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[Macmanus]

In regards to saving the team achievement, no one died on my team except

Spoiler

that Kelly girl

. And I didn't have one upgrade to the ship. But no one died on my team so why can't didnt the achievement unlock?

Might want to spoiler that up a bit. It's nothing severe so I'm not gnashing my teeth. Just a friendly heads up.

 

[brandonh83]

They should bring the Mako back in ME3, but make the segments more focused. Somehow make it to where the missions are focused but you have the option to go off exploring if you like.

 

[REV 09]

They should bring the Mako back in ME3, but make the segments more focused. Somehow make it to where the missions are focused but you have the option to go off exploring if you like.

Many of the main story missions in ME1 did this. You used the Mako, but to a more limited extent. I don't see why something like this wouldn't work.

 

[EatChildren]

Bringing Down the Sky was perfect Mako missioning in my opinion. A good mix of on-foot and vehicle combat, lots of little things to find that were not part of the main mission, and a pretty rich area over all in terms of locations.

 

[Confidence Man]

Bringing Down the Sky was perfect Mako missioning in my opinion. A good mix of on-foot and vehicle combat, lots of little things to find that were not part of the main mission, and a pretty rich area over all in terms of locations.

Yeah, the linear driving parts of the main missions were the worst use of the vehicle.

 

[MisterAnderson]

First off. HOLY SHIT. Just beat it. Fuck. Amazing.

Some questions:

Spoiler

What determines if someone lives or dies? Is it just that there's a "correct" choice to make regarding who you assign to do a certain job? I had two casualties: Thane and Morbin. I chose Thane to infiltrate via the vents, seemed logical seeing that he is a trained and skilled assassin so I went with him. I think where I went wrong is that he wasn't the best tech specialist and I was supposed to go with a tech specialist to handle the door?

As far as Morbin's death is concerned, I didn't choose him for anything specific that caused his death. I chose to "hurry up" when the Collectors were busting down the door near the end instead of "someone should stay behind and hold them off." After the boss fight it just cut to Morbin dead on the floor as we make our escape, so I'm guessing the "correct" choice was to choose for someone to stay behind and, assuming I pick the right person, it all works out?

I'd rather no one tell me exactly what to do as I'm planning on playing the climax again trying out my theories. What a fucking epic end. I loved the structure of the game; how the entire 3/4 of the game is all preparation for an epic mission. I was worried that it wouldn't deliver on the climax and just have a lame cliffhanger but it was a huge payoff IMO. I ended up choosing

Spoiler

to destroy the Collector base. I'm a little upset about pissing off the Illusive Man because I think he's a really fun character to cooperate with, but I just couldn't risk keeping that installation running. At the end did anyone else get the vibe that Harbinger was attempting to like...upload his consciousness to a Reaper but it failed? There was a console with a hovering Reaper hologram as the explosion went off, and the hologram disappeared as if systems shut down before he could do what he wanted to do and then he hopelessly looks back at the incoming explosion.

Also a quick question. If I choose to continue instead of import for new game+ do I have a chance to import later? Can anyone explain to me how this works? I'm at that screen where it's telling me the two choices I can make and I don't know what to do. Also, if I do a new game+ won't it screw up my save file for my ME3 import unless I finish it again?

Edit:

Spoiler

Does Kelly always get gruesomely "processed" when Shepard finds the crew in the pods? I thought she was a love interest? If so...fuck...that sucks. I was hit hard by her death and she wasn't even my LI, but damn that was really shitty I thought for sure she was going to be okay and then she starts melting.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

Yeah! Got Kelly to

Spoiler

feed my fish.

So, what's up with the Space Hamster?

