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[x-Lundz-x]

Level 31, all side missions (That I have access too right now) done just now getting back on track with the main story in ME1 on my hardcore play through. I am not sure why but I love getting all the side missions done first before I do any main story stuff. Anyone else do this besides me?

Bring down the sky was actually pretty decent, glad I decided to buy all the DLC for both games on this run.

Even though the game has not aged all that well from a graphics standpoint, ME1 still is just as amazing as I remember, with the exception of the Mako combat, soooo terrible. Clearing out the Geth from that one system was such a chore on Hardcore having to wait for your shields to recharge which took 5 mins. So far the only low point on this play through.

 

[Sotha Sil]

Ok, finally got to play Shadow Broker. Just got into the giant ship. I must say I'm really impressed. Great visuals, interesting use of biotic powers (really love the choreography in some scenes), and good writing. Awesome pacing, too. The Shepard/Liara constant back-and-forth is surprisingly well done, and really bring what would have been boring fight sequences to life. Really hurts vanilla ME2 by comparison: this is what the game should have been. When the core of your story is "building the team", party banter is pretty much mandatory. Hope they fixed it in ME3.

Really glad to hear that the LotSB guy will be writing dialogues in ME3.

More thoughts when I actually complete it tonight.

 

[Arjen]

I think that was point of the beginning hub area. It's an outer, futuristic colony for various businesses and some shady organizations. I think the "sterile" look was on purpose, much like we see in other sci fi media of futuristic architecture.

Yeah i know, i still prefer the hubs in ME2, they are so much more interesting.

 

[shinobi602]

When the core of your story is "building the team", party banter is pretty much mandatory. Hope they fixed it in ME3.

Really glad to hear that the LotSB guy will be writing dialogues in ME3.

Bioware said the lack of squad banter was one of the first complaints they fixed heavily for ME3. They even said there will be more banter than in ME1.

 

[Sotha Sil]

Bioware said the lack of squad banter was one of the first complaints they fixed heavily for ME3. They even said there will be more banter than in ME1.

Ah, that's great news!

 

[Bisnic]

Sorry to ask, but english isnt my first language, what does banter mean? Google translate that to "joke", which doesnt make much sense when i read what people write here.

 

[x-Lundz-x]

Sorry to ask, but english isnt my first language, what does banter mean? Google translate that to "joke", which doesnt make much sense when i read what people write here.

Basically your party members joking around and having conversations with each other while you are out and about exploring.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Sorry to ask, but english isnt my first language, what does banter mean? Google translate that to "joke", which doesnt make much sense when i read what people write here.

Quick back and forth conversation. In this case during battle and exploration.

 

[Izick]

Ok, finally got to play Shadow Broker. Just got into the giant ship. I must say I'm really impressed. Great visuals, interesting use of biotic powers (really love the choreography in some scenes), and good writing. Awesome pacing, too. The Shepard/Liara constant back-and-forth is surprisingly well done, and really bring what would have been boring fight sequences to life. Really hurts vanilla ME2 by comparison: this is what the game should have been. When the core of your story is "building the team", party banter is pretty much mandatory. Hope they fixed it in ME3.

Really glad to hear that the LotSB guy will be writing dialogues in ME3.

More thoughts when I actually complete it tonight.

I haven't played the game, let alone that expansion in a while, but I remember it being really solid.

I'm pretty sure the conclusion and payoff (not in loot, but story) to it is one of the most satisfying in any RPG quest, let alone a DLC one.

 

[Bisnic]

Oh i see, guess the joking translation did make sense.

Yeah, kinda missed that when i played ME2. Was always fun to click on a party member and hear him/her comment on whats happening around or in elevators.

Speaking of elevators... is this back or are we staying with loading screens showing our ship?

 

[Complistic]

think dragon age origins and how your companions are always chatting with each other.

Makes them feel more alive instead of just blankly staring ahead and never acknowledging the others existence.

