Support NeoGAF

[K' Dash]

Umm, you have played the ME3 demo, right? 'Cause Cerberus does just that.

Nope, I wanted to play the full game without knowing anything about it, but thanks for the spoilers, lol.

I hope they give a really good explanation about that, cause it seems really stupid that they start attacking other parties if they're being exterminated with everybody else.

You probably didnt see all those ME3 videos where we are shooting Cerberus i guess.

Media Blackout for me, the last thing I know are the events of The Arrival.

 

[ThusZarathustra]

Nope, I wanted to play the full game without knowing anything about it, but thanks for the spoilers, lol.

I hope they give a really good explanation about that, cause it seems really stupid that they start attacking other parties if they're being exterminated with everybody else.

Spoilers? Nah, son. That's a spoiler in the same way Shepard dies at the beginning of ME2 is a spoiler.

And don't go looking for narrative logic in the Mass Effect games. Better people than you or me have done so and it only ends in disappointment. Enjoy it for the action movie bombast it is and just leave it at that.

 

[K' Dash]

Spoilers? Nah, son. That's a spoiler in the same way Shepard dies at the beginning of ME2 is a spoiler.

And don't go looking for narrative logic in the Mass Effect games. Better people than you or me have done so and it only ends in disappointment. Enjoy it for the action movie bombast it is and just leave it at that.

Don't worry, I'm not of those people who go crazy over the lore and start disecting the story, I enjoy the games and give my opinions about them and that's it, I don't expect to make sense of everything.

Now, if you want to see some people going crazy about stories, you should visit FFXIII-2 spoiler thread, there are people there who think they got time travel figured out and explain how the game's logic is wrong, even if they don't know the first thing about physics or real time travel, but that's another story, haha.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

yeah, but in the predicament in the end of ME2 where: "find a way" vs "We have this tech right here, right now", I chose the latter, we don't really know if they can be stopped and not a single fuck has been given about a solution, so for me, having the tech available in that moment beats the hell out of "wait for a miracle, somebody somewhere will find a way".

But that's me.

Well, you are giving it to someone who brought you back only to sell you out more then once to the collectors, so the biggest issue is not so much saving it, but who you're giving it to.

If there had been an option to save the tech and give it to the Alliance I would probably have picked that as well. But Cerberus with their way too many failed experiments? Might as well blow it up.

Oh right, ethics. Sure, that too...

 

[spekkeh]

Just played through ME1 to refresh my memory. Man I completely forgot how totally BADASS the renegade ending is.

 

[Clockblockers]

Just played through ME1 to refresh my memory. Man I completely forgot how totally BADASS the renegade ending is.

that entire ending sequence is badass

 

[Salvadora]

ME1's ending was amazing. Fighting on the Citadel>Shitty Collector base.

 

[Kyoufu]

ME1's ending was amazing. Fighting on the Citadel>Shitty Collector base.

Only good thing about ME2's final mission is Harbinger being a badass.

 

[Salvadora]

Only good thing about ME2's final mission is Harbinger being a badass.

The conversation in the first still sends chills down my spine.

 

[shadyspace]

I don't play Paragon or Renegade. I go with the decision I feel is right at the time. Which usually ends up Paragon but when it came to saving three asshole Council members over taking down Sovereign IMMEDIATELY, shit was not a hard choice to make at all.

 

[EatChildren]

I always feel sorry for the Collector general when the base explodes, Harbinger releases control, and he looks back at the incoming explosion :<

 

[Blue Ninja]

I always feel sorry for the Collector general when the base explodes, Harbinger releases control, and he looks back at the incoming explosion :<

"Hey guys, I'm back! Jesus, that was a long nap, I dunno what happened there. So, whats u-OHGODI'MONFIRE"

On a side note, I just charged into a group of enemies all the way across the battlefield. My Xbox had trouble with that, so it locked up.

I don't play Paragon or Renegade. I go with the decision I feel is right at the time. Which usually ends up Paragon but when it came to saving three asshole Council members over taking down Sovereign IMMEDIATELY, shit was not a hard choice to make at all.

Usually, when I play these games for the first time, I just act on instinct, so I'll do a mix of Paragon and Renegade too. I ended up having the fleet hold back until Sovereign was exposed during ME1 and then keeping the Collector Base at the end of ME2. I lost that savegame, though.