It's a reference to Boo, the miniature giant space hamster from the Baldur's Gate series. It makes the same sound as Boo does when you click on him.

edit: for post above

Spoiler

Mordin seems to randomly die sometimes at the end of the suicide mission. I did the ending once made some wrong choices and Thane and Zaeed died, Mordin lived no problem. Then to get the achievement I went back and did everything right and everyone lived, had everyone loyal and everything, and Mordin died while the big party were holding off the Collector's towards the end. Don't know what caused it, but it's pretty much just best to either use him in your party or send him to escort the crew back to the Normandy.

 

[v0yce]

They should bring the Mako back in ME3, but make the segments more focused. Somehow make it to where the missions are focused but you have the option to go off exploring if you like.

Or just make the Mako be how you mine elements. I can't imagine anyone enjoying the ME2 system better. Its dreadful.

I loved the Mako stuff. The eery emptyness of it all added so much to the atmosphere. But I'm a sucker for movies like Moon, and 2001, and Alien and the like. I know gamers seem to like stuff blowing up in their faces at all times but not everything in space needs to be a bustling metropolis, and the change of pace going to those areas made the universe feel so vast and impressive. The repeat prefab bases sucked, but I loved driving around those barren enviornments wondering if a Thresher Maw was going to pop out and finding some poor corpse lying there wondering what his story was.

 

[LiK]

Hammerhead DLC will be the Mako replacement. Looking forward to it.

 

[EatChildren]

Spoiler

At the end did anyone else get the vibe that Harbinger was attempting to like...upload his consciousness to a Reaper but it failed? There was a console with a hovering Reaper hologram as the explosion went off, and the hologram disappeared as if systems shut down before he could do what he wanted to do and then he hopelessly looks back at the incoming explosion.

Spoiler

Harbinger is the Reaper that you see on the console. The Collectors are mindless drones. The General Collector, the one that can posses them, is linked to the Reaper 'Harbinger'. At the end when he's looking up at the hologram of Harbinger you hear Harbinger say "Disconnecting control" or something like that, leaving the General Collector's body.

We see Harbinger on the datapad Shepard holds, and likely leading the fleet towards the galaxy.

 

[MisterAnderson]

Spoiler

Harbinger is the Reaper that you see on the console. The Collectors are mindless drones. The General Collector, the one that can posses them, is linked to the Reaper 'Harbinger'. At the end when he's looking up at the hologram of Harbinger you hear Harbinger say "Disconnecting control" or something like that, leaving the General Collector's body.

We see Harbinger on the datapad Shepard holds, and likely leading the fleet towards the galaxy.

Spoiler

The way I phrased it was weird, I figured he was a Reaper what I meant to say was that it seemed like he was trying to go back into his machine shell and it failed, but by what you said it makes sense that he didn't. Especially since Shepard says something like "Harbinger is coming." after the fact.

Does anyone have a transcript for Harbingers monologue as Shepard and crew make their escape? I got the jist of what he was saying, but at the same time the music was blasting and I didn't have subtitles on and missed a few things. I'm going to play it again with subtitles on but in the meantime if anyone knows what exactly he says that would be really awesome.

 

[LiK]

You guys should discuss this in the spoiler thread. The big black bars scare me

 

[EatChildren]

Spoiler

The way I phrased it was weird, I figured he was a Reaper what I meant to say was that it seemed like he was trying to go back into his machine shell and it failed, but by what you said it makes sense that he didn't. Especially since Shepard says something like "Harbinger is coming." after the fact.

Does anyone have a transcript for Harbingers monologue as Shepard and crew make their escape? I got the jist of what he was saying, but at the same time the music was blasting and I didn't have subtitles on and missed a few things. I'm going to play it again with subtitles on but in the meantime if anyone knows what exactly he says that would be really awesome.

Spoiler

He's not a Reaper, no. He's a Prothean, Collector, whatever you want to call him. Just another slave, directly controlled by the Reaper Harbinger. I feel bad when he looks back at the fireball .

I dont recall exactly what he says, but he essentially says they will find another way, and uses the like "We are the salvation to your destruction", and I think he says Shepard doesn't understand or some other crap.

