March Hauls

[annhell]

Surgically corrected eyes.
5 weeks of hospitalisation leave (which meant I couldn't go out and get other stuff while I'm recuperating at home)
And, yea, Mass Effect 3, which I could get online to while the time away once my eyes recovered enough for extended computer use.

Oh yeah, durr. Mass Effect 3! If you like Mass Effect at all you should uhh maybe probably get this.

I dunno, O6. I just finished it last night, and, frankly, the ending was way disappointing. I liked the journey a LOT, but the destination was like a swim in the sewer to me that ruined everything.


(Yes, the implication here is that I've been playing ME3 for the past week instead of coming in here even once... )

[BWprowl]

Hey, annhell! Good to see you're back, er, and sorry to hear about you going through such a rough patch. Still, I'm glad to hear you're apparently doing okay! Welcome back, stick around!

I got Marvel Universe Cable. Thankfully for my wallet, the majority of MU toys of Marvel vs Capcom-inclusive characters have lacked the similarity to their game versions that would be the deciding factor in me buying them (I'm looking at you, Iceman and Psylocke!). But Cable's pretty darn close. Seeing that he came with all the main weapons he uses in MvC2 (pistol, that wacky electric javelin thing, HYPER VIPER BEAM) clinched it. As a toy, he's pretty good. He uses the same cracked-out articulation model as Jim Lee Cyclops, even if the way they handle stuff like the boot-tops is a little weird. Speaking of though, having a plastic version of this in-hand helps to reaffirm what a ridiculous design Cable is. That shoulderpad, those pouches, that arm, jeez, it'd be awful if I wasn't entertained by just how hilariously bad it is. They even packed some decent functionality into this insane fustercluck: his side-holster can hold his pistol, and there's a peg on the back of his webgear that lets the HYPER VIPER BEAM just stick to his back the way guns on characters drawn by bad artists do. An all-around great designed figure of a terribly-designed character. Part of the charm, I guess. I may have both Cable and Deadpool now, but I don't hold anything against Cable the way I do Deadpool, Cable's design has the hilariously stupid charm as opposed to Deadpool's trying-to-hard kewlness, and I like MvC2 better as a game than MvC3. So, match point Cable.

[Onslaught Six]

Oh yeah, durr. Mass Effect 3! If you like Mass Effect at all you should uhh maybe probably get this.

I dunno, O6. I just finished it last night, and, frankly, the ending was way disappointing. I liked the journey a LOT, but the destination was like a swim in the sewer to me that ruined everything.

I've heard a lot of things about this and being that it takes me about six months to finish a Mass Effect game (I 100% everything, except apparently I messed up getting Miranda's subplot mission, which I don't mind because I hated her) it'll probably be a while before I can comment on that fully. (I'm avoiding spoilers as much as possible, and for once I actually give a shit about that. The only thing I've really been spoilt on is

Spoiler

Legion dying

, most of the other stuff I've seen, I already got to that part of the game. Regardless of how the plot makes you feel though, you can't deny that ME3 at the very least improves on everything the first two games did. The game just 'feels' better.

[138 Scourge]

annhell, good seein' you, man. Glad your eyes are better. Or like, I'm assuming they are, right?

[BWprowl]

Post-work grocery run to Target last night proved fruitful as I came across a TFPrime Ratchet. At least there’s consistently a few things from this line I want (keeping a lookout for the Deluxe Vehicon too). Ratchet’s cool, actually better than I was expecting from what I’d heard. I’ll review him in the TFP review thread, keep that thing going.

[138 Scourge]

On a related note, I just left a Wal-Mart with a Prime Soundwave. I'm not sure how this happened, but here we are.

He looks pretty cool, really. And it was the first time I'd seen one. And I ended up liking Wheeljack, so what the hell.

[annhell]

First day back at work after 35 days of medical leave (and effectively house arrest).
Went to the nearby toy collectors' haunt during the lunch hour and got:

TakaraTomy TF United Axalon
The TakaraTomy version of Classics Rodimus

The store was having a sale and I paid a good price for both, compared to what these Japanese editiosn would normally cost here. I never had the Axalon (Energon Sharkticon) mould, coz I hated the colours even though the mould looked interesting, and the convention exclusives' colours and prices didn't help either.

Roddy was a bundle deal, and a convenient spare if my Classics version gets damaged.

annhell, good seein' you, man. Glad your eyes are better. Or like, I'm assuming they are, right?

Yea, the eyes are alright. Still a little red from bleeding during the surgery, but it will clear up in time. It was a fairly simple op to tighten the eye muscles.

