Mass Effect 2

[Cigol]

Finished the game in just under 30hrs. Was fantastic from start to finish and I couldn't put it down. I suppose you could complain about a whole host of little things but it doesn't get in the way of the overall experience so it's not important for me.

Was a little annoyed that I lost one of my team members at the end.

I sent Thane through the ducts thinking a mega assassin dude like him would handle that shit better than anyone - but he made the fatal (and n00bish) mistake of sticking his head outside of a door so someone could casually shoot a rocket in his face I suppose I was supposed to send Tali or the Geth, but I figured (and hoped) they'd be important characters in ME3 so I didn't want to risk it

Oh well, great game.

Now I am sad because it will be 1-3 years away for another Mass Effect; it will also apparently be on the 360 which means I will need to by another as my current box almost didn't make it

What do you mean by this? It's not going to be another timed exclusive or something is it

[dpp]

So I'm in my second playthrough as I said, this time a Paragon. I was hoping that I would be able to have different "decisions" of the character in the ME1 canon.

I had this illusion that during my 1st time playing as a Renegade, I had influenced what the game thought I did in ME1 because they were set up accordingly: I killed Wrex and the Krogans, I killed the Council, etc. However, even playing as a Paragon the choices are exactly the same! It means that there's a wealth of content that I will never be able to see just because I lost my ME1 save games.

And now I'm worried that they will carry the same decision for ME3, meaning that if you never played 1/2 you'll miss a LOT of stuff, if you played 2 then you get some stuff but to get everything you need to have a character that played the 2 previous games. And I'm really not going to play ME1 again and then play ME2 with that character for a 3rd time.

[Murdoc]

What do you mean by this? It's not going to be another timed exclusive or something is it

Just read a comment from the devs saying the third one will be on the 360; I was really hoping for it to be on the 720(whatever) since I'd like to see the mechanics/tech step it up a bit. Also in terms of how long it will take to make the game, it better be at least a couple years away... which will seem odd because that could potentially put it very close to the launch of a new generation of consoles; which makes me wonder why not just go full hog for the new ones.

Soulchicken: Yeah I noticed that on Illos(Illium? Illios?what the hell is it called?)

Though anyone else notice how willy nilly they handled space and the fact there isn't much of a vacum or lack of oxygen in this one? There were a lot of moments where I'm pretty sure we're looking out into space through a hole or a window with no pane and I could breath/not get sucked out. It's a shame too because the last part of ME1 was really cool and the introduction of that quiet space moment at the start of 2 wasn't every repeated.

The collectors ship especially; I swear I was staring out into the abyss with no helmet.

[SoulChicken]

So I'm in my second playthrough as I said, this time a Paragon. I was hoping that I would be able to have different "decisions" of the character in the ME1 canon.

I had this illusion that during my 1st time playing as a Renegade, I had influenced what the game thought I did in ME1 because they were set up accordingly: I killed Wrex and the Krogans, I killed the Council, etc. However, even playing as a Paragon the choices are exactly the same! It means that there's a wealth of content that I will never be able to see just because I lost my ME1 save games.

And now I'm worried that they will carry the same decision for ME3, meaning that if you never played 1/2 you'll miss a LOT of stuff, if you played 2 then you get some stuff but to get everything you need to have a character that played the 2 previous games. And I'm really not going to play ME1 again and then play ME2 with that character for a 3rd time.

http://www.annakie.com/me/

A bunch of save games for importing, its pretty easy to find the shepard you were/ or would have been.

[Moelman]

So I'm in my second playthrough as I said, this time a Paragon. I was hoping that I would be able to have different "decisions" of the character in the ME1 canon.

I had this illusion that during my 1st time playing as a Renegade, I had influenced what the game thought I did in ME1 because they were set up accordingly: I killed Wrex and the Krogans, I killed the Council, etc. However, even playing as a Paragon the choices are exactly the same! It means that there's a wealth of content that I will never be able to see just because I lost my ME1 save games.

And now I'm worried that they will carry the same decision for ME3, meaning that if you never played 1/2 you'll miss a LOT of stuff, if you played 2 then you get some stuff but to get everything you need to have a character that played the 2 previous games. And I'm really not going to play ME1 again and then play ME2 with that character for a 3rd time.