 

[Pachterballs]

does anyone know if bioware patched in proper console controllers for the PC version of ME2? I bought ME2 for the pc for the masterrace specs but then I couldn't play with my x360 controller and never went back to it.

its still here almost 2 (?) years later; unplayed. I'm keen but I don't want to use mouse/keyboard

 

[Wiggum2007]

Speaking of, the guy who was in charge of writing Lair of the Shadow Broker is a relatively new employee at BioWare (that was his first project), and he's the one who has written all of Ashley and Kaiden's dialogue for ME3.

That makes me wonder, will Ashley and Kaiden be separate characters with unique dialogue a la ME1? In ME2 they were basically palette swaps of the same character, identical dialogue and all. Kinda bugs me that each of them has the same "destiny" (getting assigned to Horizon,

Spoiler

becoming a Spectre

in ME3, etc.), though I understand why they did it.

I think that was point of the beginning hub area. It's an outer, futuristic colony for various businesses and some shady organizations. I think the "sterile" look was on purpose, much like we see in other sci fi media of futuristic architecture.

I loved Noveria for the music alone. That track playing as you make your way up to the labs in your Mako in the middle of the blizzard, so good.

Yeah i know, i still prefer the hubs in ME2, they are so much more interesting.

I liked Omega well enough but the lack of background music made the other hubs (Ilium, Citadel, sorta Tuchanka) dull and sterile to me.

Luckily it's confirmed that background music is returning for the Citadel in ME3, though the Normandy will remain silent

 

[BabeSlayer]

That makes me wonder, will Ashley and Kaiden be separate characters with unique dialogue a la ME1? In ME2 they were basically palette swaps of the same character, identical dialogue and all. Kinda bugs me that each of them has the same "destiny" (getting assigned to Horizon, becoming a Spectre in ME3, etc.), though I understand why they did it.



I loved Noveria for the music alone. That track playing as you make your way up to the labs in your Mako in the middle of the blizzard, so good.



I liked Omega well enough but the lack of background music made the other hubs (Ilium, Citadel, sorta Tuchanka) dull and sterile to me.

Luckily it's confirmed that background music is returning for the Citadel in ME3, though the Normandy will remain silent

WTF DUDE SPOILERS MY HELL! Keep that spoiler shiz out of this thread..freaking heck even this thread isn't safe anymore....

 

[ScreenSplitter]

WTF DUDE SPOILERS MY HELL! Keep that spoiler shiz out of this thread..freaking heck even this thread isn't safe anymore....

"unmarked spoilers"

Freaking heck, learn to read.

ME2 run: Just recruited Garrus and Mordin. Off to Tuchanka next. When's the earliest point I can do Lair of the Shadow Broker?

 

[Pie Lord]

"unmarked spoilers"

Freaking heck, learn to read.

ME2 run: Just recruited Garrus and Mordin. Off to Tuchanka next. When's the earliest point I can do Lair of the Shadow Broker?

As soon as you clear Horizon, I believe.

 

[kai3345]

WTF DUDE SPOILERS MY HELL! Keep that spoiler shiz out of this thread..freaking heck even this thread isn't safe anymore....

read the thread title bruh

 

[Bisnic]

"unmarked spoilers"

Freaking heck, learn to read.

Well i guess he was expecting only ME1/2 spoilers in this thread. Although the spectre thing in ME3 is not something that would make me go "OMG WTF SPOILERS RAAAAGE". Its not like he said "Hey dude, ******** dies in ME3!"

 

[BabeSlayer]

I was under the impression ME3 spoilers were not allowed per the opening post......

and ya that does make me rage a little i've been doing a total media blackout of ME3 cause I wanted to be surprised by everything....guess i'm done with this thread as well if it allows ME3 spoilers...

sorry if I over-reacted or misinterpreted and ME3 spoilers are allowed...

 

[Wiggum2007]

WTF DUDE SPOILERS MY HELL! Keep that spoiler shiz out of this thread..freaking heck even this thread isn't safe anymore....

Erm okay, thread title says unmarked spoilers but if you're referring to the ME3 part then fair enough, but the status of Ashley/Kaiden in ME3 was one of the first bits released after the reveal of ME3. I generally consider prelease story info coming directly from Bioware fair game to safely discuss, but I've spoiler tagged it now, kind of an overreaction though :/

 

[RoboPlato]

read the thread title bruh

The title is referencing the games that are out. Many of us in here are on media blackout for 3.

