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I mentioned to E last night that I hadn't actually played the demo yet, and he suggested I get on that and he'd be happy to watch. So I played the demo while giving full commentary, and he went to sleep rested his eyes, occasionally sitting up to say things like "I thought kids couldn't die in video games?"* and "Nice one," and, in a very, very small voice, "oh."
(That last was when I said "Huh, let's try this!" and charged the Atlas.)
Character Creator
I'm hoping there are either additions and improvements, or people make at least basic color mods. Rhi's skintone (second darkest) is far to pale. In some shots she managed to look like a somewhat dirty and very ill white girl (the 'ill' part being a greyish cast). I know both scenes were outdoors, with cooler, brighter light, but she's not brown enough. Her eyes are also too light (you were so right about that,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
evilsherbear!). The faces look great on their own, but I'll have to tweak her a lot to get her looking anything like Rhi.
I'm interested in watching people react to the more subtle makeup, though. If I were creating a new character, I'd LOVE it -- the ME makeup was always too heavy. Since we're all recreating old characters, though, the lack of heavy eyeshadow actually changes the look substantially, and I'd like it back just so Rhi looks more like Rhi. See also: Where's my black lipstick?!
Gameplay
Gameplay was AWESOME, though I had some trouble getting into the cover I wanted instead of, say, crouching on the side of the wall NEXT to my enemy. I'm willing to bet this is operator error, because I've never been the quickest at picking up controls.
I'm fairly certain it wasn't operator error when I clipped trhough a cannibal, though. That was gross.
The power and sound of the shotgun is pure destructive GLEE (as is charge, but we all knew that, didn't we?). I think it amuses E to watch me berserk my way around the battlefield. New class slogan: VANGAURD. Because headshots are better with shotguns.
Story
The trailer probably spoiled me for any emotional reaction to Automatic Pathos Kid. I spent all his scenes talking back to him.
APK: "You can't save me!"
S: "Yes I can! You and me, kid, we're goin' places! It'll be awesome! YOU CAN BE MY LITTLE SIDEKICK!"
APK: *runs*
S: "Oh well, he's toast."
APK: *is toast*
S: "Your loss. We coulda been something. You coulda been a contendah."
I have issues with Shepard's angry speech to the defense council. I'm not sure if that's really a reflection of the writing, or, as my housemate says, that I'm just not cut out for being inspirationally speechified at. While Shepard is ferociously telling the council "It's not about strategy or tactics! It's about SURVIVAL!" I'm bouncing up and down in the back with my hand up going, "But, but, TACTICS HELP!"
Really, Shepard. I know you're angry, but "We fight or we die" is bloody obvious. It's not actually a plan, and it's not actually HELPFUL. I believe at that point the council was looking more for things like "assemble all ships to attack en masse" or "aim for the vulnerable underbelly" and not so much "Give 110%! FIGHT! FOOTBALL ARGH!"
My favorite bit of the whole opening scene was watching reapers destroy Vancouver. That was AWESOME. Kept pausing to point out landmarks to E, who's only been there once. "Remember that art supply store we went to? It's right... here!" *points triumphantly at squashed spot under reaper tentacle* "This is so AWESOME! CANADA PLACE! BURRARD INLET! BOOM!"
Non-spoilery reactions:
1.
When the Normandy swooped down:
E: "Is that your ship?"
S: "Yes! That's my beautiful ship! AND MY PILOT."
E: "I know. I only asked so you could say that and be all proud."
2.
Just as I was thinking "Did Shep's butt get bigger?" Erik said "HEY! She has your ass!"
I'll see what I can do about screenshots this evening or tomorrow.
*Nope. Players can't kill kids! Only devs can kill kids!
(That last was when I said "Huh, let's try this!" and charged the Atlas.)
Character Creator
I'm hoping there are either additions and improvements, or people make at least basic color mods. Rhi's skintone (second darkest) is far to pale. In some shots she managed to look like a somewhat dirty and very ill white girl (the 'ill' part being a greyish cast). I know both scenes were outdoors, with cooler, brighter light, but she's not brown enough. Her eyes are also too light (you were so right about that,
evilsherbear!). The faces look great on their own, but I'll have to tweak her a lot to get her looking anything like Rhi. I'm interested in watching people react to the more subtle makeup, though. If I were creating a new character, I'd LOVE it -- the ME makeup was always too heavy. Since we're all recreating old characters, though, the lack of heavy eyeshadow actually changes the look substantially, and I'd like it back just so Rhi looks more like Rhi. See also: Where's my black lipstick?!
Gameplay
Gameplay was AWESOME, though I had some trouble getting into the cover I wanted instead of, say, crouching on the side of the wall NEXT to my enemy. I'm willing to bet this is operator error, because I've never been the quickest at picking up controls.
I'm fairly certain it wasn't operator error when I clipped trhough a cannibal, though. That was gross.