People from SA forums have put a bunch of their characters for download on this site: http://www.annakie.com/me/home.htm So you can pick one based on what decisions you'd like to transfer from ME1

[eljay]

Just read a comment from the devs saying the third one will be on the 360; I was really hoping for it to be on the 720(whatever) since I'd like to see the mechanics/tech step it up a bit. Also in terms of how long it will take to make the game, it better be at least a couple years away... which will seem odd because that could potentially put it very close to the launch of a new generation of consoles; which makes me wonder why not just go full hog for the new ones.

If they didn't put it on the 360 then you wouldn't be able to carry over your save from ME2, which for me would suck a lot more than not being as pretty as it could be.

I've been pleasantly surprised by the wealth of little touches related to my ME1 playthrough, especially things relating to sidequests.

[Squid Division]

I was thinking about something the other day, if you chose Liara as your love interest in ME1 (maybe Ashley and Kaidan too, not sure) then won't you potentially have 2 old love interests in ME3 (from ME1 and 2)? This then got me thinking, what if I DON'T choose a love interest in ME2, I wonder if the one I chose in ME1 will come back in ME3.

[Murdoc]

If they didn't put it on the 360 then you wouldn't be able to carry over your save from ME2, which for me would suck a lot more than not being as pretty as it could be.

I've been pleasantly surprised by the wealth of little touches related to my ME1 playthrough, especially things relating to sidequests.

Not necessarily, it is just a file after all, a simple program could stick it on a mem card to hard drive, or send it to your pc and send it back to your new xbox, or even the harddrive could potentially work in the new xbox or have some sort of transfer program(didn't they already have this with the old hds and the larger ones?)

Not saying thats optimal, would work, or at all plausible; but I'd assume it's not an impossiblity that is too much work. All of this could just be born out of my desire for a greater care in backwards compatibility between this gen and the new one.

Squid: Also wondering about this too,b ut from the looks of it most of that "love interest" is totally cut off in ME2 from the first anyway. But I also wonder if some of them will even show up in ME3, or maybe they will play a larger part and the others in ME2 will take a back seat... not sure.

[Korax]

I was thinking about something the other day, if you chose Liara as your love interest in ME1 (maybe Ashley and Kaidan too, not sure) then won't you potentially have 2 old love interests in ME3 (from ME1 and 2)? This then got me thinking, what if I DON'T choose a love interest in ME2, I wonder if the one I chose in ME1 will come back in ME3.

I'd say the latter is most likely. If you had a love interest in ME1, the desk in your quarters has a picture of them on it. If you choose a new lover, the picture ends up face-down, implying to me that you've given up on that relationship. If you stay faithful, what is normally the sex scene is replaced by one that has you looking wistfully at the picture for a few seconds.

[JonCole]

I remember reading that "cheating" on your ME1 love interest with a ME2 character will have tangible repercussions in the final game. Since I finished my Renegade run, I think I'm going to finish my Paragon ME1 playthrough without hooking up with Ashley/Liara and seeing how that pans out in the ME3.

[Squid Division]

Dammit, that's cool/sucks because Tali has always been my favorite, decisions decisions.

[Murdoc]

I remember reading that "cheating" on your ME1 love interest with a ME2 character will have tangible repercussions in the final game. Since I finished my Renegade run, I think I'm going to finish my Paragon ME1 playthrough without hooking up with Ashley/Liara and seeing how that pans out in the ME3.

Ah that's interesting then. I noticed the photo in my cabin was gone after the new choice was made. I don't really mind honestly, anyone who didn't stand with me on this mission can go to hell.

[JonCole]

Dammit, that's cool/sucks because Tali has always been my favorite, decisions decisions.

Yeah, on my Renegade save I hooked up with Miranda and cheated on Liara. I imagine that on my Paragon save I'll hook up with Tali, all the way.

[lobotomy42]

Started a replay of Mass Effect 1 last night.

Wow. It's incredible how stiff the controls feel and how slow the game seems. It's especially surprising given that I was just playing this game last week in preparation for Mass Effect 2, so it's not as if my memories of this game are distant.

