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[firehawk12]

Ugh, having to travel back to Normandy to research the stuff you bought is kind of annoying. Feels like an unnecessary time sink because of all the loading screens.

 

[mattiewheels]

I ran into the krogan romancing his girl with bad poetry on illium :lol and, mordin couldn't talk, too busy researching an STD outbreak on the ship :lol :lol

(I miss the mako. Does the hammerhead let you roam the planets?)

 

[EatChildren]

One thing I really dislike about ME2 is the stupidly high amount of pre-rendered cut-scenes.

Its a small complaint maybe, but there's a ton more than the original, and they seem really out of place. Playing at 1920x1080 makes it really, really obvious when I'm going from an in-game cinematic to something pre-rendered.

It would be less intrusive if they were seperated nicely from in-game film, but some scenes have it switching between the two a bit too much.

A good example is (spoilers for the first meeting with the Collectors)

Spoiler

the first time you meet with the Collectors and Ashley/Kaiden is at the base. Seeing Ashley/Kadien, the various collonists, and the Collectors come in is all in-game. Then it switches to pre-rendered to show the 'commander' Collector, and him/her/it taking over one of the Collectors.

It looks worse than the in-game stuff and I'm not sure why it was done. The original seemed to reserve a lot of its pre-rendered stuff for the bigger out-of-space moments, like the end of the game. Here it's being thrown around for all sorts of things.

EDIT: Minor complaint, but I also would have liked the PC version come packed with higher resolution textures. Textures for environments and main characters are great, but much like the first one a lot of NPC textures are pretty low res and crummy looking. Some dont look much, if at all, better than the original.

 

[Cep]

Ugh, having to travel back to Normandy to research the stuff you bought is kind of annoying. Feels like an unnecessary time sink because of all the loading screens.

Yeah, definitely not needed.

BTW, how did you end up solving your Horizon troubles?

 

[Trickster]

One thing I really dislike about ME2 is the stupidly high amount of pre-rendered cut-scenes.

Its a small complaint maybe, but there's a ton more than the original, and they seem really out of place. Playing at 1920x1080 makes it really, really obvious when I'm going from an in-game cinematic to something pre-rendered.

It would be less intrusive if they were seperated nicely from in-game film, but some scenes have it switching between the two a bit too much.

A good example is (spoilers for the first meeting with the Collectors)

Spoiler

the first time you meet with the Collectors and Ashley/Kaiden is at the base. Seeing Ashley/Kadien, the various collonists, and the Collectors come in is all in-game. Then it switches to pre-rendered to show the 'commander' Collector, and him/her/it taking over one of the Collectors.

It looks worse than the in-game stuff and I'm not sure why it was done. The original seemed to reserve a lot of its pre-rendered stuff for the bigger out-of-space moments, like the end of the game. Here it's being thrown around for all sorts of things.

EDIT: Minor complaint, but I also would have liked the PC version come packed with higher resolution textures. Textures for environments and main characters are great, but much like the first one a lot of NPC textures are pretty low res and crummy looking. Some dont look much, if at all, better than the original.

Doesn't help that the compression in the pre-rendered stuff is pretty damn atrocious, there is artifacting occuring all over the place.
It's a shame they didn't bother rendering it at 1080p for the pc version.

 

[Jamesfrom818]

I'm an adept. Should I take the AR training or the SR training?

 

[Red]

I just finished ME1 in a four hour marathon run (Feros, Virmire, Ilos, Citadel) and moved immediately onto ME2.

HOLY SHIT what an improvement. Literally everything is better and I'm already in love with the game. I'd give the first maybe a 6/10, but the sequel has blown me away in less than two hours. Amazing.

One thing that still bugs me is the faded areas around the corners of the screen. Those, compounded by the fact that the camera sticks so close to Shepard, really makes the whole thing feel claustrophobic. I wish the camera was pulled back just a little bit.

 

[Cep]

I'm an adept. Should I take the AR training or the SR training?

SR are better, but if you are like me and do not have the skill, then choose AR.

 

[McNei1y]

Jack's loyalty mission is sweet :lol

Thane's is my favorite.




My beef with this near perfect game: The animations. They didn't seem to go well with eachother at all.

 

[Resident_UA]

The game should keep track of how much time is spent in scan mode so you can look at that number and realize you've wasted your life.

