Review #1 - Mass Effect 1

Alright, so I guess I should preface this with: I'm back! I realize that some people will probably think that my previous post is a little melodramatic seeing as I said I would most likely be gone for months when it has only been just under a week. In my defence, I genuinely had no idea how long I would have to be gone for. The longest I thought I would possibly be would be a month and a half (return end of April), so I emphasized that so people wouldn't really get there hopes up (person?). I also knew that the most likely time of return would be a week (now), but I couldn't be sure, so I just went with the longest time possible. I'm still not fully up to date on school stuff, so there might not be as many updates as before the hiatus, but there should still be updates, if irregular. With that out of the way though, I shall begin my poorly written, fan boy review of Mass Effect.

I make it no secret that I am a large fan boy of several things. One of these things is BioWare, and specifically Mass Effect (haven't played too much Dragon Age, I should do that some time).  I first picked up Mass Effect in early 2009 and my LP was my third play through of the game.  Mass Effect 1 is currently in my top 3 favourite (deal with the u, I'm Canadian) games of all time. The story is amazing, and the way your decisions even in the early game can effect your end game is just amazing to me.

BioWare also did something that a lot of companies don't do: make the game longer than 5 hours.  I see so many games in today's age that charge you $50 for 5-6 hours of entertainment. Seriously?  Mass Effect takes a step up and sells you a game with a minimum play time of about 12 hours, and a maximum play time of 30-40 hours, for the same $50 price tag (now down to $15, but I'm talking release price).  And the thing is, there are other games with this kind of length, but a lot of it is artificially extended time, like an extremely hard part that takes hours to get through, even when it should take 20 minutes. Mass Effect doesn't do this. It's entire game time is amazing, and seemingly constantly new and original as you progress through it. It's 15 hours of actual game time, not 3 hours of game time spread over 12 hours.

Another thing Mass Effect has that a lot of other games don't have is characters with actual personality. You get to know the characters. They all have their own way of talking or reacting to certain things and events, they aren't just cardboard cutouts. Now, a good portion of this can be attributed to the writing, but writing is nothing if you have terrible actors, which Mass Effect does not. The actors are able to put in real emotion into their voice, making the characters even more real feeling. This seems to be something many game companies struggle with nowadays.

Now, I have said a lot of good about Mass Effect, which is to be expected, but I do have my complaints as well.  One problem is how boring the scanning is. All you do is click the planet and you're done. And the thing is, all you get from it is quest progress, nothing else. It serves no real purpose other than being a completionist, which is artificial game extension.  My bigger complaint is the glitches.  Now, Mass Effect doesn't have very many glitches, but the ones it does have make it VERY difficult to play, like the overheat bug which made it very difficult to get through some areas of the game.  My only other real complaint is the difficulty of Sarren's final form. My God, I don't know if that was my fault or the bugs, or that's just how it's supposed to be, but that was insanely difficult and rage inducing.  I think it took me almost an hour to beat that ass hole.

I think that's about all my thoughts on Mass Effect. I realize that this is very poorly laid out is probably going to be difficult to read as I jump between topics without any sort of transition, but I'm sorry. I'm an engineer, not an English major.  If you actually read the whole thing, thanks! If you have your own opinion, feel free to share it with me, I like hearing what other people think.  I think that's all for now. Bye!

~Drew (devilwarier9)

Monday, March 12th, 2012 - Indefinite Hiatus

So, due to some problems in my life I am going to have to take a break from things such as YouTube, gaming, and blogging. I apologize for this inconvenience, and I will try to be back as soon as possible, but be warned that I have no idea when as soon as possible is. It may be a week, it may be a year, it may be never. I made a video about this on my YouTube and I explained some things in more detail.

~Drew (devilwarier9)

Sunday, March 11th, 2012 - New Mouse

So, in case you can't read the title but for some reason are able to read this, I got a new mouse today! I have been using a Razer Lachesis for the last 4 years, and although it has served me well and could probably go another 4 years (that thing is built to LAST) I decided to grab a new mouse. Now, you may not know this, but I'm kind of a Razer fan boy, and I've actually never bought or used a non-Razer mouse (not including stock mice or touch pads).  So, knowing that, it may come as a surprise that I decided to buy a Saitek Cyborg R.A.T. 7, but boy do I NOT regret that purchase. I am loving this thing, it's super responsive, surprisingly comfortable, and a sexy beast to boot. Here, have a picture.



