Matty these recent videos are very fun, I know some were made for the break to be quick but they are so entertaining I hope you make some more akin to the last 3-5 in 2025, also once you expirament with titles a little more for these I think you could get some more traction on them, but I’m no creator just worked in the space occasionally. Love ya man and have a good day.
It’s just top 10 best games of the year a few BioWare videos and reacting to takes he had on fallout. I don’t see what’s so orgasmically incredible about it but whatever, glad you enjoy it so much.
You just gave me an idea for crazy shaped chocolates called “Experimints” But seriously, Matty is underrated for one aspect of his skill; His ability to flow his thoughts with no script in to precise speech with excellent vocabulary (and also with no weak “…and like, it’s like, you know like…”) SO much better than 90% of his peers.
The Mass Effect trilogy, when taken as a whole, is my favorite experience in all of gaming. Each separate game was fantastic (aside from a few parts) but the way it integrated and acknowledged all your choices throughout the series (aside from a few shitty parts) really made it a gaming experience I'll treasure forever. When ME 2 came out I played it for 42 hours straight, only stopping to use the bathroom and eating while I played. I didn't sleep until I'd beat my first playthrough and started my second a day or two later. ME3 did a lot right, and really pulled everything together amazingly, but it did give us the finger concerning a few or our previous big choices (Rachni and Collector Base) and the ending was awful. Still, when everything is tallied, it's probably the best all-around game in the trilogy. (Also, my first Shepard was a 'win no matter the costs' character and that meant she sacrificed her relationship with Liara, killed Mordin and later Wrex, all in an attempt to win against the odds - such an emotional experience)
Mass Effect 3 was such a love letter to the fans post release after all the dlc. The cameos, the consequences, and oh my lord the music. The dlc was top tier. It’s just that ending was so hollow. The extended cut helped a little, but man after EVERYTHING, that ending just left me empty.
@@RiderZer0 The ME3 DLC that let you hang out your crew, get an apartment, and fight the clone really left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't know it was DLC until after my playthrough, so it all just seemed fake and didn't make sense given the whole galaxy was basically doomed. Like Shepard's super serious but now he's happy to do side quests with his pals??
Everytime I beat ME3, I instantly start the trilogy over. I can't count how many playthroughs I have, but I do know this trilogy feels like home for me, and I love my home.
ME3 after the updates and the dlcs is the goat for me, the amount of responsibility placed upon the shoulders of that game was huge, and it managed to close all the narrative threads, while respecting the player's choices, and the cherry on top "It had to be me, somebody else might have gotten it wrong".
Man Bioware used to be my favourite game dev company, it's such a shame seeing where it is today. I sincerely hope that they knock it out of the park with the next Mass Effect (If it ever comes out), although given their track record it seems very unlikely.
I hope they can knock it out of the park with mass effect 4 too. But one thing is for sure if they underdeliver it will be the final nail in the coffin for BioWare.
Bioware was the single best developer for RPG games. I still believe after Bioware's demise (ME2, DA: O), AAA RPG is dead, save for Witcher 1-3 (but CDPR seems to be dead now too). Larian and BG3 doesn't scratch that itch. Sad, after 15 years the industry keeps stagnating with AAA RPG games.
@@stanislavkimov2779 that’s a fair stance personally I just got baulders gate 3 a few weeks ago and it feels like a true sequel to DA origins to me. In terms of gameplay, tone feel etc. obviously it’s a different setting but it just felt some much like a modern evolution of origins to me. Loving it.
Yo Matty, I'm pretty sure those McDonald's cups contain dangerous levels of cadmium. Neat collector item but I probably wouldn't drink from it too often.
I have such fond memories of SWTOR. It hasnt aged the best over the years but that original experience from 2011-2013 was some of the best times I've had in gaming
I agree wholeheartedly. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the friendships I made and the experiences I had when playing those first couple of years are ones I’ll always remember fondly.
Absolutely, many days I would put them at the top of the Bioware tree. I love the escalation of threat, you start off dying to wolves and kobolds and end up with god like power. And it all makes sense in the universe it is set in.
Amen. I also love that BG2 lets you become powerful enough to (virtually) break the game. I hate it when games don’t let you outpace the enemy power curve. “The player needs to feel challenged” - no! If I’ve been clever enough craft a game breaking party, I want to feel nothing except a literal god can challenge me.
Neverwinter Nights 1 was my favourite. But it's subjective. It's graphics and effects and atmosphere was groundbreaking for me on it's release. But Baldur's Gate 2 is probably my 2nd favourite. It's pure magic.
@ not really, dnd 2e is the GOAT ruleset, party size of 6 was also way better, the game had so much more replayability, I would plan the complete build of all 6 party members, setup the modlist I want, then execute the plan it was amazing :D Origins had a better story though, I loved that game so much as well!!
The Mass Effect Legendary Edition holds a special place in my heart, because it kept me optimistic about the sci-fi genre. I remember watching the original Star Wars trilogy and thinking “what do people like about this”. Basic ass protagonist. Black and white morality. The Force isn’t that interesting. But, most importantly, why is the story set in space focused around a bunch of humans (I later learned it’s meant to be a reference to WWII). When I played ME Legendary Edition for the first time and got to the Citadel and met all the different alien races, I was like “This is what I’m talking about!” You got the mysterious Reapers. The kind and gentle Elcors. The philosophical Hanars. The more sentient Turians. All these races kept me interested in learning more about this “galaxy far far away”
The "high I'm still chasing" about Mass Effect is the same thing I have felt since Mass Effect, and the first game came out the year after I finished high school where you said you were playing the final game in high school, so it's probably not just part of growing up cause I'm right there with you.
Dragon Age 2 is my second favorite game in the DA franchise, right after 'Awakening'. I was so tired of 'chosen one' storylines by the time this game came around that just playing the coolest person in Kirkwall was a nice change. 'Jade Empire' is one of my favorite Bioware games and it's disappointing we never got a sequel in a more modern engine. I would consider the 'Kotor' games to be as iconic and essential to Star Wars as the OT - those games helped define so much of the SW universe.
