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[K.Jack]

To be honest this just hit me, while I was reading the last few posts, so I'm just running with it as my mind processes.

The one move which I really agree with, is the removal of weapon proficiencies. In Mass Effect, I'm not some entry-level private, so why am I training in weapons? I'm Commander Shepard, right off the bat. I'm a trained Marine, a freaking Spectre! It makes sense that I'm utterly competent with the given weapons of my class.

is it just me or do all asari look alike?

Just you racist punk

 

[Cep]

To be honest this just hit me, while I was reading the last few posts, so I'm just running with it as my mind processes.

The one move which I really agree with, is the removal of weapon proficiencies. In Mass Effect, I'm not some entry-level private, so why am I training in weapons? I'm Commander Shepard, right off the bat. I'm a trained Marine, a freaking Spectre! It makes sense that I'm utterly competent with the given weapons of my class.

Just you racist punk

I think just about everyone agrees on this.

 

[Ronabo]

I just noticed that after doing the loyalty quest for Grunt and getting the achievement for it I didn't unlock his new power. It even shows that he is loyal on the squad screen and I can change his outfit.

Anyone else experience this?

 

[Cep]

I just noticed that after doing the loyalty quest for Grunt and getting the achievement for it I didn't unlock his new power. It even shows that he is loyal on the squad screen and I can change his outfit.

Anyone else experience this?

Yeah it can happen.

I think if you go back to the ship. Save/load and get off, it fixes itself(at least it did for me).

 

[Vamphuntr]

Also armor customization got touted so much in the previews, that only 2 extra pieces per slot was a huge let down.

Also why I can't remove my helmet on my preoders/DLC armor. The blood dragon armor and the Terminus are very nice but you can't remove the helmet. It's really goofy in cutscenes where people are supposed to recognize Shepard. Again in DA your helmet is removed when you are talking to people or are in a cutscene.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

So...Been working on my Evil Female renegade bitch Shepard...

she is bad ass with her Pink armor :lol

 

[kylej]

this game is ridiculously good

 

[Lafiel]

The only thing that annoys me about this game is the almost complete lack of any meaningful role-playing.

The game still feels just as linear as ME1 when it comes to your decisions, stuff like the

Spoiler

krogan homeplanet

felt like wasted potential, it would've being better if it was like dragon age, and you had the choice between siding with the two warring actions.

Consequences for smaller decisions such as

Spoiler

punching the reporter

would've being nice too. And a loyalty system for your party system similar to DA, wouldn't have hurt either.

But meh, not like you can expect that stuff from a console-centric rpg series like mass effect, but it seems like such a waste of a good universe.

That said, dragon age did do this kind of stuff much better than either ME1 or ME2. Playing this, made me appreciate the "roleplaying" in DA with the origins, loyalty system etc, much more than i did initially, when i played through DA.

 

[Lostconfused]

Also why I can't remove my helmet on my preoders/DLC armor. The blood dragon armor and the Terminus are very nice but you can't remove the helmet. It's really goofy in cutscenes where people are supposed to recognize Shepard. Again in DA your helmet is removed when you are talking to people or are in a cutscene.

Inferno armor is pretty much the only one that even remotely makes sense because it has a clear faceplate. I am not sure if its translucent during conversations though, didn't use it yet. Guess the throw away pre-order bonuses weren't enough of a priority to do them right.

That said, dragon age did do this kind of stuff much better than either ME1 or ME2. Playing this, made me appreciate the "roleplaying" in DA with the origins, loyalty system etc, much more than i did initially, when i played through DA.

I still find it funny that I can't like that game because of its combat.

 

[Lafiel]

You don't get my point at all. I'm not talking about the generic fantasy stuff with elves. I'm talking about how choices were handled. For example in DA your party member will confront you with your choices. There are many instance you have to choose carefully or they will hate you/leave. In ME 2 they hyped it like every choices would count. It would have been logic, you hold the life of these people in your hand, it will be a suicide mission. But no, in my 30 hours playthrough there have been a total of 2 times when members had a meltdown with each other.

