumor: Mass Effect 4 details leak through survey
- Thread starter Lakitu
- Start date
Intheflorsh
Banned
Maybe I'm being regressive, but I would be more than happy if they just copied the structure of ME2. All of the new MMO-lite stuff they're adding in the name of innovation does not interest me at all.
Net_Wrecker
Member
I think it's just as important to keep a thick and engaging atmosphere. As solid as the core combat in Destiny is, it's the combination of boring encounter/scenario design AND near nonexistent atmosphere that kills it for me. With "checklist" design, it's easy to fall into a routine where rewards, locations, and enemies simply become obligations to a design philosophy which lose all of their mystique once you see behind the curtain. I think it's VERY dangerous to let multiplayer design creep into the singleplayer experience where even though you have a solid gameplay loop, the world might lose all sense of being a mysterious, dangerous place because you're running errands, battling waves, and "exploring ancient vaults" that all feel kind of hollow due to having co-op functionality.
SenatorBot
Member
Considering how this is a sidestep from the timeline we've seen in Mass effect 1-3, what are the chances we'll discover the protheans and reapers and fight the "Remnants" of the reapers all over again as the entire galaxy gets closer to it's destruction and due to pathfinder, he managed to help do something that helps shepard save the galaxy all over again in ME3.
wolfhowwl
Banned
Well ME1's awards and sales didn't stop them from taking a flamethrower to the stuff people bitched about in that game (which incidentally included a lot of collection filler like DA3 among many other problems).
But how else will you sell this game to the mass-market of immature gamers than by appealing to their power/messiah fantasies?
flashbandit16
Member
Holy fucking shit this sounds amazing. As someone who absolutely hates Mass Effect 2 just reading the word Mako makes me cry tears of joy. Of course the story is going to be shit because Bioware has shit story writers (unless they get someone else to do the story) and I am glad they kept the multiplayer (the only good part of Mass Effect 3). The optional stuff could be good or bad (haven't played DA Inquisition) if the rewards are meaningful and the customization options sound amazing (something sorely missing from Mass Effect 2). I just hope all of this is true.
Clearly there is nothing inbetween those two points.
Dragon1893
Member
Some of that stuff seems almost too good to be true. I hope this leak is real and the game actually delivers on these promisses.
SolidusDave
Member
Kinda get Stargate Atlantis no-return vibes from this.
Maybe humans found a super mass relay during the reaper invasion, almost finished by the Protheans as a last-resort way to escape from the reapers (but having to give up everything). Humans finish the project and send people through in a desperate one-shot experiment.
Can't go back, can't even call home maybe. Try to establish a new home for humanity, assuming that everything in the milky way is dead.
But then again, there's stuff like the Krogan colony ship, so....
Maybe humans found a super mass relay during the reaper invasion, almost finished by the Protheans as a last-resort way to escape from the reapers (but having to give up everything). Humans finish the project and send people through in a desperate one-shot experiment.
Can't go back, can't even call home maybe. Try to establish a new home for humanity, assuming that everything in the milky way is dead.
But then again, there's stuff like the Krogan colony ship, so....
Its interesting to marketing and shareholders though
wolfhowwl
Banned
The good news is that isn't happening
The bad news is
that you're playing as Shepard and Liara's daughter.
Oh and synthesis is canon.
ForsakenLotus
Member
I wish I didn't click on this thread, because now I'm super pumped. It's not often that I play a game, and genuinely can see a perfect, or near perfect game if certain design decisions are made. I felt that way with Mass Effect 2, as if it were possible for then to make a perfect Sci-Fi Shooter/RPG combo. They didn't. But now, I'm starting to get that same feeling of delusional hope. Man, I just really hope they nail Mass Effect 4.
And whatever the galaxy threat may be, make him/it something like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. A powerful threat on his own, sure, but it's more than just his combat skills that make him scary. It's his influence, his army, etc. It was always going to be very difficult to make the Reapers a satisfying villain, even if they did them justice in Mass Effect 3. We, as the player, want a face to attach our hat towards. And even of we don't know who that face is it what it's name is, it needs to be there.
And whatever the galaxy threat may be, make him/it something like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. A powerful threat on his own, sure, but it's more than just his combat skills that make him scary. It's his influence, his army, etc. It was always going to be very difficult to make the Reapers a satisfying villain, even if they did them justice in Mass Effect 3. We, as the player, want a face to attach our hat towards. And even of we don't know who that face is it what it's name is, it needs to be there.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Agree, and it's a very difficult balance.
RPGs generally lend themselves to checklisting better as there's a more direct link between reward and progress due to player level, difficulty of dungeons/encounters/missions, unlockable abilities/powers, new loot, etc. The fundamental problem I have with RPG components in 'Creed and Far Cry is that they're not RPGs, so the rewards tend to be trivialised as the game design as a whole doesn't accomidate for a sense of progress in your checklisting. It's just stuff.
That being said, even when RPGs work with checklisting they become obnoxious when the smoke and mirrors disappear and you realise how formulaic the design is, for reasons you stated. A sense of atmosphere has to be maintained. Mass Effect does this very well. In practice, the uncharted worlds are empty, barren, boring, and checklisty. But I sure as shit loved landing on and exploring them thanks to the sense of discovery and atmosphere that drew me into the game's setting and lore. If this became routine and predictable, the atmosphere/discovery would lose its appeal quite rapidly.
The multiplayer component is also a risk, but to me it actually doesn't sound all that bad. You basically have two variants: strike missions and horde. Strike missions can function purely as single player; send your AI to do it for you (like Inquisition/Creed), wait for the rewards, continue exploring shit on your own. Or just do them manually with other players. Horde is no different to Mass Effect 3: the multiplayer mode for you to do stuff. Multiplayer rewards feeding into single player is a bit worrying, but the function of the multiplayer seems like it can be borderline fully ignored at no real loss.
Sounds pretty amazing! Let's hope they can recreate that sense of wonder from the first Mass Effect. The first time you step on the Citadel, see the different alien races, first time you pilot your ship, visit other planets, that first Sovereign meeting, what you see and learn on Ilos. By Mass Effect 3, all the joy and wonder was out of the universe. They explained too much about the Protheans and Reapers. Tried to tie up all loose ends and had those pathetic endings. I hope they can also capture that feeling of landing in Omega for the first time in ME2, and what seeing Illium was like, all the skyscrapers and flying ships. Can't wait. I feel like going back and beating ME2 and ME3 all over again. I beat the first too many times to even think of doing again.
Regret Upon Approval
Member
Curious as to the reason and how humans and other aliens managed to reach Andromeda. That is no small feat.
Also, I hope the decision making that ME1 commercials alluded to is actually there.
Also, I hope the decision making that ME1 commercials alluded to is actually there.
I didnt know ME4 was a horror game.
So... any context for why humans are now exploring Andromeda? Or why other Milky Way races are there too?
Without the background, it seems a bit dumb that Bioware's essentially saying, "Yo, everyone's over here now."
There must be some relay-style transport system between galaxies to make this viable in the first place. I wonder how long after ME3 it's set.
Without the background, it seems a bit dumb that Bioware's essentially saying, "Yo, everyone's over here now."
There must be some relay-style transport system between galaxies to make this viable in the first place. I wonder how long after ME3 it's set.
SliChillax
Member
There's still more to this, why would they be leaving the Milky Way? Anyway I wanna find this out in the game. From this point I'll try and read as less stuff as possible. I wanna have that magic ME1 feel of mystery and exploration without spoiling myself any info.
I think I'll be playing as Infiltrator too.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Iono, Cerberus. Have you heard of Cerberus?
This sounds vaguely like the signature Interrupt mechanic is making a return, but I'm reading it like these will be more like an option on the dialogue menu rather than the reactive QTE moments from ME2 and 3. I hope that's the case because while I generally liked the Interrupt system, I'd be more interested in expanded dialogue options.
Regret Upon Approval
Member
Adding on to my ME1 line
here is the ad that comes to my mind
this is what I want it like
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OqO1ViYFa4s
here is the ad that comes to my mind
this is what I want it like
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OqO1ViYFa4s
Nope, a few aliens and 3-4 boring humans for you, EC. You know this song and dance.
