GamerNode: Columns - Why Mass Effect 2 is the future of the RPG

What? No mention of "quads" in the entirety of the article about ME2 being revolutionary? I mean, I think it's clear that Bioware is the first developer to ever address the issue of multiple alien balls. To me, that is a revolution.

Very compelling arguments Matt. Although I do kind of like some RPG cliches, ME2 has definitely revolutionized the genre and eliminated many annoying nuances. I would really like to see more RPGs follow and build upon what Mass Effect 2 has done.

I like the fat-trimming nature of Mass Effect 2 as it pertains to BOTH of the genres it merges.

Mass Effect 2 is a tricky beast. On one hand it is a true RPG in the sense that you are playing the role as Shepard and *gasp* the choices you make actually have a meaningful impact on how that character and the world around it progresses. To that effect, ME2 will receive no end of praise from me for it is the first of its kind to make me weigh the consequences of my decision. Mechanically...it plays out like a more tactical Gears of War. The series has always felt like that, but the shooting is so fine tuned, and that is not a complaint, that the game devolves into an action slug fest. Add in the fact that there is no ability to explore the amazing universe that is presented, the neutered Citadel comes to mind, and you have a underwhelming RPG experience. Mass Effect's ability to make me feel I am a character is outstanding and the combat, though i feel there is way to much of it now, is actually satisfying instead of a exercise of bashing my face against a wall. I just wish other parts of the game where at the same level.

maybe its the future for shooters to be like mass effect.instead of just shooting enemies mindlessly in some games.but rpgs in general? maybe wrpgs but I don't want jrpgs to be the same.they are already trying to appeal to westerns and they are failing.stick to what we loved in jrpgs.some people might bash turn based battles,but this kind of battles makes the jrpgs feel like a real different genre and experience.that's my personal opinion anyways

I think this guy who wrote the article is wrong, ME2 is great game but its missing out a lot of RPG elements, its half RPG half shooter.

the Real RPG imo is Demon's souls and devolopers should moke more games like demon's souls

I think Demon's souls is the future of the RPG.

Huga, Demon Souls take a lot form WRPGs of yore and adds in a bit of Japanese flair.

I was just about to say that.

This is a joke, right? Mass Effect is the sorriest excuse for an RPG i've ever seen in my life, i couldn't be happier that it's a "One of a kind" game. First - there's no imagination in the story. Zero. It's basically a copy/paste job from Star Trek only with the addition of intercourse.

Second - the way the story progresses doesn't fit into an RPG at all. During conversations with any NPC you're given a number of possible responses that will slightly alter the way said NPC thinks of/reacts to you. The dialogue choices you make along with the choices you make during key parts of the plot (Such as whether to protect an individual from attack or leave them to die) change the way the story unfolds. This is like something out of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book. Don't get me wrong - it works and is a nice enough break from more "Traditional" RPG's but this is far from what i want all RPG's to be like. RPG's should play out with a fixed story, with you guiding the character/characters through their quest, not make it all up as you go along.

The third and most important gripe i have with it is that it's not an RPG. Plain and simple. Mass Effect is a TPS advertising itself as an RPG. Calling ME an RPG would be like calling Ratchet & Clank an RPG, just because you can level up your weapons doesn't mean you have an immersive, role - playing experience. Had Mass Effect being declared a TPS it would have been decent. Instead it tries to be something it's not, it's advertised as an RPG and is the worst RPG i have ever laid eyes on.

Mass Effect 2 is a fairly unique game........however it is not the future of RPG's. It's more of a warning of what can happen when you try to be something you're not.

Sounds more like an adventure game with some RPG elements tacked on, how can it be the future of a genre that it denies?

It's more like an RPG for people who hate RPGs, which is fine, but please don't waste our time describing how horrible RPGs are when you're describing it. I'll be waiting patiently for Atelier Rorona, one of those horrible "JRPGs".

Does it not occur to you thickheaded dolts that some people may enjoy complex and "confusing combat systems," with "20+ stats" to consider and THINK about and PLAN around? Does it not occur to you that some people enjoy complex problems and thus become doctors and scientists and engineers instead of Taco Bell employees?

Who created the character guides for Fallout and Fallout 2, anyway? They must have appeared out of thin air, not written by fans that enjoy deriving solutions from a complicated rule system (not that the mechanics in Fallout/2 are really that complicated... Really). Even in WoW, a MMO that caters to hardcore AND casual alike, masses of players play around with numbers, theorycraft, propose new builds, discuss strategies for leveling and for raiding, so on and so forth.

But, nah, the future of RPGs should be games that take no prior thought processes, no planning, no need for a brain. And don't forget twitch-based shooter gameplay so that winning fights solely depends on how good the player's reflexes are, not at all on how well he builds and plans his character. Because your character's stats don't matter in an RPG.

(Disclaimer: I actually liked Mass Effect 2. I found it better than ME1, and a better play than Dragon Age, though Dragon Age is more of an RPG.)

Yes the only reason Mass Effect 2 is the "Future of Role Playing Games" is because it is far more "accessible" to the majority of people. In other words they (EA) can make more money because more people that have trouble thinking and serious attention span problems can now play "Role Playing Games"........I mean all those micro management options....how horrifying.....

I agree with zhandao 20+ stats means 100+ different builds. Your thinking of "breaking character" means you are a power player. You think to have the best figther not a "fighter who cares about plants" or even "a figther who don't have a big strength"

I really enjoyed Arcanum, finished it 3 times and had 3 different builds each times and it was enjoyable!

Honestly, "the future of rpg" is called Baldur's Gate or Planescape Torment!

Right, radalin. But in addition to that, the possibility of "breaking" a character makes a good number of people LIKE the game. They like that they have the chance to fail, so that they can plan and NOT fail.

Not everybody thinks this way, of course - but that's my point. A single "type" of RPG can't be the future of ALL RPGs. Especially when Mass Effect 2 is so obviously both an Action game AND an RPG.

A real revolutionary RPG would let me bone everyone. Not just like 2 people. Come on, I saved the friggin' galaxy!