Anyway, afterwards, when I start thinking about it, I'll start to lean more towards the Paragon side. Like for the Collector base, I think not using their technology is a better shot at beating them than using things they're already completely familiar with. To semi-quote Sovereign: "You used your relics, and so your civilization evolved so long the path we desired."

 

[Salvadora]

I always feel sorry for the Collector general when the base explodes, Harbinger releases control, and he looks back at the incoming explosion :<

The music that plays is sublime.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

I always feel sorry for the Collector general when the base explodes, Harbinger releases control, and he looks back at the incoming explosion :<

Wonder what Harbinger means by 'we will find another way' before signing out though. Mass Effect: Other BABAAAAAYY?

 

[Bisnic]

I always feel sorry for the Collector general when the base explodes, Harbinger releases control, and he looks back at the incoming explosion :<

Speaking of which, this general always seemed more ...insect than the usual collectors that you kill. Maybe an advanced form of Prothean mutation...who knows.

 

[Salvadora]

Wonder what Harbinger means by 'we will find another way' before signing out though. Mass Effect: Other BABAAAAAYY?

Arrival DLC maybe?

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

Arrival DLC maybe?

The baby reaper would not have had any impact on how fast or slow the reapers would arrive. Harbinger must have been referring to something else, which we may or may not see in ME3. probably not though.

 

[Kyoufu]

I still don't get the point of ME2. What was the human reaper all about? :/

 

[Linkified]

I still don't get the point of ME2. What was the human reaper all about? :/

They like to troll races before wiping them out.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

I still don't get the point of ME2. What was the human reaper all about? :/

I think ME3 is supposed to answer that question.

that said, I think it was probably a consequence of using the same structure as ME1 with all the 'pokemon your squad' stuff, adding some outcome to the fixed ending (which is basically the only way you can tie off a setup with a lot of choices, see: every bethesda game out there) and then having to provide some in-fiction reason for it.

That reason was available however, since Sovereign didn't like the Geth, suggesting that the reapers are something a little different from just AI. Bioware had to solve that fictional problem somehow, so reaper baby.

At least, that's what I think happened. It would have looked good on paper, but it did nothing for me as a player. That was really the biggest problem with ME2: it just didn't go anywhere and there was no sense of player reward. Not for me anyway.

If you had just gone directly from reaper IFF to the collector base with no loyal teammates, you would have had a better ending than the 'regular' ending. Not kidding. The ending were Shepard dies, which echos back to the nonsensical beginning ("shepard is dead!"), is probably the best ending and might as well have been canon.

 

[spekkeh]

Playing ME1 and ME2 back to back, it's really amazing how much better ME2 looks (x360). Not only does it have better textures, better sfx and does it seem to run on a higher resolution, it also looks like it's running 20fps more.

Speaking of Arrival btw, I never bought that DLC as I heard it was pretty crappy and bad value for money, but now I'm hearing that it may be an essential bit of story before ME3... What's GAFs opinion on the matter?

 

[Patryn]

Playing ME1 and ME2 back to back, it's really amazing how much better ME2 looks (x360). Not only does it have better textures, better sfx and does it seem to run on a higher resolution, it also looks like it's running 20fps more.

Speaking of Arrival btw, I never bought that DLC as I heard it was pretty crappy and bad value for money, but now I'm hearing that it may be an essential bit of story before ME3... What's GAFs opinion on the matter?

An event occurs which kind of leads into ME3, but it's not super important and will probably be covered in ME3.

If you can't get enough ME2, it's probably worth playing.

 

[Bisnic]

Playing ME1 and ME2 back to back, it's really amazing how much better ME2 looks (x360). Not only does it have better textures, better sfx and does it seem to run on a higher resolution, it also looks like it's running 20fps more.

Speaking of Arrival btw, I never bought that DLC as I heard it was pretty crappy and bad value for money, but now I'm hearing that it may be an essential bit of story before ME3... What's GAFs opinion on the matter?

The DLC is very short. I think it takes me a little more than 1 hour to complete. Add to that that its mostly corridors and nothing else, and you get something quite boring. Only the music and the last 5-10 mins are worth it.

Just watch cutscenes on youtube if really want to know what happen.

 

[shadyspace]

Playing ME1 and ME2 back to back, it's really amazing how much better ME2 looks (x360). Not only does it have better textures, better sfx and does it seem to run on a higher resolution, it also looks like it's running 20fps more.