I remember trying Mass Effect 1 back in like 2008 because my older brother loved it. I got like halfway through Eden Prime and was bored so I shut it off and didnt think twice about it. Mass Effect Andromeda was the first ME I really played because my good friend who was a huge ME fanboy was hyped for it. In 2019, my friend finally convinced me to give the original trilogy another shot and man am I glad I listened. Ive played the trilogy multiple times now and regard it as one of my favorite all time franchises.
KOTR was my first cyberpunk in that it my first rpg where all my choices mattered up until the end of the game so each play thru was 100% diff than the last. just mind boggling how huge that game was for the time. def one of the best games ever made.
@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h as long as the story has to much dei in it, its going to track the most hateful crowd. Im halfway through it and having a blast with the gameplay. I dont really care for dragon age lore so i cant tell you what it does to it but some moments have been really cool. overall writing is subpar but i have played forspoken and that game was a hidden gem to me. the game has the most hateful crowd in existence going after it so i wouldnt spend time talking to them. even matty is brutal definitely a c tier game and more depending if you like the combat
Cool to hear banner saga mentioned, I think this is the first time I've ever heard someone mention it. Randomly discovered it a few years ago on a sale, underrated indie gem
@ compared to modern games yes, but I didn’t mind it back when it came out. I think the last time I played was maybe around 2015ish, and I still enjoyed it then. Not sure how it would feel now but I’m sure it has aged. If they modernized the combat and made it a bit more dynamic that would be an easy win for BioWare right now lol
@ compared to modern games yes, but I didn’t mind it back when it came out. I think the last time I played was maybe around 2015ish, and I still enjoyed it then. Not sure how it would feel now but I’m sure it has aged. If they modernized the combat and made it a bit more dynamic that would be an easy win for BioWare right now lol
If Baldur's Gate 2 does not end up on S category we will have to revoke your RPG credentials Matty. BG1 is flawed but BG2 is amazing and has one of my top 10 favorite companions: The GOAT Jan Jansen, 10 times funnier than Minsc.
i love BG1 +2. i think 2 is better, just because there is heaps more to do (spells, weapons, locations, side content, characters) and it is easier to get through from the beginning. playing the enhanced edition is the way to go, but also just take a moment to recognize the gameplay, story and visuals like it was the year it first came out. i really think it set the bar with how beautiful and timeless it looks. the location design is great. i recommend playing bg 1 first to get the full story and characters before heading into bg2. i also highly recommend the icewind dale series. i did enjoy BG3, but i wish it played more like 2 instead of the turnbased.
I’m playing the first game BG right now and it’s soooo good. First time playing and the game really clicked with me. Can’t wait to play the other one I’ve heard good things about it.
Its been a long time since I played Jade Empire, but I think I saved the village and redeemed (?) the spirits. For me Jade Empire is the best Bioware game. Secondly Mass Effect 1, third Dragon Age Origins. Loved KOTOR 1&2 as well, (and really enjoyed most of their other games) but these first 3 offer the most unique experiences (through their world, and delivery of their stories) and that's what made me enjoy them the most.
Unpopular opinion. Mass Effect 3 is the best of the trilogy. It is just unfinished. But the level of emotion just cannot compete. To be fair, I believe the trilogy should be considered one single experience, though. But yeah, for me ME3 is the best. Even if the did fuck up the ending at release. Also, Control is the only ending that makes sense for me for Paragon Shepard. Destroy for Renegade Shepard. Synthesis just weird AF.
I appreciate the take. Still, Destroy was my choice for my staunch Paragon. The justification? Shepard knew that with absolute power comes absolute corruption, and that between now and eternity it was inevitable to happen no matter how noble or genuine the underlying intentions and resolution were originally. Leaving Destroy as the only viable option, as no single creature or mind should have that much power and responsibility.
@@kortov7756 I heard that argument several times. And I respect that. But for me, there is no enough information about that being suggested in the game. And paragon Shepard is for me the ultimate galaxy defender. In control he becomes that on another level, protecting each species (no saving the Geth just to destroy them later) and keeping the galaxy as strong as possible (he himself commanding the ultimate power and keeping full functioning relays). Destroy for me is consistent with renegade Shepard, who straightforward does what needs to be done to ensure humanity survival, even if screwing up other species.
My only issue is that at the very end, the starchild brings a completely new angle to the narrative by mentioning that reapers were created to bring a solution to the organic vs synthetic conflict . Like what ? That's not even one of the main themes of mass effect until that point . They could and should have at least hinted at it with some clever forshadowing instead of just the geth quarian conflict. I still love the trilogy though
the utter lack of effort put into the end of the mass effect series was the true death knell of Bioware. everything after that is just been terrible in one way or another. been playing all their games since 1998, if you told me then that they would be at the level they are now I would not have believed you in a million years that they could fall so far.
Dragon Age 2 is an A. It is flawed for sure, arguably very much so, but as someone who first played this game not that long ago I think that the story and writing are great, and the flaws in the gameplay don’t get in the way that much because of how streamlined and direct this game had to be to fit the crazy short deadline. Its a no-bullshit, no-filler game which is becoming increasingly rare this days, and it stands at the very opposite of Inquisition that had great story moments but got drowned in bloat.
Going from origins to dragon age 2 has such insane whiplash from the art design. I remember hating playing as rogue and literally disappearing to stan the enemy from behind. On replay I agree it's pretty good.
Great list overall but I disagree about putting Failguard ahead of Anthem. Failguard is not just an insult to every Bioware fan but to gaming itself. At least Anthem is not an lgbt simulator and it's not shitting on any beloved franchises. So I'll take Anthem over Failguard any day of the week. Also, I'd put ME3 in S tier personally. Yes the ending sucks but the game has some of the best moments in gaming history.
I will say this for Baldur's Gate 1 and 2. PLAY BOTH! 1 is the low level campaign, 2 is the same story but the high level campaign. You literally carry over the same exact character between them. They are both amazing for different reasons because of how their different stories are told but still tie together.
considering the working conditions, the timetable, the limited budget, the fact that it was supposed to be an expansion/DLC for origins and suddenly the higher ups demanded it to be a stand alone game, for me DA 2 is a solid A. tremendous work considering the above.
Haven’t gotten into tiers yet but KOTOR is S tier and at the front spot, absolutely love that game, early Bioware was on another level. Current BioWare is such a disappointment.
