3161

I feel the same way. At this point I would far rather have a JE2 than a DA3.

3162

In Mass Effect 2, I shot the enemy with one of two guns depending on what sort of defenses it had (at later levels, this stopped mattering all that much), then had my choice of an array of abilities that would all result in the death of said enemy so were functionally all but identical. I could use any combination of NPC party members because it didn’t matter, they all contributed roughly the same moderate-but-nowhere-near-mine killing power. Terrain was relevant only in that you needed to duck behind identikit, immersion-breaking waist high cover in order to fight.

In Jade Empire, every combat style required you to approach combat differently to some extent. Every foe had different attack patterns and immunities, requiring a changed approach. I had to balance the chi and focus costs of magic and weapon styles against the healing or (bonus damage, wasn’t it?) of focus mode. I also had to factor in status effects (for both sides), could perform area attacks when surrounded, and dodge or block as appropriate. And then of course there was the choice whether to use one of the multiple potent passive abilities of your party members or have them enter the fray and help you kill things directly.

Was Jade Empire’s combat still fairly simple and buttonmashy? Sure. In general I much prefer the far more tactical and rich combat of Dragon Age, or better yet the various party-based D&D games. But it was appropriate for the martial arts epic that Jade Empire was intended to be. And there was some meat there beyond basic cover shootery. I don’t feel there is any such meat to Mass Effect 2.

3163

Eh, I think you are suffering from some rose tinted nostalgia there malkav. Jade Empire’s combat was enforced RPS mechanics plus grind. If they enemy had a shield, you used a heavy attack and hoped you could get it in before the bad guy drop the shield to light attack you. Jump out of the way of heavy attacks. Otherwise, spam light attacks. Throw in a harmonic combo to speed up combat against humans, and when down grind back chi and health using the Spirit Thief strategy.

The only time it isn’t RPS is when it was unbalanced. Chi was more useful than Focus which was a lot more useful than Body. While there were a lot of different gems to improve a build, I found they best were almost always the ones that gave the biggest boosts to Chi and Focus, though keeping a Golden Tongue around to power game some dialogue checks was handy.

Jade Empire had its stengths, but ultimately I don’t think it compares well to Mass Effect 2 in the combat or complexity regard, to say nothing of the hands down more complex Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2. I mean, at least in these games you have a wide bevy of skills that act differently. In JE, essentially you had a long list of skills that ultimately just quick attack, power attack, area attack, and a universal defend.

3164

Which is still more complicated and varied than my experience of ME2 combat.

3165

Where’s hong when you need him?

3166

I am not even sure why there is a need to compare the combat between JE and ME. They are pretty different. I mean in ME 2 I didn’t really change my style based on the gun so much as which bullet I might use. JE it was the same, varied a little bit depending on which passive ability I took with me, companion, and whether or not i encountered an immunity that threw me off for a minute from my usual approach.

Personally, I enjoyed JE, ME 2 and DA:O’s combat systems. What I did not enjoy was DA 2’s combat system… at all. I also didn’t like ME 2’s story/dialogue system in DA’s world either. But I liked it fine in ME 2…

3167

Because they’re the most action-driven combat systems Bioware has done so far. Like I’ve said before, Jade Empire really strikes me as being the prototype for the direction Bioware took Mass Effect 2…I just think they executed it better the first time.

3168

Jade Empire didn’t do much for me because the combat so simplistic. Sure, you had all of that shit you could do, but in reality, it meant using one or two different styles OVER AND OVER. I gave up 2/3 of the way though a couple of times.

My daughter, on the other hand, loved the game for the style and story and the combat wasn’t boring to her at 10. She beat the game all the way through and loved it. One of the few RPGs she has even really been interested in…

3169

I would’ve actually kept going with DA2 if the story had been there - but by act three it pretty much trashed everything in which I had developed an interest.

Pretty frustrating, actually, because I was completely invested going into act two.

3170

Another fun mod. This one adds 40 or so weapons to your inventory, including some truly amazing skins. My rogue is running around with the twinblades of Azzinoth now for kicks despite (or maybe because of…) their rather imposing presence in cut scenes and sheathed. I’ll probably switch them out later for something a little less… conspicuous… as there are several other nifty options available.

3171

$24 on GamersGate. Registerable on EA Origin.

3172

It’s a constant struggle for me every time this goes on sale. I’ve got Dragon Knight Saga and River of Time lined up to play after I finish Nehrim, New Vegas, and Icewind Dale. RPGs take forever to play.

