r/masseffect • u/Critical-Tourist4787 • 14h ago
DISCUSSION Yet another player stuck in post-ME doldrums
Just finished the LE series yesterday. What. A. Ride. Like so many others, I'm left wondering how in the unholy eff I managed to go all this time without playing it, especially since I love big story-driven games like this. Even more especially given how much I love DA:O. The Shore Leave DLC was one of the best bits I've ever played in any game for the dialogue alone.
But man, I'm feeling the blues now! Honestly unlike any other game I've played. Probably the closest for me was Cyberpunk, given the same rather bleak story arc and ultimate ending choices. But this is hitting harder, probably because I played through all the games back to back, pretty much every day. Whatever it is, there's a pretty huge ME-shaped hole in my life right about now.
I've spent a few hours already combing through posts here, from debates over the right ending choice (team destroy here) to memes to hypotheticals about the future maybe-game. Just wanted to say... Y'all rock! Glad I found this subreddit.
How did the rest of you deal with this? I know the obvious answer is start a new run, and I'm sure I will at some point, but right now it just feels... Wrong. Kind sad, actually, weirdly like a betrayal (even more so thinking about a Renegade male Shep run, opposite to what I did). I bought the comic collection on Kindle to fill out some lore, but even a few pages into Redemption I'm feeling bleh because Liara was my romance across all three games.
Just time, I guess?
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u/OddOrganization1803 14h ago
Nothing beats your first Shepard. But honestly I’ve made about 4 Shepards who I tried to make sure had different story beats and choices, and by the end of me3 I was very attached to them all.
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u/Connoralpha 14h ago
There's still nothing quite like it, and likely never will be.
I just try other games, they don't quite scratch the same itch but still are unique experiences of their own. This year I finally tackled Red Dead 2, Witcher 3, and Expedition 33. All had stories & characters that were compelling to me.
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u/Critical-Tourist4787 14h ago
Already did the first two, also faves of mine. Clair Obscur is definitely up on the list.
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u/RykinPoe 14h ago
There are plenty of other games that can produce similar feelings. I recent discovered the Life Is Strange series. I played the first game and the Before The Storm prequel and Double Exposure and Reunion which all focus on the same main group of characters. There are two other games in the series that are same universe that I haven't played yet.
There are also two great looking games inspired by Mass Effect due out next year.
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u/chaamp33 14h ago
What are the upcoming ones?
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u/RykinPoe 14h ago
Exodus and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. Both look like they went copy paste on Mass Effect and I think some Mass Effect vets are working on Exodus.
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u/Critical-Tourist4787 14h ago
I have no doubt there are many fine games I haven't yet experienced that can be a great ride too. I assume you're referring to Exodus and Osiris Reborn, both of which I'm looking forward to!
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u/DrVentureIsACrumbBum 14h ago
Cyberpunk, fam!
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u/Critical-Tourist4787 14h ago
Well I did say that that was the closest I came to feeling the same way! Played through 4 runs. Loved it.
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u/Tuki-Clothespin 13h ago
The closest I’ve come to finding that magic again is Baldur’s Gate 3. And after that game, I ended up with a similar “well what the fuck can I play now, I’ve been spoiled”
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u/Critical-Tourist4787 13h ago
It's interesting how different games hit different people. I enjoyed BG3 (and 2, hence the need to immediately purchase the space hamster), but it didn't grab me the same way. Plenty of people feel that way about ME2 and 3 too I guess, after EA took over.
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u/-Regulator-Spectre-X 13h ago
Mass Effect Adromeda is pretty good. Its definitely not the same as the trilogy. I'm playing my first play through.
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u/Critical-Tourist4787 13h ago
See I'm wary of trying that one, given the rather lukewarm overall opinion. In time, maybe.
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u/Bobthemagicc0w 12h ago
I sometimes think lurk in this subreddit mostly just so when someone posts this, I can say “do you have a minute to talk about our lord and savior, fanfiction?”
But seriously. I was in the same boat as you five years ago. Was blown away, got obsessed. And I stumbled across a Mass Effect fanfiction while I was looking for lore explainers. I didn’t even think of myself as a fanfiction sort of guy. But holy wow. I got hooked. There’s a lot of it, and the BEST of it is unspeakably good - as good or better of an emotional experience as the games themselves, and gives you more time with this incredible setting and with these fantastic characters. Great for filling that Mass-Effect-shaped hole.
If you’re curious, I’m happy to suggest some top-tier ones to read. As it happens I’m also a committed Liaramancer, so she’s overrepresented among what I’ve read and can recommend to boot.
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u/Critical-Tourist4787 11h ago
Huh, interesting. Never felt much attraction to fanfic but I'm intrigued. Definitely send the recs!
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u/breadfucks 10h ago
I just finished Sunday 😔 I’m thinking about restarting and making opposite choices/going full renegade
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ant1805 7h ago
I get you. Nearest was Neverwinter Nights, and dealing with character of Aribeth. But nothing hits you losing team to Collectors in that ship. I restarted entire chapter to get back Tali and Thane.
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u/DakIsStrange 14h ago
Time is definitely the answer. I remember when I first finished the trilogy, I immediately started a new run the next day. I was just too hooked!
Funny though, that feeling you mentioned about it feeling wrong to just start again, that was my experience with Cyberpunk. I got so emotionally attached to my V and invested in her journey, I couldn't get into another playthrough no matter how hard I tried.