Everything you said about KOTOR is 100% how I feel. The time in my life I played it - young and impressionable - I’ve been chasing that feeling in video games ever since. It defined my taste in games, just as you said.
KotOR and Mass Effect 2 are my Top 2. Hell, ME2’s Final Mission is what I’d like the KotOR Remake to do. Take the Star Forge mission and turn it into an Omega Relay Mission where you have your party decide how the ending goes…it’s something I know will never happen.
The only bad memory i have of playing the Mass Effect trilogy is the ME3 DLC. I just hated how Shepard's personality was all of a sudden super silly and gleeful even though he knew he was almost destined to perish in the final mission. Like no one should be happy at all during the events of ME3
As a crpg fan, my fav games of bioware are the games not played on this list lol. BG2 and nwn are top tier bioware honestly. bg2 story telling, the complete package of nwn, its toolsets, online ext are just next level. Side note on Mass effect, i love ME3, i think its the best game, its so dark and grim it works so well and it had some great dlc to really pull it up to the best ME game for me.
I was too young to play Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 on release and despite that I think Baldur's Gate 2 is definitively Bioware's best game. It has Bioware's best combat without a doubt, what I think are some of the best and most complete side quests ever (like the cult of the unseeing eye), and a great story led by one of the best video game acting performances ever with David Warner as Jon Irenicus. I understand a lot of people here are too young to have played it, please give it a try if you love Bioware. You can see the roots of everything that would later become what Bioware is known for and completely unfiltered without any of EA's meddling.
I have to admit, the one thing that The Veilguard situation did right, while not even having played it, was bringing me back to the good old days of traditional gaming experiences like the Mass Effect trilogy 👌
Thanks for the video and trip down memory lane Matty! My list is as follows: S: Kotor, ME2, ME1 A: ME3, DA Origins, Jade Empire B: Swtor, DA2, DA Inquisition C: ME Andromeda D: Anthem Not played: Baldurs Gate 1 - 2, Sonic Chronicles, Veilguard. Neverwinter Nights (I have played NWN2 by Obsidian and loved it) I have never been a huge fan of Isometric style games, exceptions being NW Nights 2, Diablo 2 so I never played Baldur's Gate 1&2 more than maybe an hour total. Not dissing them cause I know they are great RPGs along with NW Nights just not my cup of tea. Why I have never played NW Nights, im not really sure. I guess 2 gave me everything I was looking for from that franchise. Swtor's Jedi Guardian/Shadow of Revan expansion story is essentially Kotor 4 at least from a plot perspective. It continues the Revan and Meetra Surik story from after Meetra leaves to find Revan at the end of Kotor 2, giving it a finale. Those familiar with Meetra Suriks story know what I mean. It's definitely not as good as Kotor 1&2 but it is good in it's own right as all the class stories are. I would also recommend the Imperial Agent story as it has some of the best writing and characters in the game. The expansion stories for, Knights of the Fallen Empire and Eternal Throne are great as well! The writing is solid and with the game being free to play I would recommend it to Bioware and star wars fans. Try the class stories out at the very least.
I totally agree with Matty on the matter of the DA franchise. Probably the best thing that the devs could do now to save it is to remaster/remake DAO. I would literally give a fortune for a chance to play it again (yes, I know I could mod it, but it just keeps breaking...)!! 😭 Or they could just proclaim The Veilguard as a standalone game (like a parallel world or something of sort) and make a new DA game that would suit better as a 4th entry. I'd be up for that too.
I’ve only played (to completion) the Mass Effect and Dragon Age games. So it will be a simple tier list, but I’ll work with it. S tier - Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect 1, Dragon Age 2. A tier - Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Veilguard, and Mass Effect Andromeda. Simple list.
If you ever get around to playing NWN, be sure to check out some of the top fan-made modules--there are literally thousands. Custom content was really what that game was all about. A lot of people dis the original campaign as being boring, but IMO the OC was just a demo for what the Aurora Toolset could do so that the player-base could then go on to make their own content.
It boggles my mind we don't have more Star Wars RPGs, it's such a good match with the whole good/evil theme running through it. Also where is my Star trek RPG? Star Gate RPG etc the list goes on of great universes for RPGs.
Mass Effect 3 is my favorite and their best imo. It’s high octane from beginning to end and just perfect. That followed by KotOR, ME1, and DA: Origins are my S tier
all the dragon age games can sit on the c tier list as they all have there own positives and negatives. origins b for have a cool origin gimmick that doesnt change to much as you are still railroaded on the same path for the most part.
I can't take a ranking of Bioware games seriously by someone who hasn't played Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 or Neverwinter Nights. It would be like someone ranking Stanley Kubrik films who hasn't seen anything before The Shining.
That’s silly. He’s played every single BioWare game except for the old 1990’s dnd games and somehow that makes his opinion worthless. Like the 1000’s of collective hours he’s surely put into the other 13 games on the list are just worth nothing cause he didn’t play Baldurs gate? Lmao gimme a break. We did it folks. We found the gatekeeper.
@@jameslowell9656 Yeah and in the exact same way you could have a totally valid opinion on all the star wars movies and shows without having watched the original trilogy. It's the other gatekeeper guys we found them both lol.
Mass effect 1 is my favorite of the series and even its not technically better I enjoy the combat the most. I wish they never took out manual crouching and nerfed biotics.
ME trilogy is S tier for me. My favourite gaming franchise by far. The world building in Mass Effect 1 is better than any world building from any medium, forget games
Star Wars The Old Republic is genuinely one of my favorite MMOs. It's free, too (the vanilla version). Just so you guys know... seriously, I highly recommend SWTOR.
I'd flip SWTOR up to low A tier, I've been playing it off and on for 13 years and completed 6 of 8 stories. But I wouldn't change the order of your list. The Original BG I would put in high B or low A tier. BG2 would be low S tier and Neverwinter Nights would be high A tier. Maybe low S.
I agree with you that Dragon Age 2 is underrated. However, I disagree that it is an 'action game'. On high difficulties it fundamentally plays like DAO. Sure there are less mechanics, but at its core it s a real-time-with-pause party RPG. The biggest flaw in combat for me is that enemies come in waves so that you cannot properly strategise from the beginning of each encounter.