The power and sound of the shotgun is pure destructive GLEE (as is charge, but we all knew that, didn't we?). I think it amuses E to watch me berserk my way around the battlefield. New class slogan: VANGAURD. Because headshots are better with shotguns.
Story
The trailer probably spoiled me for any emotional reaction to Automatic Pathos Kid. I spent all his scenes talking back to him.
APK: "You can't save me!"
S: "Yes I can! You and me, kid, we're goin' places! It'll be awesome! YOU CAN BE MY LITTLE SIDEKICK!"
APK: *runs*
S: "Oh well, he's toast."
APK: *is toast*
S: "Your loss. We coulda been something. You coulda been a contendah."
I have issues with Shepard's angry speech to the defense council. I'm not sure if that's really a reflection of the writing, or, as my housemate says, that I'm just not cut out for being inspirationally speechified at. While Shepard is ferociously telling the council "It's not about strategy or tactics! It's about SURVIVAL!" I'm bouncing up and down in the back with my hand up going, "But, but, TACTICS HELP!"
Really, Shepard. I know you're angry, but "We fight or we die" is bloody obvious. It's not actually a plan, and it's not actually HELPFUL. I believe at that point the council was looking more for things like "assemble all ships to attack en masse" or "aim for the vulnerable underbelly" and not so much "Give 110%! FIGHT! FOOTBALL ARGH!"
My favorite bit of the whole opening scene was watching reapers destroy Vancouver. That was AWESOME. Kept pausing to point out landmarks to E, who's only been there once. "Remember that art supply store we went to? It's right... here!" *points triumphantly at squashed spot under reaper tentacle* "This is so AWESOME! CANADA PLACE! BURRARD INLET! BOOM!"
Non-spoilery reactions:
1.
When the Normandy swooped down:
E: "Is that your ship?"
S: "Yes! That's my beautiful ship! AND MY PILOT."
E: "I know. I only asked so you could say that and be all proud."
2.
Just as I was thinking "Did Shep's butt get bigger?" Erik said "HEY! She has your ass!"
I'll see what I can do about screenshots this evening or tomorrow.
*Nope. Players can't kill kids! Only devs can kill kids!
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no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 05:50 pm (UTC)From:Shep's dialogue I'm guessing is like that because they cut out options. I hope.
Shep has it going on back there:
My guess is they used Miranda's body model.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 06:02 pm (UTC)From:That screenshot makes me lol -- She's got that "What happened to my ASS?!" look!
As for the admiralty board... *sighs* I think my over-worked head-canon generator will be chugging away fixing that one for awhile! There are a few difficulties:
1. If you kept her around for Reaper knowledge, why didn't you act on it?
2. What helpful reaper knowledge does Shepard actually have? She knows they exist, and she knows they're teh EVIL. She doesn't know vulnerabilities or useful tactics besides just keep shooting, as far as we've seen.
3. The whole shouting inspirationally about 'we have to fight' when the entire board is basically saying "WE KNOW. TELL US HOW!" at that moment. Shepard, dear, we love you but you're reading off an old script.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 06:17 pm (UTC)From:Now I wish Shep was in jail, as that would make MORE sense. How awesome would it have been if Shep's "jail break" happened because of the Reapers? Shit starts going down so they bring Shep out for confirmation its them, then BAM reapervasion!
I'm so sad they got rid of the trial. Bleh.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 06:19 pm (UTC)From:Though, I can't say that doesn't seem realistic. Beaurocracies ARE very good at that.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 06:29 pm (UTC)From:They felt Shep didn't deserve that, but still keep him/her working for the alliance, complete with uniform. It seems they didn't do anything with the info Shep has/gave them, so why keep Shep around as a walking testament to their failure? Maybe Anderson pulled some strings, but it just doesn't feel right within the context of the story.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 06:36 pm (UTC)From:As I see it, the alliance command is stuck with a political problem -- one of their best people has just committed a war crime. As far as they're concerned, the crime itself isn't a big deal -- batarians are The Enemy, after all -- but the political repurcussions could be huge. Still, Shepard gets things done (and in fact, some of alliance command might be happy about the dead batarians), so rather than get rid of her they give her an office job and/or put her on some version of house-arrest. It's not because she's useful there, it's because they're storing her for later, after all the political crap blows over. Out of sight, out of mind.
Basically, think of every time a police officer or important official has been accused of some awful crime, and instead of getting the works they're put on 'administrative leave' until people forget about 'em. THAT'S what I think they did to Shepard.
The brass doesn't care about her genocide. They just want to look like they do.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 07:29 pm (UTC)From:I feel like the jailbreak would've made as much sense, and still be EPIC. I just really REALLY do not like the admiralty scene and the quick exposition lead up as it stands right now in the demo. Maybe it'll make more sense with the full game, but it just took me right out of the game, asking a bunch of questions I shouldn't be concerning myself with at that moment.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 12:43 am (UTC)From: