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[EatChildren]

I see, well I certainly does not agree with them, people grow. Liara could not be that naive girl anymore.

Regarding the DLC is Shadow Broker on PSN? Let me add this. I purchased the digital version from the US PSN (since I got a US PSN card from a friend) downloaded the game and I'm playing it now on my EU account. The only DLC I can find on the EU PS Store is the "Arrival", the rest are packs from weapons and customization stuff.

So, if Shadow Broker is not in the Cerberus pack that came with the digital version where is it? Another strange thing. When I click on "Downloadable Content" at the menu I go straight to the PS Store but there, not even those packs and Arrival appear. It says "no items found" I only see them if I leave the game and search for them.

I was thinking Shadow Broker was included on Cerebrus DLC pack because when I started to play, the illusive man told me that Liara was conected/working with Shadow Broker.

I want at least that DLC. =/

Ah, you have the PS3 version. In that case Shadow Broker, Kasumi and Overlord are all included as part of your package. I don't recall if they're on the disk or if you have to download them separately, but if they're not showing up anywhere then I assume they're good to go. Check your journal, and it should state something about giving Shadow Broker data to Liara to start that mission.

Arrival is the only mission based paid DLC not included in the PS3 release.

 

[RoboPlato]

The dialogue found in the game files imply that he (and other characters) were originally recruitable earlier in the game, which enforces my belief ME2 was poorly planned and/or BioWare ran out of time.

I read something a while back that said that some of the stuff in ME2 had to be altered quite a bit because of being on multiple disks on 360. Legion was the biggest change. Evidently the game was more open for the order in a previous version and Legion's recruitment was much earlier. He would be doing lots of sketchy stuff around the Normandy and you wouldn't really know if he was friend or foe until the end. It sounded cool. I'm not sure why disk space was the reason for the change but that was the reason that was given.

 

[diamondstar]

Yea Legion was very poorly executed. I would argue he is the most important new character of ME2. That is half of the reason I am so pissed I fucked up his recruitment! haha.

When you play enough of ME2 you start to wonder where on the timeline certain aspects of the game were implemented. I am starting to think the planet scanning and resource system was set up late in development. Why aren't there any merchants selling minerals? Why can't I trade one mineral for any others? Why does EVERYTHING require platinum?

Just like ME, for a while I have had a ton of money to waste but really nothing to spend it on.

 

[The_Monk]

Ah, you have the PS3 version. In that case Shadow Broker, Kasumi and Overlord are all included as part of your package. I don't recall if they're on the disk or if you have to download them separately, but if they're not showing up anywhere then I assume they're good to go. Check your journal, and it should state something about giving Shadow Broker data to Liara to start that mission.

Arrival is the only mission based paid DLC not included in the PS3 release.

Yes I got the Digital Version from the PS Store, on 360 got ME1 and ME2 with a friend 360. My PC is too weak =/

Reluctant-Hero, thanks for answering too. Guess I'll play everything again but the Arrival DLC since it does not add big things.

 

[EatChildren]

I read something a while back that said that some of the stuff in ME2 had to be altered quite a bit because of being on multiple disks on 360. Legion was the biggest change. Evidently the game was more open for the order in a previous version and Legion's recruitment was much earlier. He would be doing lots of sketchy stuff around the Normandy and you wouldn't really know if he was friend or foe until the end. It sounded cool. I'm not sure why disk space was the reason for the change but that was the reason that was given.

Sounds about right. He has recorded dialogue for a lot of early missions, including a confrontation with Tali if you bring him on her recruit mission.

One of the older rumours circulating was that BioWare originally planned for a second intro quest that was to take place between the Normandy assault and Shepard waking up two years later. In it you were supposed to play as Liara questing to find Shepard's body, and there you would meet up with Legion who too was looking for it. As the quest developed Legion would sustain damage, and using the found body patch up his armour with Shepard's. Liara would retrieve the body for Cerberus, flash forward two years later and the main game would begin.

If correct, BioWare scrapped the idea and replaced Legion with Feron, turning it into the comic series.

Yes I got the Digital Version from the PS Store, on 360 got ME1 and ME2 with a friend 360. My PC is too weak =/

Reluctant-Hero, thanks for answering too. Guess I'll play everything but the Arrival DLC since it does not add big things.

It does directly lead into ME3, so if you don't buy it watch a playthrough on YouTube once you've finished the game. Events of Arrival explain why ME3 starts the way it does.

 

[Enduin]

Didnt BioWare make mention when they released the ME2 statistics that they were really surprised by how many people actually imported saves, 50%, into ME2 and it was their low expectations of save imports that was reason behind many of ME1 decisions only resulting in minor cameos or simply email followups in ME2.

 

[RoboPlato]

Sounds about right. He has recorded dialogue for a lot of early missions, including a confrontation with Tali if you bring him on her recruit mission.

One of the older rumours circulating was that BioWare originally planned for a second intro quest that was to take place between the Normandy assault and Shepard waking up two years later. In it you were supposed to play as Liara questing to find Shepard's body, and there you would meet up with Legion who too was looking for it. As the quest developed Legion would sustain damage, and using the found body patch up his armour with Shepard's. Liara would retrieve the body for Cerberus, flash forward two years later and the main game would begin.

If correct, BioWare scrapped the idea and replaced Legion with Feron, turning it into the comic series.

Yeah, that was what I was talking about. I actually was going to mention the segment with Liara and Shepard's body but deleted it in my post since I forgot Legion had a connection to that. I didn't realize there was a comic series about that.

 

[Reluctant-Hero]

Didnt BioWare make mention when they released the ME2 statistics that they were really surprised by how many people actually imported saves, 50%, into ME2 and it was their low expectations of save imports that was reason behind many of ME1 decisions only resulting in minor cameos or simply email followups in ME2.

Yeesh, really?! Wasn't the selling point if the series how your choices would carry over through each game?! I remember that marketing spiel in early 2007!

 

[Felix Lighter]

Hmmmmm... I was working through my back log but may be I'll join in.

 

[Enduin]

Yeesh, really?! Wasn't the selling point if the series how your choices would carry over through each game?! I remember that marketing spiel in early 2007!

Well I mean the major choices are reflected in game and have an impact, some will come to light in ME3, but I think it was more about the sidequests and minor choices that were really only reflected in ME2 as emails or minor cameos. Possibly why meeting up with Kaiden or Ashley on Horizon was so poorly done and then wrapped up with an email. Putting too much into their reunion might have required too much time and resources when expectations were low that most people would be importing a save so it was more important to make all the quests and NPCs in this game as good as possible.

 

[Derrick01]

Er-Digital Comic from Cerebus Pack? There's only 3-6 major choices from ME1 anyway, dude. Just get it.

I'm not familiar with how that whole situation is handled on the PS3 version. Do they like give you a list of the big choices to pick and change the comic story so you can at least kind of have your own ME1 story without playing it?

 

[The_Monk]

It does directly lead into ME3, so if you don't buy it watch a playthrough on YouTube once you've finished the game. Events of Arrival explain why ME3 starts the way it does.

Will do, thanks again for all the help.

The only way I would buy arrival would be if it was cheaper =/ It's around 6-7€.

 

[Lucius86]

I know the OP said not reading 'Mass Effect: Deception' - but I was curious after reading the three books prior on what people thought on this one.

Oh dear. 1 star reviews all round.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mass-Effect-Deception/product-reviews/1841499854/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[RoboPlato]

I know the OP said not reading 'Mass Effect: Deception' - but I was curious after reading the three books prior on what people thought on this one.

Oh dear. 1 star reviews all round.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mass-Effect-Deception/product-reviews/1841499854/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Someone posted a Google docs link to all of the conflicts with established canon in it. A lot of basic stuff about the different species are completely wrong.

