Oblivion OR Mass Effect

Bonzer Jaguar · 20-11-2009, 2:46 PM

OK so I'm a few years behind everyone else when it comes to playing Xbox games I tend to buy a lot of games yet never get round to playing them.

Now I've got these two sat on my shelf and I'm determined to get started on one of them this weekend and hopefully get into the game.

Which one would be more likely to be easy to get into and pick up and play for say an hour at a time whilst playing alongside other games.

mdkdue · 20-11-2009, 2:48 PM

To be honest mate, my personal opinion is neither. I own them both and found them both equally as dull.

smallclanger · 20-11-2009, 2:49 PM

I would say Oblivion is the easiest to get into, it's more open play that ME.

I have played both and enjoyed both. Played Oblivion for endless hours and borrowed Mass Effect and enjoyed that too although I never got round to finishing it.

Munkey Boy · 20-11-2009, 2:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdkdue

To be honest mate, my personal opinion is neither. I own them both and found them both equally as dull.

Any constructive alternatives for the OP?

Bonzer Jaguar · 20-11-2009, 2:53 PM

Cheers for the responses so far. I like the look of the preview's for Mass Effect 2, will that follow on from 1 or could I play 2 independently and still grasp what's going on?

Paul_T · 20-11-2009, 3:22 PM

Mass Effect is quite good but requires multiple play throughs to see / do everything.

Oblivion is very good also, if I was to choose between the 2 I'd go with that, but I'd seriously consider Fallout 3 as an alternative to both of them.

Bonzer Jaguar · 20-11-2009, 3:30 PM

Started Fallout 3 a while back, didn't like it much, but may pick it up again once I've done with the pile of games i've already accumulated.

Andy58 · 20-11-2009, 3:31 PM

I think you'll need to play ME1 to FULLY appreciate whats going on in ME2.
The snag is that ME1 is a bit of a slow burner and doesn't really get going until a few hours in...
If you can, give ME1 a go is my advice.

Oblivion is a longer, huge game thats maybe more playable on and off but as I've started confusing myself over this advice, I'll shut up now.

Stream62 · 20-11-2009, 3:41 PM

I personally much preffered Oblivion, did enjoy ME but Oblivion was better.

However it depends how much time you have to spare, i spent 100+ hours playing Oblivion and didn't play any of the DLC, Whereas with ME it took a lot less time (maybe 25hrs can't quite remember).

Oblivion is more an open play RPG with a overriding story behind it, ME is much more storyline led.

Anyhow, enough waffle go for Oblivion

Paul_T · 20-11-2009, 3:43 PM

I think all 3 do need a few hours play to get them to open up - Fallout to escape the Vault, Oblivion to get out of the sewers and Mass Effect to get the Normandy (thats the starship).

With both F3 & Oblivion, I started them, them left them for months before trying again and then they both took over my life - my gametime on F3 was around 75 hours inc all the DLC - Oblivion was close to double that...

AgentCool · 20-11-2009, 9:15 PM

I couldn't get interested in 'Oblivion' or 'Fallout 3' but absolutely loved 'Mass Effect'. I thought it was a bit dull at first but after 2 or 3 hours I couldn't stop playing and ended up finishing it in less than a week, clocking up over 25 hours in the process.

AVRocky · 20-11-2009, 10:02 PM

Mass Effect is probably the best game I've played this generation. The visuals, gameplay and especially narrative is stunning. The only negative - and it is small - is that some of the minor unrelated side missions tend to have a repetitive environment but this is only highlighted by the richness of quality of the main game itself. I haven't played Oblivion but I can't compare however if you had to choose between the side - considering ME2 is on the horizon - I would pick Mass Effect.

The "cut-scenes" are a sight to behold as well. Despite what you may hear, it is not difficult to play. Like any BioWare game you will be engulfed by choices and options at the start but you quickly get the grips of it within an hour or two

Dinky Dragon · 20-11-2009, 10:25 PM

Bioshock...

If not, Oblivion.

But neither of those games are playable in 1 hour intervals!

jonnydynamite · 20-11-2009, 10:28 PM

I sunk a heck of a lot of time in Oblivion and as much as I loved it I would pick Mass Effect. It is a bit tighter and more cinematic at the loss of some freedom. Oblivion was a bit tough to start with and you seem to start off quite underpowered and I struggled to kill rats ME I at least felt like I could kick some ass at the start.

rockmonkey1973 · 21-11-2009, 1:59 AM

I think it depends what you prefer in a game. If you like freedom then oblivion if you like stories then mass effect. If it was me i would choose oblivion but i have to say from my experience i think bethesda games are just better rpgs than biowares in that they suit more my style of play.

I personally invested about 200 hours in oblivion but i like playing with spells and enchanting stuff and being able to kill virtually anybody. Loved the game and it is absolutely massive. You can do all sorts of mad stuff in oblivion. For instance you can kill people with poison apples by reverse pickpocketing them onto your victim and then just wait around till they eat them. Also some of the scenery is truely stunning. I loved the game.

I spent about 45 hours on mass effect. IMO the two real downsides to mass effect are that no matter how hard you try you can only kill the bad guys and the planets that you visit are all the same with next to nothing on them. Very repetitive and really boring. The side quests are also not very engrossing. The only reason i did them was for the xp and loot. Great main story though and the main areas are very well done and make great eye candy. Ultimately though you dont have the choice or freedom that you will find in oblivion. I didnt love this but i enjoyed it and think it is well worth a play through.

As others have said fallout 3 is worth another go. My favourite game ever and worth going back to even though you didnt like it. I nearly sold my copy as i thought it was a pile of pony before i gave it a second chance and once i did i was truely hooked line and sinker The sort of game that you start to play at ten o clock at night and before you know it light is shining through the windows. Wasted hours of my life running around the wasteland. About as good as rpgs get imo.

*dan25730* · 21-11-2009, 8:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentCool

I couldn't get interested in 'Oblivion' or 'Fallout 3' but absolutely loved 'Mass Effect'. I thought it was a bit dull at first but after 2 or 3 hours I couldn't stop playing and ended up finishing it in less than a week, clocking up over 25 hours in the process.

That was my experience. Oblivion and Fallout were too big for me and I just got lost and frustrated (not much patience you see). I loved Mass Effect, at first it seemed a bit slow and I almost shelved it but then it got me in its grasp and I think I’ve played through it 3 times now!. Can't wait for the second, I would definitely play through 1 if your thinking of getting 2.

*Haggler* · 21-11-2009, 11:32 AM

Without knocking mass effect any more as me and it don't see eye to eye, i'd go for oblivion, an awesome game which is massive and offers a freedom nothing can match.

Yes you can play for a quick hour but will accomplish nothing, but trying to outrun the castle guards by running like the clappers, trying to make it to and hiding in the sea is gaming bliss.

Don't forget there are loads of expansions available for this now too, or you could just pick up the goty edition.