Speaking of Arrival btw, I never bought that DLC as I heard it was pretty crappy and bad value for money, but now I'm hearing that it may be an essential bit of story before ME3... What's GAFs opinion on the matter?

This. Did I kill off 300,000 Batarians regardless of if I played through the DLC?

 

[McNum]

Playing ME1 and ME2 back to back, it's really amazing how much better ME2 looks (x360). Not only does it have better textures, better sfx and does it seem to run on a higher resolution, it also looks like it's running 20fps more.

Speaking of Arrival btw, I never bought that DLC as I heard it was pretty crappy and bad value for money, but now I'm hearing that it may be an essential bit of story before ME3... What's GAFs opinion on the matter?

Arrival isn't much more than a corridor of enemies with the twist that Shepard is on a solo mission. If you like the combat, Arrival is decent. The story does tie directly into ME3, it seems, but you don't really get any choices to make. The ones you do get are made irrelevant a few seconds later.

But it has a pretty final encounter and you get to

Spoiler

speak with Harbinger

if you do it after the Suicide mission.

 

[inky]

What's GAFs opinion on the matter?

Watch a video on Youtube. Don't waste your money on it because the gameplay content is atrocious.

I still don't get the point of ME2. What was the human reaper all about? :/

It seems like the Reapers were taking humans as a way to improve themselves. It has been hinted at by many characters that humans are special, and more diverse than other species, plus that also gives them an excuse to target human colonies and Earth first.

 

[Patryn]

This. Did I kill off 300,000 Batarians regardless of if I played through the DLC?

Yes. That happens no matter what.

 

[spekkeh]

Watch a video on Youtube. Don't waste your money on it because the gameplay content is atrocious.

Thanks, I'll go with this option. I don't really have time to play through the entire game again anyway. I just did the beginning again and now I have about a week to do the Lair of the Shadow Broker and the last few missions again, because Mordin suddenly died with my canonical Shepard, and he (together with Miranda) was precisely the only one I wanted to survive.

 

[Patryn]

Thanks, I'll go with this option. I don't really have time to play through the entire game again anyway. I just did the beginning again and now I have about a week to do the Lair of the Shadow Broker and the last few missions again, because Mordin suddenly died with my canonical Shepard, and he (together with Miranda) was precisely the only one I wanted to survive.

You actually can go back and re-do the Suicide Mission after you finished it if someone unexpectedly dies as long as you haven't done any other mission since you completed it. Just go to load and select Restart Mission. Takes you back to the beginning of it. This time send Mordin back with your crew.

 

[Trey]

No love for Kelly? Don't tell me you had her killed, you monster. Now who will feed your fish?
(seriously, those fuckers keep dying on me, and did before she gave me the option. So I have no fish. Feels bad man)

Faithful Ashley save is Kelly romance save. Cuz in Mass Effect, even when you're faithful, you're not.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

Going through 2 for the perfect save is starting to feel like a grind. Missions are fun but so... pointless. I've just done the Horizon mission and now all I have to do is three loyalty missions and three recruitment missions. The game is always fun to play, but man, when you're going through it for story purposes it really highlights how little fucking story there is

I really can't be arsed with another bunch of recruitment and loyalty missions in 3, especially now the Reapers are on the attack. If the majority of the game isn't going from one planet to another for story reasons then bleurgh. I'm also afraid that they won't carry over the best squad members (as they failed to do in 2). I know nothing about the squads in 3, so please don't confirm or deny!

Running through it now for the narrative points really highlights why my Insanity run of the game was the best and most memorable. You had to be smart with the combat and it was a challenge, highlighting how best to use every biotic/tech power etc. Without that challenge, you just go for long stretches without anything interesting, and yet I don't want to play it on Insanity again because I just want to experience the story!

 

[ShaneB]

You've pretty much summed up my thoughts exactly. It's fun as hell, but it's missing the urgency that made 1 fantastic. The loyalty missions seem like a complete after thought when they realized how little substance there was to the main story line.

It's now the third and final act of the play, it can't be wasted with more introductions and new squads and all that, like you I've gone in blind, so I have no idea what to expect I guess.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

Faithful Ashley save is Kelly romance save. Cuz in Mass Effect, even when you're faithful, you're not.

Has to check whether his undead wood still works with someone, right?

 

[Sober]

I don't play Paragon or Renegade. I go with the decision I feel is right at the time. Which usually ends up Paragon but when it came to saving three asshole Council members over taking down Sovereign IMMEDIATELY, shit was not a hard choice to make at all.