 

[Snuggles]

Oh dear. 1 star reviews all round.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mass-Effect-Deception/product-reviews/1841499854/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Holy shit, this cracked me up:

One character, Mythra Zon, is routinely incorrectly referred to as Von. Sometimes both Zon and Von occur on the same page, within lines of each other. Another Mass Effect character, Barla Von, is given a brief cameo mention early in the book, so it might confuse you when "Von" starts showing up later in the book.

 

[DerZuhälter]

I would love to see a *database* for ME2 save games created at the end of this thread.
Tell GAF which critical plot point decisions you took (Love Interests, Deaths, Good/Bad decision making) so one can see the most drastic different outcomes in ME 3.
I got my on little save game archived, but except for playing ME3 with it once and without it once I have no idea how to get all the other plotstrings I might miss.

 

[Mindlog]

I'm not familiar with how that whole situation is handled on the PS3 version. Do they like give you a list of the big choices to pick and change the comic story so you can at least kind of have your own ME1 story without playing it?

Yes. You can see it on Youtube.

I know the OP said not reading 'Mass Effect: Deception' - but I was curious after reading the three books prior on what people thought on this one.

Oh dear. 1 star reviews all round.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mass-Effect-Deception/product-reviews/1841499854/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

The US site has a genuine 5 star review from a top 100/Hall of Fame reviewer. Funny stuff. Another reviewer tried to do the same thing, but pulled his review when he found out what was happening.

I really hope David Archer shows up in ME3.

 

[Enduin]

I would love to see a *database* for ME2 save games created at the end of this thread.
Tell GAF which critical plot point decisions you took (Love Interests, Deaths, Good/Bad decision making) so one can see the most drastic different outcomes in ME 3.
I got my on little save game archived, but except for playing ME3 with it once and without it once I have no idea how to get all the other plotstrings I might miss.

www.masseffect2saves.com

 

[heliosRAzi]

What a coincidence, I just recently got done with ME1 again and currently going through ME2. Despite my criticisms, I do like the franchise; I just feel that they could have done more. I go to these great places like Omega and Illium and they both are just rich with atmosphere, but exploration is pretty down to a minimum.

 

[The_Monk]

I wonder if anyone will be starting ME3 "fresh" even if you have save files from ME1 & 2.

Since there will be differences based on older saved games, would everyone (plot) be there on ME3 if no save file was used?

 

[JerkShep]

Wow didn't know about this Liara and Legion thing. Is there a place where I can find more information about scrapped material? I read somewhere that Grunt and Mordin should've had some kind of confrontation, like Miranda/Jack and Tali/Legion, but I don't know much.

One thing that alway surprised me is that Tuchanka and The Citadel can be skipped (I don't know if you must talk to Anderson to continue the main quest but I don't think so) if you do only the main quest. Maybe Grunt was supposed to be recruited on Tuchanka? He was one of the first character to be announced, but I think he was on Omega in the trailer. I was quite surprised actually when you discovered he was an experiment.
And there are a lot of plot points left unresolved, like Okeer acquiring Collector technology, or Collectors being behind the plague on Omega. Oh well, we'll probably never know.

 

[moop1167]

I would love to see a *database* for ME2 save games created at the end of this thread.
Tell GAF which critical plot point decisions you took (Love Interests, Deaths, Good/Bad decision making) so one can see the most drastic different outcomes in ME 3.
I got my on little save game archived, but except for playing ME3 with it once and without it once I have no idea how to get all the other plotstrings I might miss.

http://www.masseffect2saves.com/

bah, beaten

 

[DerZuhälter]

www.masseffect2saves.com

The internet. Always one step ahead of me.

 

[EatChildren]

I wonder if anyone will be starting ME3 "fresh" even if you have save files from ME1 & 2.

Since there will be differences based on older saved games, would everyone be there on ME3 if no save file was used?

ME3 supposedly uses a "PREVIOUSLY ON..." interactive comic similar to the PS3 build of ME2, so no doubt that will allow you to make some key choices.

Wow didn't know about this Liara and Legion thing. Is there a place where I can find more information about scrapped material?

The Liara + Legion thing was just a rumour and honestly I'm not sure if there was any truth to it. Unlike some of the other content, like recorded dialogue, there's nothing in the game to suggest such a thing it actually existed, and if it did it was scrapped very early on.

