I Wish I Liked Space
From as far back as I can remember I’ve had a gross dislike towards anything space related. My ex was fixated on the genre, and often I’d have to sit through episodes of Battlestar Gallactica, completely depressed and cursing myself for not investing in a second TV for the bedroom. Then there’s movies. The only sc-fi movie I’ve ever been able to stomach - and actually rather enjoyed - was 2001: A Space Odyssey, but only because I had to write an essay on it for college, otherwise I would never have given it a look-in. Unfortunately, my dislike towards anything space related even extends to video games. When people talk about KOTOR and what an accomplishment it was, all I can think about is the hugely uninspiring environment I would find myself playing in. I couldn’t even bring myself to finish Lego Star Wars!
It’s only now, and the reason why that is I’ll get to in a minute, that I’m genuinely wishing I enjoyed science fiction. Here’s why, and it’s pretty simple. Four words, in fact: Mass Effect, Dead Space. The former has been out for quite a while, sure, and it must be good, otherwise my friends wouldn’t have badgered the life out of me to buy it/borrow it. I don’t just mean one friend either, but pretty much anyone I know who games on the 360 had nothing but praise for Mass Effect. And there were the reviews, of course, that commended the game and shot down my initial skepticism (”It’s too ambitious! They’ll never pull it off!”).
Technically speaking, Mass Effect is everything I love about video games. For starters, it’s a Role Playing Game, which I’ve made no qualms about loving (though I am way more partial to turn-based than action). It’s part of a trilogy, therefore it has that ‘epic’ feel that I love to see in video games. The main quest itself takes 20-30 hours to complete (according to 1up), and I would never leave the side quests uncompleted, so there’s plenty of game time to be had. Great! Then there’s the issue of morality, which I only wrote about very recently, and the option to choose how you respond to NPC’s. Ooh, and a sex scene! I’m getting excited just by talking about it - the game that is, not the sex scene. So why won’t I bite the bullet and buy Mass Effect? Because it has planets and stuff, duh…
Dead Space, which is due to be released in October, looks to be pretty stellar judging by the trailers. The first time I saw screenshots I felt that subtle wave of excitement you get when there’s a game on the horizon you think could be something great, but you’re holding onto your reservations because you don’t want to build up too much expectations so early on in a game’s development. You know that feeling, right? Anyway, the concept is really interesting, and the gore factor is pretty high (I may be a woman, but I do like my fair share of blood and guts). Plus, even just from watching the trailers you can feel that this game is going to be hugely atmospheric - possibly on par with Bioshock in that department. Regardless, I quickly shot it down. After all, as the title suggests, it’s set in space.
Going back to Mass Effect briefly, I know I can now pick it up for not far off a tenner. Even if it did turn out to miss the spot, what exactly have I got to lose? The more I think about it, the more I feel I may be able to side step the fact there won’t be a pretty blue sky and shining sun on the horizon. And you never know, both Mass Effect and Dead Space could turn over a new leaf for me. I could end up becoming a sci-fi junkie. I highly doubt it, but you never know…
Tags: Bioshock, Dead Space, Mass Effect, Sci-Fi
This is where I, Ashley Baxter, blog about gaming. At the moment my primary console is the Xbox 360, so expect the topic of conversation to revolve around that.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:32 am
Argh. Battlestar Galactica (one L), the recent remake, is amazing television. The game was rubbish, fair enough. But why write off an entire plethora of gaming (and film) goodness because there are ‘planets and stuff’?
That’s like me saying I don’t play any games that feature grass or tranquil woodland settings!
Buy Mass Effect right now. Lay aside the fact there won’t be any pretty blue skies with the sun shining, and realise there will be lots of incredible skies of all colours, with lots of suns shining, and planets too. Just because it’s not *our* sun shouldn’t make a difference! Damn it, you can even go and see our sun if you miss it that much!
Throw in beautiful scenery and gorgeous vistas, incredible gameplay, a great story, and it being one of the best 360 games *ever* in one of your favourite genres and why exactly are you still reading?
Go!
Shoo!
Don’t forget your £10.
And pick up Season 1 of Battlestar Galactica while you’re at it and watch some of the best sci-fi writing of recent times. Rather that than watching Entourage. I mean, honestly?!
:p
August 21st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
My initial reaction to your post is to say “Jeez, you should just get over your problem with sci-fi settings!”
But to be honest, I guess I can kind of relate. I’m not a big fan of war games/movies/books/etc (wars in space is different, of course - love that to bits). I have zero interest in any WW1 or WW2 games etc.
That said, if there was an RPG that was given awesome reviews and high praise, and been labeled as game-changing, I wouldn’t dismiss it right off the bat. I reckon you should at least check out Mass Effect. It’s a brilliant game and a brilliant piece of art. Easily my favourite game now, played it through three times, and still want to play more. You’re going to have to get over your space-issues though, ’cause there’s a hell of a lot of that in it.
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but sci-fi settings are the ultimate settings to tell stories that relate directly to moral issues and stuff going on in human societies. The settings gives you the ability to tell unrealistic stories in a sense that gives enlightenment to our own culture and society. It’s the ultimate setting for any story, really. There are far less limitations, and the issues tackled are generally more allowed and accepted because the setting is so far-fetched.