I listen to podcasts when I'm scanning :lol

 

[EatChildren]

Doesn't help that the compression in the pre-rendered stuff is pretty damn atrocious, there is artifacting occuring all over the place.
It's a shame they didn't bother rendering it at 1080p for the pc version.

Yeah exactly. The first was like that too but the pre-rendered stuff was kept pretty minimal, and at least consistantly used in specific scenarios. Here its really scattered about, showing up in scenes that look no beter, but infact worse due to the compression artifacts.

A bit overboard there BioWare. I think I recall someome from the company saying the opening was all in-game. Its really not at all. The playable stuff is, as is the part where your romance option runs after you, but the rest isnt. Not even all the inside ship stuff is ingame.

 

[Jamesfrom818]

SR are better, but if you are like me and do not have the skill, then choose AR.

I'm leaning towards SR because I've been doing just fine with the SMG. It seems like the AR will just be a stronger version.

 

[McNei1y]

I'm leaning towards SR because I've been doing just fine with the SMG. It seems like the AR will just be a stronger version.

I learned this soon after gaining AR training. Wish I did SR.

 

[Trickster]

I'm an adept. Should I take the AR training or the SR training?

AR, I can't see how snipers can be useful without the slowdown bonus you get as an infiltrator

 

[Red]

So is it possible for adepts to still use barrier? That was my saving grace during the tougher sections of ME1, but I haven't seen it as an option so far.

 

[hermit7]

Just finished my first playthrough, overall the final mission was intense and nerve wrecking. I didn't know what was going to happen and it felt good to have the feeling of the unknown in the game.

Spoiler

3 people died Thane, Samara, and Tali. Not sure why Tali died, was between the final fight and getting back to the Normandy.

Going to take the rest of the day off before I start my renegade playthrough.

 

[HarryDemeanor]

Just beat the game 5 minutes ago. Probably the most epic ending for a game I've played in a long time.

Spoiler

Almost made it out with everyone alive until the final shot with Mordin dead on the floor. Came this close to having everyone safe. Why Mordin!? Why!? You had a fantastic singing voice!

Looking forward to doing a second playthrough with an Infiltrator or a Biotic class. This game really made me pumped for Mass Effect 3. Hope we don't have to wait long!

Also, the opening shot of the

Spoiler

human reaper made my jaw drop. Totally got a Terminator vibe going into that final battle.

 

[EatChildren]

AR, I can't see how snipers can be useful without the slowdown bonus you get as an infiltrator

And what a bonus. I'm so happy I continued as an Infiltrator in ME2. The sniper is again supreme, and mixing it up between machine pistols and heavy pistols is a blast.

 

[Metroidvania]

So is it possible for adepts to still use barrier? That was my saving grace during the tougher sections of ME1, but I haven't seen it as an option so far.

You can get it as a bonus talent after completing a certain mission.....

Spoiler

Jacob's loyalty mission

, then selecting "learn bonus talent" under the prototype section of the research.

It's either that, or it might unlock automatically once you unlock the first bonus talent, I can't remember specifically.

Somehow, this infiltrator slowdown is new to me. Guess I know what I'm gonna play through 3rd.

Also, if you put the right skills into a vanguard, they're OP as fuck.

 

[DevelopmentArrested]

Sidequests are still mediocre in this game. Replacing Mako and generic bases with horrendous mineral scanning and 2 minute missions does not make them better. I went through 10 sidequests in 45 minutes. 10. I spent longer loading some missions than actually playing them. It's wonderful that each mission has different art assets to them but really, they just aren't interesting at all. The most egregious part of the sidequests are the rewards: 40 exp and 500 credits. Really??

 

[Trickster]

Sidequests are still mediocre in this game. Replacing Mako and generic bases with horrendous mineral scanning and 2 minute missions does not make them better. I went through 10 sidequests in 45 minutes. 10. I spent longer loading some missions than actually playing them. It's wonderful that each mission has different art assets to them but really, they just aren't interesting at all. I'm finding it really curious to hear that some people have played ONE Playthrough for upwards of 60 hours. How? Im 30 in, done all sidequests possible and at the end of the game. There literally isnt much else for me to do.

Agreed, the anomaly sidequests are not very engaging overall ( a couple were kinda fun ), think my main issue with them is that shepard doesn't say anything in any of them, makes them feel kinda shallow and makes me think they only started work on them near the very end of the development process when the voice actors were done doing voiceovers.

About the 60 hours thing, I think the guy that had 58 hours was playing on hardest difficulty.