 

[monome]

Going into a spoiler free Mass Effect thread while on a ME3 blackout is playing with fire.

This thread is about ME1 and 2. Not 3. The unmarked spoilers are for those games, both of which I have played through multiple times.

Going into a spoiler free Mass Effect thread while on a ME3 blackout is playing with fire.

FAKE EDIT : Going into a Mass Effect thread with spoiler tagged ME3 tidbits while on a ME3 blackout is playing with fire.

ME3 spoilers should be tagged just in case as some people are on blackouts. My bad, I should have been more clear.

 

[RoboPlato]

Going into a spoiler free Mass Effect thread while on a ME3 blackout is playing with fire.

This thread is about ME1 and 2. Not 3. The unmarked spoilers are for those games, both of which I have played through multiple times.

 

[EatChildren]

ME3 spoilers should be tagged just in case as some people are on blackouts. My bad, I should have been more clear.

 

[JerkShep]

I liked ME2 hubs, but the subquests were underwhelming. In ME1 Citadel there are a lot of subquests the first time you visit it, nothing mind blowing but very well done. Even Noveria was very good in that regard. I like the shooting and all, but ME3 needs some calm and slow moments when you just talk with characters, investigate and such. I don't know how many homeplanets will be explorable with the "oh my god galactic war reapers everywhere" thing but I've faith in the Citadel and maybe some "minor" planets returning.

 

[Trey]

ME3 spoilers should be tagged just in case as some people are on blackouts. My bad, I should have been more clear.

What constitutes ME3 spoilers? Stuff from the leak is obvious but promotional material as well?

 

[EatChildren]

Leak stuff is forbidden, because fuck that shit. Promotional stuff should be tagged just in case, and because BioWare can be a bit trigger happy with info. I knew the above, as would most following ME3 news because, as already said, it was one of the earlier reveals, but it cant hurt to tag stuff for those on blackouts.

 

[monome]

I liked ME2 hubs, but the subquests were underwhelming. In ME1 Citadel there are a lot of subquest the first time you visit it, nothing mind blowing but very well done. Even Noveria was very good in that regard. I like the shooting and all, but ME3 needs some calm and slow moments when you just talk with characters, investigate and such. I don't know how many homeplanets will be explorable with the "oh my god galactic war reapers everywhere" thing but I've faith in the Citadel and maybe some "minor" planets returning.

I expect non stop drama action and none of the glorious ME1 slower pace of galactic mysteriousness.

I still have faith in there being proper character arcs for my team and a somewhat sensiblibly done ending.

 

[Kabouter]

Leak stuff is forbidden, because fuck that shit. Promotional stuff should be tagged just in case, and because BioWare can be a bit trigger happy with info. I knew the above, as would most following ME3 news because, as already said, it was one of the earlier reveals, but it cant hurt to tag stuff for those on blackouts.

Didn't know

 

[ScreenSplitter]

Well what the guy mentioned was hardly plot spoiler material. I might go on a media blackout such as yourselves, but damn it's going to be hard.

I do empathise though, I can't remember the last time I went into a game with no knowledge of it prior. I blame over exposure in games media. Advertisement is one thing, but when you go into a heavily story based game knowing half the story, it does detract from the experience a lot.

 

[x-Lundz-x]

I expect non stop drama action and none of the glorious ME1 slower pace of galactic mysteriousness.

I still have faith in there being proper character arcs for my team and a somewhat sensiblibly done ending.

I don't understand why some people do not like ME2 as much as ME1. Yes they streamlined some things but ME2 is by far the superior game and has an amazing ending in my opinion.

 

[BabeSlayer]

Again:

Sorry if I over-reacted I just was really turned off by how much I knew going into ME2 and how much I knew going into other RPG's where story is the key. As I am in a blackout for ME3 to me that was a big spoiler...seems like a major development, so again sorry I raged a bit, but like I said I thought this thread was safe. Good to know it isn't a "major plot point" but still something I would have liked to have experienced in game. So ya sorry I raged and if we could at least tag ME3 that would be so very much appreciated.