I knew Mass Effect 2 was significantly different from Mass Effect 1 as I was playing it, but I didn't realize to what extent. More than anything else, I think this is a testament to how a lot of small, subtle tweaks can add up to a huge difference. ME2 is similar enough to ME1 to feel like a natural continuation, but different enough to make going backwards an almost painful task. The devs really did an impressive job at sliding these changes in under the radar, and making you feel as if it's the same game, when in reality, there are some pretty substantial differences.

[elmuerte]

So, Sheppard is working for this extremely rich and powerful company.

Then why do I have to pillage planets for resources, and why do I have to bother with credits and stores?

The planet missions in ME1 were much better than the planet probing in ME2. It's really tedious.

[Patters]

So, Sheppard is working for this extremely rich and powerful company.

Then why do I have to pillage planets for resources, and why do I have to bother with credits and stores?

The planet missions in ME1 were much better than the planet probing in ME2. It's really tedious.

It's explained that Cerberus used most of their funds to finance to commissioning of The second Normandy.

[elmuerte]

It's explained that Cerberus used most of their funds to finance to commissioning of The second Normandy.

And to rent all those mercenaries of which I'm not going to use half of them?

And if Cerberus is so broke, then why doesn't the alliance take over? Mass plot hole.

[JonCole]

Why doesn't the Alliance... take over? What? It's not like Cerberus is a branch of the Alliance.

[Patters]

And to rent all those mercenaries of which I'm not going to use half of them?

And if Cerberus is so broke, then why doesn't the alliance take over? Mass plot hole.

The Alliance won't become involved in a Cerberus operation due to what Cerberus stands for; they are essentially viewed as a Pro human anti alien group. It isn't a plot hole.

[JonCole]

The Alliance won't become involved in a Cerberus operation due to what Cerberus stands for; they are essentially viewed as a Pro human anti alien group. It isn't a plot hole.

THE "TEA PARTY" IS BLEEDING MEMBERS AND CAPITAL LIKE MAD, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE OVER.

[Patters]

THE "TEA PARTY" IS BLEEDING MEMBERS AND CAPITAL LIKE MAD, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE OVER.

Huh?

[JonCole]

American Politics joke. =/

[brkl]

Finished it today, 36 hours. Fantastic experience. I went in after going back to ME1 to finish the game with my space asshole. I didn't think I was going to be able to play this game, so I didn't follow any of the pre-release hype. Reading some of the reactions here, I'm glad I didn't. It looks like some of you had your experience spoiled by marketing a bit

Man, I'm so glad I didn't read this thread. I'm pretty bewildered by some of the criticisms here and especially what some of you would have liked to keep from ME1. From having just finished ME1, every change I came across was for the better. There were some areas that could have used a tune up, but not because they were done better in ME1 (nothing was).

Also, people talk about changes in style or direction? Totally consistent in my mind.

My biggest complaint is that every woman looks like a barbie doll. Goddammit, can't you even make one mercenary chick on Omega be a bit butch. I guess plastic surgery is damned cheap in the future. Also, everyone wants to get in my pants (except Mordin). My character is an ugly fucker and looks really creepy when he smiles, which is rarely. The only actually fitting romantic option was Jack, which I fucked up, though I enjoyed her screaming at me every time I tried to talk after that At first I was annoyed at the tits and ass, eventually almost furious at it. It's just way too much.

I'm going to play the end again to save everyone, but I can't figure out who to send in the ducts. Tali and Legion are out. :/ I'll try Grunt next, maybe he can take a rocket to the face

[JonCole]

Legion worked for me, but I also did his loyalty quest.

[Korax]

American Politics joke. =/

I got it.

I'm going to play the end again to save everyone, but I can't figure out who to send in the ducts. Tali and Legion are out. :/ I'll try Grunt next, maybe he can take a rocket to the face

I wouldn't say it's so much the specialist, as the leader of the other team. On my second playthrough, Legion survived just fine because the Fire Team leader ordered the team to provide cover fire while the door closed, preventing Legion from accidentally sticking his head out and being shot.