My ‘Mass Effect’ Link & Info Dump
Today is Mass Effect 3 Launch day and I’ve gotten myself all hyped-up for it by re-playing the Mass Effect 2 suicide mission (everyone survived this time) and the “Arrival” DLC that I hear is a key plot point you shouldn’t miss before starting 3.
If you haven’t played Mass Effect 1 and/or 2 and like any space science fiction, well you really should play these games. Read this first link, you’ll be hard pressed not to run out and grab a copy of Mass Effect.
You can potentially skip Mass Effect 1 if you really want… If you play the PS3 version of 2 or download the “Genesis” DLC for the Xbox 360 you can play an interactive graphic novel that fills you in and lets you make key plot choices before starting Mass Effect 2.
Personally I think you’d be missing-out by skipping 1. Sorry PS3 fans, it is exclusive to Xbox 360 and PC though as it was published by Microsoft before EA bought the developer BioWare.
Pro-Tip for playing Mass Effect 1: you might want to skip a lot of the side missions and planet exploration as it was unfortunately mostly filler consisting of driving a space-buggy around boring planets with poor controls and low gravity. Filler content aside, Mass Effect 1 is a great first game in the trilogy.
- Mass Effect 1 (360, PC)
- Mass Effect 2 (360, PS3, PC)
- Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC)
- Mass Effect 2: Genesis (Xbox 360)
Only if you skip the first game. - Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker (Xbox 360)
The best add-on and one of the best missions in Mass Effect 2. - Mass Effect 2: Arrival (Xbox 360)
Needed for plot leading into Mass Effect 2. - Mass Effect: Infiltrator (iOS: iPhone & iPad)
A side story that ties into Mass Effect 3. I hear an Android version is in the works too.
I haven’t actually done any Mass Effect 3 review reading so I go into the game without any expectations beyond my own. I’ve even avoided watching any game trailers since the first announcement. The scores look good, so I doubt I’ll be disappointed.
- Mass Effect 3 Review - VOX Games (10/10)
- Mass Effect 3 Review - IGN (9.5/10)
- Mass Effect 3 Review - Joystiq (4.5/5)
- Mass Effect 3 Reviews - GiantBomb (4/5)
- Review: Mass Effect 3 - Destructoid (8.5/10)
- Mass Effect 3 Review - Ars Technica
- Mass Effect 3 Video Review - 1up
I put 52 hours into my latest Mass Effect 2 save:
“Your First Glimpse of Halo 4”
The first Halo game not made by Bungie, this time developed by the new Microsoft owned Halo exclusive studio “343 Industries”.
There are already a lot of haters, but I’ve got an open mind and will judge the game when it’s out… From what they’ve shown it seems like a Halo game made by Halo fans, people who care about the sci-fi setting and story as much as the gameplay. I’ve got my fingers crossed 4 will be good.
Source: youtube.com
‘Borderlands 2’ launch date announcement trailer. The first game was great fun, this looks twice as good. Also co-op is the only right way to play.
Source: youtube.com
Reminder: Rayman Origins is awesome!
It’s an easy game to overlook thanks to the glut of great games that came out at the end of 2011, but you’ll be doing yourself a disfavor by not playing this game.
I too nearly overlooked it because of limited money in the holiday shopping season. I finally ordered a copy for 360 last week when it went on sale for $20 from ToysRus.com for a limited time. If you missed that sale, it is totally worth the $30 you can now find it for from most stores like Amazon (it sold for the full $60 price when it came-out Nov 15).
My girlfriend and I have started playing co-op together and really had a blast so far.
Beyond Good & Evil HD - Launch Trailer
One of my fav games in years. It’s only $10 for this HD re-release, so if you have an Xbox 360 you have no excuse not to buy it. Don’t let the talking pig turn you off to it, he’s actually quite cool. It plays very much like the 3D Zelda games, and has a surprisingly dark conspiracy story.
If this game sells well it will give Ubisoft incentive to finally get serious about the sequel they announced with a teaser trailer years ago. Some footage was leaked awhile back of what the 2nd game might be like.. The company has been really cagey about if the game is still in development or not ever since. So I hope Beyond Good & Evil HD does well for them. I’m going to buy it again too.
Fable III co-op video.
Finally real co-op in Fable III instead of the broken joke that was in Fable II. This looks super fun.
Halo: Reach - Noble Map Pack Trailer
Fable 3 Pre-ordered! Fable 3 is out Oct 26. Amazon is great at under promising ship times and getting games to you on launch date.
I enjoyed Fable 1 but really became a hug fan of the series with Fable 2. I bought-up all the property in Fable 2 and finished just about every quest.
My new Apple AA Battery Charger (6 AA batteries), and 4 spare Eneloop AA batteries.
My replacement for overpriced Xbox 360 controller batteries that last only about a year. New SANYO Eneloop AA batteries (Apple’s batteries are just rebranded Eneloop batteries) cost only about $10 for a pack of 4; 2 controllers worth.
The Apple charger does cost a bit more than the SANYO chargers, but it’s also smaller (I want it to fit a surge-protector) comes with 2 more batteries, and I like it’s low “vampire draw”.
It chargers only 2 batteries at a time, but I can just keep a bunch of spares charged at all times and just swap them.
BioShock Infinite 10 min gameplay demo video
Video quality is a bit low on this. You can also download the video on Xbox Live.
This is apparently what the press got to see when the game was first announced. Once again very polished for being so early in development; BioShock Infinite is dated for 2012 release.
Source: youtube.com