 

[Zzoram]

What can happen to cause a loss of loyalty? I'm afraid of doing loyalty missions because I don't want to lose it by accident soon afterwards.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Agreed, the anomaly sidequests are not very engaging overall ( a couple were kinda fun ), think my main issue with them is that shepard doesn't say anything in any of them, makes them feel kinda shallow and makes me think they only started work on them near the very end of the development process when the voice actors were done doing voiceovers.

About the 60 hours thing, I think the guy that had 58 hours was playing on hardest difficulty.

I give them a pass this time because there's easily 30 hours of main content in this game whereas the first game was 30 hours to do absolutely everything and less than half of it was any good. Also, the anomaly missions so far have been much more varied than the 30 or so identical side quests of the first game.

 

[Darklord]

I love the games little details. I know most people don't care but the level of interaction is great. I love the trash compactor, flushing toilets, feeding the wish, watching the hamsters.

 

[HarryDemeanor]

What can happen to cause a loss of loyalty? I'm afraid of doing loyalty missions because I don't want to lose it by accident soon afterwards.

Spoiler

Random fights between teammates will happen during the story. Picking one or the other will result in loyalty lost. If you have a high enough Paragon or Renegade rating you can overcome these and keep loyalty between both members.

 

[SlickVic]

Just got a message in my Private Terminal

Spoiler

from some escaped convict from Purgatory thanking me for letting him escape. Apparently I shot him so he's looking to kill me. No idea who this person is (and when in my escape I shot him) but I'm hoping I'll run into him somewhere in the game.

:lol

 

[EatChildren]

I love the games little details. I know most people don't care but the level of interaction is great. I love the trash compactor, flushing toilets, feeding the wish, watching the hamsters.

I think you'd be high, or deluded by nostalgia, to say this Normandy isn't better than the last. Its the little details that make this one feel like an actual ship. The banter between crew, the four different decks, the companions in their own areas. I actually feel encouraged to just wander around now.

Also, for those with load time issues, are you playing on PC or the Xbox360? My PC is hardly anything spectacular and my load times are really quick.

 

[Trickster]

Just got a message in my Private Terminal

Spoiler

from some escaped convict from Purgatory thanking me for letting him escape. Apparently I shot him so he's looking to kill me. No idea who this person is (and when in my escape I shot him) but I'm hoping I'll run into him somewhere in the game.

:lol

was hoping to run into him as well,

Spoiler

never happend though

 

[firehawk12]

Yeah, definitely not needed.

BTW, how did you end up solving your Horizon troubles?

Oh man, I have no idea how I did it. Basically I abused the game's out of wack aggro and just hid while the bad guys kept trying to shoot me. I used the same trick in the next mission when you're on the

Spoiler

Collector Ship

.

I'd complain about bad enemy AI, but this is the only way to beat the game on insanity. :lol

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Spoiler

Random fights between teammates with happen during the story. Picking one or the other will result in loyalty lost. If you have a high enough Paragon or Renegade rating you can overcome these and keep loyalty between both members.

Hmm, I've only seen it happen once. Didn't realize that was what it was all about. My bar is full now and at no point in the game was there any situation that the Paragon option was grayed out (and most Renegade options, for that matter). Of course my first 10 points when into +70% Renegade/Paragon and I imported a full Paragon, so I guess I had a bit of a head start.

Mass Effect is all about being very good or very bad, no rewards for neutrality, which is a shame.

Oh man, I have no idea how I did it. Basically I abused the game's out of wack aggro and just hid while the bad guys kept trying to shoot me. I used the same trick in the next mission when you're on the

Spoiler

Collector Ship

.

I'd complain about bad enemy AI, but this is the only way to beat the game on insanity. :lol

Enemy AI may suck, but it's still better than the squad AI.

 

[Darklord]

I think you'd be high, or deluded by nostalgia, to say this Normandy isn't better than the last. Its the little details that make this one feel like an actual ship. The banter between crew, the four different decks, the companions in their own areas. I actually feel encouraged to just wander around now.

This is my one issue. The banter. The mouths DON'T MOVE! I hate this! Why don't they move? Seriously, watch a couple of people chatting and you'll see. It's stupid and is like something that should have been left back in an N64 game.

Also, for those with load time issues, are you playing on PC or the Xbox360? My PC is hardly anything spectacular and my load times are really quick.

PC here, it's fine. Longest load would be 10 second maybe.

