For those interested in having pictures with their words, Dark Horse's Redemption comic book series is currently available.
[Via Big Download]
For those interested in having pictures with their words, Dark Horse's Redemption comic book series is currently available.
[Via Big Download]
Reader Comments (38)
Posted: Jan 13th 2010 11:37PM (Unverified) said
Torn between my loathing of Karpshyn's novels and my love of Mass Effect. (His game work is fantastic. Dialogue guy I guess)
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 10:52AM FredFredrickson said
Me too - I was hoping for a third novel. This is an insta-buy for me.
Reply
Posted: Jan 15th 2010 3:42AM DarknessBear said
Cool. I'm going to order one of them now... which one should I read first? I don't know the order. Revelation or Ascension?
Reply
Posted: Jan 13th 2010 11:39PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said
I've never gotten into any video game related novels.
I might pick up the Dante's Inferno book though.
/shame
Reply
I might pick up the Dante's Inferno book though.
/shame
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 10:57AM FredFredrickson said
If you like Mass Effect, the novels are a good supplement, and are actually a pretty decent read. They tie all the backstory from before the games together well, and they don't come off as a big gimmick just to milk fans.
Reply
Posted: Jan 13th 2010 11:42PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said
More games should delve into the mythology with novels. It's not comparable but I loved the eye of indra motion comics for Uncharted 2.
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:45AM LuTon James said
It sucks they were a one off. Maybe it's because I am a huge Uncharted fan but I could easily watch a whole series of those, they are amazing.
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 9:55AM RandomZero said
I love video games. I love books. So I obviously adore video game related books. Not so much comic books, but that's because I always forget to go to the comic shop and buy them. I should probably make a note of doing that, though, since I wanna read the ME comic.
Reply
Posted: Jan 13th 2010 11:43PM (Unverified) said
I still haven't pick up the other books (even though I've meant to). Are they any good? Are they worth reading for a complete Mass Effect universe nerd like myself?
Probably. But I would like to hear some of my fellow gamers' opinion on these novels.
Reply
Probably. But I would like to hear some of my fellow gamers' opinion on these novels.
Posted: Jan 13th 2010 11:46PM TheDarkWayne said
would it be safe to skip the first one? Cause that was a prequel right? But the one err, Retribution? Redemption? Whatever one with the people running away on the cover, that's in between game 1 and 2 right?
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:11AM piez said
First was "Revelation." It's focused around the Saren and Anderson thing that happened before Mass Effect. I suppose you could skip it, as it doesn't have any direct attachment to Mass Effect 2.
Second was "Ascension." How this one directly ties in to Mass Effect 2 is unknown, but it does have the Illusive Man. It does fall in between Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.
Reply
Second was "Ascension." How this one directly ties in to Mass Effect 2 is unknown, but it does have the Illusive Man. It does fall in between Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:41AM Nier said
@Wayne: From what I remember, the first novel introduces one of the main characters of the second novel, so if you want to be in the know, it's good to read. The books are short and easy to read. Large print, maybe 250 pages or so.
The second is very essential to the plot of both ME2 and the new novel. It introduces a lot of things that we'll be seeing in ME2.
Reply
The second is very essential to the plot of both ME2 and the new novel. It introduces a lot of things that we'll be seeing in ME2.
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 3:48AM Chief Oddball said
Having read both, I would say you could probably skip the first one. It does make for an interesting read if you're curious how Saren found out about Sovereign and the Reapers in the first place, but if you've already finished ME1, you know how that turned out.
Yes, one of the major characters in the second book was introduced in the first book. However, the stories are so different and set so far apart (in-universe time) that the introduction simply gives you a deeper perspective on her character. Book 1 isn't required reading, IMO.
On top of that: Although Drew penned both books, I found the first one fairly dry and procedural, even amateurish at times, while the second was far more compelling. I had trouble putting the second book down.
Reply
Yes, one of the major characters in the second book was introduced in the first book. However, the stories are so different and set so far apart (in-universe time) that the introduction simply gives you a deeper perspective on her character. Book 1 isn't required reading, IMO.
On top of that: Although Drew penned both books, I found the first one fairly dry and procedural, even amateurish at times, while the second was far more compelling. I had trouble putting the second book down.
Posted: Jan 13th 2010 11:45PM TheDarkWayne said
I hate tie in books, I feel like I have to read them so I know what's going on in the games. Particularly the Dragon Age ones because the bad guy in that is the bad guy in the xpac. But they're usually shitty and I have games to play!
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 9:08AM Vcize said
I think Mass Effect does a good job making them so they aren't necessary for the story, but they add a neat little bonus for those that read them. The first book wasn't really necessary for the first game at all, but it was cool to know Saren's background and cool to see little things like Anderson briefly mentioning that he has a history with Saren (which is what the whole first book was about). It's really just a one liner in the game that's not that signifiicant, but it was cool to be like "hey, I remember that."
