Mass Effect 2 - Two More Squadmates

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Mass Effect 2 - Two More Squadmates

Post by Shir'le E. Illios »

BioWare have revealed two more character in Shepard’s Dirty Dozen (i.e. your squadmates). But before we get to them first [url=http://uk.xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/ ... l:1t8f82cj]an interview with BioWare’s Dr. Greg Zeschuk[/url:1t8f82cj]; here’s an excerpt:

[quote:1t8f82cj][b:1t8f82cj]GameSpy:[/b:1t8f82cj] With Mass Effect, do you wish you had something similar to the Dragon Age Toolset and builder community? Some way for the players to expand upon this universe you've created?

[b:1t8f82cj]Greg Zeschuk:[/b:1t8f82cj] Mass Effect's a different experience. That's one of the interesting things for us, is that Mass 2 is such a cinematic extravaganza. I just finished Mass Effect 2 this past weekend, and I'm playing it again. It's just a roller coaster extraordinaire. It's the kind of game that is just different, and fans will have the ingenuity to figure out some of the creative stuff. But I think it just seems more natural, the whole builder concept is more natural to the Dragon Age franchise. For some reason it just seems like it fits there, maybe it's our own history of creating that.

It's not as much a part of [Mass Effect], it just doesn't seem natural for it. One of the things that's exciting is that we want to make these long-term franchises and platforms that have all kinds of different offerings. One thing we're super pumped about is Dragon Age Journeys...

[b:1t8f82cj]GameSpy:[/b:1t8f82cj] The Flash game?

[b:1t8f82cj]Greg Zeschuk:[/b:1t8f82cj] Yeah, it's really good. The guys at EA2D, Mark Spenner and his team, a really good friend of mine made it. It's great and there have been lots of people playing it, pumped about it. What's cool is, it's definitely not just like our Dragon Age, but what's funny with 2D Flash, is this is what Dragon Age is, it's different, but it gives you a sense of the world. You go to Orzammar, you go to the Deep Roads, it brings you into the property. It's a unique entry point that will get people into it. I think over the years we'll be able to build these into monolithic entities.[/quote:1t8f82cj]
The rest of the article talks a it about ME2 DLC, about the combat, the shooter aspects, in ME2 and how that has improved over ME1, the characters in ME2, other media possibilities, etc.

Speaking of characters, the first of the two new squadmates that got revealed is Tali (who was also a teammate in ME1 and so far the only confirmed teammate to return as a teammate). GameTrailers [url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/tali- ... 2:1t8f82cj]has a trailer[/url:1t8f82cj]:

[center:1t8f82cj][html] <div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shoc ... on=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap ... 2"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=59492" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object>[/html][/center:1t8f82cj]
The second of the two squadmates that was revealed is a Biotic Asari named Samara whose attitude is only matched by her cup size. GameSpot [url=http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/mass ... o:1t8f82cj]has a trailer video[/url:1t8f82cj]:

[center:1t8f82cj][html] <embed id="mymovie" width="640" height="391" flashvars="mapp=embedded_640&gen=1&uvp=http%3A%2F%2Fvidtech.cbsinteractive.com%2Fplayer%2F1_3_0_1%2FCBSI_PLAYER.swf&adp=http%3A%2F%2Fvidtech.cbsinteractive.com%2Fplugins%2Fadp%2F1_3_0%2FCBSI_AdPlugin.swf&smode=fit&viewMode=sd&autoPlay=false&paramsXML=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.gamespot.com%2Fpages%2Fvideo_player%2Fxml.php%3Fid%3D6241565%26mode%3Dembedded%26width%3D640%26height%3D391%26newplayer%3D1&skinXML=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.com.com%2Fgamespot%2Fimages%2Fcne_flash%2Fproduction%2Feidothea%2Frelease%2FeidotheaEmbedded640_169.xml" wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="always" scale="noScale" salign="lt" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" name="mymovie" style="" src="http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/cn ... dothea.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"/>[/html][/center:1t8f82cj]
GameSpot also has a [url=http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/mass ... s:1t8f82cj]character reveal article[/url:1t8f82cj] where they talk a little bit about the quest you get to pick her up (so some spoilers). Here’s an excerpt:

