Mass Effect Vs. The Elder Scrolls - Video Game Showdown
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VOICE OVER: Dan
These two franchises are the best rated modern RPG experiences today. That's right, we're talking about Mass Effect and The Elder Scrolls. Only one can be crowned the king, and to come to a decision we have evaluated the two based on five rounds. These include deciding which has the better depth of universe, story, character customizability, gameplay and replay value. Let the battle begin! Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as these two RPG titans go head to head.
Video Game Showdown: Mass Effect Vs. Elder Scrolls
They’re the best rated modern RPG franchises. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and for this show down, it’s Mass Effect vs Elder Scrolls.
Both Bioware and Bethesda have created entirely new worlds for their games to take place in. Despite the fantasy setting of one and the sci-fi setting of the other, the similarities in this category are numerous.
This is a tough one. Both have a wide array of races specific to their universe. Not only does each game have a variety of shapes and sizes for their characters, but both have histories and habits attached to their races that give these universes incredible depth. From the disappearance of the dwarves in Tamriel to the Genophage of the Krogan, such rich lore allows both games to weave topics like racism and prejudice into the narratives their players partake in.
Unfair though it may sound, since it’s got 5 games worth of lore under it’s belt, we’re going to have to give Elder Scrolls the nod. How does that make you feel Shepard?
Winner: The Elder Scrolls
Elder Scrolls frequently has the protagonist becoming a sort of messiah, or, in the case of Oblivion, the Messiah’s best friend. While there is plenty of room to swing the moral pendulum throughout Tamriel, completing the main story always results in you vanquishing the bad guys (or bad gods). In world and universe where you can choose to play however you wish, there is surprisingly very little choice in this respect.
This is where Mass Effect shines. While many criticized its polarizing choice system, it cannot be argued that the choices that you do make have major consequences on the Universe. Characters die, allegiances are shattered and the way it all raps up all depends on …well…whether you wanna be nice or not. It’s this masterful variability that gives Mass Effect the win in this gategory.
Winner: Mass Effect
For the roleplaying gamer, it’s all about having it your way. Character glasses and gender aside, In MassEffect the player is always Shepard. While much of the character development comes from speech choices, many players realized that they are forced to stick to using only Paragon or only Renegade conversation options in order to unlock the high level speech options, which arguably removes choice from the game entirely.
Elder scrolls on the other hand, is a roleplayer’s dream. 8 races, an unrestrictive class system and access to every skill in the game for all characters is just the beginning . And did we mention the gear? Because in Mass Effect 1, the gear system is bloated and cumbersome, while in #2 its non existant.
Elder Scrolls gets the point here. Mass Effect might have options, but all those options are Shepard.
Winner: The Elder Scrolls
This is tough one. Mass Effect has tighter gameplay, but it’s a very linear experience. Elder Scrolls is about as open as it gets, but it’s combat is lose and the UI is loser. Mass Effect succeeds because of it’s simplicity, and Elder Scrolls because of its complexity.
Elder Scrolls gets massive credit for being so ambitious and succeeding for the most part. However, Mass Effect’s gameplay offers less freedom and variety but is substantially tighter, so it gets the nod. Oh, and you can make mini black holes too: always good.
Winner: Mass Effect
To some, if an RPG doesn’t take at least 50 hours of your life away, it’s not worth a minute your time.
Mass Effect is a great game to play a second time. Character bonuses aside, players can try the different classes pick and all the speech options they had to ignore the first time around. However, after a second playthrough, the content is all the same all the fun speech options have been heard (neutral doesn’t count damn it!).
It’s here that ES pulls in really front. All the races, skills and factions are only just the beginning. Maybe you’ll be a vampire this time around? Maybe you’ll try to kill every NPC in the world? There’s always something you haven’t done yet in Tamriel.
Winner: The Elder Scrolls
Are these games uncomparable. Sure. Did we just compare them? You bet. And if you can count, you know that Elder Scrolls in the winner this time. Better luck next time Shep...
They’re the best rated modern RPG franchises. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and for this show down, it’s Mass Effect vs Elder Scrolls.
Part 1:Depth of Universe
Both Bioware and Bethesda have created entirely new worlds for their games to take place in. Despite the fantasy setting of one and the sci-fi setting of the other, the similarities in this category are numerous.
This is a tough one. Both have a wide array of races specific to their universe. Not only does each game have a variety of shapes and sizes for their characters, but both have histories and habits attached to their races that give these universes incredible depth. From the disappearance of the dwarves in Tamriel to the Genophage of the Krogan, such rich lore allows both games to weave topics like racism and prejudice into the narratives their players partake in.
Unfair though it may sound, since it’s got 5 games worth of lore under it’s belt, we’re going to have to give Elder Scrolls the nod. How does that make you feel Shepard?
Winner: The Elder Scrolls
Part 2: Story
What are the odds that saving the world would come down to one person so many times?Elder Scrolls frequently has the protagonist becoming a sort of messiah, or, in the case of Oblivion, the Messiah’s best friend. While there is plenty of room to swing the moral pendulum throughout Tamriel, completing the main story always results in you vanquishing the bad guys (or bad gods). In world and universe where you can choose to play however you wish, there is surprisingly very little choice in this respect.
This is where Mass Effect shines. While many criticized its polarizing choice system, it cannot be argued that the choices that you do make have major consequences on the Universe. Characters die, allegiances are shattered and the way it all raps up all depends on …well…whether you wanna be nice or not. It’s this masterful variability that gives Mass Effect the win in this gategory.
Winner: Mass Effect
Part 3: Character Customizability
For the roleplaying gamer, it’s all about having it your way. Character glasses and gender aside, In MassEffect the player is always Shepard. While much of the character development comes from speech choices, many players realized that they are forced to stick to using only Paragon or only Renegade conversation options in order to unlock the high level speech options, which arguably removes choice from the game entirely.
Elder scrolls on the other hand, is a roleplayer’s dream. 8 races, an unrestrictive class system and access to every skill in the game for all characters is just the beginning . And did we mention the gear? Because in Mass Effect 1, the gear system is bloated and cumbersome, while in #2 its non existant.
Elder Scrolls gets the point here. Mass Effect might have options, but all those options are Shepard.
Winner: The Elder Scrolls
Part 4: Gameplay
This is tough one. Mass Effect has tighter gameplay, but it’s a very linear experience. Elder Scrolls is about as open as it gets, but it’s combat is lose and the UI is loser. Mass Effect succeeds because of it’s simplicity, and Elder Scrolls because of its complexity.
Elder Scrolls gets massive credit for being so ambitious and succeeding for the most part. However, Mass Effect’s gameplay offers less freedom and variety but is substantially tighter, so it gets the nod. Oh, and you can make mini black holes too: always good.
Winner: Mass Effect
Part 5:Replay value
To some, if an RPG doesn’t take at least 50 hours of your life away, it’s not worth a minute your time.
Mass Effect is a great game to play a second time. Character bonuses aside, players can try the different classes pick and all the speech options they had to ignore the first time around. However, after a second playthrough, the content is all the same all the fun speech options have been heard (neutral doesn’t count damn it!).
It’s here that ES pulls in really front. All the races, skills and factions are only just the beginning. Maybe you’ll be a vampire this time around? Maybe you’ll try to kill every NPC in the world? There’s always something you haven’t done yet in Tamriel.
Winner: The Elder Scrolls
Are these games uncomparable. Sure. Did we just compare them? You bet. And if you can count, you know that Elder Scrolls in the winner this time. Better luck next time Shep...