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 9:55AM RandomZero said
I'm gonna have to agree with Vcize. The books I felt weren't a necessary read, you could easily play the games without them and not lose anything. But if you read them, they help "flesh out" the little universe you're running around in. Then again, I'm a book nerd, I just may be a little biased. :)
Reply
Posted: Jan 13th 2010 11:51PM (Unverified) said
...Karpyshyn can write good books, particularly the Darth Bane novels, but the Mass Effect books just weren't that good. Maybe the Halo novels set too high of a standard. I think I'd only pick this up on sale.
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:04AM Nate Addison said
This just in!!!!....obsolete ways are once again all the rage...Apple unveils new iStone Slab, complete with chisel. Also notable, Microsoft is releasing an anniversary edition of Windows '95. Lastly, Nintendo has just announced the release of Duck Hunt 2 on WiiWare in Q4 2010...hahahaha...books. I understand Elder Scrolls and Dante's Inferno but enough already.
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:08AM Bubbameister33 said
Are you saying you hate books or just tie-in books?
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 9:55AM RandomZero said
Uh...Mass Effect had book tie-ins quite a bit before Elder Scrolls and Dante's Inferno even thought about it.
I see what you're saying, ya know, "DOWN WITH READING!"...it's just...how do I say this...foolish?
Reply
I see what you're saying, ya know, "DOWN WITH READING!"...it's just...how do I say this...foolish?
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:08AM Special Agent Steve said
OMFG IT'S ELLEN!!!!!
I.... LOVE... your show.
Reply
I.... LOVE... your show.
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:14AM sonicspike41 said
Ellen is a whore!
http://milkybarkids.blogspot.com/2009/06/tiltmenot.html#c4874548393795816393
http://www.internetbingoblog.com/2009/06/swine-flu-causing-bingo-hall-closures/#comment-1012
http://www.takefreebonus.com/no-deposit/luck3-casino-50-no-deposit-casino-bonus/#comment-2277
Tsk tsk Ellen. Been spreading yourself around the net a bit have you? I hope your DSL line has a condom.
Reply
http://milkybarkids.blogspot.com/2009/06/tiltmenot.html#c4874548393795816393
http://www.internetbingoblog.com/2009/06/swine-flu-causing-bingo-hall-closures/#comment-1012
http://www.takefreebonus.com/no-deposit/luck3-casino-50-no-deposit-casino-bonus/#comment-2277
Tsk tsk Ellen. Been spreading yourself around the net a bit have you? I hope your DSL line has a condom.
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 12:16AM (Unverified) said
Yeah, I bet AOL will take you right up on that...
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 9:06AM Vcize said
So wait, I'm confused. Will this book take place between ME1 and ME2 or will it take place before all the Mass Effect lore we have so far?
Usually when you hear the term prequel it refers to being before all the books/movies/games we have already, but if this deals with Reaper technology that doesn't make sense since it wasn't discovered until the first book.
Reply
Usually when you hear the term prequel it refers to being before all the books/movies/games we have already, but if this deals with Reaper technology that doesn't make sense since it wasn't discovered until the first book.
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 9:58AM RandomZero said
What I got from it is that it takes place between Ascension and ME2. (I'm guessing)
And when they talk about dealing with Reaper technology, well, after ME1's huge space battle, I'm sure A) everyone knows about them now, and/or B) piece of Sovereign are probably floating around somewhere. Maybe the Illusive Man found some wreckage, or stole some from the Alliance/Council. I'm just throwing things out there.
Reply
And when they talk about dealing with Reaper technology, well, after ME1's huge space battle, I'm sure A) everyone knows about them now, and/or B) piece of Sovereign are probably floating around somewhere. Maybe the Illusive Man found some wreckage, or stole some from the Alliance/Council. I'm just throwing things out there.
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 10:48AM RandomZero said
I see what you mean (I hadn't noticed the very top of the book cover before I first commented), but I'm still thinking it means ME2 prequel...just...poorly worded. That's how I'm choosing to interpret it though. Either way, I'm gonna get it and read the holy hell out of it. :-p
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 10:53AM RandomZero said
Then again, what with it not coming out until July (which has taken my brain this long to realize is 6 months away), I can't be sure what it is a "prequel" to. The other two novels have come out before the games. This one would be after. Maybe it IS a whole series prequel, and Cerberus found Reaper tech before everyone else. They WOULD be the type to keep it to themselves.
Reply
Posted: Jan 14th 2010 4:43PM Axcalibur said
I'm enjoying the Mass Effect Books right now. Probably wait until this new book comes out before playing Mass Effect 2 (since this book is a prequel). It's ashame the powers that be didn't think of this in advance. A prequel book would have been sweet to tie us over during the Christmas break before Mass Effect 2's release. Now Bioware will have one less sale until the summer (and the game will probably drop below the standard yet ridiculous $69.99 CDN by that time too!).
Reply
Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.
Featured Stories
Dark Side 'Cause It Looks Cool: The Failings of Moral Choice in Games
Posted on Feb 10th 2012 7:45PM
The most popular posts
in the last 7 days
- Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 221 comments
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 155 comments
- Blizzard taking Valve to court over 'DOTA' trademark 115 comments
- David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 107 comments
- Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
