Brewster's Wallet
Member
Witcher may be the better series, but I had much more fun playing the Mass Effect series. Was my favourite of the last gen
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Witcher or Mass Effect Series?
- Thread starter Kevin Shields
- Start date
KingHenrik30
Member
Mass Effect can't hold Witcher's jock
GametimeUK
Member
Why do so many people have to be boring and not pick one? Who cares if they are different? Does that mean we can't say Uncharted 4 is better than E.T because they are completely different?
Anyway, as a series I am going with Mass Effect on this one.
Anyway, as a series I am going with Mass Effect on this one.
They're both action rpgs anyway with very similar conversation systems. It's not apples and oranges.
StrongBlackVine
Banned
Mass Effect with no hesitation.
Orthogonal
Member
Kind of hard to compare the two since they are so different. I loved Mass Effect and it's story, but Witcher 3 is something special. That one game easily beats out everything.
I favor the Witcher series but I love the Mass Effect series as well. The Witcher series is substantially cheaper. Mass Effect has a lot of DLC and Mass Effect 1 still costs $20, you can buy Witcher 1 and 2 for a quarter the price of Mass Effect 1.
Witcher 3 is better than any Mass Effect game. Witcher 2 is comparable to any Mass Effect game and I'd say Witcher 1 is slightly lower in quality than the games in the ME series. You may believe they are "shit" but that would certainly be a fringe opinion. Witcher 1 had a 86 metacritic rating and Witcher 2 had a 88 metacritic rating, so they were very well thought of when they were released and IMO they are still mostly playable.
Witcher 3 is better than any Mass Effect game. Witcher 2 is comparable to any Mass Effect game and I'd say Witcher 1 is slightly lower in quality than the games in the ME series. You may believe they are "shit" but that would certainly be a fringe opinion. Witcher 1 had a 86 metacritic rating and Witcher 2 had a 88 metacritic rating, so they were very well thought of when they were released and IMO they are still mostly playable.
The Lamonster
Member
OP, you have to start with Mass Effect 1 if you want to be invested in the characters.
I'd say neither, if you couldn't get invested in the story with Witcher 3 or which ever Mass Effect you (presuming either 2 or 3) then don't bother.
Mass Effect 1 and The Witcher 1 are pretty dated, and nothing that happens in them will make you care more or less about the story.
Amazing games, but if you didn't like the current ones then its not for you.
EDIT: The first games in both those series have good stories, but if the current ones didn't do it for you these won't.
Mass Effect 1 and The Witcher 1 are pretty dated, and nothing that happens in them will make you care more or less about the story.
Amazing games, but if you didn't like the current ones then its not for you.
EDIT: The first games in both those series have good stories, but if the current ones didn't do it for you these won't.
If I'm picking one desert-island-style, then I'm definitely taking Mass Effect. I enjoyed those games, even if I hated the ending (like basically everyone else).
I tried to like The Witcher, but it just didn't click for me. I appreciate what they're doing and why the franchise is considered great. Some of the stories in those games are fantastic, and they created a cool world. Again though, it just didn't click. Probably just me.
I tried to like The Witcher, but it just didn't click for me. I appreciate what they're doing and why the franchise is considered great. Some of the stories in those games are fantastic, and they created a cool world. Again though, it just didn't click. Probably just me.
You have to wonder why ME3 ending was such a ginormous deal, even when that year there was other big game with a worse ending (AC3). People love the ME series that much.
I feel it's designed to be experienced standalone. It does continue the overall storyline, but it's fairly disconnected from the old games and is more or less self-contained. That is to say, any returning players would probably feel the same about the characters and the story, especially in the first hours of the game.
As for the question in the thread title, it's Witcher all the way for me. I remember being massively dissapointed when Mass Effect came out. A Bioware fan at the time, I got a safe retread of KotOR and Jade Empire (already a complete clone of the former, scenario and story wise) with janky TPS combat. It was just so bland and empty. Mass Effect 2 wasn't an improvement for me since none of the storylines were particularly satisfying, so I gave up about 20 hours in. I do need to go back and finish it at some point though.
Whereas The Witcher games are just great all around. The first one is a competent, if a bit tedious RPG. The second made a few compromises and sacrificed some RPG complexity and scale in order to tell a tighter, more dramatic story. The third is just perfection, an impossibility: a 200+ game with little filler, great story with lots of twists and turns, an open world that is really fun to explore.
I'd say that the first two games are not really necessary, even though they are enjoyable in their own right. Stick to TW3, get out of White Orchard and it's very likely that the game will click with you. Basically, you'll find yourself in the middle of a HUGE world with very little direction and lots of things to do (including lots of monster fights!). The cutscene to combat/walking around ratio will also be MUCH lower if you're bothered with that.