3173

Still. Wouldn’t do to run out, would it?

And you missed Two Worlds 2…

3174

They’ve finally revealed some details about the upcoming DLC, due at the end of this month for the typical Bioware price of $10 (or 800 MS points).

They are promising all new enviroments and it can be played wherever you are at in the main game. Looks like it uses the same companions. There is some video here, starting at the 45 minute mark.

3175

Sweet, thanks for the heads up. Perhaps I should put my current playthrough on hold until it’s released so I can play around with the shiny weapon.

3176

I don’t know if it looks like it is worth $10, but it for sure isn’t worth me reinstalling dragon age 2 for.

All new environments? does that mean they will resection one of the five maps they reused for the entire da2 game again and pretend it is different?

On the plus side, secret worlds looked really good. I’m sure the bioware guy must have felt like he got called to do his book report which he spent 20 minutes doing before class right after the smartest kid in the class who had both a powerpoint presentation and model.

3177

Cynicism aside, all signs indicate the relatively late date for this first real DLC is because they listened to the reused areas complaint. So when they say “all new” the probably means just that. That doesn’t mean things will suddenly look hugely different, though. After all they are going to continue using the same art style.

Whether its worth $10 remains to be seen. Four or five hours is about the best I would expect and there is only so much and so epic you can accomplish in that time. And I’m not sure I’m really that excited about what looks like it will probably be a dungeon crawl.

3178

If they’ve reworked the combat encounters I might be vaguely interested. If not, they can fuck right off.

3179

I got sick of buggy Awakening DLC having all sorts of fucking irritating errors causing me to eventually lose a ton of gear at some Silverite Mine, so I broke down and snagged DA2. Yes I am impulse purchasing like a mofo, but it’s ok I have a retirement plan (die from smoking(that was a joke(as in don’t respond to it))).

And I much prefer it to the original.

I especially like Dual Wield rogues. That means I’m using tittysaurus (the duelist trainer from the original) a ton, and it’s hilarious to have her swoop across the field and make high level enemies go BOOM with knives. How she flips around with those ungainly breasts I have no idea, but she sure does it with panache.

Mages are dull. I mostly use Exterminatus (aka Firestorm aka Orbital Bombardment) when I’m swarmed on hard and watch as everything dies to magical deathsplosions that do stupid damage, interrupt and generally screw everything up for the enemy. Otherwise my mage sits around doing nothing or occasionally fleeing mobs.

Bianca is fucking great. I’ve pumped Subterfuge on Varric and I love seeing him cock that monstrous xbow back and launch fucking ridiculous grenades out of it.

Aveline and Count Boobula have amazing dialog.

Isabela: Well. “Captain.” Can I call you captain? You can call me captain.
Aveline: I won’t be doing that.
Isabela: Neither will I. Because you’re a guard captain. No real authority. Not like on a ship.
Aveline: Well, you would know about having a large number of men under you.
Isabela: You’ve been waiting to use that one. Did you practice?
Aveline: Shut up.

Isabela: You have such pretty hair. What a lovely color.
Aveline: Other children used to laugh at me for having ginger hair.
Isabela: Really? Aww. I bet you were cute. Did you have pigtails?
Aveline: Sometimes.
Isabela: How precious! Little Aveline, running around the village with her flaming orange pigtails streaming behind her…
Isabela: …and little boys all scattering and screaming for mercy as she approached.
Aveline: Shut up, whore.

Isabela: The difference between whores and courtesans is…well, they have nicer shoes.
Aveline: I think your shoes are fine.
Isabela: Look at you being funny! That might even get you a man someday.

Aveline: You’re right.
Isabela: About?
Aveline: About knowing who you are.
Aveline: I’m the captain of the guard. I’m loyal, strong, and I don’t look too bad naked.
Isabela: Exactly. And if I called you a mannish, awkward, ball-crushing do-gooder, you’d say…?
Aveline: Shut up, whore.
Isabela: That’s my girl.

I refuse to let either leave my party, although when I went to her dialog page on the wiki it turns out she says ridiculous shit no matter who she is talking to, so I am pretty much content with my purchase. She looks ridiculous, but the words, the words that come out of her mouth. I love them.

3180

There’s a lot of witty zinger dialogue for everyone. Occasionally it’s serious. But there’s always a zinger at the end. Wait for it!

I hated Isabella in combat because I was a dual-wield rogue myself. Her area-effect multi-backstab is always a fun superpower though. It’s restricted to her personal subclass.