I thought there was stupid dialog?

[Metaphysician]

Re: ME2, I disagree slightly. I think Bioware intended for it to be a trilogy from the getgo. However, they probably found they had to somewhat restrict the second game, once they actually started making it. Its a transitional game in the plot, so it has to, well, transition.

I still give them kudos for attempting a game series with as heavy of consequences as ME has ( with the proviso that if it all falls apart in 3, well, it falls apart ).

 

[Brother None]

Except that Mass Effect shouldn't be a trilogy, only after the first they made the decision.

I'm pretty sure the whole trilogy business was in pre-release PR already. I remember it as such. But it does seem to be badly outlined, with little planning and forecasting between ME1 and ME2. Maybe 3 will do better but I have my doubts...

I still give them kudos for attempting a game series with as heavy of consequences as ME has

What did they attempt? There's barely any relevant consequences from ME1 to 2. By design.

Wait, this is a New Vegas forum. Stick on topic!

 

[FreshOil]

I played and finished the game with a 3 point intelligence guy. There are probably less than 10 dialog options total where I noticed that the dialog was written for a "stupid" character. i.e. using 'me' instead of 'I' - that said I rushed through the game because I liked the story so much, and expected there would be free roam after the end of the storyline quests (don't get me started on that). I know I've got myself to blame on that one but I didn't read any of the previews or anything where it was apparently confirmed...

Anyways, I thought it was more difficult in other subtle ways. For instance, I had a hell of a time getting enough points into things like Lockpick, Speech (I was working with 2 Charisma points iirc), Barter, Science, Sneak, etc - all things that needed to be decently high for me to complete a lot of the sidequests. So it was harder to put extra points into those, just because of the build I had went with. If I had stuck with sidequests and leveling I probably wouldn't have minded so much but I didn't want to grind.

 

[Crni Vuk]

though doesnt the game tell you at some point "if you enter here, you cant go back"

 

[FreshOil]

That kind of disclaimer has, to me, always meant that this was the *last* story mission and that you won't have a chance to re-equip... so you'd better be ready kinda thing.

So there's that, plus my character and I have maybe 4 intelligence points combined. Don't judge me!

 

[Ilosar]

Mass Effect was indeed intended as a trilogy from the very start, it was one one the features they talked the most about before the first game was released IIRC. As BN says, the fact important plot points don't make much of a difference in 2 is an issue of practicality that was intended; don't want to alienate new players, among other things.

Moving on topic, I always found the stupid dialog in the first two Fallouts a bit contrived. At Int. 4 your character can be a very good speaker with lots of points in Speech, but one drop in points and you become a caveman uncapable of forming a single coherent word. Also, while the dialog itself was very funny, not knowing what you could do without reading a guide got frustrating for me.

The New Vegas way is better IMO, not only in resource allocation (voiced responses to Stupid PC, among other things), but in believability.

The PC having a stupid line from time to time (ICE CREAM!!) makes it more of an event and works better for me. Plus, failed skill checks are friggin hilarious and replace Stupid in a very effective fashion (personal favorite is when training the Misfits to use explosives, they would have blow themselves up had they followed the PC's 'advice').