The Mass Effect 3/BioWare Thread

[Average Manatee]

I don't think it fails only as hard Sci-Fi. Let's take SW (old trilogy, of course) - it's as soft as it gets, but doesn't fail much, because it sidesteps tech fluff most of the time and uses phlebotinum (hyperspace) where this fluff would have inevitable impact on the story. As the result the sci-fi part of SW is barely more than backdrop and window dressing for a space fable, but it's hard to point at something in particular and say "FAIL".

Endor, Ewoks and an elite legion of stormtroopers. Just sayin'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Zulu_War

It's not outside the bounds of possibility. They were prepared to stop a small rebel strike force, not an entire army of natives.

The biggest derp of ME franchise:

From first contact to "all aliens drinking in the same bar Star Wars style" in 26 years.
No, just no.

To be fair, when the major alien races are human with some uglier faces, and speak perfect English to boot, with no apparently huge gaps in technology or physical/mental abilities, it can't be that hard. The real question is how humans get a reputation as "expansionist" and "putting colonies everywhere" so quickly. Is there a DIY colony creation kit that's sold for a few hundred dollars or something?

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

I don't think it fails only as hard Sci-Fi. Let's take SW (old trilogy, of course) - it's as soft as it gets, but doesn't fail much, because it sidesteps tech fluff most of the time and uses phlebotinum (hyperspace) where this fluff would have inevitable impact on the story. As the result the sci-fi part of SW is barely more than backdrop and window dressing for a space fable, but it's hard to point at something in particular and say "FAIL".

Endor, Ewoks and an elite legion of stormtroopers. Just sayin'

That's just the story being stupid in general, nothing to do with SciFi hardness or the lack thereof.

Besides, the "there's no fucking way the other side could put up a fight much less win" stuff has happened IRL at alarming frequency. The problem is just fucking Ewoks man. Fucking Ewoks man!

I guess we should just deconstruct it as that the Ewoks are actually super-badass hyper-survivors, like the Fremen of teddy bears.

 

[Achilles]

Since Bioware shamelessly ripped off Babylon 5 almost right down to the protagonist's name

I would like to know more, because I never noticed that. In fact even now that you've mentioned it I still can't see the similarity.

The Citadel is Babylon 5, the council is B5's council, the main antagonists are ancient races with unknown motivation (Reapers-Shadows-Vorlons), the hero has to unite different races and settle their differences - so does Sheridan, Shepard dies and comes back - Sheridan dies and comes back, the final quest is to take back earth - the same for B5, Reaper indoctrination - Shadow influence/the Keeper on Londo's shoulder, Earth-Turian War practically the same as Earth-Minbari war. There are hundreds of examples.

 

[LundB]

Besides, the "there's no fucking way the other side could put up a fight much less win" stuff has happened IRL at alarming frequency. The problem is just fucking Ewoks man. Fucking Ewoks man!

I guess we should just deconstruct it as that the Ewoks are actually super-badass hyper-survivors, like the Fremen of teddy bears.

THERE'S A LOT THOSE REBEL SCUM NEVER TOLD ANYONE ABOUT THE FUCKING EWOKS!

Goddamn savages.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Didn't the Ewoks plan on eating the heroes before they saw C3P0 anyway?

 

[evdk]

Besides, the "there's no fucking way the other side could put up a fight much less win" stuff has happened IRL at alarming frequency.

You Mongols and your bloody Winter War...

 

[Angthoron]

Since Bioware shamelessly ripped off Babylon 5 almost right down to the protagonist's name

I would like to know more, because I never noticed that. In fact even now that you've mentioned it I still can't see the similarity.

The Citadel is Babylon 5, the council is B5's council, the main antagonists are ancient races with unknown motivation (Reapers-Shadows-Vorlons), the hero has to unite different races and settle their differences - so does Sheridan, Shepard dies and comes back - Sheridan dies and comes back, the final quest is to take back earth - the same for B5, Reaper indoctrination - Shadow influence/the Keeper on Londo's shoulder, Earth-Turian War practically the same as Earth-Minbari war. There are hundreds of examples.

Well damn, now I want to watch Babylon 5 again.

 

[Toffeli]

New Mass Defect clip

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Besides, the "there's no fucking way the other side could put up a fight much less win" stuff has happened IRL at alarming frequency.

You Mongols and your bloody Winter War...

Actually I was thinking more along the lines of how British fared against the Zulu here...

 

[Ulminati]

Since Bioware shamelessly ripped off Babylon 5 almost right down to the protagonist's name

I would like to know more, because I never noticed that. In fact even now that you've mentioned it I still can't see the similarity.

The Citadel is Babylon 5, the council is B5's council, the main antagonists are ancient races with unknown motivation (Reapers-Shadows-Vorlons), the hero has to unite different races and settle their differences - so does Sheridan, Shepard dies and comes back - Sheridan dies and comes back, the final quest is to take back earth - the same for B5, Reaper indoctrination - Shadow influence/the Keeper on Londo's shoulder, Earth-Turian War practically the same as Earth-Minbari war. There are hundreds of examples.

