Mass Effect WITHOUT Charm or Intimidate? (spoilers, somewhat)
OK. I've seen people play both the original Mass Effect and its sequel now. I was impressed with both, but especially impressed with the latter. I have issues with both, and I guess because ME2 is so much better in many ways I feel like it could be even better, especially how the final mission was executed. That's not why I'm writing this, though. I'm writing this as a challenge to people who a...
OK. I've seen people play both the original Mass Effect and its sequel now. I was impressed with both, but especially impressed with the latter. I have issues with both, and I guess because ME2 is so much better in many ways I feel like it could be even better, especially how the final mission was executed.
That's not why I'm writing this, though. I'm writing this as a challenge to people who are considering repeating one or both of the games.
One of the mechanics I was never a big fan of was the use of Charm or Intimidate as a cure-all solution to a problem. The reaction buttons in ME2 are awesome, I think, since there is still that pressure of not knowing the consequences of the result, and it may not be what you wanted, but you only have a few seconds to do anything about it. Great stuff. But the Charm and Intimidate dialogue choices feel like they are more powerful, like you were using the Force to influence someone in Star Wars, and they sort of end conversations and make everyone happy (or afraid).
My challenge is to not use Charm or Intimidate AT ALL during the game, and see what happens.
You definitely won't be able to get as far in certain ways, and certain avenues will be closed to you, but I'm wondering what sort of hand you're dealt if you refuse to use influence. What sort of game is Mass Effect without being able to push people around too much verbally?
That's the way you do it If I ever have the games myself I'll definitely try that first, but I thought I'd throw that suggestion out there. Anyone who's beaten the second game, what do you think might happen?
It might be a fun exercise, it might be boring, it's hard to tell because I know of no one who's tried.
If anyone comments on this, they're likely to have spoilers, so don't comment here or even read the comments if you want to charge into Mass Effect with no impressions of what's to come. The above spoiler guards are for relatively minor ones about structure and one specific event, but I put them up there just in case.