Definitely suggest playing through BG1 before BG2. It'll give you a lot more context for the second game (there are recurring characters), and BG1 is a great game in and of itself. With that said BG2 is most definitely superior.
Matty... Matty... wtf!? You didn't play Baldurs Gate 1 and 2?? Holy shit, I would've never guessed! Those 2 games literally made BioWare what it is... Damn, I am surprised. You have to play it honestly... Like seriously, if you're a BioWare fan, it's a loss loss if you don't play. As for what people say about the first game, I recommend not skipping. Its loosely an RPG, as it is more of a tutorial to the series, but the plot is still pretty great. And when it comes to the series, don't play as evil the first time. First time play through, being a good guy will give you far better experience as the series is more character centric than BG'3' where it's more about other characters... Also tbh BG2 is more tuned for good characters in general Jade Empire - I agree. I played it on mobile before the port was abandoned. My god, it was fun. I love Chinese settings and that action combat was legit fun. And I agree with you, people should really play this game otherwise it's a waste. And apologies but I can't answer that orphanage question, I don't remember the section lol Mass Effect Series - 1 and 2 are different from person to person, so nothing much to debate about. ME3, multiplayer being good isn't a hot take... You liking galactic readiness is though. Think Matty, THINK, if servers are dead, you no longer can make perfect ending. Dragon Age Origins - obvious no arguments DA2/I - beyond mediocrity Failguard - ... We do not speak of what does not exist. Personal opinion: I disagree, the fact that they veered from what DAO was, was what led to the fall of the series. From dark fantasy to high fantasy is what is leading to DND being mediocre slop Sonic- Matty, MATTY, blunder again, '98 to 2010 was peak BioWare, not from 2003! Seriously, play Baldurs gate series. I seriously bet you will pop Baldurs Gate 2 above KotOR. can't believe you said such blunder 💀 SWTOR - is amazing. I personally hold it in A tier, my main issue being Saber kinda of killing off the game now, but top A more back at its prime. Conclusion: play Baldurs Gate. Start from 1, ignore Siege of Dragonspear as it's utter dogshit purely made by beamdog, which pfff... Imagine how they added real life politics into the game >.> That's why it's bad And yeah, play Good Charname first, then once you finish Throne of Bhaal feel free to play evil. You will enjoy the good play through far more and you will see why.
S: ME1, BG2 (don't skip BG1 btw, bad advice), DA:O, KoTOR A: ME3, ME2, BG1, DA2 (it is a bad RPG, and re-used assets is the smallest part of it, but I'm biased) B: DA: Inquisition, ME: Andromeda, NWN C: DA: The Veilguard D: Anthem Not played: Jade Empire, Sonic Chronicles (wut?)
Matty these recent videos are very fun, I know some were made for the break to be quick but they are so entertaining I hope you make some more akin to the last 3-5 in 2025, also once you expirament with titles a little more for these I think you could get some more traction on them, but I’m no creator just worked in the space occasionally. Love ya man and have a good day.
McFly!
doc?
It's not Marty, it's Manatee. Or Myrtle. Or even....Maddie?
It’s just top 10 best games of the year a few BioWare videos and reacting to takes he had on fallout. I don’t see what’s so orgasmically incredible about it but whatever, glad you enjoy it so much.
You just gave me an idea for crazy shaped chocolates called “Experimints”
But seriously, Matty is underrated for one aspect of his skill;
His ability to flow his thoughts with no script in to precise speech with excellent vocabulary (and also with no weak “…and like, it’s like, you know like…”)
SO much better than 90% of his peers.
The Mass Effect trilogy, when taken as a whole, is my favorite experience in all of gaming. Each separate game was fantastic (aside from a few parts) but the way it integrated and acknowledged all your choices throughout the series (aside from a few shitty parts) really made it a gaming experience I'll treasure forever.
When ME 2 came out I played it for 42 hours straight, only stopping to use the bathroom and eating while I played. I didn't sleep until I'd beat my first playthrough and started my second a day or two later.
ME3 did a lot right, and really pulled everything together amazingly, but it did give us the finger concerning a few or our previous big choices (Rachni and Collector Base) and the ending was awful. Still, when everything is tallied, it's probably the best all-around game in the trilogy. (Also, my first Shepard was a 'win no matter the costs' character and that meant she sacrificed her relationship with Liara, killed Mordin and later Wrex, all in an attempt to win against the odds - such an emotional experience)
Mass Effect 3 was such a love letter to the fans post release after all the dlc. The cameos, the consequences, and oh my lord the music. The dlc was top tier. It’s just that ending was so hollow. The extended cut helped a little, but man after EVERYTHING, that ending just left me empty.
Another ME3 lover, a man of culture
@@RiderZer0 The ME3 DLC that let you hang out your crew, get an apartment, and fight the clone really left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't know it was DLC until after my playthrough, so it all just seemed fake and didn't make sense given the whole galaxy was basically doomed. Like Shepard's super serious but now he's happy to do side quests with his pals??
Everytime I beat ME3, I instantly start the trilogy over. I can't count how many playthroughs I have, but I do know this trilogy feels like home for me, and I love my home.
@ citadel dlc was amazing 🥲
Agree it felt out of place, but man context aside, it was hilarious and ended with some good closure.
ME3 after the updates and the dlcs is the goat for me, the amount of responsibility placed upon the shoulders of that game was huge, and it managed to close all the narrative threads, while respecting the player's choices, and the cherry on top "It had to be me, somebody else might have gotten it wrong".
Man Bioware used to be my favourite game dev company, it's such a shame seeing where it is today. I sincerely hope that they knock it out of the park with the next Mass Effect (If it ever comes out), although given their track record it seems very unlikely.
look up the game EXODUS the mass effect devs are working on it
I hope they can knock it out of the park with mass effect 4 too. But one thing is for sure if they underdeliver it will be the final nail in the coffin for BioWare.
@@PeopleCallMeQ Yeah Exodus looks great! Can't wait to play it, i hope it releases this year.