For the big decisions? Yeah I agree, it's just annoying you can't skirt the line during the rest of the game unless you want to lose squad mates.

I was surprised because in LOTSB when Vasir takes the hostage, I did the Paragon speech check and actually referenced the fact I sacrificed the Destiny Ascension. Then again I played full Paragon and ended up keeping the Collector Base so I'll see how that works out in ME3.

 

[Sai]

My preorder for the 360 N7 CE on Origin is in process!

* Sai squees.

 

[prodystopian]

Just finished Shadow Broker. Wow that was incredible.

Spoiler

I killed the Asari Spectre with a charge that knocked her over the edge of the level. Awesome. The Shadow Broker himself was pretty awesome, too.

 

[Kyoufu]

Doing a Renegade speed run. Question time:

Samara or Morinth?

I know Morinth gives me Renegade points but talking in terms of ME3, do I want her?

 

[Sotha Sil]

Doing a Renegade speed run. Question time:

Samara or Morinth?

I know Morinth gives me Renegade points but talking in terms of ME3, do I want her?

If you already have a Samara/parangon save, I'd say go for Morinth to see how ME3 handles both scenarios. That's what I'm doing, at least!

 

[Kyoufu]

If you already have a Samara/parangon save, I'd say go for Morinth to see how ME3 handles both scenarios. That's what I'm doing, at least!

I think that's what I'm going to do.

Well.. I don't have a Paragon save, because Paragon is boring

 

[Sotha Sil]

I think that's what I'm going to do.

Well.. I don't have a Paragon save, because Paragon is boring

The only way to get some fun out of a paragon playthrough is indeed to spice it up with random violence. A pure paragon run must be boring as hell.

 

[CorrisD]

I thought I would do one quick male renegade run through of ME1>ME2 with a custom Shepard.

But damn, no matter what I try to make it seems like it is impossible to make a Shepard that isn't butt ugly.

 

[Kyoufu]

I thought I would do one quick male renegade run through of ME1>ME2 with a custom Shepard.

But damn, no matter what I try to make it seems like it is impossible to make a Shepard that isn't butt ugly.

It's possible.

By playing as FemShep only.

(Male Shep is destined to be butt ugly forever)

 

[CorrisD]

It's possible.

By playing as FemShep only.

(Male Shep is destined to be butt ugly forever)

Isn't that the truth, besides the default male Shepard look I've only ever made custom FemSheps, and they always turn out pretty awesome.
Think I might just use the default one for now till ME2, and then hopefully create a custom guy that looks better than the ME1 ones.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

I always feel sorry for the Collector general when the base explodes, Harbinger releases control, and he looks back at the incoming explosion :<

I always felt bad about that scene too, but it had more to do with the realization there is nothing going through its head as the fire shoots towards it. "Releasing control." and the Collector loses all will to do anything.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

Doing a Renegade speed run. Question time:

Samara or Morinth?

I know Morinth gives me Renegade points but talking in terms of ME3, do I want her?

I love Morinth's real voice and I'm more interested to see what she does in ME3 than Samara from my paragon play through

 

[Phonomezer]

Playing through ME2 on insanity before ME3 drops... can't get past the first mission lol.

 

[Oppo]

dammit, you need FIVE points in either persuasion to fix that Miranda/Jack fight?!?!

razzumfrazzum

 

[GorillaJu]

Playing through ME2 on insanity before ME3 drops... can't get past the first mission lol.

I did my Insanity run with both Soldier and Vanguard. Soldier was really really easy. Adrenaline Rush makes you an absolute monster.

Doing a Renegade speed run. Question time:

Samara or Morinth?

I know Morinth gives me Renegade points but talking in terms of ME3, do I want her?

Given that this is a binary one-or-the-other decision, I can all but guarantee that neither of the two will have any significant screen time in ME3. I doubt your decision will matter at all.

 

[RiderKairuu]

Finished my 2nd playthrough! Everyone survived. Now the question is to Arrival or not to Arrival?

 

[luckyboyceo]

dammit, you need FIVE points in either persuasion to fix that Miranda/Jack fight?!?!

razzumfrazzum

Is this confirmed? I swear I have an almost maxed out meter and I still couldn't resolve that issue.

Any tips? Or should I just reload my save and continue to build my Paragon meter?