 

[Bisnic]

I don't understand why some people do not like ME2 as much as ME1. Yes they streamlined some things but ME2 is by far the superior game and has an amazing ending in my opinion.

ME1 introduced the universe and had an amazing soundtrack and overall atmosphere while driving and walking around planets.

Something lacking in ME2, when you do the loyalty mission of Jacob or Zaeed for example, you feel like you're just walking on a tropical forest of future Earth, while in ME1 with the music + huge moon/sun in the sky on a desert planet... it just dont give the same feeling or atmosphere.

Its enough to make some biased(but understandable) opinions.

 

[Sai]

I don't understand why some people do not like ME2 as much as ME1. Yes they streamlined some things but ME2 is by far the superior game and has an amazing ending in my opinion.

Most of the time it seems more like they're bitter that the game didn't meet their expectations, as opposed to how it stacks up against the first.

 

[EatChildren]

Probably not wise to lash the acid tongue at people who dislike the second game. It's...dangerous.

Again:

Sorry if I over-reacted I just was really turned off by how much I knew going into ME2 and how much I knew going into other RPG's where story is the key. As I am in a blackout for ME3 to me that was a big spoiler...seems like a major development, so again sorry I raged a bit, but like I said I thought this thread was safe. Good to know it isn't a "major plot point" but still something I would have liked to have experienced in game. So ya sorry I raged and if we could at least tag ME3 that would be so very much appreciated.

It's fine. We'll just make sure to tag ME3 stuff in the future .

ME3 specific threads I won't vouch for though. Just here.

 

[Dennis]

I knew it

 

[ScreenSplitter]

I've been thinking about the ME1/ME2 discrepancy for a while now, especially playing the firs two games consecutively.

The fact was, ME1's shooter gameplay was pretty bad. Unintuitive cover system, annoying "Overheat" system, and no reward for accuracy/aim. ME2 was just a development of that, making the shooter gameplay a lot better. Noticeably the powers are much more streamlined and "fun" to use too.

This was coupled with the removal of the open planet exploration. Personally this wasn't an issue for me, as roughly 75% of planets in ME1 couldn't be explored anyway, and the "planet" was usually a cookie cutter barren landscape that looked suspiciously similar to the last planet you visited. Scattered around this barren landscape were a few minerals to scan, or a probe to salvage, and then usually your main objective.

Looking retrospectively, ME1 gave the illusion of free roaming, without actually making it that rewarding. In short, ME2 streamlined and cut away the parts of ME1 that were less interesting and relevant. The sidequests are still all there; and relate more to the most important aspect of ME2, your team. The game is also still very much an RPG, but in a less conventional sense. In ME1 you got XP for everything, which didn't make a whole lot of sense. Simply looking out the Citadel window, for example.

Many people lament the loss of ME1's inventory and squad upgrade system, but I myself found these very cluttered and confusing to someone trying to access the series. There were simply far too many things to upgrade; it was overwhelming. Likewise, with the inventory, There were a multitude of armour sets, weapons, and biotic amps, with confusingly similar named (i.e. Scorpion I-X) items. More user friendly does not = dumbed down. The ME2 system of upgrading your powers, switching your weapons, and leaving armour customisation to Shepard alone is infinitely preferable, I find.

And, at it's key, Mass Effect is clearly a game about the story. And ME2 doesn't dissapoint. You can find fault with the squadmates, their stories/loyalty, and the overall format of the suicide mission, but for a game about great stakes and the potential destruction of the galaxy, I thought the chaos and the preparations you had to make to ensure your teammates didn't die was a complete success. And particularly in that part of the game, the voice acting/scriptwork/soundtrack made my hair stand on end. Incredible.

I love both games, but if you think ME2 is anything but a development of what was already there, I think you're playing the wrong series/looking at the original with rose tinted glasses.

 

[Skilotonn]

I don't even know why I was following them on Twitter, or why this Chrome extension was putting up Tweets that was more than 4 hours old, but these numbnuts called StickTwiddlers just posted a spoiler "hint" for Mass Effect 3 that they didn't even think that people wouldn't want to know about.