Bioware was the single best developer for RPG games. I still believe after Bioware's demise (ME2, DA: O), AAA RPG is dead, save for Witcher 1-3 (but CDPR seems to be dead now too).
Larian and BG3 doesn't scratch that itch. Sad, after 15 years the industry keeps stagnating with AAA RPG games.
@@stanislavkimov2779 that’s a fair stance personally I just got baulders gate 3 a few weeks ago and it feels like a true sequel to DA origins to me. In terms of gameplay, tone feel etc. obviously it’s a different setting but it just felt some much like a modern evolution of origins to me. Loving it.
Yo Matty, I'm pretty sure those McDonald's cups contain dangerous levels of cadmium. Neat collector item but I probably wouldn't drink from it too often.
Just the Shrek ones actually. Particularly the puss in boots one is the only seriously dangerous one
Might have lead in it.
Wtf
I have such fond memories of SWTOR. It hasnt aged the best over the years but that original experience from 2011-2013 was some of the best times I've had in gaming
I agree wholeheartedly. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the friendships I made and the experiences I had when playing those first couple of years are ones I’ll always remember fondly.
I jumped to the end to check out Jade Empire's placement. now I can watch at peace.
@@Smawllz I hope you hit a table leg with your little toe~
Baldur's gate 1 and 2 (and Throne of Bhaal) are top tier.
Legendary, in fact.
Absolutely, many days I would put them at the top of the Bioware tree. I love the escalation of threat, you start off dying to wolves and kobolds and end up with god like power. And it all makes sense in the universe it is set in.
Amen. I also love that BG2 lets you become powerful enough to (virtually) break the game. I hate it when games don’t let you outpace the enemy power curve. “The player needs to feel challenged” - no! If I’ve been clever enough craft a game breaking party, I want to feel nothing except a literal god can challenge me.
I don't think one holds up very well at all but as a history lesson yeah.
Neverwinter Nights 1 was my favourite. But it's subjective. It's graphics and effects and atmosphere was groundbreaking for me on it's release.
But Baldur's Gate 2 is probably my 2nd favourite. It's pure magic.
@@johndeighan2495 yes, too much balance just smoothes everything out and makes it all meaningless. Games are for people to have fun and experiment.
KOTOR, Origins, and the ME trilogy are where BioWare PEAKED.
wrong, BG2 is where they peaked, Origin is still amazing though 😊
BG2 was the culmination of Act 1 of the video game industry.
@@Medsas don't forget Neverwinter Nights!
@@Medsas Honestly disagree. Origins is an improvement on everything BG2 was. Same for KOTOR.
@ not really, dnd 2e is the GOAT ruleset, party size of 6 was also way better, the game had so much more replayability, I would plan the complete build of all 6 party members, setup the modlist I want, then execute the plan it was amazing :D Origins had a better story though, I loved that game so much as well!!
Jade Empire was one of my favorite all time games, it's a real shame that there was never a sequel made.
The Mass Effect Legendary Edition holds a special place in my heart, because it kept me optimistic about the sci-fi genre. I remember watching the original Star Wars trilogy and thinking “what do people like about this”. Basic ass protagonist. Black and white morality. The Force isn’t that interesting. But, most importantly, why is the story set in space focused around a bunch of humans (I later learned it’s meant to be a reference to WWII).
When I played ME Legendary Edition for the first time and got to the Citadel and met all the different alien races, I was like “This is what I’m talking about!” You got the mysterious Reapers. The kind and gentle Elcors. The philosophical Hanars. The more sentient Turians. All these races kept me interested in learning more about this “galaxy far far away”
For Star Wars, you gotta think about the time it came in. The 70's didn't have a lot of space operas like that if any
Loving the variety lately man, keep it up 🙏🏻 def do more of these fun random vids
The "high I'm still chasing" about Mass Effect is the same thing I have felt since Mass Effect, and the first game came out the year after I finished high school where you said you were playing the final game in high school, so it's probably not just part of growing up cause I'm right there with you.
Dragon Age 2 is my second favorite game in the DA franchise, right after 'Awakening'. I was so tired of 'chosen one' storylines by the time this game came around that just playing the coolest person in Kirkwall was a nice change.
'Jade Empire' is one of my favorite Bioware games and it's disappointing we never got a sequel in a more modern engine.
I would consider the 'Kotor' games to be as iconic and essential to Star Wars as the OT - those games helped define so much of the SW universe.
Dragon Age 2 is criminally underrated.
@@Jinforrver Veilguard is still better but I'll admit if DA2 had for time to cook in the oven for more years it would have been way better.
@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h No, it's not. You're entitled to that wrong opinion, but quit trying to convince us all of how good that bad game is.
@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h No it isn't... DA2 has way better writing
I remember trying Mass Effect 1 back in like 2008 because my older brother loved it. I got like halfway through Eden Prime and was bored so I shut it off and didnt think twice about it.
Mass Effect Andromeda was the first ME I really played because my good friend who was a huge ME fanboy was hyped for it. In 2019, my friend finally convinced me to give the original trilogy another shot and man am I glad I listened. Ive played the trilogy multiple times now and regard it as one of my favorite all time franchises.
KOTR was my first cyberpunk in that it my first rpg where all my choices mattered up until the end of the game so each play thru was 100% diff than the last. just mind boggling how huge that game was for the time. def one of the best games ever made.
I appreciate the continual roasting of Dragon Age veilguard into 2025 😂🎉
It wasn't that bad, sure the story is pretty mid and gameplay get repetitive but they have memorable characters and choices that stick with u.
@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h as long as the story has to much dei in it, its going to track the most hateful crowd. Im halfway through it and having a blast with the gameplay. I dont really care for dragon age lore so i cant tell you what it does to it but some moments have been really cool. overall writing is subpar but i have played forspoken and that game was a hidden gem to me. the game has the most hateful crowd in existence going after it so i wouldnt spend time talking to them.
even matty is brutal definitely a c tier game and more depending if you like the combat
@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h memorable characters? Are you serious? Come on bro
@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h it wasn't bad, it was terrible, worst Dragon Age ever, and overall, terrible game.
