No More Elevators In Mass Effect 2
One of the most unanimous complaints about the original Mass Effect were its elevator sequences. A nit-picking complaint, which is perhaps a testament to the overall quality of the game, but the excessively long sequences with blank stares and often awkward side conversations captured all of the fun and excitement of waiting in a real elevator. Fans complained, and in a rare twist of fate, Bioware listened.
The elevators were made in ME1 so we didn't have to show boring loading screens. However there were a lot of complaints, so we've gone back to loading screens and movies. We still have elevators in ME2, but you don't wait inside them. We'll cut to a loading screen instead.We've tried to make the loading screen more interesting this time by adding interesting visuals and information.
Oh goody, loading screens. Everyone loves those.
Honestly, it doesn't matter too much to me whether the game loads in an elevator or a loading screen, it's the length of the loading that is the issue. Hopefully the load screens will be brief, or at least less noticeable since loading screens are pretty standard in most games, as opposed to extended in-game non-interactive segments of standing and waiting. And if the load screens do drag on, then the visuals and information on them had better be very interesting. I'm not saying that it needs to be a Commander Shepard strip-tease, but I wouldn't object.
NaviFairy
Posted to Video Games on 8 December 2009
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: Bioware, elevators, loading, Mass Effect 2, PC, xbox 360
I liked the elevators instead of loading screens. This makes me sad!
Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad has a mini-game while loading, LBP let you whirl your arms around and smack other players in the face 'by accident'. I'm surprised they couldn't have worked something out, even just letting you run round in circles or letting you move the camera so you could inspect the nifty armor you're wearing. I quite liked DA's random stats that it put up while loading; 'Dog has dealt 23423 points damage' or "Sten has dealt 0% of total party damage as he's a dull misanthrope that you don't want in the party' etc.
This is what happens when you complain about something that didn't need changing. I'd much rather stand in an elevator than be taken out of the immersion with a loading screen.
I also liked the load screens in The Darkness, though they could have used more variety. It gave you a little bit more info without text.
But where will I get the hilariously awkward conversations between crew mates?
This is actually a sad thing. The problem wasn't that it was an elevator, the problem was that it took so long to load my ship.
at least I (people) won't get stuck in an elevator from saving and ruin the file. Not having to start the game over from an elevator glitch will be nice but I never had a problem with the actual elevator ride itself.