I wouldn't necessarily agree.
There are genres of hardcore games which don't emphasize violence and weapons. Grand strategy and 4X games (like Crusader Kings and Civilization) typically stress the fact that violence is only one tool out of many, and usually not the best tool. Construction games, like Dwarf Fortress, Sim City, and Kerbal Space Program put less emphasis on destruction, and more on construction.
I think people call certain games "hipster bullshit" because they think those games are trying to be different only for the sake of being different, taking themselves too seriously, and/or are written pretentiously. Sometimes people are right, sometimes people are wrong. I've never heard anyone call Portal 'hipster bullshit'.
I think that Mass Effect was turned more and more into a shooter because shooters are what sell, nowadays. Its hardcore rpg components were toned down because the average casual gamer doesn't really care how many newtons of force their telepath character can exert with a "force push" ability, or want to sift configure dozens of equipment options, for 4 different characters.
"I think that Mass Effect was turned more and more into a shooter because shooters are what sell, nowadays."
Exactly, I wouldnt of called Mass Effect 1 "hardcore" RPG but it was definitely the only game in the series that closely resembled what an RPG "traditionally" is. I remember getting Mass Effect 2 and sitting back and going "where is the RPG in my RPG?". And then Mass Effect 3 came along and made it even worse with its boring characters, poor writing, uninteresting world design and bland gameplay. Cant wait to see the Asari homeworld? Its brown and grey with chest high walls, cant wait to see earth ? Sorry Brown and grey.
I loved the first Mass Effect and really hoped they would expand on the RPG elements, expand the "tank" missions when you were on a surface and just introduce more interesting characters, worlds, stories & converstations but the series just turned into a poor mans Gears of War.
Dont get me wrong I like to play the odd shooter, in fact I am very fond of old 90s shooters like Duke 3D, Shadow Warrior and Arena shooters like Unreal and Quake so I am not going to sit here and say I dont like a bit of mindless violence but If i wanted my game to play like COD or Gears I will play those games its that simple.
People always say they want KOTOR 3 but with this modern Bioware I wouldnt want them anywhere near KOTOR, I'd rather Obsidian work on it again if they could but finish the game this time!