Main Quests in DA also had 2 possible outcomes depending on who you side with, leading to 2 different outcomes, different bosses, party reaction and so on. In ME 2 there are few of these possibilities. Samara's loyalty quest come to mind and that is pretty much it.

Characters interaction between members are also rare in ME 2. You would think they would take to each others about the mission and the odds of surviving but no. Some party combination will lead to some conversation but these are much rarer than DA.

Like I said I'm not saying ME 2 is a bad game. It's one of my favorite next gen game but when you come back from ME 1 and DA you expect some things. It's true that they tried to market the game as an epic space shooter to attract the mainstream crowd. And it's good for Bioware/EA if they can make money so they can make more games/project. But the fact is there. Does it make ME 2 an awful game because the RPG parts were dumbed down? Hell no! Is it disappointing for Bioware fans? Well it was a bit for me but I still love the game.

Yeah, this is a another issue that annoys me too. It annoys me, because the character cast of ME2 is really great. They would've ended up being a better cast than DA. If they actually interacted amongst themselves via banter or more cutscenes with them interacting.

 

[Ronabo]

Yeah it can happen.

I think if you go back to the ship. Save/load and get off, it fixes itself(at least it did for me).

Too late for me I think. I just noticed it many hours later.

 

[-tetsuo-]

Probably the most accurate review I've read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/arts/television/03effect.html?pagewanted=1&hpw

2007 was the dawn of the HD game era?

 

[Skilotonn]

Before I go to bed, where I should have been hours ago, Chinner brought up a hell of a point a few pages back that I came to realize myself a few days ago - at first I was really thinking what was up with BioWare adding the heat sink ammo to the guns, but after 31 hours of Mass Effect 2, I found myself using every single weapon AND biotic power that I and my teammates had, even in a single battle, in comparison to just the pistol alone in Mass Effect 1.

Running low, or out of ammo makes you either soften them up or kill them with your biotics or tech, or switch up to your next available weapon - it's brilliant once you think about it, since at the very least I've never read a real reason as to why they added the ammo in the first place, and then it just smacks me in the face on my own after experiencing the game after all this time. And there is always more than enough ammo in the middle of the fight or after the fight, so you're never really in serious trouble.

Awesome Bioware.

 

[Jonsoncao]

Talking with Legion is so mind-blowing
how Geth society organize is the most interesting setting in sci-fi for me since I read "A Fire Upon Deep" many years ago

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Just finished the game. Man, was the finale epic.

Spoiler

Telling the Illusive Man to shove off was excellent, and the part where you play as Joker briefly was...weird. I loved how Miranda also told the Illusive Man he could stuff it.

Mordni died, though. Why did the only one to die have to be my favorite?

Final boss battle wasn't exactly the toughest in the game, but it was better than ME1's final battle.

I know I'll be doing another run through very soon. What an amazing game. I have an extremely hard time seeing anything top this for my GOTY.

 

[Lafiel]

Probably the most accurate review I've read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/arts/television/03effect.html?pagewanted=1&hpw

Good review, but it gives way to much credit to ME1 than what it really deserves. (oh and 2007 as a gaming year).

This line made me cringe for example.

The original Mass Effect was my favorite game of 2007. At the time, back at the dawn of the high-definition gaming era, Mass Effect was a revelation in its embrace of more powerful technology not only in the service of bigger and badder explosions but also in the service of portraying some of the most natural, realistic characters and stories yet seen in interactive entertainment.

 

[Cep]

Good review, but it gives way to much credit to ME1 than what it really deserves. (oh and 2007 as a gaming year).

This line made me cringe for example.

That paragraph is an embarrassment to an otherwise well-written article.

 

[epmode]

Probably the most accurate review I've read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/arts/television/03effect.html?pagewanted=1&hpw

The article is mostly on point. I haven't finished yet but it's clear that the plot is in a holding pattern for part 3.