 

[charlequin]

Complainers can say what they will about not liking the small increases in skill proficiencies from ME1, at least you could always spend the points you earned.

People complained about that? I didn't like the way that the full skill set was defined with an awkward mishmash of active combat powers, passive combat powers, conversation powers, passive loot powers, and so on, but I thought the one-point-at-a-time system was totally 100% fine.

I don't think the increasing cost thing is actually that bad as long as respecs are in, though. It's trivial to respec your main guy in ME2 so you can always pick a point-efficient build, but you can't do it to your party members even though there's SIGNIFICANTLY MORE REASON to do so.

Yeah, the linear driving parts of the main missions were the worst use of the vehicle.

Wait, what.

What I did like about the Mako was the ability to express huge scope in the main planets. On Noveria, you don't just get told that shit is going down in a bunker that's far-ass-away from civilization, you have to go there (and through armed resistance.) The road is relatively linear (so the Mako's terrible turning controls aren't a problem) and has purposely designed elevation (so the Mako's infuriating inability to shoot downwards is also not really a problem.)

The worst use of the Mako is trying to drive over a stupid fucking mountain range to get to some useless crap. :lol

Or just make the Mako be how you mine elements. I can't imagine anyone enjoying the ME2 system better. Its dreadful.

There are two people who claim just such a thing in the minerals thread!

I loved the Mako stuff. The eery emptyness of it all added so much to the atmosphere. But I'm a sucker for movies like Moon, and 2001, and Alien and the like. I know gamers seem to like stuff blowing up in their faces at all times but not everything in space needs to be a bustling metropolis, and the change of pace going to those areas made the universe feel so vast and impressive.

I think this is a false dichotomy. I really enjoyed this element too, but I didn't enjoy at all that it applied to every planet. No planet in ME has real geographic features besides 100% evenly distributed mountains, only a couple feature any indigenous wildlife, none have any real reason to walk around outside the Mako, etc.

If you'd had some worlds like the moon or the other featureless, desolate planets where you're just going to find one thing in a big wasteland, and others with truly designed surfaces like the N7 missions in ME2 or the main-plot worlds in ME1, then combined that with good controls and a non-shitty gun, you'd have had very few complaints, I imagine.

 

[bryehn]

Shit, that was a huge spoiler I didn't need to see. Back when I`m finished I guess.

 

[Arde5643]

Those who miss the loot and mako exploration should try to replay ME1 again... especially those who don't like the ammo system and prefer the infinite ammo of the first game.

Please try to play the 1st game and suffer the extranous filler thanks to mako and the god-awful long combat thanks to infinite ammo and long cooldown on abilities.

I'm replaying the 1st game right now (didn't like the default choices of ME2) and my god, the worst parts of the game are undoubtedly the combat, loot, upgrades, and mako exploration.
And yes, the elevators - fuck the elevators.

The things I missed the most from ME1 that's not in ME2 are the small convo you can do with squad mates on planets or safe locations and the big size of Citadel in the first game.

ME2 to ME1 is almost like what BG2 to BG1 was - completely improved the original that you really have to put an effort into replaying the original.
(Not as good as BG2 obviously, BG2 improved the original in so many ways compared to ME2)

 

[MisterAnderson]

Spoiler

He's not a Reaper, no. He's a Prothean, Collector, whatever you want to call him. Just another slave, directly controlled by the Reaper Harbinger. I feel bad when he looks back at the fireball .

I dont recall exactly what he says, but he essentially says they will find another way, and uses the like "We are the salvation to your destruction", and I think he says Shepard doesn't understand or some other crap.

Spoiler

Yes, yes I understand that the physical body of that creature in the cinematic was a Collector being controlled by Harbinger. Sorry I keep on misrepresenting myself lol.

