Limited resources are a huge friggin pain in the ass if they truly are limited in some sort of long-term way. Prime example: the Resident Evil games prior to number 4. Another example: Homeworld 2, where the stress of needing to worry about long-term resource management with the potential of utterly destroying an entire campaign made me stop playing the game.
If the resource in question is limited for a short period of time, it's less stressful, more easily controlled by the designers. So in Mass Effect: the ammo isn't really limited. You get enough to pretty much refill all your ammo at the end of every battle, and if you somehow do run out 100%, your squadmates will just hand ammo over to you. At most, your ammo is limited on a battle per battle basis, which eliminates most of the stress but preserves the pressure to conserve, switch weapons, and move around to grab ammo.
In my experience so far, of course. I'm roughly halfway through the game (I think... just finished Horizon), so some of this might change.
And for me, I really am switching weapons a lot more than I ever did in the first game. ME1: I used the battle rifle or whatever it was called, pretty much exclusively. This time, I'm using every weapon in my arsenal. And one of the reasons for this is because I actually do run out of ammo in one of my guns in many battles.
EDIT: And I'm playing on Veteran.
If the resource in question is limited for a short period of time, it's less stressful, more easily controlled by the designers. So in Mass Effect: the ammo isn't really limited. You get enough to pretty much refill all your ammo at the end of every battle, and if you somehow do run out 100%, your squadmates will just hand ammo over to you. At most, your ammo is limited on a battle per battle basis, which eliminates most of the stress but preserves the pressure to conserve, switch weapons, and move around to grab ammo.
In my experience so far, of course. I'm roughly halfway through the game (I think... just finished Horizon), so some of this might change.
And for me, I really am switching weapons a lot more than I ever did in the first game. ME1: I used the battle rifle or whatever it was called, pretty much exclusively. This time, I'm using every weapon in my arsenal. And one of the reasons for this is because I actually do run out of ammo in one of my guns in many battles.
EDIT: And I'm playing on Veteran.
This message last edited by lord-of-shadow on 03/02/2010 at 04:44:48 PM
Why not? Let's have a Mass Effect thread.
02/02/2010 05:02:32 PM
- 3614 Views
Character discussion: Mordin Solus
02/02/2010 06:28:41 PM
- 1852 Views
Mordin Solus is great
02/02/2010 08:21:26 PM
- 1277 Views
Actually, that's what happened to me too.
02/02/2010 08:33:22 PM
- 1409 Views
The Illusive man
02/02/2010 08:34:09 PM
- 1478 Views
I didn't even realize that's who he was.
02/02/2010 08:44:07 PM
- 1406 Views
"I'm having trouble hearing you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line." *NM*
02/02/2010 09:34:53 PM
- 691 Views
Who is sharing your bed?
02/02/2010 09:42:09 PM
- 1406 Views
Tali for my male Shepherd
04/02/2010 03:52:03 PM
- 1291 Views
Does she take the helmet off? *NM*
04/02/2010 07:57:18 PM
- 718 Views
I went simple - Miranda.
07/02/2010 06:32:25 AM
- 1207 Views
Which reminds me that I always wondered...
07/02/2010 11:54:14 AM
- 1322 Views
You probably wouldn't be able to woo anyone by being a total dick. *NM*
07/02/2010 03:32:41 PM
- 690 Views
I was lucky enough to meet the game's producer... (No spoilers)
02/02/2010 10:58:59 PM
- 1441 Views
No spoilers here either, as per my rules. Regarding the ammo:
03/02/2010 04:51:54 AM
- 1261 Views
On limited resources...
03/02/2010 04:33:10 PM
- 1269 Views
I just want to be part of this....that said, Best Buy is no longer selling ME:1
02/02/2010 11:16:51 PM
- 1405 Views
Could well be.
03/02/2010 04:52:49 AM
- 1158 Views
Glad the PC version was $50, at the risk of sounding like a snob.
03/02/2010 04:01:52 PM
- 1200 Views
Mass Effect 1 vs 2: RPG-shooter vs Shooter-rpg (This is for you, Cymbaline!) (No spoilers)
02/02/2010 11:28:24 PM
- 1375 Views
The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
03/02/2010 11:27:55 PM
- 1336 Views
Re: The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
04/02/2010 04:59:54 AM
- 1233 Views
Re: The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
04/02/2010 06:16:29 AM
- 1339 Views
Well. . .somewhat, I guess.
04/02/2010 06:43:02 AM
- 1356 Views
Re: Well. . .somewhat, I guess.
04/02/2010 03:32:26 PM
- 1294 Views
You know what? I'll actually buy that. I appreciate the explanation.
04/02/2010 06:30:37 PM
- 1114 Views
A couple of more things......
16/02/2010 12:41:19 AM
- 1355 Views
Game was too easy, primary plotline too short
04/02/2010 09:03:52 PM
- 1286 Views
Nice. I'm playing through on Insanity now, and I think it's a good challenge.
05/02/2010 02:17:02 AM
- 1191 Views
Whats your character build?
05/02/2010 02:45:31 PM
- 1450 Views
Ok, so male or female Shepherd?
05/02/2010 01:50:23 AM
- 1217 Views
Hm. This brings up a thought.
05/02/2010 01:52:37 AM
- 1159 Views
Male for my first playthrough, female for my second.