Fucking idiots. They actually changed the Tweet, but the extension still put up the old version. Unfollowed those idiots and now I'm trying to erase that from my memory.

 

[ScreenSplitter]

I don't even know why I was following them on Twitter, or why this Chrome extension was putting up Tweets that was more than 4 hours old, but these numbnuts called StickTwiddlers just posted a spoiler "hint" for Mass Effect 3 that they didn't even think that people wouldn't want to know about.

Fucking idiots. They actually changed the Tweet, but the extension still put up the old version. Unfollowed those idiots and now I'm trying to erase that from my memory.

I feels yah. Some idiot linked me to the leaked ME3 script.

 

[TheSeks]

Tali's loyalty mission is so boring. "Yeah, go kill some Geth and maybe this fake charge we're charging you with will go away." Basically. :/

 

[x-Lundz-x]

And, at it's key, Mass Effect is clearly a game about the story. And ME2 doesn't dissapoint. You can find fault with the squadmates, their stories/loyalty, and the overall format of the suicide mission, but for a game about great stakes and the potential destruction of the galaxy, I thought the chaos and the preparations you had to make to ensure your teammates didn't die was a complete success. And particularly in that part of the game, the voice acting/scriptwork/soundtrack made my hair stand on end. Incredible.

I love both games, but if you think ME2 is anything but a development of what was already there, I think you're playing the wrong series/looking at the original with rose tinted glasses.

Perfectly stated.

 

[BabeSlayer]

Tali's loyalty mission is so boring. "Yeah, go kill some Geth and maybe this fake charge we're charging you with will go away." Basically. :/

hmm I found Tali's loyalty mission one of the best. Guess to each there own but that one seems to have a lot more galactic implications than the others.

 

[Bisnic]

Tali's loyalty mission is so boring. "Yeah, go kill some Geth and maybe this fake charge we're charging you with will go away." Basically. :/

I only liked the part before the geths, because you could finally see the quarian flotilla...well a small part of it. Was hoping for a new hub or something.

 

[RoboPlato]

Tali's loyalty mission is so boring. "Yeah, go kill some Geth and maybe this fake charge we're charging you with will go away." Basically. :/

I kind of like the verbal battle with the Admirals you have during that. It's really satisfying to get the charges dropped.

 

[EatChildren]

I liked Tali's loyalty mission, but I have a hard-on for all things Geth.

 

[Blue Ninja]

I kind of like the verbal battle with the Admirals you have during that. It's really satisfying to get the charges dropped.

I like Shep's Renegade speech during the hearing, though I've never been able to reproduce it for myself. :lol The only Renegade ME2 character I did didn't have enough points for that one.

It's a lot like this .gif, really.

 

[Bisnic]

I kind of like the verbal battle with the Admirals you have during that. It's really satisfying to get the charges dropped.

I actually managed to get Tali kicked out by choosing non-renegade/paragon choices and telling the admirals the truth.

I felt kinda bad for her, i really wonder if its gonna change anything in ME3, even something minor.

 

[TheSeks]

I kind of like the verbal battle with the Admirals you have during that. It's really satisfying to get the charges dropped.

I haven't gotten there yet, but the basic set-up is "This trial is a sham. We're only bringing Tali in to resolve if we go to war or not."

Shepard/Me: "Really? You couldn't do this without her?" :|

Everyone: "No."

Shepard/Me: "*sigh* Fine, we'll go on board the ship and kill the Geth."

 

[ScreenSplitter]

Tali's not my favourite character, so that whole thing just didn't go well for me. Deliberately failing it again so the lack of loyalty somehow causes her to die.


It's nothing personal Tali fans. I just don't like prostitutes dressed as Darth Vader on my ship.

 

[RoboPlato]

I like Shep's Renegade speech during the hearing, though I've never been able to reproduce it for myself. :lol The only Renegade ME2 character I did didn't have enough points for that one.

It's a lot like this .gif, really.

The paragon charm option is pretty funny. Shepard basically just says I" don't need any evidence because this is bullshit and you know it." The admiralty just goes, "Yeah, it is. Sorry about that."