In video news, I recorded some stuff, so there should definitely be videos tomorrow. I don't have more than tomorrow's recorded yet, but I'll probably do a large batch recording tomorrow since I get home s early and my parents get home so late.  Enough talk though, here are today's Mass Effect 2 videos:

Episode 3   ---   Episode 4

~Drew (devilwarier9)

Saturday, March 10th, 2012 - I'm Back!

What is up guys! I know it's been almost a week since my last post and I do apologize, but, I'm back now! I had a rather uneventful week filled primarily with studying and doing work. Like I mentioned last week some time, it's engineering prank month, so one day a guy came in playing the trumpet, stripped to his boxers, then ran away. It was pretty funny. Someone also made a giant penis out of like cloth or something and managed to stick it to the roof of the main cafeteria. Did I mention the ceiling is like 30 feet high? God, I love engineers. We're so obnoxious, it's awesome.

In video news, after having 4 tests this week and having my brain destroyed by science, I was finally able to start up Mass Effect 2. I did about an hour and a half of recording and got enough videos for today and tomorrow. I'll be doing some more tomorrow, so there should be videos every day this week if I manage to not procrastinate like a beast as usual.  Enough words though, here's Mass Effect 2!

Trailer   ---   Episode 1   ---   Episode 2

~Drew (devilwarier9)

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 - Hiatus

Ok, so I know this is very ill timed; however, I will most likely not be posting any videos this week until Saturday. I have a test Wednesday and Thursday as well as Saturday, so tonight and Friday I will be studying, and every other day I will be getting home at 9pm. I do apologize for this, and I would like to just say that Mass Effect 2 IS STILL COMING. I know it was planned to be started weeks ago, and I'm sorry for that as well. My Mass Effect 1 review might come out some time this week though if I get a chance, as I can do that at school, or even in class (which is where I currently writing this).  I will most likely be recording Saturday when i get home from my test, around 1pm, and will be putting up videos in the evening.

Once again I'm sorry about my ridiculously irregular schedule, but it's hardly my fault. Blame engineering and its constant tests! I might try to make blog posts during the week, but don't hold your breath, as there are still so many things I don't have control over. See ya'll soon! (hopefully)

~Drew (devilwarier9)

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 - Words

How are you today, Internet? Because I am just swell. Had a long and unproductive day as usual, and enjoyed it. I apologize for not writing anything yesterday, as I had a calculus test and didn't get home until 10:00pm and was too tired to write coherent sentences.  I don't really have any funny or interesting stories today, as I never even left my house today.  So, as per usual, I will just keep saying nothing until I feel that I have written enough words.

In YouTube news, I did some recording today and finished Mass Effect 1. The videos will go up over the next 3 days with the last ones going up on the 5th, the day before ME3 comes out. Now, I realize this means I will have 0 days to do ME2; however, I realized a while ago that I would have no chance of finishing this project at the rate I put out videos. I will still be doing ME2 before ME3; however, I may play ME3 off camera on my good character while playing ME2 on camera on my evil character, so it will most likely be my second run when you see me doing ME3, so, sorry if you like blind LP's.  I'm posting the first video of tonight's session now, but it won't be up for about another hour, so check back soon!

Episode 36

~Drew (devilwarier9)

New Side Bar Addon

So, last night I was messing around with some stuff for a while and decided to add a new box on the sidebar. It shows what games I am currently playing, both on and off camera, and I will try to keep it updated as much as possible, which isn't a hard task, but still requires more work than not doing it.  Anyway! That's it for this post, I just wanted to inform you of my new change.

~Drew (devilwarier9)

Thursday, March 1st, 2012 - Not February

I almost typed February in the title. Woops. I know I said I was going to try to get better at writing in a more interesting format, but unfortunately for both of us, I haven't. I don't even have anything to talk about. The most interesting thing I did today was plug capacitors into a bread board for an electrical physics lab. Yup, I am indeed boring.

In video news, like I said yesterday, I didn't get a chance to record anything today with my calculus exam tomorrow and all.  I still had 3 videos on my HDD and posted them. Here they are:

Episode 33   ---   Episode 34   ---   Episode 35

~Drew (devilwarier9)