[quote:1t8f82cj]Our previous looks at Mass Effect 2 have included a run through the [url=http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/mass ... s:1t8f82cj]"seedy den of scum and villainy" known as Omega[/url:1t8f82cj], as well as an [url=http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/mass ... s:1t8f82cj]introduction to the improved combat system[/url:1t8f82cj]. In our latest hands-on with Mass Effect 2, we were introduced to a new character that appears ready to add some depth to one of the galaxy's most important races. If you look back to the original game and conjure up an image of the Asari race--those mysterious blue-skinned humanoids--it's likely you'll either think of them as pure-hearted scientists (your squadmate [Liara T'Soni]) or biotic-wielding villains (Matriarch Benezia). In Mass Effect 2, one of the new party members is an Asari named Samara. She's essentially a lawless vigilante who operates under a strict code outside of government rule--what the game calls a justicar--and she's someone whose motivations are far more mysterious than others of her ilk.[/quote:1t8f82cj]
So that makes eight out of the ten squadmates known (though the last three still haven’t had an official reveal): [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Thane:1t8f82cj]Thane[/url:1t8f82cj], [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Grunt:1t8f82cj]Grunt[/url:1t8f82cj], [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Subject_Zero:1t8f82cj]Subject Zero[/url:1t8f82cj], [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Tali%2 ... a:1t8f82cj]Tali[/url:1t8f82cj], [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Samara:1t8f82cj]Samara[/url:1t8f82cj], [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Mordin_Solus:1t8f82cj]Mordin Solus[/url:1t8f82cj], [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Mirand ... n:1t8f82cj]Miranda[/url:1t8f82cj] and [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Jacob_Taylor:1t8f82cj]Jacob[/url:1t8f82cj]. It’s been speculated that [url=http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Garrus ... n:1t8f82cj]Garrus[/url:1t8f82cj], who was prominently featured in one of the trailers, is a possible squadmate as well. It is known that none of the romantic interests from the first game will be a squadmates (though apparently they will appear in the game if they’re still alive at the end of your Mass Effect playthrough).

Finally Voodoo Extreme has [url=http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/interviews ... A:1t8f82cj]written up an article[/url:1t8f82cj] based on a Q&A with project director Casey Hudson. Here’s an excerpt:

[quote:1t8f82cj]Every single aspect of combat has changed since the first Mass Effect. One of the biggest things you'll notice is the overall feel and performance. Camera aiming, zooming, targeting enemies, it all feels very different. A lot of this comes down to the improved framerate. Initially players will choose weapons by feel, as they all feel very different, and there are more weapons to choose from.

Unlike in ME1, if your character has low skill with a weapon it will not dictate how well you shoot. In ME2 The weapon will fire as well as you can fire, but it will not hinder character progression, which is still there.

A favourite class is the Vanguard, good with both shotguns and powers. One such power allows you to physically launch yourself and hit the enemy. Time will slow down at the point of impact. Powers allow for unique play styles.

Another example would be the Adept. You can remotely control the battlefield. Using the "Pull" ability, you can send out a projectile toward the enemy and it will yank them back to you.

Soldiers have all weapons with the new heavy weapons system, plus use of all weapon mods. Overall there is deeper class variation.[/quote:1t8f82cj]
And that’s it for now.


[[url=http://uk.xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/ ... l:1t8f82cj]link[/url:1t8f82cj]] to interview with Dr. Greg Zeschuk at GameSpy.
[[url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/tali- ... 2:1t8f82cj]link[/url:1t8f82cj]] to Tali trailer video at GameTrailers.
[[url=http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/mass ... o:1t8f82cj]link[/url:1t8f82cj]] to Samara trailer video at GameSpot.
[[url=http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/mass ... s:1t8f82cj]link[/url:1t8f82cj]] to Character Reveal article at GameSpot.
[[url=http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/interviews ... A:1t8f82cj]link[/url:1t8f82cj]] to Q&A with Casey Hudson article at Voodoo Extreme.


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Shir'le
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-= Shir'le E. Illios =-
Chosen of Eilistraee
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