I've heard a lot of things about this and being that it takes me about six months to finish a Mass Effect game (I 100% everything, except apparently I messed up getting Miranda's subplot mission, which I don't mind because I hated her) it'll probably be a while before I can comment on that fully.

I don't think you can mess up getting Miranda's mission; only the outcome of it. Though I could be wrong. I made the effort to follow up everything with her, because, somehow, she ended up the romance interest in my ME2 playthrough. (I only did it to unlock the Paramour achievement, but lost the savegame file to dump her before going into the Omega 4 relay).

I shan't spoil anything for you at this time, but feel free to rant when you finish the game and feel a need to.

Regardless of how the plot makes you feel though, you can't deny that ME3 at the very least improves on everything the first two games did. The game just 'feels' better.

Agreed. IMO, ME3 is what ME1 ought to have been in terms of gameplay.
I don't have an issue with the plot though, and the storylines for each mission involving the various species were well done. It's only the ENDING that I have issues with. Ah well...

[Onslaught Six]

The store was having a sale and I paid a good price for both, compared to what these Japanese editiosn would normally cost here. I never had the Axalon (Energon Sharkticon) mould, coz I hated the colours even though the mould looked interesting, and the convention exclusives' colours and prices didn't help either.

I'm jelly. I love Energon Sharkticon (colours and all) and this looks awesome.

I don't think you can mess up getting Miranda's mission; only the outcome of it. Though I could be wrong. I made the effort to follow up everything with her, because, somehow, she ended up the romance interest in my ME2 playthrough. (I only did it to unlock the Paramour achievement, but lost the savegame file to dump her before going into the Omega 4 relay).

Yeah, turns out I didn't muff it up, but I thought I did. (She was talking about her sister, and I picked the Renegade dialogue option that was like, "Good luck with that, I hope you find her," expecting her to go "Oh please Shep help me I need you!" and I'd end up doing it anyway, but instead she was just like, "Okay, good seeing you." Turns out she contacts you later anyway though, so I'm good.) I romanced Liara in ME1 (for lack of options) and Tali in ME2 and ME3 because unf, Tali. (I've watched all the other romance conversations from ME2 on YouTube and Tali's are seriously the best. Although if you couldn't romance Tali, I probably would have picked Jack.

One thing I wish ME3 would've done is let you gay romance Garrus though. I had this grand idea to lead him on the entire game until the end, and then I could just be like "Woah dude I thought we were bros, what are you some kind of fag?" Not because I'm a homophobe or anything. (I actually think Cortez' gay romance is very well done.) I just wanted to see Garrus cry. I'm a terrible person.

I shan't spoil anything for you at this time, but feel free to rant when you finish the game and feel a need to.

Appreciate it. I know a few things, but for the most part I'm trying to steer clear.

Agreed. IMO, ME3 is what ME1 ought to have been in terms of gameplay.
I don't have an issue with the plot though, and the storylines for each mission involving the various species were well done. It's only the ENDING that I have issues with. Ah well...

Ah, right. Most of the missions so far have had great plots, yes. I love how everything is getting tied up and solved, finally. And like you said, gameplay wise, it's much improved. (I still suck, though. I spent like an hour trying to get through the Geth dreadnaught.)

[annhell]

Yeah, turns out I didn't muff it up, but I thought I did. (She was talking about her sister, and I picked the Renegade dialogue option that was like, "Good luck with that, I hope you find her," expecting her to go "Oh please Shep help me I need you!" and I'd end up doing it anyway, but instead she was just like, "Okay, good seeing you." Turns out she contacts you later anyway though, so I'm good.)

Miranda's story coincides with a late-game compulsory mission that leads to closure of the Cerebrus arc. You can't possibly miss it, as it ties in to the mission's conclusion. Your only determine how her story concludes with your choices, which include

Spoiler

a particular email that, at the time you receive it, bears no correlation to her at all.

I romanced Liara in ME1 (for lack of options) and Tali in ME2 and ME3 because unf, Tali. (I've watched all the other romance conversations from ME2 on YouTube and Tali's are seriously the best. Although if you couldn't romance Tali, I probably would have picked Jack.

Have you seen, or even heard about, what happens to Garrus and Tali if neither were picked as romance options?
I wasn't impressived with Jack's portrayal in ME2. It just felt too cliche and unoriginal. But I loved how she got turned around for ME3. Wasn't expecting that at all.

I picked Ashley and Miranda (and stupidly stuck with Miranda in ME3 instead of going back to Ash). I confess, I'm a species elitist.