This made me laugh hard.
Fuckin' Cerberus man. You know they're gonna be there. Andromeda is like, their main galaxy. Every one of the 100's of explorable worlds will have an extensive Cerberus underground base which needs to be fought through and destroyed to claim the planet.
Then you have to Skype the Illusive Man's son for 20 minutes and explain how you don't agree with his methods but you're going to do everything he says anyway.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Sounds like they're trying to go back to what ME1 conversations were first marketed as.
One day I'll control this franchise and turn it into the alien only love sim it deserves to be.
The sad part is that I could totally see them doing exactly what you said.
Come on Bioware, redeem yourselves!
notoccupanther
Member
So we're currently at ... Mass Effect 4 - fetch quests with skill trees as rewards?
it's progress s'pose...
it's progress s'pose...
wolfhowwl
Banned
I wouldn't mind seeing them again
Okay, I'm lying.
Seeing them in the multiplayer wouldn't be bad though. It never gets old seeing people actually try to go hand to hand with a Phantom.
It seems like they're connecting the MP to the SP, but it could be cool if it had some returning factions from the original games just for the horde mode.
Speaking of that, isn't it time, that we the fans, finally get the Krogan romance we all deserve?
SliChillax
Member
I have more than 500 hours put into the Mass Effect franchise but never heard ot this Iono.
I doubt that's the final name, even within the fiction set within the game.
HalfBakedProphet
Member
"a long lost civilization called the LOSTIES and a mysterious race of aliens known as MYSTERIOS"
We Lucas level now.
Seriously, it would be pretty cool to explore the origins of the Reapers if they did originate from Andromeda. I don't want any interactions or plot influence further than that though.
These Remnants could be pretty sweet but yeah, sounds like Protheans 2.0. Liara will be buzzing.
These Remnants could be pretty sweet but yeah, sounds like Protheans 2.0. Liara will be buzzing.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Commander Insanius of Cerberus.
One can dream! Despite them not living up to the marketing, I'll gladly take ME1's conversations back. Back to the days when decisions weren't made so bleeding obvious.
Which breakfast food will he steal from his victims this time?!
Intheflorsh
Banned
KyanMehwulfe
Member
Sounds great so far... The Mass Effect Inquisition comments seem apt, but I don't mind. It was my GOTY precisely because of the 'War Effort', the day-to-day labour and busy work, the taking territory and resources, managing your territory and sending NPCs to do missions, etc. DAI was somewhat... mostly for show in that regard. But if they can use similar ideas but with much more impact and consequence, and notably a more non-linear effect on the story (rather than just basic 1-way triggers), then I'm all for it.
In terms of plot, I was hoping for something more nuanced and less... epic. Just a contractor for a private company. I was thinking maybe it'd be more corporate, less political or army. But really just a subjective thing. Whatever the reasoning is, I like the exploring, settling, collecting, etc. Regardless of who for or why, better than just pure shooter missions. So I'm happy either way.
In terms of plot, I was hoping for something more nuanced and less... epic. Just a contractor for a private company. I was thinking maybe it'd be more corporate, less political or army. But really just a subjective thing. Whatever the reasoning is, I like the exploring, settling, collecting, etc. Regardless of who for or why, better than just pure shooter missions. So I'm happy either way.
Sodding_Gamer
Member
More Battlestar Galactica I think. But sounds interesting nonetheless
Seems very Dragon Age Inquisition like which isn't surprising given they said that would be the basis for all their games.
Not happy with that at all. The format they had for the original trilogy was good, not a fan of the way Inquisition handled things. Really hope it turns out better than it did for DA.
Not happy with that at all. The format they had for the original trilogy was good, not a fan of the way Inquisition handled things. Really hope it turns out better than it did for DA.
D
Deleted member 245925
Unconfirmed Member
I've hoped that maybe ME4 would make me interested in ME again after not caring at all about ME3, but that description makes it sound very generic and boring. I guess Bioware just doesn't make games that interest me anymore.