 

[EatChildren]

This is my one issue. The banter. The mouths DON'T MOVE! I hate this! Why don't they move? Seriously, watch a couple of people chatting and you'll see. It's stupid and is like something that should have been left back in an N64 game.

They move for me, I think. The guy and the girl chatting in one of the crew quaters about his family had moving mouths, as do the two engineers whenever I can see them talking.

 

[Enosh]

There's 4 assault rifles - avenger, battle rifle, light machine gun, and geth pulse rifle. So 20 weapons + the bonus ones.

geth pulse rifle? where do you get that one?

 

[Q8D3vil]

damn , pre-ordered 2 copies from amazon but got 1 code only
sent a message to their customer service yesterday but didn't get any reply . so i sent another one now
hope amazon send me the other one soon :/

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

damn , pre-ordered 2 copies from amazon but got 1 code only
sent a message to their customer service yesterday but didn't get any reply . so i sent another one now
hope amazon send me the other one soon :/

Might be a one per household deal, did you check the fine print?

 

[Papa]

Anyone else really annoyed by Bioware's method of timekeeping? Why does the clock keep ticking when you pause the game? I just started yesterday and played for about 2 hours but it says I've played 7h34m. The same shit happened in Dragon Age.

 

[HarryDemeanor]

geth pulse rifle? where do you get that one?

Apparently it's a Hardcore difficulty weapon when you're on

Spoiler

Haestrom

when you meet with

Spoiler

Tali

at the end.

 

[SPACECADET]

Anyone else really annoyed by Bioware's method of timekeeping? Why does the clock keep ticking when you pause the game? I just started yesterday and played for about 2 hours but it says I've played 7h34m. The same shit happened in Dragon Age.

You paused the game for 5 1/2 hours?

 

[firehawk12]

Enemy AI may suck, but it's still better than the squad AI.

God, the squad AI is idiotic at times too. You have to micro their powers AND their movement all the time. Sometimes it's easier to just leave them at the beginning of the map and just use them as additional powers that you have rather than as characters.

Hell, I've learned that you can glitch the game by telling them to stay behind a door before you step through and trigger the spawns - that way they're never in danger and you can just stay behind cover and slowly kill dudes with spells.

 

[mavs]

:lol @ the game salesman. "I wish they made role-playing games like they used to. These days it's all visceral combat and "big choices."

I'd play that

Spoiler

asari-hanar porn game.

Wow, they really joke about everyone with that guy. Themselves, Gamestop, WoW, MW2, Japan, SL, FFXI, Madden, digital delivery...that guy goes on and on.

 

[goldenpp72]

the hannar badass thing gave me a chuckle.

 

[EatChildren]

You paused the game for 5 1/2 hours?

I can kinda relate to that :lol. I dont always pause, but mostly alt-tab out. If I'm having a binge at a game I really love on my day off I'll often just pause or alt-tab the game while I go down the street, potter about the house, cook my dinner, etc.

I probably racked up 2 - 3 hours of unplayed time in the original Mass Effect by doing that.

 

[conman]

You paused the game for 5 1/2 hours?

I had my game on pause for ~4hrs today. Clock kept ticking. It is annoying since it's a ridiculously simple fix. I think more people pause the game for extended periods than you might guess.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Man, that last boss was DUUUUUUMB.

Amazing game though, bioware's on fire for me lately. Think i'll go through on a "canon" male shep now.


(and this is coming from a black isle fanboy back in the day also)

 

[deim0s]

On my way to my first mission getting Mordin and I already look like a Terminator, WTF!

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Guide button on the 360 may be a hard pause. At least I'm using it that way, haven't checked if it actually stops the clock, though.

On my way to my first mission getting Mordin and I already look like a Terminator, WTF!

Stop being a dick, then!

 

[firehawk12]

Thane's sidequest is awesome simply because it's different from the rest of the game. So far, the rest have been exactly the same - corridor shooters. It was a nice break from the monotony.

 

[-tetsuo-]

I'm having difficulty choosing a woman

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Thane's sidequest is awesome simply because it's different from the rest of the game. So far, the rest have been exactly the same - corridor shooters. It was a nice break from the monotony.

Samara's is also different and awesome for that same reason. And Grunt's is

Spoiler

an arena shooter, that's slightly different, right?

I'm having difficulty choosing a woman

Same here. My heart says Tali, but my eyes scream Miranda.

 

[Papa]

You paused the game for 5 1/2 hours?

yes