I always thought so 'til I finished my first playthrough, and now my second playthrough of Mass Effect. Apparently when you play the game again after getting the achievments you get more XP, extra abilities, etc... Do other XB360 games do this or is Mass Effect the first game to do so? This is the first time I've seen achievments have an effect on gameplay, by the way...

Not really. 9.999 out of 10 times they do nothing except act as inches on your e-penis.

The question for me is more, "do they even mean bragging rights?"

Not being an online player, I can honestly say I have never looked to see what achievements I have. I see the little icon flash up occasionally, so I know I have some but ... so?

DAJB
The question for me is more, "do they even mean bragging rights?"

Not being an online player, I can honestly say I have never looked to see what achievements I have. I see the little icon flash up occasionally, so I know I have some but ... so?

Exactly.

DAJB
The question for me is more, "do they even mean bragging rights?"

Not being an online player, I can honestly say I have never looked to see what achievements I have. I see the little icon flash up occasionally, so I know I have some but ... so?

For the smug sense of satisfaction you get when you finally kill one thousand sand beetles!

Oh fuck I have no life at all do I?

Custard Trout
Oh fuck I have no life at all do I?

HEY!!

That's my thing, dammit.

All they've done in Mass effect is tie the unlocks to the same system as the achievements. Many games have a system for unlocks that often includes performing certain actions. Most 360 games don't tie it in to the achievement system, but you get the same deal with games on other systems. Like Warhawk for the PS3 which has badges for performing certain goals and getting more badges unlocks different options for customizing your character. Or check most of the 3D fighters where you unlock extra characters by beating the game repeatedly with the initial characters, beating without continuing or playing through certain modes or challenges. Super Smash Brothers, Tekken, Soul Caliber, and even Dead or Alive are all pretty big on the unlockable extras.

So it's not a case of the achievements being anything more than bragging rights, it's just that Mass Effect linked them to the unlocking system. If you check faq sites, you'll see there are no bonuses you earn based on the number of achievement points you've earned. The XP bonus is for beating over 75% of the game. Unlocking weapon proficiencies for your characters comes from using those weapons. They've just tacked on achievement points for accomplishing those goals.

Achievements simply replace the old "high scores," except that it has been n00bified in the lower rungs (so everybody can get a few... kinda like a Vegas table game, to "reel you in"). Also adds some diversified gameplay goals, often asking you to jump thru hoops for the sake of jumping thru hoops.

Basically it's completely retarded and I don't ever glance at them. The only time I go out of the way to complete games, is for unlockable content, or to explore that last area still blacked out on the minimap. Y'know, actual game-related stuff.

Lord Shplane

Custard Trout
Oh fuck I have no life at all do I?

HEY!!

That's my thing, dammit.

Don't worry, the second I noticed I went outside.

Your depressing title is safe.

mlai
everybody can get a few... kinda like a Vegas table game, to "reel you in").

Awww crap. that's what assassins creed did to me. I spent 15 minutes pushing every beggar around just to get the beggar pusher achievement....

....


...

Yes... It has a beggar pusher achievement.

Product Placement

mlai
everybody can get a few... kinda like a Vegas table game, to "reel you in").

Awww crap. that's what assassins creed did to me. I spent 15 minutes pushing every beggar around just to get the beggar pusher achievement....

....


...

Yes... It has a beggar pusher achievement.

... This is exceedingly silly, but at the same time awesome.

I think the points are stupid, but I do like the idea of achievements. They give something else to do after you finished the game, thus adding more replay value.

you can use points to make you seem even more awesome to noobs. not that that's worth much, I just like it, since everyone at my school(excluding me) is a noob.

It's the same for most online games...except for competitions...

I don't have a 360 (yet) but if its achievements are anything like the ones on Steam games for the PC, then I'm all for achievements. I've found that earning achievements in games like Team Fortress 2 and Portal has caused me to play the games to their fullest and try things I may not have tried before. I don't even care if it earns me any kind of status, it just makes the game more fun.

I simply see the gameplay goals for getting achievements to be too artificial. There's a difference between "Kill evil boss to save the world" and "Hop on your head 30 times on the lip of the volcano, for no good reason."

One of the greatest achievements is from the Simpsons game: Just for pushing "start" at the main menu.