Oracle Dragon
Member
I'd say ME series, if you are not super-invested in RPGs, the Witcher games (especially 3) are really big time investments. ME series is generally quite a bit shorter, so that may appeal to you more. Neither series has stand-out combat but I'd say ME (especially ME2 and ME3) come out ahead over Witcher. Especially if you roll an Adept (not positive on the name it's been a while, but the "magic user" class) I found it a lot more dynamic. Plus if it is still active ME3 had a pretty decent multiplayer mode.
Also, as much as I love Witcher, if you are starting from the beginning ME1 is IMO much more playable than Witcher 1.
Also, as much as I love Witcher, if you are starting from the beginning ME1 is IMO much more playable than Witcher 1.
Ivory Samoan
Member
They are my personal favourite 2 gaming franchises in the world.
Trying to choose between them would break my heart, just play both OP and enjoy friend!
Trying to choose between them would break my heart, just play both OP and enjoy friend!
protonion
Member
I have played the second and third games of the series.
ME2>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>W2>>>>W3>ME3.
ME2 was truly incredible. I was never a big fan of Bioware games but after the demo I had to try it. It ended up being one the best experiences I had. The writing/plot/characters were on another level. Pity for the third game.
Witcher is ok. I find 2 to be way better than 3. More focused and interesting. Open world killed W3 for me.
ME2>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>W2>>>>W3>ME3.
ME2 was truly incredible. I was never a big fan of Bioware games but after the demo I had to try it. It ended up being one the best experiences I had. The writing/plot/characters were on another level. Pity for the third game.
Witcher is ok. I find 2 to be way better than 3. More focused and interesting. Open world killed W3 for me.
Mass Effect 1 is one of my favourite games of all time so I'm quite biased. If you like creating a character and letting your imagination run wild I can't think of a better game. 4/6 party members are great and the other 2 grow on you eventually.
Some find the planetary exploring boring. I liked that the desolate worlds gave the universe a sense of scale and scope that isn't really ever seen in other games. ME1 is also a great power fantasy. It's really easy to break the combat system and just wreck most enemies.
ME2 and 3 are also loved for good reason. Don't let the hate at 3s ending distract from the fact that it's a great game ( especially with all the DLC) people hate it because they cared a lot about the characters and you couldn't get the full experience without buying all the DLC or playing online multiplayer (which is fun) playing it later with all the DLC at a reasonable price makes it a much better experience.
Also make sure you do a custom character it's way more fun when your own personal Shepard doesn't look like the box art.
As for the witcher. i haven't played them. So I won't comment. But 2 great experiences are better then one.
Start with Mass Effect 1 and remember having unlimited amo is only in the first game so enjoy it while you can
Some find the planetary exploring boring. I liked that the desolate worlds gave the universe a sense of scale and scope that isn't really ever seen in other games. ME1 is also a great power fantasy. It's really easy to break the combat system and just wreck most enemies.
ME2 and 3 are also loved for good reason. Don't let the hate at 3s ending distract from the fact that it's a great game ( especially with all the DLC) people hate it because they cared a lot about the characters and you couldn't get the full experience without buying all the DLC or playing online multiplayer (which is fun) playing it later with all the DLC at a reasonable price makes it a much better experience.
Also make sure you do a custom character it's way more fun when your own personal Shepard doesn't look like the box art.
As for the witcher. i haven't played them. So I won't comment. But 2 great experiences are better then one.
Start with Mass Effect 1 and remember having unlimited amo is only in the first game so enjoy it while you can
Yes and no. The characterisation of your party members builds well over all three games and there are nice world building elements, however spoilers for the ending
it boils down to one of 3 binary choices
Ultimately mass effect is about the journey and not the destination
Kevin Shields
Member
Yea I think I would like Witcher 3 more if I knew characters better... I would be more into it because it starts so story based. As of now it has a beautiful world but the character movement is so janky I get annoyed easily. I figure if I'm going to appreciate these games it will be for world, story and characters and playing whole series I imagine will benefit that endeavor. If I find some good gameplay it will be icing for me because I ain't finding it in Witcher 3 ( I mean it's ok but I can't imagine doing it for 200 hours).
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Somewhat related: I love Witcher 3, and want something similar for PS3 or PS4. Anything worth getting? Skyrim is out of the question due to all the bugs, and I don't really like the sorta kinda isometric view in Dragon Age.
