So recently I went on a Mass Effect binge and replayed through the entire trilogy twice. Both as a Renegade and as a Paragon. And I've noticed something I didn't really catch before and probably wouldn't have if I didnt play the games one after the other...but despite all the hate it's combat gets, ME1s combat felt so much more diverse and gratifiying then whats present in ME2 and ME3 now don't get me wrong I like the that gunplay and movement got a little more tweaking as the series went on and I adore the idea of class based special powers i.e Biotic Charge vs Tactical Cloack..but the lack of diversity of powers in 2 and ME3s more action-y approach makes me feel as if Bioware lost their mojo. ME1 feels like a bioware game, it feels like the same guys that made KOTOR and Jade Empire made ME1 and to an extent ME2 but by the time we get to ME3...its still a really great fantastic experience but...its missing so much heart...which was present in The Citadel DLC but everywhere else it was lacking

How do you find the combat more diverse? I find the game in ME1 more diverse, but the combats just bad imo. I've played it 4 times on normal to insanity on PC. The thing that 2 and 3 did I didn't like was they essentially set up kill rooms with random sticky cover everywhere. Whereas in ME1 the transition from combat to non combat was more fluid, meaning you could expect combat at any time. In ME2 and ME3 you know exactly when combat is going to occur so this hurts suspense. Also though the mako sucked, it added a cool change of pace and felt like you were actually exploring space. I do agree that ME1 felt much more like a traditional bioware game.  

Also going through the levels in 2 and 3, were more action oriented because you couldn't level up during the mission, and the looting of things was lower, and in ME3 they took hacking out, made 1 city hub... (I'm not a fan of 3).

I still really liked 1 and I loved 2.

I agree with you. But then again most anyone will. ME1 was a much more diverse game and much more RPGish. The other 2 games (while still great) were more of a TPS with great story and awesome Dialogue options.

Thats my take.

I don't agree, the combat in ME1 felt clunky and designed by people with no prior experience of shooter... which is probably true.

Having said that, its been a while since I played ME1 and have been planning a full play through of all the games and DLC, so maybe I'll change my mind

Scoobes said: I don't agree, the combat in ME1 felt clunky and designed by people with no prior experience of shooter... which is probably true. Having said that, its been a while since I played ME1 and have been planning a full play through of all the games and DLC, so maybe I'll change my mind

Have you bought the DLC yet? It never goes on sale on PC because of bioware points instead of just being on origin. I think I've looked at forums and ME2's DLC's gone on sale like once since its been out. I've boughten most of ME2's dlc, but I didn't really like 3 so I wasn't really chomping at the bit to buy the DLC for that especially at full price.

I'm playing through it now, when I get to 3 I'll have to decide if I want to pay 50$ for DLC.

ishiki said: Scoobes said: I don't agree, the combat in ME1 felt clunky and designed by people with no prior experience of shooter... which is probably true. Having said that, its been a while since I played ME1 and have been planning a full play through of all the games and DLC, so maybe I'll change my mind Have you bought the DLC yet? It never goes on sale on PC because of bioware points instead of just being on origin. I think I've looked at forums and ME2's DLC's gone on sale like once since its been out. I've boughten most of ME2's dlc, but I didn't really like 3 so I wasn't really chomping at the bit to buy the DLC for that especially at full price. I'm playing through it now, when I get to 3 I'll have to decide if I want to pay 50$ for DLC.

I haven't bought all the DLC for all the games... yet. I just bought Pinnacle station for the original and Arrival as they're the two I missed out on on my last play throughs. I'm completely up to date with ME3 in DLC terms, I guess EA managed to sucker me in and break away my defences with this trilogy.

I'm avoiding all the cheap costume packs though. That just seems pointless to me.

Scoobes said: I don't agree, the combat in ME1 felt clunky and designed by people with no prior experience of shooter... which is probably true. Having said that, its been a while since I played ME1 and have been planning a full play through of all the games and DLC, so maybe I'll change my mind

Not only was the combat in ME1 clunky but the level scaling is a ridiculous concept for an rpg. It completely destroys any sense of level/equipment growth. It was stupid in ff8, it was stupid in oblivion and it was stupid in ME1. Now with ME 2 and 3 you also have level scaling but because of the much more linear and less rpg-focused gameplay it doesn't feel as obtrusive. Of course whether you prefer a game with more or less rpg elements is a matter of personal preference but the fact is ME1 did poorly as an rpg while 2 and 3 were much more polished as shooter/rpgs.

My only complain with the first Mass Effect was the damned recycled maps for almost every single side quest that took part outside the Citadel or the main planets the party had to visit.

Other than that, my favourite one.

More RPGish and power focused lend to its diversity especially with how cooldowns are regulated to just one individual power instead of your whole power tree. Im doing a FemShep Engineer playthrough right now and just coming off a ME3 playthrough I forgot that in ME1 I can chain my powers together. Overload then Sabotage followed by a neural shock all in the span of 5 seconds and then I just use Overkill to clean up the rest of the room.

Completely agree.