Khuutra said:
Being mechanically unsound in terms of combat does not a "proper" RPG make; ME1, 2, and 3 all have similar levels of consequence to player decisions, though in terms of character builds and customization the "RPGness" would definitely go 1>3>2. Your skill trees and skill allotments in ME3 mattered more than in either of the other two games, and so did the particular synergy of how your team worked together in combat (that is, how their powers and power evolutions worked with each other). 3 was basically one long string of "here are the consequences of your actions from the first two games," and it built to nonstop climaxes for character arcs that had been built up for the rest of the franchise. It did things the other two only managed to have in snippets. ME1's writing is the weakest; its worldbuilding is the weakest; its characters are the weakest; its combat mechanics are the weakest. Mass Effect is a series that improved as it went along, especially in terms of character writing. I defy you, I defy you to go back and replay ME1, go through the character dialogue with your squadmates - or, God help you, one of the romances, which were pretty much the very nadir of BioWare romance writing - and tell me that it compares favorably to either of its sequels in that regard. |
Your decisions didnt affect three much at all. Very little in truth because the game was so highly cinematic. If you wanted a game that trully gauged the consequences for your actions the Witcher 2 did it best without all of the nonsense. I'll agree that character customization in 2 wasnt as good as 3 but the pacing of the RPG elements was better in two than three. It seems that with every game they streamline a certain part of it (After EA bought them).
I played two multiple times and experienced more variation in it than three (between itself and one), which is why I went back and started over part one or used the comic book to change the story a bit to play through twice. I've found zero reason to play three twice. The only real thing that counts is who lives or dies leading you to the people who are in the game. Part three is an insignificantly changed story which leads to the three choices at the end.