Even so, it's still a better game than 1 and I'm *really* excited for the next game. You know, the 4-player co-op/competitive shooter.

 

[Foob]

did anyone ever come across

Spoiler

Billy

? He sent probably my favorite email in the game, and then never followed up on it...

 

[JoeMartin]

Also I'm upset that this game had no Vigil nerdgasm "explain every question you might have about the story up to this point" conversation.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

I finally bothered going to the Citadel and I'm glad the game manages to take a break with the relentlessly bleak despair to throw in some nice absurd humor. I was seriously getting depressed because of how suffocating the start of the game is.

 

[AniHawk]

Next-gen *rock*

Can we stop calling it next gen now? It's like calling last gen "next gen" sometime in 2003/2004 or 2005, depending what year you consider it started.

 

[nib95]

Could anyone possibly give me a free Cerberus code? My copy of the game like most of my games is a promo copy straight from EA. But there is no manual or code inside it, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure I could return the favour somehow.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

I finally bothered going to the Citadel and I'm glad the game manages to take a break with the relentlessly bleak despair to throw in some nice absurd humor. I was seriously getting depressed because of how suffocating the start of the game is.

They throw a ton of humor at you in the middle if you can find it.


Then they suddenly stop and scream "DEATH AND LOSS" in your face for about an hour.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

Before I go to bed, where I should have been hours ago, Chinner brought up a hell of a point a few pages back that I came to realize myself a few days ago - at first I was really thinking what was up with BioWare adding the heat sink ammo to the guns, but after 31 hours of Mass Effect 2, I found myself using every single weapon AND biotic power that I and my teammates had, even in a single battle, in comparison to just the pistol alone in Mass Effect 1.

Running low, or out of ammo makes you either soften them up or kill them with your biotics or tech, or switch up to your next available weapon - it's brilliant once you think about it, since at the very least I've never read a real reason as to why they added the ammo in the first place, and then it just smacks me in the face on my own after experiencing the game after all this time. And there is always more than enough ammo in the middle of the fight or after the fight, so you're never really in serious trouble.

Awesome Bioware.

heh, funny because I came to the same realization while playing today fighting the harbinger on horizon. I gotta agree with everything you said there. Bioware > all (well, except for platinum games....heh)

 

[Nome]

Before I go to bed, where I should have been hours ago, Chinner brought up a hell of a point a few pages back that I came to realize myself a few days ago - at first I was really thinking what was up with BioWare adding the heat sink ammo to the guns, but after 31 hours of Mass Effect 2, I found myself using every single weapon AND biotic power that I and my teammates had, even in a single battle, in comparison to just the pistol alone in Mass Effect 1.

Running low, or out of ammo makes you either soften them up or kill them with your biotics or tech, or switch up to your next available weapon - it's brilliant once you think about it, since at the very least I've never read a real reason as to why they added the ammo in the first place, and then it just smacks me in the face on my own after experiencing the game after all this time. And there is always more than enough ammo in the middle of the fight or after the fight, so you're never really in serious trouble.

Awesome Bioware.

Fuck yeah. I realized this within my first hour of playing, actually. It just hit me in the face.

This is the greatest game I have ever played :lol

 

[neojubei]

I wish Bioware or EA came out with some mass effect action figures or at least a Normandy model kit.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

i want aria in my crew in ME3

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Before I go to bed, where I should have been hours ago, Chinner brought up a hell of a point a few pages back that I came to realize myself a few days ago - at first I was really thinking what was up with BioWare adding the heat sink ammo to the guns, but after 31 hours of Mass Effect 2, I found myself using every single weapon AND biotic power that I and my teammates had, even in a single battle, in comparison to just the pistol alone in Mass Effect 1.