Not sure where you can find details on cut content. The Mass Effect wiki might have something.

 

[Mindlog]

I wonder if anyone will be starting ME3 "fresh" even if you have save files from ME1 & 2.

Since there will be differences based on older saved games, would everyone (plot) be there on ME3 if no save file was used?

They are going to use the opening scene to create a save iirc. Sort of like the ME2 comic.

 

[The_Monk]

Oh, I didn't knew that, I'm kinda on a media blackout regarding ME3.

 

[shingonation]

I'll put these here.

A lot of concept art images for Mass Effect 3

http://www.masseffect-universe.de/comments--id-821.html

 

[Enduin]

Superb, looks like I have a new wallpaper or five.

 

[Balphon]

I actually just finished playing through ME1 (on Hardcore) and most of ME2 (on Insanity) as a Renegade Adept to refresh myself on the series. Ended up being different enough from my Paragon Infiltrator to feel fresh. I actually found myself preferring some aspects of ME1's combat, since with the introduction of the global cooldown and good cover mechanics ME2 there's no point in using anything other than Warp, Pull, and Singularity. Admittedly, though, that's a problem that's rather peculiar to an Adept; I remember finding ME1's combat pretty dull with the Infiltrator given its focus on sniping and crappy tech mines.

 

[RiderKairuu]

Soon as I finish what I'm currently playing Im gonna drop my current crack (SWTOR) and do one more playthrough of ME2.

 

[-Stranger-]

I've finished Mass Effect 1 twice but i've only finished Mass Effect 2 once.
I don't i'll replay as i'm pretty happy with my female shep going into Mass Effect 3.
I can't wait only 5 weeks to go!

On second thought maybe i should as a few of my characters died in ME2 and i failed one of the loyalty missions.

EDIT: I recently finished Overlord DLC and LOTSB DLC is it worth buying Arrival and Kasumi DLC?

 

[Typographenia]

Bah, I wish I could join in, but I need to finish my current games in time for ME3. God speed to my fellow Gaffers playing through.

 

[RoboPlato]

I've finished Mass Effect 1 twice but i've only finished Mass Effect 2 once.
I don't i'll replay as i'm pretty happy with my female shep going into Mass Effect 3.
I can't wait only 5 weeks to go!

On second thought maybe i should as a few of my characters died in ME2 and i failed one of the loyalty missions.

EDIT: I recently finished Overlord DLC and LOTSB DLC is it worth buying Arrival and Kasumi DLC?

Kasumi, yes. One of my favorite loyalty missions. The gameplay of Arrival is disappointing and awkward but the story directly leads into 3. I'd recommend watching it on Youtube or reading a summary.

 

[Derrick01]

Yes. You can see it on Youtube.

Ohhh that's pretty cool actually. It's not as good as playing the awesome ME1, but it's better than no alternative. Thanks for showing me this.

 

[An-Det]

I started a bit early relative to the thread, but I'm in. I did 2 Ally playthroughs of ME1 (wanted to get Tali, Wrex, Garrus, and Liara achievements) at the start of January since I lost my saves to my dead xbox, and just finished my first run of ME2 (now starting an Insanity run), after having only played barebones 2 years ago. I'm at about 75 total hours so far and loving it.

 

[RoboPlato]

Ohhh that's pretty cool actually. It's not as good as playing the awesome ME1, but it's better than no alternative. Thanks for showing me this.

I found it to be pretty effective. I've played through ME1 multiple times myself but no longer live with my roommate who has the 360 and I thought it covered most of the major bases.. It's nice for PS3 owners so they aren't completely lost and get to make the major decisions.

 

[goober]

The more you guys talk about Mass Effect, the more I regret not getting it during the Christmas sale.

 

[MasterShotgun]

I started to replay both ME1 and 2, but due to still playing Skyrim a lot, I just decided to replay my first character in ME2. Plus, I'll be more refreshed about what I did with him.

I'll do a full run of all three games some time later.

