Mass Effect 2

[The Mirrorball Man]

LeadHead wrote:

---

The Hammerhead has more abilities and speed, so I like it more, but it is waaaaaaaay too weak. Reverend is correct, a few shots from a Geth Trooper and you've got alarms going off and fires are soon to come. I hope they keep the Hammerhead for ME3, but make it a much tougher, so it doesn't blow up so easily.

Or you could have the Mako and the Hammerhead, and pick the one you want at the beginning of every mission.

[T.Geiger]

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

---

Or you could have the Mako and the Hammerhead, and pick the one you want at the beginning of every mission.

Nah, too complicated. You certainly don't want to confront the player with choices and variability. I mean, in Mass Effect 3, they're even going to streamline the dialogue experience. Fewer conversations, most trees will only have one "branch", and even when there are choices, it'll just be "Jesus" and "Satan", both leading to the same outcome.

[The Mirrorball Man]

T.Geiger wrote:

---

Nah, too complicated. You certainly don't want to confront the player with choices and variability.

Where did that come from? In ME2, you constantly have to pick two teammates among your twelve travelling companions. It's all about choices.

[HotRod]

I think he was being sarcastic.

[Skywalker]

Of course, picking your squadmates for a mission rarely has a significant impact on the storyline. So that's more of an arbitrary choice.

[The Mirrorball Man]

Skywalker wrote:

---

Of course, picking your squadmates for a mission rarely has a significant impact on the storyline. So that's more of an arbitrary choice.

It's a tactical choice, just like picking the Mako or the Hammerhead would be.

[Skywalker]

Picking squadmates whose skills complement your own isn't really tactics so much as common sense.

And they'd never include both the Mako and the Hammerhead. They'd have to design their planet-based levels to fit both, which would cost more money than it would be worth. Easier to just design your levels for one specific vehicle, be it the Mako (unlikely), Hammerhead (possible), or a new vehicle (also possible).

[Jeff O'Connor]

I have a feeling it will wind up being a much more durable and slightly less fast-paced variation of the Hammerhead with a brand new name.

[Reverend]

Skywalker wrote:

---

Picking squadmates whose skills complement your own isn't really tactics so much as common sense.

And they'd never include both the Mako and the Hammerhead. They'd have to design their planet-based levels to fit both, which would cost more money than it would be worth. Easier to just design your levels for one specific vehicle, be it the Mako (unlikely), Hammerhead (possible), or a new vehicle (also possible).

But your class powers aren't the only factor in choosing squadmates, for me at least anyway. I also take into account what kind of opposition I'm liable to run into. So it there are going to be Geth or mechs then it's probably going to be Tali for her AI hack and either Garrus or Miranda for overload. On higher difficulty levels it becomes very important as all enemies tend to have either shields or armour, even husks!

As for choosing between a ground or hover vehicle as part of the pre-mission party & weapon load-out, it really wouldn't be helpful unless you know ahead of time what kind of terrain or opposition you're up against. A more practical solution would be for them to come up with a new hybrid vehicle.

Still, as I see it the Hammerhead still didn't fix the main problem I had with the Mako; it's ability to handle rough terrain. Sure it can hop over large obstructions (a very tedious exercise I might add) but put it on some of those self same open terrains from ME1 and it'd have just as much trouble as the Mako.

The solution is either stick to the linear/multi-pathed terrain designs like they did for Overlord or come up with a tank that can fly. Given the game breaking nature of the latter option, I think the former is the more likely choice.

[Artemis]

I just take however I feel like taking at the moment. The ones that don't annoy me are the most probable choice most of the time.

Oh, who am I kidding. I always took Garrus because I adore him and Miranda because she's hot.

[Reverend]

^On 'Normal' sure (I always picked Tali & Samara ) but like I said, if you play on hardcore or insanity then it's vital you have the right squadmates or you'll be Collector chow in no time flat.

A bit off topic but with all the speculation about what'll be improved/changed for ME3 does anyone think it's worth starting a separate thread for the run up to the game's release, or just stick with this one?

[LeadHead]

Artemis wrote:

---

I just take however I feel like taking at the moment. The ones that don't annoy me are the most probable choice most of the time.

Oh, who am I kidding. I always took Garrus because I adore him and Miranda because she's hot.

Right on the money with me, I almost always took that pairing too. Early on in my gameplay they became the rest of my Kirk/Spock/McCoy dynamic. Truth be told I was always hoping there was a way to remove Jacob from those Briefing room discussions in favor of Garrus, since if I were running the ship, I'd make him my right hand man. It's why he's almost always leading the second fire team once you get to the end.

The other characters who pop up the most often are Tali, Mordin, Samara, Thane & Grunt (Legion too if only you didn't acquire him so late in the game)

[bullethead]

Reverend wrote:

---

The solution is either stick to the linear/multi-pathed terrain designs like they did for Overlord or come up with a tank that can fly. Given the game breaking nature of the latter option, I think the former is the more likely choice.

Or they could just give us one of those awesome gunships that blew off Garrus's face and Hock used to shoot at us in the Kasumi DLC. That would make for some hilarious moments.

*Shepard is corned on a balcony*
Random badguy: End of the line Shepard!
*Gunship rises up behind Shepard and guns enemies down*
Shepard: Why didn't I get one of these when I was fighting the Collectors?

[Jeff O'Connor]

Better yet...

"Why couldn't I just fly over that trench run en route to Sovereign?"

[Reverend]

Aside from the fact that gunships can't fit in Citadel elevators, or that the big ass defence turrets would cut it to pieces? No reason.