Running low, or out of ammo makes you either soften them up or kill them with your biotics or tech, or switch up to your next available weapon - it's brilliant once you think about it, since at the very least I've never read a real reason as to why they added the ammo in the first place, and then it just smacks me in the face on my own after experiencing the game after all this time. And there is always more than enough ammo in the middle of the fight or after the fight, so you're never really in serious trouble.

Awesome Bioware.

Yeah, the other day someone called the combat simplistic and someone else said that they switched guns more often in the first game. I decided to not even try to respond to posts like these because they obviously work on a different system of logic than I do.

Though ONE more time (since it can't be said enough) to anyone who thinks there aren't enough guns in this game. What ME1 did you play where you used ANYTHING but the Spectre weapons once you got them?

 

[LiK]

did you guys do the Crime in Progress sidequest with Tali in your party? the additional dialogue was a nice touch.

 

[Revengeance]

Question: how much time do I have left? where I'm at:

Spoiler

Reaper IFF and the Joker mission are done - just have to go through the relay.

I'm considering beating the game tonight.

i want aria in my crew in ME3

YES. She's so much more interesting than Samara (or Liara)

 

[Gribbix]

I wish Bioware or EA came out with some mass effect action figures or at least a Normandy model kit.

 

[X26]

I just started an insanity game with a female soldier shep, it's a lot of fun being relatively forced to use strategy each fight and really utilize your squads abilities

Plus, it's the first time playing with femshep in either me's, which is too bad because the va is great and I'm enjoying the alternate dialouge

 

[Aaronology]

i want aria in my crew in ME3

This. Her "One Rule" line made me appreciate how much life Bioware put into all the various npcs in ME2.

Just finished my first play-through with my femshep, to boot.

Fun times. And now I'm torn between a NewGame+ and wanting to start a new Infiltrator character. Cloak sounds cool, but I doubt I wouldn't eventually miss my biotics.

 

[Nemesis_]

i want aria in my crew in ME3

I want Aria full stop.

 

[brandonh83]

So I'm about to enter the Omega 4 relay and I just have one question: where's the story? Game has been pretty awesome but nothing has happened, just recruiting people and then doing their loyalty tests and then the suicide mission. Gotta say, I'm pretty much ridiculously disappointed with the story. Or complete and utter lack thereof. It's still a very rich and detailed universe, but storywise I feel like they've made no progress at all. The first hour of Mass Effect had more storytelling than this entire game has had. Granted I haven't beaten it yet but I only have the finale left but I'm not sure how even the greatest finale ever could make up for the fact that I just spent 30 hours on a plotless sequel to a plotful(?) predecessor.

Like I said, the intricacies and character development has been great, but I can't believe I waited 2 years for this and I feel like I'm still at the end of Mass Effect 1, story wise.

Spoiler

Shepard dies, gets resurrected, and then goes galaxy-trottin' for new teammates because most of my old ones are flipping burgers.

Not exactly the most compelling plot direction, Bioware.

 

[Ronabo]

That Tali figure is awesome. I don't like her color though.

 

[Gribbix]

Got an iPhone/iPod Touch? The first issue of Mass Effect Redemption is now available on the iTunes store. It's free for the first 24 hours. It's the same issue included in the CE.

Download

 

[DarkKyo]

I would kill for a Garrus figure...

 

[careful]

I just reloaded my last save and took random different choices to see a different ending.

Spoiler

99% Paragon. All crew are loyal. All ship upgrades installed.

- Took my sweet time mining and researching before going to Omega-4 relay
- Cockblocked Tali when she came up to my room

- Sent Tali in the valves
- Jack as team leader
- Samara & Legion with me
- Tali dies taking a bee to the face

- All my crew are alive (that means mining & research doesn't affect the crew dying timer)
- Didn't send any escort
- Thane as biotic shield
- Grunt as team leader
- Samara & Legion again with me
- Legion gets taken by a swarm of bees just before getting inside the doors
- Grunt dies as he gets inside the doors

- Crew is dead trying to get to ship without escort
- Samara & Zaeed with me to fight the last waves & final boss
- Gave the base to Cerberus, but there's still an explosion to wipe out the collectors
- Remaining team members survive
- Pretty much the same ending except the sun is red behind the Illusive Man

 

[Vlightray]

I really hope Mass Effect 3 blows us all away again love this game.