Aenima
Member
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, it runs a bit slow on PS3 but can even be considered a better game than the witcher. At least in the combat department is miles ahead of most games out there.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Oh, I actually played the demo of DD on PS3 and quite liked it! I'll get it when I'm done with the two Witcher DLCs. Thanks for the tip
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
I don't particularly like the way these threads turn out but anyway Mass Effect for me, even though TW2 and TW3 are objectively better games than ME1 and ME3.
RespectThySole
Member
There's nothing in the same vein that's near it's quality. I recommend buying the expansions if you don't have the expansion pass already. HoS is just as good as the main game and B&W looks to be even better.
Edit: New Vegas might be the closest, but that's pretty buggy too.
Voost Kain
Banned
Mass Effect. I mean the only reason Imo one would say other wise is because they are still mad at 3's ending.
Stahsky
A passionate embrace, a beautiful memory lingers.
Mass Effect 2 was one of Bioware's greatest achievements, but every Witcher game has been in another tier for me. Witcher 1 may have aged poorly, but the story and world were on point. Not much needed to be said about Witcher 2 and 3. Some of the best in the bidness.
The only series to pull me in as hard as Half-Life and Halo did.
The only series to pull me in as hard as Half-Life and Halo did.
shadowfall
Member
Mass Effect series is a lot better to me personally. I find the protagonist of Witcher series quite boring as opposed to mass effect where you kind of decide your own way of dealing with people like paragon/renegade. If you like sword combat Witcher and if you like shooters you choose mass effect.
Well, my case is exactly that playing the older games won't really enhance your experience with the story by that much, especially in the first ten hours. All that stuff in the beginning of the game is mostly new to people who played the previous games, which puts new and old players in a very similar position.
Would you rather kill your sibling or your other sibling? Because that's what you're asking.
It comes down to settings I suppose, do you prefer a sci-fi setting or a medieval one? I know you've played some of them already, but sometimes it takes a while before it clicks. I'd encourage you to try again. Other than that I'd say both do their own mechanics amazing. I'd say Witcher 3 has the better realised world, Mass Effect has the better characters, and story as well as gameplay are great in both. That is, Witcher 3 and Mass Effect 2/3. Witcher 1 and Mass Effect 1 are infamously clunky, I didn't think Witcher 2 was that much better as well.
It comes down to settings I suppose, do you prefer a sci-fi setting or a medieval one? I know you've played some of them already, but sometimes it takes a while before it clicks. I'd encourage you to try again. Other than that I'd say both do their own mechanics amazing. I'd say Witcher 3 has the better realised world, Mass Effect has the better characters, and story as well as gameplay are great in both. That is, Witcher 3 and Mass Effect 2/3. Witcher 1 and Mass Effect 1 are infamously clunky, I didn't think Witcher 2 was that much better as well.
Mass Effect starts off amazing and ends up being pretty average ( 1>2>3)
Witcher is the opposite, and 3 is the best in the series.
Just my opinion of course. As for which to play, they're both excellent, but I'd lean more towards Mass Effect as the quality over the whole series is a pretty high standard. Witcher 3 is worth playing for the story though.
Witcher is the opposite, and 3 is the best in the series.
Just my opinion of course. As for which to play, they're both excellent, but I'd lean more towards Mass Effect as the quality over the whole series is a pretty high standard. Witcher 3 is worth playing for the story though.
Regginator
Member
mass effect 2 > 1 >>> 3
witcher 3 >> 1 >> 2
i'd say both first entries are the second best. witcher is amazing, but i'd go for mass effect for lasting appeal.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Not a fan of sci-fi/post-apocalyptic stuff, so Fallout is even less interesting than Skyrim PS3
I'm getting HoS and B&W when I get my paycheck. In the meantime I'll grind trophies in UC4 and Doom lol bullshit, Witcher 1 is actually the best one if you want a strong RPG experience with though choices and a gameplay that doesn't play itself.
That's one hell of an understatement. In fact, as much as I loved it, I wouldn't even recommend the PS3 version (no idea how the 360 one was) to someone. Rather they won't experience it at all than to experience a shitfest of bugs, glitches, massive frame-drops and frequent freezes.
Buy on PC or buy not at all would be my advice.
This thread is literal bullshit, both are RPGs but that's where the similarities end. And yes I know you can go into more detail and elaborate how there are more similarities like dialogue etc. But in a nutshell that statement is correct.
Both are amazing series OP and I highly recommend playing through both whenever you can.
Both are amazing series OP and I highly recommend playing through both whenever you can.
Ascenion
Member
Mass Effect. I don't see how anyone can say Witcher when it isn't a complete package. You can get the full Mass Effect experience just from the games, The Witcher damn near, imo, requires outside media. The games themselves aren't enough you need the books, some of which aren't translated the best yet. Hell the books are the only way to give The Witcher 3 the full impact it deserves.