05/02/2010 02:28:24 AM
- 1317 Views
Male so far. I plan on playing the female Shepard next playthrough. *NM*
05/02/2010 03:25:00 AM
- 739 Views
Your Teams, and Your Deaths.
07/02/2010 06:30:25 AM
- 1140 Views
Re: Your Teams, and Your Deaths.
07/02/2010 09:07:17 AM
- 1327 Views
Do you know...
07/02/2010 03:46:59 PM
- 1145 Views
Re: Do you know...
07/02/2010 04:31:29 PM
- 1225 Views
Awesome. Thanks! *NM*
07/02/2010 04:40:59 PM
- 719 Views
Yeah, that's what I did.
07/02/2010 06:37:50 PM
- 1096 Views
Hmmm...
09/02/2010 03:48:48 PM
- 1173 Views
Strange.
09/02/2010 04:19:04 PM
- 1223 Views
me too
13/02/2010 03:01:05 PM
- 1213 Views
Did you do Legion's loyalty mission?
15/02/2010 05:52:36 AM
- 1312 Views
I did, for what it's worth.
15/02/2010 07:26:38 AM
- 1239 Views
Gah. Then I wonder if loyalty of the rest of the crew has something to do with it.
15/02/2010 04:20:13 PM
- 1206 Views
I have come across a big problem.
07/02/2010 06:53:36 PM
- 1253 Views
Want FREE Mass Effect 2 DLC? ME 2! (har, har) Bioware bonus goodies detailed inside.
09/02/2010 07:03:23 PM
- 1372 Views
Now if only the DLC armors didn't have helmets.
09/02/2010 07:26:47 PM
- 1157 Views
Of course, the Shotgun is released AFTER I beat my Vanguard *sigh*
09/02/2010 11:31:13 PM
- 1232 Views
It's nice, but you don't miss much if you already had the Claymore shotty w/ an ammo upgrade. *NM*
10/02/2010 05:16:00 AM
- 668 Views
Anyone find anything interesting about Zaeed Massani?
11/02/2010 09:08:16 PM
- 1250 Views
I enjoy Zaeed.
11/02/2010 09:22:39 PM
- 1204 Views
I'm near your spot in the story and completely agree. One-sided conversations, but worthwhile. *NM*
11/02/2010 10:20:47 PM
- 598 Views
Yeah, I've listened to him alot but it's the same stuff every time.
12/02/2010 03:14:11 PM
- 1159 Views
Who, what, where? *NM*
22/02/2010 08:18:31 PM
- 628 Views
If you bought a new copy of the game, it came with a code for the "Cerberus Network"
22/02/2010 08:22:18 PM
- 1164 Views
Is there a way to install the game on the Xbox, so you don't have to switch discs?
12/02/2010 01:39:07 AM
- 1193 Views
Good ones have two discs, of course. DVDs can only hold so much. *NM*
12/02/2010 02:46:39 AM
- 627 Views
This is the first I've ever seen. *NM*
12/02/2010 02:51:34 AM
- 659 Views
I've never understood why people are unhappy with the multiple discs.
12/02/2010 04:18:42 AM
- 1199 Views
So far, so great!
12/02/2010 08:35:00 AM
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Re: So far, so great!
12/02/2010 02:31:43 PM
- 1278 Views
Re: So far, so great!
16/02/2010 10:17:12 PM
- 1227 Views
Nope, I was referring to honest-to-goodness cheating. lol
16/02/2010 11:03:53 PM
- 1271 Views
Ahh, I just figured you were on console as I am, so.....the grind will continue I guess *NM*
17/02/2010 06:41:59 PM
- 711 Views
I love the detail put into this game.
12/02/2010 02:58:35 PM
- 1153 Views
"Our amino acids aren't even compatable so there's no risk if we go natural."
12/02/2010 03:15:50 PM
- 1206 Views
Re: "Our amino acids aren't even compatable so there's no risk if we go natural."
12/02/2010 07:16:21 PM
- 1133 Views
"Technically we don't even have sex drives... oh, she is rather flexible...." *NM*
12/02/2010 07:20:53 PM
- 655 Views
Female Turians....
12/02/2010 09:05:39 PM
- 1130 Views
Nope. Don't exist in-game.
14/02/2010 01:47:23 AM
- 1097 Views
I believe a krogan female is shown once.
14/02/2010 02:03:27 AM
- 1183 Views
No I don't think that's right.
14/02/2010 08:54:32 AM
- 1111 Views
Asari
15/02/2010 06:51:10 AM
- 1238 Views
Not really.
15/02/2010 10:41:54 PM
- 1163 Views
Though it is fun seeing the asari coupled with basically every race under the sun.
15/02/2010 10:54:41 PM
- 1188 Views
The final verdict
22/02/2010 08:06:12 PM
- 1201 Views
By the way, my game was surprisingly buggy
23/02/2010 08:49:28 AM
- 1294 Views
A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 06:40:35 AM
- 1292 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 12:28:29 PM
- 1126 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 04:57:43 PM
- 1182 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
28/02/2010 12:34:31 AM
- 1231 Views
A vital part of role-playing is forcing the player to deal with the consequences of their actions
27/02/2010 11:53:56 PM
- 1461 Views
Admittedly, my post was somewhat stream-of-consciousness.
28/02/2010 03:28:02 AM
- 1157 Views