 

[-Stranger-]

Kasumi, yes. One of my favorite loyalty missions. The gameplay of Arrival is disappointing and awkward but the story directly leads into 3. I'd recommend watching it on Youtube or reading a summary.

Alright thanks i'm going to get some points and get Kasumi.
Anyone know how big Mass Effect 3 will be (In GB) i was planning to rip it to the HD but i will need to make space.

Damn i really need a bigger Hard drive.

This thread is really making me want to do a Paragon playthrough of Mass Effect 1 (haven't got the achievement) and also of Mass Effect 2 (Changing some important choices and keeping all characters)

It's going to be interesting to see how well your choices tie into Mass Effect 3.

 

[The_Monk]

It's 12GB on the PS3, without installation, Stranger

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Just started my ME1 replay. I think I'll do almost all of the sidequests because I hate myself.

 

[ChoklitReign]

I can't get the no blood veins mod/texture to work. I added it in Texmod using the default option but it doesn't work. Do I need to move the file location?

 

[TheSeks]

Is there no way to make a new/branching save? Like for instance I get to the suicide mission and want to get the "save everyone" achievement, but I also

Spoiler

want to kill Tali, because really, I don't really care for Tali that much and want to piss her fans off saying she died

but the PS3 version only has an auto-save and "reload mission" checkpoint thing. :/

 

[Reluctant-Hero]

Is there no way to make a new/branching save? Like for instance I get to the suicide mission and want to get the "save everyone" achievement, but I also

Spoiler

want to kill Tali, because really, I don't really care for Tali that much and want to piss her fans off saying she died

but the PS3 version only has an auto-save and "reload mission" checkpoint thing. :/

Hmm, I think you can. Each Shepard is treated as a "career" and within each of those you can have multiple save files. So you in theory you should be to make a save, go forward with killing Tali and make that a brand new save file. Then reload the original save, go forward with Tali living and create another new save file.

I'm also assuming that the PS3 saves are structured in same way as 360 saves.

 

[shingonation]

Alright thanks i'm going to get some points and get Kasumi.
Anyone know how big Mass Effect 3 will be (In GB) i was planning to rip it to the HD but i will need to make space.

Damn i really need a bigger Hard drive.

This thread is really making me want to do a Paragon playthrough of Mass Effect 1 (haven't got the achievement) and also of Mass Effect 2 (Changing some important choices and keeping all characters)

It's going to be interesting to see how well your choices tie into Mass Effect 3.

15 GB is the official word for ME3.

 

[EatChildren]

I can't get the no blood veins mod/texture to work. I added it in Texmod using the default option but it doesn't work. Do I need to move the file location?

Hmm, you shouldn't have to. As long as you're booting the game through TexMod (not just booting the game with TexMod open), and the texture pack is loaded into TexMod, it should work. Weird.

 

[Z_Y]

Played through ME1 twice and ME2 once. Not sure I want to ignore my backlog to play through the series again. I'll read along though. This is one of only a few series I can participate in an unmarked spoiler thread. lol

For those on the fence about the Arrival DLC...it has been 50% off at least twice now. Should be another sale before 3 launches one would think. I have no idea if it is worth even that though. I bought it on sale months ago and have yet to play it.

 

[Rei no Otaku]

or Collectors being behind the plague on Omega. Oh well, we'll probably never know.

That was explained. Mordin says that the plague was probably being used to test out genetic mutation on other species by the Collectors. That's why it wasn't affecting humans. Since humans have more varied genetic structures it would have been too complex to incule them so they were used as a control group.

 

[toastyToast]

I have an insane run of ME2 that I stopped just after the Legion joins the gang.

From what I remember it was pretty easy. My party was fairly useless but adrenaline rush + sniper combo made up for that.

 

[jackdoe]

Yea Legion was very poorly executed. I would argue he is the most important new character of ME2. That is half of the reason I am so pissed I fucked up his recruitment! haha.

Definitely. I hate the whole situation where you can pretty much only do his loyalty mission before you had to rush out to save your crew or they'd end up as jelly.