It’s interesting, really.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I’m actually like you. I have problems with sci-fi games. But Mass Effect really blew my mind. I really need to play it again.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Loud78: Point taken. I am itching to play Mass Effect after writing a bit about it here and reading up on it lots. It’s official; tomorrow when I visit the supermarket, I’ll snap up a copy of Mass Effect (assuming there is one)!
reemixx: In the past I’ve drummed up a fair bit of debate for not being so hot on sci-fi, but it’s just a difference of opinion and tastes at the end of the day. Some people don’t like westerns, and, like yourself, some people don’t like WW games etc. I am willing to sidestep my dislike of space settings for Mass Effect, though I’ll wait nearer the time to see how Dead Space pans out. I’ve reached the decision that I’ll be buying Mass Effect. After all the praise I think I’d be mad not to.
Alexander: That’s promising to know that as someone who isn’t so keen on the sci-fi genre as well, Mass Effect blew your mind. I reckon I’m sold! (On Mass Effect anyway…)
August 21st, 2008 at 3:53 pm
What Loud78 said! The majority of Mass Effect takes place outdoors, in beautiful lush environments. Sure, it has its share of metal corridors as well, but a great deal of it takes place on planets far more beautiful than our own. The odd alien race will make you snarl your lip with disgust, but there’s so much that’s great about the game that I think you’ll be able to look past them.
Did you watch the developers interviews of Dead Space? That did it for me. At first, I pinned it as a Doom type thriller - shit jumps out at you in the dark. Meh. But I don’t think that will be the case with the majority of the scares. And the whole “strategic dismemberment” thing really has me excited!
August 21st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m not a huge RPG fan. I am, however, a huge sci-fi fan. I haven’t bought Mass Effect yet but I did rent it for a weekend at one point and I liked it quite a bit. The fact that it’s more action based and less turn based is probably one of the reasons I liked it.
I think the reason why games based in space are often popular is because it allows for much more creativity from the creators of the game, and more escapism for the player. You’re not bound to species you find on Earth and you’re not bound to locations that look like they are on Earth. You can create literally any location you can imagine, attach it to a plot, and then let the player roam around the galaxy/universe (depending on the games scale) in whatever manner they like. Oh, and add in some crazy physics effects (Mass Effect’s attempt to lure Star Wars fans over with their version of Force Powers) and you’re good to go. The variation in locations during the game becomes amazing. Sure, Earth based games can have a lot of variation, but with space, one minute you’re on a rainy, forest planet inhabited by giant Wookiees, then you’re on a hot desert planet with two suns fighting hordes of Sand People.
I’ve just finished playing the Star Wars: Force Unleashed demo, and while it’s pretty short, it’s quite fun. Where as in the KOTOR games you’re limited to using your lightsaber and force powers until you’re in a (turn based) combat situation, Force Unleashed lets you use them whenever you want, and because the combat isn’t turn based it flows seamlessly between wandering around and hurling giant metal crates at storm troopers before electrocuting them and slicing them in half with your lightsaber. At one point I hurled a crate down a corridor, knocking over a helpless droid and some guy who was about to shoot me, before it smashed into something which caused a panel in the wall to open and sucked half the stuff in the corridor out into space.
I have a feeling I might be renting Mass Effect again after writing this. I’ve got a craving for some sci-fi action again!
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Matt: Metal corridors sound boring, but the rest sounds very much tolerable! Hehe. Well I’ve just got home with my copy of Mass Effect, so I look forward to experiencing the beautiful environments and such tonight. And no, I have yet to watch the Dead Space developer interview, but I’ll make a point of doing that to see if it sells it to me.
Andy: Wow, you’ve done a good job of making space sound a lot more appealing down to the variation in locations. I’m really looking forward to some exploring in Mass Effect now. I have to admit, however, that I have no idea what Wookies and Sand People are. I look forward to finding out!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
LOL! I thought you’d done a token watch of Star Wars for ‘Harrison Ford purposes’?
Wookies are big hairy creatures in Star Wars. Do you remember Chewie, Han Solo’s co-pilot in Star Wars? (Or, as my (blonde) female uni friend thought he was called, Crunchie).
Sand People are also in Star Wars, and are people who, er, live in the sand.
“These blast points — too accurate for sandpeople. Only imperial stormtroopers are so precise.” Obviously Obi Wan was being sarcastic
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Wookiee (Chewbacca’s species): http://tinyurl.com/29mtpw
Sand Person: http://tinyurl.com/6ze5kf
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 am
Yay for Sci-Fi! My favourite genre, although I haven’t got round to Mass Effect yet, I will be getting Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on release day. Star Wars is the greatest, you must watch them all Ash!!
*Does hand waving guesture*
Seems I don’t have any Force powers myself, really should go get some sleep . . .
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Loud78 & Andy: Oh, I thought Wookies and Sand People were in Mass Effect. I have watched Star Wars, just for some Harrison Fordage. Mmm! I don’t remember any Sand People or Wookies, though.
Dan: Too busy playing Cars to buy Mass Effect? :p Hehe *runs away*
August 24th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Now that’s just harsh, Cars only took away a day of my life! Ratatouille, on the other hand, will haunt me for years!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hey Ash, just wanted to say your new design is looking gorgeous, just like you. See you very soon!
August 30th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
You guys convinced me! I’ve pre-ordered Dead Space!
September 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
[...] this game was a science fiction based RPG? (And if you don’t know why that would be an issue, I direct you here.) Pretty much the moment the camera panned out to show Shepard admiring Earth from the ship’s [...]
October 10th, 2008 at 10:04 am
[...] something before it’s even made its way to our 360s. After all, as my post regarding my hatred of sci-fi and my consequent love of Mass Effect proved, you can’t judge a book by its cover. But what [...]