Well damn, now I want to watch Babylon 5 again.

Does the hero in B5 also fuck every alien he comes across? This is important for my immershuns.

 

[Angthoron]

Since Bioware shamelessly ripped off Babylon 5 almost right down to the protagonist's name

I would like to know more, because I never noticed that. In fact even now that you've mentioned it I still can't see the similarity.

The Citadel is Babylon 5, the council is B5's council, the main antagonists are ancient races with unknown motivation (Reapers-Shadows-Vorlons), the hero has to unite different races and settle their differences - so does Sheridan, Shepard dies and comes back - Sheridan dies and comes back, the final quest is to take back earth - the same for B5, Reaper indoctrination - Shadow influence/the Keeper on Londo's shoulder, Earth-Turian War practically the same as Earth-Minbari war. There are hundreds of examples.

Well damn, now I want to watch Babylon 5 again.

Does the hero in B5 also fuck every alien he comes across? This is important for my immershuns.

Only just one he forms an EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT with.

Then again, that's Sheridan. He's the Paragon. There's also Garibaldi, the Renegade.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[evdk]

Only just one he forms an EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT with.

Then again, that's Sheridan. He's the Paragon. There's also Garibaldi, the Renegade.

And you can't forget Sinclair with his "I want to be a Minbari".

 

[Ulminati]

Then again, that's Sheridan. He's the Paragon. There's also Garibaldi, the Renegade.

BRO DRAGON AGE 2 TAUGHT ME YOU CAN ONLY BE PARAGON IF YOU HAVE GAY SEX WITH EVERONE! OTHERWISE YOU GET RIVALRY POINTS!

 

[Angthoron]

Then again, that's Sheridan. He's the Paragon. There's also Garibaldi, the Renegade.

BRO DRAGON AGE 2 TAUGHT ME YOU CAN ONLY BE PARAGON IF YOU HAVE GAY SEX WITH EVERONE! OTHERWISE YOU GET RIVALRY POINTS!

BUT THAT EXPLAINS WHY EVERYONE CHALLENGES SHERIDAN ON THE STATION SO MUCH. HE IS A RIVAL PARAGON!!!

 

[hoopy]

 

[Bahamut]

After his bitching that skyrim is not like oblivion i just cant treat him serious

 

[commie]

Since Bioware shamelessly ripped off Babylon 5 almost right down to the protagonist's name

I would like to know more, because I never noticed that. In fact even now that you've mentioned it I still can't see the similarity.

The Citadel is Babylon 5, the council is B5's council, the main antagonists are ancient races with unknown motivation (Reapers-Shadows-Vorlons), the hero has to unite different races and settle their differences - so does Sheridan, Shepard dies and comes back - Sheridan dies and comes back, the final quest is to take back earth - the same for B5, Reaper indoctrination - Shadow influence/the Keeper on Londo's shoulder, Earth-Turian War practically the same as Earth-Minbari war. There are hundreds of examples.

Heh...I just watched one episode of B5, saw the rubber headgear and spots on the aliens to make them different from people, the Last Starfighter special effects, the whole 'we're different from Star Trek...really!' vibe and said no thanks...Maybe I should have stuck around to see the live action version of ME in its entirety.

 

[DraQ]

Besides, the "there's no fucking way the other side could put up a fight much less win" stuff has happened IRL at alarming frequency.

You Mongols and your bloody Winter War...

Finns are ewoks?




...

 

[Achilles]

commie

I recommend you continue watching. The first and half of the second season are not so great, but it picks up significantly after that. The effects get much better too. Seasons 3 and 4 are fantastic.

 

[Ulminati]

Besides, the "there's no fucking way the other side could put up a fight much less win" stuff has happened IRL at alarming frequency.

You Mongols and your bloody Winter War...

Finns are ewoks?




...

They're short, hairy, eat dubious food and speak gibberish. And so do the Ewoks.

 

[commie]

commie

I recommend you continue watching. The first and half of the second season are not so great, but it picks up significantly after that. The effects get much better too. Seasons 3 and 4 are fantastic.

Thanks, will do.

 

[Monk]

Some articles refer to the ending as "soul-crushing." The problem isn't that it's "soul-crushing." It's that decisions made throughout the game don't matter because the ending is the same, and that makes this a poorly made game.

 

[Menckenstein]

Besides, the "there's no fucking way the other side could put up a fight much less win" stuff has happened IRL at alarming frequency.

You Mongols and your bloody Winter War...

Finns are ewoks?




...

They're short, hairy, eat dubious food and speak gibberish. And so do the Ewoks.

"Yub nub"

 

[Angthoron]

commie

I recommend you continue watching. The first and half of the second season are not so great, but it picks up significantly after that. The effects get much better too. Seasons 3 and 4 are fantastic.

Thanks, will do.

Yeah, I can only recommend the same. It's a great series once it takes off properly.