Underwhelming

You know how it is, you’ve been patiently awaiting, and nervously anticipating the announcement of a particularly game, so much so, that it literally dictates your thoughts on a continuous nauseating loop, until finally, the news that you’ve been so eagerly anticipating is announced, Yeah! The leading information maybe scarce, but its enough to instill fractious, excitement and perhaps, anxious anticipation. But as time passes, and fresh information is divulged by developers and reiterated by various magazines, blogs etc, your confidence escalate’s, to an obstinate extent. Your unofficially promised titles that are refered to as “The best in the series” or “Generation defining”, that when the title is released, your assurance has been so greatly magnified, that its very difficult not to feel slightly underwhelmed. This has to controlled, we need to lower our sometimes unachievable expectations, if we want to continue enjoying games.

Many of us, including myself, crave perfection so adamantly that anything less is deemed a failure. For example, Uncharted 3 has been bombarded with so many petty and moronic criticisms, its baffling to see why anyone of these buffoons would purchase it. I’ll be the first to admit that Uncharted 3 isn’t without its irritations, like the difficulty spikes that continually frustrate like Tourette’s, but to criticise the (admittedly) linear story, is beyond comprehension. *SARCASM ALERT* “Oh no! I’m being helplessly led into a deeply engrossing, and thoroughly, gratifying narrative, cul-de-sac!” I mean come on!! Look, I’m not suggesting that we shouldnt strive for quality, but we need to be pragmatic, put things into perspective. I’m certainly not suggesting however, that we should lower our expectations to such a degree that we should expect Uncharted 4’s acting, that resembles Kim Jong Il, mourners, or an Arkham City spinoff, involving Batman’s hellish torment….over an ingrown toe nail. (You heard it here first!)

Having such high aspirations will almost certainly, damage any pleasure you would have otherwise experienced, if it hadn’t been for moronic imbeciles (like me!), telling you how great the game is going to be. Sorry.

95% of this frustrated rant, is directed toward myself, and the remaining 5%? Well, that’s reserved for the Uncharted 3 haters and people who take me too seriously, you fools!

Do previews and hype ruin games for you? Or is ignorance bliss? Let me know your thoughts.

It’s nearing that time of year again, where the nights are drawing in, we begin to reflect on another year of opportunity’s taken and missed, and our pockets start to deteriorate thanks to the gift given season. But for me this time of year is the perfect occasion to bestow upon you unfortunate readers, my own patented brand of Christmas joy, by doing what I do best, a good old traditional, British moan. Admittedly anytime of year is suitable for me, whether it’s the extortionate price of Monster Munch, the constant brutality of the unforgiving winter months, or the Coca-Cola and Toys “R” Us advertisements that have been shamefully altered beyond my own childhood, recognition, I’ll successfully seek out something that suitably disgruntled’s me. But today I turn my irritable gaze to the increasingly popular (and in my opinion) underwhelming space exploration series, Mas Effect 2.

But before you get your hand stitched, Miranda Lawson panties in a knot, let me first stress that I don’t hate Mass Effect 2, not really. Mass Effect 2 has one of the most deeply immersive narratives, as well as engaging dialogue that is worthy of any David Fincher picture, and giving many of its characters an instant likeability rarely seen in many high-profile games. But my major quarrel lies with the frankly uninspired combat, which is as compelling as a Justin Bieber autobiography, and equally entertaining. It all feels rather cumbersome, almost as though control is in someone else’s hands, conquering even the most dire of situations feels unsatisfying. Enemies, as well as battles are derivative and require little awareness to overcome even the trickiest of situations, just point, shoot repeat, and all this uninspired combat is confined to some of the most generic, often grey, linear corridors of derelict space crafts, debilitated cities or un-explorable planets. Where’s the free-flowing universe I was promised?

Well, perhaps I wasn’t promised this specifically, but it’s certainly something you would expect from a game of the year title. Harvesting planets is a necessary requirement if your to have any chance of surviving the “Suicide Mission” at the games conclusion, but does it really have to be so boring and time-consuming. The interactive comic at the beginning was more bewildering than enlightening, and just emphasises the point that playing Mass Effect 2 without first playing the original, is like watching The Empire Strikes Back without first watching A New Hope, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. The character development is one of the pivotal points of Mass Effects story, but with no real understanding of how Shepard’s former campaign transpired, shaped his personality and how it’s led to current events, Shepard’s battles appear rather redundant.

Trust me, I could go on and on like an intoxicated, elderly man discussing their irritable, bowel movements, but my critical views would not be fair to what is fundamentally an addictive, if not flawed title, that with some technical alterations and visual advancements, could realise its full potential. In my opinion, Mass Effect 2 isn’t game of the year, (sorry), but perhaps Mass Effect 3 could convert me. Will see.

Have I completely missed the point of Mass Effect? Let me know your thoughts, cheers.