Cool to hear banner saga mentioned, I think this is the first time I've ever heard someone mention it. Randomly discovered it a few years ago on a sale, underrated indie gem
Man Jade empire is so slept on, I wish they would’ve continued that series. Maybe a remake/remaster one day but I doubt it
Awful combat with a great story
@ compared to modern games yes, but I didn’t mind it back when it came out. I think the last time I played was maybe around 2015ish, and I still enjoyed it then. Not sure how it would feel now but I’m sure it has aged. If they modernized the combat and made it a bit more dynamic that would be an easy win for BioWare right now lol
@ compared to modern games yes, but I didn’t mind it back when it came out. I think the last time I played was maybe around 2015ish, and I still enjoyed it then. Not sure how it would feel now but I’m sure it has aged. If they modernized the combat and made it a bit more dynamic that would be an easy win for BioWare right now lol
If Baldur's Gate 2 does not end up on S category we will have to revoke your RPG credentials Matty. BG1 is flawed but BG2 is amazing and has one of my top 10 favorite companions: The GOAT Jan Jansen, 10 times funnier than Minsc.
i love BG1 +2.
i think 2 is better, just because there is heaps more to do (spells, weapons, locations, side content, characters) and it is easier to get through from the beginning. playing the enhanced edition is the way to go, but also just take a moment to recognize the gameplay, story and visuals like it was the year it first came out. i really think it set the bar with how beautiful and timeless it looks. the location design is great. i recommend playing bg 1 first to get the full story and characters before heading into bg2.
i also highly recommend the icewind dale series.
i did enjoy BG3, but i wish it played more like 2 instead of the turnbased.
I’m playing the first game BG right now and it’s soooo good. First time playing and the game really clicked with me. Can’t wait to play the other one I’ve heard good things about it.
Its been a long time since I played Jade Empire, but I think I saved the village and redeemed (?) the spirits.
For me Jade Empire is the best Bioware game. Secondly Mass Effect 1, third Dragon Age Origins. Loved KOTOR 1&2 as well, (and really enjoyed most of their other games) but these first 3 offer the most unique experiences (through their world, and delivery of their stories) and that's what made me enjoy them the most.
Unpopular opinion. Mass Effect 3 is the best of the trilogy. It is just unfinished. But the level of emotion just cannot compete.
To be fair, I believe the trilogy should be considered one single experience, though. But yeah, for me ME3 is the best.
Even if the did fuck up the ending at release.
Also, Control is the only ending that makes sense for me for Paragon Shepard. Destroy for Renegade Shepard. Synthesis just weird AF.
I appreciate the take. Still, Destroy was my choice for my staunch Paragon. The justification? Shepard knew that with absolute power comes absolute corruption, and that between now and eternity it was inevitable to happen no matter how noble or genuine the underlying intentions and resolution were originally. Leaving Destroy as the only viable option, as no single creature or mind should have that much power and responsibility.
@@kortov7756 I heard that argument several times. And I respect that.
But for me, there is no enough information about that being suggested in the game. And paragon Shepard is for me the ultimate galaxy defender. In control he becomes that on another level, protecting each species (no saving the Geth just to destroy them later) and keeping the galaxy as strong as possible (he himself commanding the ultimate power and keeping full functioning relays).
Destroy for me is consistent with renegade Shepard, who straightforward does what needs to be done to ensure humanity survival, even if screwing up other species.
My only issue is that at the very end, the starchild brings a completely new angle to the narrative by mentioning that reapers were created to bring a solution to the organic vs synthetic conflict . Like what ? That's not even one of the main themes of mass effect until that point . They could and should have at least hinted at it with some clever forshadowing instead of just the geth quarian conflict. I still love the trilogy though
It kinda stinks when the 3 games you really wanted to hear an opinion about don't get discussed. Ah well, at least you're honest.
Playing BG2 is a great 2025 goal to have. The way 3 ties into 2 was one of my favorite things about it.
the utter lack of effort put into the end of the mass effect series was the true death knell of Bioware. everything after that is just been terrible in one way or another. been playing all their games since 1998, if you told me then that they would be at the level they are now I would not have believed you in a million years that they could fall so far.
Dragon Age 2 is an A. It is flawed for sure, arguably very much so, but as someone who first played this game not that long ago I think that the story and writing are great, and the flaws in the gameplay don’t get in the way that much because of how streamlined and direct this game had to be to fit the crazy short deadline. Its a no-bullshit, no-filler game which is becoming increasingly rare this days, and it stands at the very opposite of Inquisition that had great story moments but got drowned in bloat.
Going from origins to dragon age 2 has such insane whiplash from the art design. I remember hating playing as rogue and literally disappearing to stan the enemy from behind. On replay I agree it's pretty good.
Great list overall but I disagree about putting Failguard ahead of Anthem. Failguard is not just an insult to every Bioware fan but to gaming itself. At least Anthem is not an lgbt simulator and it's not shitting on any beloved franchises. So I'll take Anthem over Failguard any day of the week. Also, I'd put ME3 in S tier personally. Yes the ending sucks but the game has some of the best moments in gaming history.
Jade Empire was actually my first Bioware game, and I liked it enough to join a forum that was pushing for its sequel.
Anthem was a decent idea with a horrible execution. That gameplay was some of the best I’ve ever seen
Dragon Age 2 came out about 8 months before Skyrim
Some people played later.
Jade Empire was one of my favorite games growing up. Its absolutely amazing!
Baldur’s Gate 2 for me. It still holds up today.
I will say this for Baldur's Gate 1 and 2. PLAY BOTH! 1 is the low level campaign, 2 is the same story but the high level campaign. You literally carry over the same exact character between them. They are both amazing for different reasons because of how their different stories are told but still tie together.
considering the working conditions, the timetable, the limited budget, the fact that it was supposed to be an expansion/DLC for origins and suddenly the higher ups demanded it to be a stand alone game, for me DA 2 is a solid A.
tremendous work considering the above.
Haven’t gotten into tiers yet but KOTOR is S tier and at the front spot, absolutely love that game, early Bioware was on another level. Current BioWare is such a disappointment.
Everything you said about KOTOR is 100% how I feel. The time in my life I played it - young and impressionable - I’ve been chasing that feeling in video games ever since. It defined my taste in games, just as you said.