One thing I wish ME3 would've done is let you gay romance Garrus though. I had this grand idea to lead him on the entire game until the end, and then I could just be like "Woah dude I thought we were bros, what are you some kind of fag?" Not because I'm a homophobe or anything. (I actually think Cortez' gay romance is very well done.) I just wanted to see Garrus cry. I'm a terrible person.

Garrus-Wrex homo side story wold've been hilarious I think.
I'm usually disinclined to pursue homo romance options in games; but I do agree that Cortez' was very well done.

Ah, right. Most of the missions so far have had great plots, yes. I love how everything is getting tied up and solved, finally. And like you said, gameplay wise, it's much improved. (I still suck, though. I spent like an hour trying to get through the Geth dreadnaught.)

What difficulty are you playing on, and on what platform? I played the PC version and pretty much breezed through the game. Admittedly though, aiming with a good mouse is much faster and smoother than a console controller's thumbstick. Oh, and I played Shepard as a Sentinel, building him to maximise power recharge times to spam constantly.

[Onslaught Six]

Yeah, turns out I didn't muff it up, but I thought I did. (She was talking about her sister, and I picked the Renegade dialogue option that was like, "Good luck with that, I hope you find her," expecting her to go "Oh please Shep help me I need you!" and I'd end up doing it anyway, but instead she was just like, "Okay, good seeing you." Turns out she contacts you later anyway though, so I'm good.)

Miranda's story coincides with a late-game compulsory mission that leads to closure of the Cerebrus arc. You can't possibly miss it, as it ties in to the mission's conclusion. Your only determine how her story concludes with your choices, which include

Spoiler

a particular email that, at the time you receive it, bears no correlation to her at all.

I've read about this email and the consequences of not using the information in it. I'm gonna be pretty happy about it, too.

Have you seen, or even heard about, what happens to Garrus and Tali if neither were picked as romance options?

I have! I don't feel much shame in looking at spoilers for things I know aren't really going to happen in my game; I've looked at a few of the FemShep romance scenes on YouTube, for example. (I play MaleShep so there's literally no way I'll see it in the game.) I have to say,

Spoiler

they're perfect for each other.

I wasn't impressived with Jack's portrayal in ME2. It just felt too cliche and unoriginal. But I loved how she got turned around for ME3. Wasn't expecting that at all.

I sort of wasn't either, but she's better than Ms. "I'm Genetically Engineered To Be Perfect" Miranda or Ashley "I'm A Corpse And Have Been Since Last Game" Williams. (What? She's a right-wing Biblethumping xenophobic nutjob, and on top of that I play Soldier class so in combat she was like a shittier version of me. I kept Kaiden because he can throw dudes into the air with his brain.) I think the only other option (besides Tali) is Samara, or I've read that you can sort-of continue on with Liara in the Shadow Broker DLC. (I was clear with her at the beginning of ME3 that I wanted nothing to do with her, though. She seemed really hurt. Almost felt bad. Almost!)

I picked Ashley and Miranda (and stupidly stuck with Miranda in ME3 instead of going back to Ash). I confess, I'm a species elitist.

Whatever floats your boat, man. Frankly, though, if a game gives me a chance to bang blue chicks or strange masked gypsy aliens, I'm taking that.

Garrus-Wrex homo side story wold've been hilarious I think.
I'm usually disinclined to pursue homo romance options in games; but I do agree that Cortez' was very well done.

Oh man, it so would have! "Well, Shepard, you chose not to cure the Genophage. There's only one thing the Krogan can do now. Garrus, get over here..."
"Can it wait? I'm in the middle of some calibrations."

What difficulty are you playing on, and on what platform? I played the PC version and pretty much breezed through the game. Admittedly though, aiming with a good mouse is much faster and smoother than a console controller's thumbstick. Oh, and I played Shepard as a Sentinel, building him to maximise power recharge times to spam constantly.

I'm on Normal (because I suck at video games but made a resolution to never play on Easy ever again) and I'm playing on the 360. Realistically I'm not dying any more or less than I did in the last two games or most others, this is just par for the course with me. I have problems where I get impatient about cover and waiting out enemies, and on subsequent retries I always try to find some way to "get around" fighting them. "If I can just live long enough to just run past all of them, I can hit the switch, get the checkpoint, and avoid fighting them!" This rarely works, so then I resort to trying to shotgun everything in the face, and that doesn't work either...

I play Soldier because that's what I've always played since the first game; although I think I might do a second ME3 playthrough and change my class to something else. Sentinel looks pretty cool but I think it doesn't have the cryo ammo, which is my favourite power in the game.