To be honest, I don’t have any real issue with Obsidian. Their games are decent, I’ve played KotOR 2 and enjoyed it, I liked NWN2. There is a lot of Black Isle alumni at Obsidian, and I respect that. But in the case of Mass Effect and Bioware, Obsidian is most decidedly a B team option. I don’t foresee Bioware turning over their I.P., nor do I envision EA being stupid enough to take it from them, but strange things happen in the world of computer gaming, and have happened. Hopefully, these fears remain in the realm of terrifying nightmares.

I am unapologetic in my love of Mass Effect, and the universe it exists in. I loved the game, it immediately found it’s way into my all time top five games, which are not really officially sorted. (Offhand I’d say this list consisted of System Shock 2, Mass Effect, Planescape: Torment, Baldur’s Gate 2 and perhaps NOLF 2) The game is not perfect, partially because of restrictions on the 360 (Microsoft, let these guys cache on the hard drive, PLEASE), and because of some of the less refined features (inventory, MAKO missions, etc). But that being said, I’m sold on this setting. I buy into it. As I type this, I’m listening to the game’s OST (The Faunts tune is just epic), and I recently finished the prequel novel, Revelation, in two days. I love the Mass Effect universe, and it is one I want to see more of.

Mass Effect isn’t one of the best games ever because it does a few technical things well. It is one of the best games ever because not only has it nearly perfected dramatic RPG dialogue, it successfully meshes many other elements in ways we haven’t properly acknowledged because we hate riding in elevators and driving the Mako.

The Jack Wall/Sam Hulick sound track might be one of the best original game scores ever. It is distinct, and fitting. The voice acting is top notch; from subtle to catching, it was fairly consistent, never too over the top and rarely gave me the impression that these people were reading off of pages. The universe is believable and crafted with love, and you can definitely get a sense of culture, and the variety in them.

Most people’s hang-ups with the game were technical, and I can agree there. But when you play an RPG, at least when I do, you have to feel the world is real enough to immerse yourself into, UIs and map layouts be damned. Mass Effect does that well enough to suck me in, and at certain moments (often during the amazing dialogue sequences), I’m not just into the game… I’m there. I’m hooked in.

It is those moments that draw me in and tell me we’ve got something special here.

But yes, Mass Effect wasn’t perfect, and I liken it to an uncut gem. There’s something special there, valuable enough to appreciate now, but capable of more. That more will be Mass Effect 2.

If we compare the growth from Baldur’s Gate, to Baldur’s Gate 2, and if we remember how Bioware grew by leaps and bounds with that experience, that gives us hope. BG1 was amazing. It did fantastic new things in the CRPG genre, but was very rough in other parts. Bioware was trying new ideas, and some worked, some didn’t. It perfected many of these techniques in BG2, and this is why it is one of the greatest titles in the genre . (This is why a LOT of sequels are superior to their predecessors, really) With that in mind, I have feeling the ME2 just might be one of the best games ever. Bioware already knows what worked and what didn’t in the original, plus the introductory stuff is out of the way. If they can make the same sort of leap they did with BG1 and BG2 heading into a Mass Effect sequel, well… the only wild card becomes EA, and I am sort of actually starting to trust John Riccitiello. Sort of!

Summary: I like Mass Effect, I have high hopes for the sequel. If you disagree, you are stupid. I mean… I respect your opinion greatly.

Vote and such. I will return, Friday.

EDIT: I’ve filled that empty spot from last Friday, killing two birds with one stone.. or strip. It’s just a picture, really (a nice one, I think), but it at least gets something in there, and I have a nice head shot to use for link buttons and for site headers. Check it out by clicking the image below.

Also, I will now shoot myself. Trading fifty cents for forty cents is not a good trade. I will happily eat my words, but I am not excited for the Jermaine O’Neal era in T-dot.

O’Neal played in only 42 games last year and at one point missed 33 straight games before returning to the lineup on March 31. He had his worst season with the Pacers since 2000-01 as he averaged 13.6 ppg and 6.8 rpg after averaging 19.4 ppg and 9.6 rpg in 2006-07.

Gee, what’s not to like?!?

I need a gun.

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