Nostalgia blast jesus 0_0 I had like 5 of those cups in highschool
BG2+TOB is Bioware’s best game ever made, followed by Dragon Age 1😂 you need to play it asap!
Ooooh, hearing that Jade Empire is a (relatively) quick play - I need to finally play it in 2025!
KotOR and Mass Effect 2 are my Top 2. Hell, ME2’s Final Mission is what I’d like the KotOR Remake to do. Take the Star Forge mission and turn it into an Omega Relay Mission where you have your party decide how the ending goes…it’s something I know will never happen.
Beat DA2 on nightmare a couple years ago. Got me to use all the systems... Had a blast.
Also DA2 gave us some great characters too
Holy shit, right off the cuff, I have that exact same cup, my mother got it for me when I was a kid.
The only bad memory i have of playing the Mass Effect trilogy is the ME3 DLC. I just hated how Shepard's personality was all of a sudden super silly and gleeful even though he knew he was almost destined to perish in the final mission. Like no one should be happy at all during the events of ME3
The tactical camera in DA:I was a huge drawback for me. Not really an issue on lower difficulties, but for play and pause it just never felt right.
As a crpg fan, my fav games of bioware are the games not played on this list lol. BG2 and nwn are top tier bioware honestly. bg2 story telling, the complete package of nwn, its toolsets, online ext are just next level. Side note on Mass effect, i love ME3, i think its the best game, its so dark and grim it works so well and it had some great dlc to really pull it up to the best ME game for me.
I was too young to play Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 on release and despite that I think Baldur's Gate 2 is definitively Bioware's best game.
It has Bioware's best combat without a doubt, what I think are some of the best and most complete side quests ever (like the cult of the unseeing eye), and a great story led by one of the best video game acting performances ever with David Warner as Jon Irenicus.
I understand a lot of people here are too young to have played it, please give it a try if you love Bioware. You can see the roots of everything that would later become what Bioware is known for and completely unfiltered without any of EA's meddling.
"Gaming's best love story."
Careful there...... careful....
Final Fantasy X exists.
KOTOR remains my most played (individual runs) game to this day. Incredible music!
Oh this is awesome im glad you did this list matty! Im a huge bioware fan with the good and the bad lol
Love a tier list. Love a Matty video. Bless up
I have to admit, the one thing that The Veilguard situation did right, while not even having played it, was bringing me back to the good old days of traditional gaming experiences like the Mass Effect trilogy 👌
Thanks for the video and trip down memory lane Matty!
My list is as follows:
S: Kotor, ME2, ME1
A: ME3, DA Origins, Jade Empire
B: Swtor, DA2, DA Inquisition
C: ME Andromeda
D: Anthem
Not played: Baldurs Gate 1 - 2, Sonic Chronicles, Veilguard. Neverwinter Nights (I have played NWN2 by Obsidian and loved it)
I have never been a huge fan of Isometric style games, exceptions being NW Nights 2, Diablo 2 so I never played Baldur's Gate 1&2 more than maybe an hour total. Not dissing them cause I know they are great RPGs along with NW Nights just not my cup of tea. Why I have never played NW Nights, im not really sure. I guess 2 gave me everything I was looking for from that franchise.
Swtor's Jedi Guardian/Shadow of Revan expansion story is essentially Kotor 4 at least from a plot perspective. It continues the Revan and Meetra Surik story from after Meetra leaves to find Revan at the end of Kotor 2, giving it a finale. Those familiar with Meetra Suriks story know what I mean. It's definitely not as good as Kotor 1&2 but it is good in it's own right as all the class stories are. I would also recommend the Imperial Agent story as it has some of the best writing and characters in the game. The expansion stories for, Knights of the Fallen Empire and Eternal Throne are great as well! The writing is solid and with the game being free to play I would recommend it to Bioware and star wars fans. Try the class stories out at the very least.
I totally agree with Matty on the matter of the DA franchise. Probably the best thing that the devs could do now to save it is to remaster/remake DAO. I would literally give a fortune for a chance to play it again (yes, I know I could mod it, but it just keeps breaking...)!! 😭
Or they could just proclaim The Veilguard as a standalone game (like a parallel world or something of sort) and make a new DA game that would suit better as a 4th entry. I'd be up for that too.
BG1 is my favorite game of all time. Start with BG1 before BG2. It gives you a tutorial of the AD&D ruleset
Just finished Baldur‘s Gate I and II. They are very good.
Dude i have a whole bunch of those mickey mouse glasses from my dad 😂
I’ve only played (to completion) the Mass Effect and Dragon Age games. So it will be a simple tier list, but I’ll work with it.
S tier - Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect 1, Dragon Age 2.
A tier - Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Veilguard, and Mass Effect Andromeda.
Simple list.
And a bad one
@ cool story…
I grew up with Sonic Chronicles and still love it.
I have Kotor on switch, I'm SLOWLY playing through it. I'll beat it eventually lol
Obsidian tier list next.
If you ever get around to playing NWN, be sure to check out some of the top fan-made modules--there are literally thousands. Custom content was really what that game was all about. A lot of people dis the original campaign as being boring, but IMO the OC was just a demo for what the Aurora Toolset could do so that the player-base could then go on to make their own content.
It boggles my mind we don't have more Star Wars RPGs, it's such a good match with the whole good/evil theme running through it. Also where is my Star trek RPG? Star Gate RPG etc the list goes on of great universes for RPGs.
My mom has the whole cup collection 😅
My favorite Matty thumbnail
Mass Effect 3 is my favorite and their best imo. It’s high octane from beginning to end and just perfect. That followed by KotOR, ME1, and DA: Origins are my S tier
Matty doing a reboot on BioWare tier list, niice
Can't wait to watch this! Kotor 1 and 2 need to be top 2!
Edit: Just remembered Kotor 2 isn't even bioware... oh well lol
I wonder if, in 20 years, people will assume that Larian made the first 2 Baldur's Gates.
We had a whole set of those Disney cups when I was a kid. They were sold at McDonalds 👍
all the dragon age games can sit on the c tier list as they all have there own positives and negatives. origins b for have a cool origin gimmick that doesnt change to much as you are still railroaded on the same path for the most part.