 

[Affeinvasion]

Is there any way I can leave Grunt in the cryo vat for the entirety of the game?

 

[Tokubetsu]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID WRONG!!!!! ='( (endgame shit)

Spoiler

Had tali as my tech specialist end game, im opening valves and shit. Last valve opens, cut cutscene and she takes a shot to the head trying to close the door for me. Is it becasue I chose Jack over her? I'm pretty sure she's still loyal to me. Miranda is the only one who isn't loyal because i took jacks side in an argument. Also, anyway to save Kelly? she dies right after too in the pod ='(

I AM WILLING TO RELOAD!

 

[Arde5643]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID WRONG!!!!! ='( (endgame shit)

Spoiler

Had tali as my tech specialist end game, im opening valves and shit. Last valve opens, cut cutscene and she takes a shot to the head trying to close the door for me. Is it becasue I chose Jack over her? I'm pretty sure she's still loyal to me. Miranda is the only one who isn't loyal because i took jacks side in an argument. Also, anyway to save Kelly? she dies right after too in the pod ='(

I AM WILLING TO RELOAD!

big endgame tips and spoilers:

Spoiler

Once your crew has been kidnapped by collectors, don't do any other sidequests if you want to rescue all of your non-squad crew.

After that, here's the general rule for the specialists and leaders set-up (always use loyal team members):
Tech (vents) : Tali or Legion
Team lead 1 (Fire) : Garrus or Miranda
Biotic (shield against swarm): Samara or Jack
Team lead 2: Garrus or Miranda
Escort : Jacob or Grunt
Final boss squad mates: pick whoever's loyal to you (any non-loyal member will die after killing the final boss)

As always, bad dice rolls can sometimes occur that kill off a loyal person even when you do everything right. Reload and try again.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID WRONG!!!!! ='( (endgame shit)

Spoiler

Had tali as my tech specialist end game, im opening valves and shit. Last valve opens, cut cutscene and she takes a shot to the head trying to close the door for me. Is it becasue I chose Jack over her? I'm pretty sure she's still loyal to me. Miranda is the only one who isn't loyal because i took jacks side in an argument. Also, anyway to save Kelly? she dies right after too in the pod ='(

I AM WILLING TO RELOAD!

Spoiler

Who was your fire squad leader? Garrus or Jacob seem to work for most people. I think someone said they used Miranda just fine. The two times I've read Zaeed used (including myself) resulted in dead techie.

Spoiler

As always, bad dice rolls can sometimes occur that kill off a loyal person even when you do everything right. Reload and try again.

Yeah, that was annoying. Made me do it a third time to finally get the achievement.

 

[Xevren]

Please say that Horizon was one of the hardest parts on Insanity. Jesus.

 

[cabottemp]

just finished this. what an awesome game. can't wait to go back and replay the first and import my character, this time not rushed.

I will say that I prefer bioware's other epic rpg this gen over mass effect, but hot damn if I don't feel lucky to have played both.

 

[Arde5643]

Spoiler

Who was your fire squad leader? Garrus or Jacob seem to work for most people. I think someone said they used Miranda just fine. The two times I've read Zaeed used (including myself) resulted in dead techie.

Zaeed spoilers:

Spoiler

After seeing how Zaeed behaved during his loyalty quest, I kinda took the hint that he was the worst possible alternative as a leader.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

concerning the last mission

Spoiler

zaeed can also be the leader of the 'fire team'.

edit: or not!

 

[Mohonky]

NOOOOO I think I might have fucked my chances with Miranda during the whole Jack ordeal. I need to get her talking again but I need more Paragon points. Anyone know what amount before that dialogue option opens again? Or whether I can get Miranda to open again