Damn bruh been uploading alot recently, with variety
Veilguard doesn’t even deserve to be on the list
I can't take a ranking of Bioware games seriously by someone who hasn't played Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 or Neverwinter Nights. It would be like someone ranking Stanley Kubrik films who hasn't seen anything before The Shining.
Yup, especially to call it an ultimate list.
That’s silly. He’s played every single BioWare game except for the old 1990’s dnd games and somehow that makes his opinion worthless. Like the 1000’s of collective hours he’s surely put into the other 13 games on the list are just worth nothing cause he didn’t play Baldurs gate? Lmao gimme a break. We did it folks. We found the gatekeeper.
@rose.i it's like making an ultimate star wars tier list and not watching the original trilogy.
@@jameslowell9656 Yeah and in the exact same way you could have a totally valid opinion on all the star wars movies and shows without having watched the original trilogy. It's the other gatekeeper guys we found them both lol.
@rose.i yeah sure but it wouldn't be an ultimate list lol
Matty you've only been posting bangers lately. This and the Fallout and TES reaction videos were super entertaining
i have the fondest memories playing jade empire as a lad so it will always be S tier for me
You got some sauce in that cup Matty👀😂
Mass effect 1 is my favorite of the series and even its not technically better I enjoy the combat the most. I wish they never took out manual crouching and nerfed biotics.
Veilguard with anthem 😂 I love that.
I don't blame Bioware for any of their lesser games, I think EA are responsible for what Anthem and Dragon Age: The Veilguard are.
Thrift stores lowkey have gnarly stuff
ME trilogy is S tier for me. My favourite gaming franchise by far. The world building in Mass Effect 1 is better than any world building from any medium, forget games
Star Wars The Old Republic is genuinely one of my favorite MMOs. It's free, too (the vanilla version). Just so you guys know... seriously, I highly recommend SWTOR.
BG2 is PEAK BioWare
I'd flip SWTOR up to low A tier, I've been playing it off and on for 13 years and completed 6 of 8 stories. But I wouldn't change the order of your list. The Original BG I would put in high B or low A tier. BG2 would be low S tier and Neverwinter Nights would be high A tier. Maybe low S.
I agree with you that Dragon Age 2 is underrated. However, I disagree that it is an 'action game'. On high difficulties it fundamentally plays like DAO. Sure there are less mechanics, but at its core it s a real-time-with-pause party RPG.
The biggest flaw in combat for me is that enemies come in waves so that you cannot properly strategise from the beginning of each encounter.
Definitely suggest playing through BG1 before BG2. It'll give you a lot more context for the second game (there are recurring characters), and BG1 is a great game in and of itself. With that said BG2 is most definitely superior.
I would move ME2 down to A and put neverwinter nights at least in B tier. Aside from that I agree with the list.
WTF I didnt know that sonic game was bioware! I actually loved the game and the ending was so crazy...
You should also rank the Trails series on this channel or your other one.
thats about how I'd rank them too ... though Inquisition is an A, and despite its quirks it's the game that captured my imagination the longest :)
Haven’t watched yet. Cora’s cheeks puts Andromeda in S tier.
Jokes aside, I would put it at like a High B/Low A. Overhated, in my opinion.
KOTOR 1 is still my favorite game of all time, I still have my original Xbox copy I got from Hollywood Video
I'd drop KotOR to the top of A, Swap ME 1 and 3, and then reverse the order of your B tier.
Matty... Matty... wtf!? You didn't play Baldurs Gate 1 and 2?? Holy shit, I would've never guessed! Those 2 games literally made BioWare what it is... Damn, I am surprised. You have to play it honestly... Like seriously, if you're a BioWare fan, it's a loss loss if you don't play.
As for what people say about the first game, I recommend not skipping. Its loosely an RPG, as it is more of a tutorial to the series, but the plot is still pretty great.
And when it comes to the series, don't play as evil the first time. First time play through, being a good guy will give you far better experience as the series is more character centric than BG'3' where it's more about other characters... Also tbh BG2 is more tuned for good characters in general
Jade Empire - I agree. I played it on mobile before the port was abandoned. My god, it was fun. I love Chinese settings and that action combat was legit fun. And I agree with you, people should really play this game otherwise it's a waste. And apologies but I can't answer that orphanage question, I don't remember the section lol
Mass Effect Series - 1 and 2 are different from person to person, so nothing much to debate about. ME3, multiplayer being good isn't a hot take... You liking galactic readiness is though. Think Matty, THINK, if servers are dead, you no longer can make perfect ending.
Dragon Age Origins - obvious no arguments
DA2/I - beyond mediocrity
Failguard - ... We do not speak of what does not exist.
Personal opinion: I disagree, the fact that they veered from what DAO was, was what led to the fall of the series. From dark fantasy to high fantasy is what is leading to DND being mediocre slop
Sonic- Matty, MATTY, blunder again, '98 to 2010 was peak BioWare, not from 2003! Seriously, play Baldurs gate series. I seriously bet you will pop Baldurs Gate 2 above KotOR. can't believe you said such blunder 💀
SWTOR - is amazing. I personally hold it in A tier, my main issue being Saber kinda of killing off the game now, but top A more back at its prime.
Conclusion: play Baldurs Gate. Start from 1, ignore Siege of Dragonspear as it's utter dogshit purely made by beamdog, which pfff... Imagine how they added real life politics into the game >.> That's why it's bad
And yeah, play Good Charname first, then once you finish Throne of Bhaal feel free to play evil. You will enjoy the good play through far more and you will see why.
NWN is awesome... I wish Larian could make NWN3
S: ME1, BG2 (don't skip BG1 btw, bad advice), DA:O, KoTOR
A: ME3, ME2, BG1, DA2 (it is a bad RPG, and re-used assets is the smallest part of it, but I'm biased)
B: DA: Inquisition, ME: Andromeda, NWN
C: DA: The Veilguard
D: Anthem
Not played: Jade Empire, Sonic Chronicles (wut?)
Where is emperors tomb.
That was made by lucasarts and the collective. An Indy bioware game would've been dope tho 😄
@cthulhu888 damn for the longest time I thought they codeveloped that game.
peak offseason content
my man!!! what you said about kotor isexactly what i think. awesome game with the best love story