Goddamn this game was so good. While I was hoping for

Spoiler

a "Vigil" type reveal of a ton of the story much like ME1, I really liked what was revealed in ME2 and how it was revealed. Although I still wish it was better explained how the derelict Reaper vessel was "disabled." It was pretty convenient for that shit to just be there. I really loved the plot twist where the Protheans are the Collectors, and even better is the fact that the Reapers do this every 50,000 years in a way of reproducing. Really good fucking shit.

 

[LiK]

I replayed ME1 a lil bit before ME2 and the Mako sections were still enjoyable and relaxing.

 

[EatChildren]

Spoiler

Although I still wish it was better explained how the derelict Reaper vessel was "disabled." It was pretty convenient for that shit to just be there.

Spoiler

It was hit with a blast from a giant railgun. It was a pretty cool reference to the first game, actually. If you remember reading about planets in the first game, there was reference to a great vally in a planet that scientists concluded was actually a grazed shot from a massive railgun, fired by some ancient civilization at an unknown target.

The Illusive Man's men track down the origin of the railgun, and also the location of what it was firing at, which turns out to be our blasted Reaper where we find the IFF.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

Spoiler

It was hit with a blast from a giant railgun. It was a pretty cool reference to the first game, actually. If you remember reading about planets in the first game, there was reference to a great vally in a planet that scientists concluded was actually a grazed shot from a massive railgun, fired by some ancient civilization at an unknown target.

The Illusive Man's men track down the origin of the railgun, and also the location of what it was firing at, which turns out to be our blasted Reaper where we find the IFF.

Spoiler

That was kinda disappointing, because you actually saw the planet from its moon during the Major Kyle sidequest in ME1. It was all big and red, and the giant rift caused by the shot was clearly visible. When you scan the planet from space in ME2, it looks totally different and blue, and the rift is gone.

 

[Dan Yo]

Really the replacement of Mako with planet scanning rather than improving the Mako is the only fault I can see at this point of the game. Well, that and the fact that the hacking mini-games, while improved, are still pretty bad. Something fun like the pipe dream hacking in Bioshock would've done wonders for the hacking portion of the game.

Oh, I'm also not too fond of placing upgrades in areas that you potentially will never be able to get back to.

 

[EatChildren]

Spoiler

That was kinda disappointing, because you actually saw the planet from its moon during the Major Kyle sidequest in ME1. It was all big and red, and the giant rift caused by the shot was clearly visible. When you scan the planet from space in ME2, it looks totally different and blue, and the rift is gone.

Spoiler

I could have sworn it looked the same, or at least very similar. I recall the vally itself being there, but different looking a bit different.

I'd need to replay that section to be sure.

 

[neojubei]

Hammerhead DLC will be the Mako replacement. Looking forward to it.

Hopefully it will be better than the mako with better weapons.

 

[golem]

They should bring the Mako back in ME3, but make the segments more focused. Somehow make it to where the missions are focused but you have the option to go off exploring if you like.

well one of the free DLCs planned is the Hammerhead (Mako replacement), so we'll see if they've managed to tighten up the exploration levels prior to ME3 (and proceed to bitch about them)

 

[LiK]

Hopefully it will be better than the mako with better weapons.

Quiet you, I miss my Mako...

 

[Darklord]

Hammerhead DLC will be the Mako replacement. Looking forward to it.

I'm guessing that means a bunch of new planets too.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

Spoiler

I could have sworn it looked the same, or at least very similar. I recall the vally itself being there, but different looking a bit different.

I'd need to replay that section to be sure.

Spoiler

Ah, looked it up. It was actually a flipped picture of Mars that they used in the first game, no wonder they changed it. :lol

 

[Macmanus]

I replayed ME1 a lil bit before ME2 and the Mako sections were still enjoyable and relaxing.

All those sections needed was a more navigable terrain and some more flora and fauna for a bit of diversity.

However I don't really care that they stripped it from the second game (until the Hammerhead DLC comes out) simply because it allowed them to focus time and resources on other things, and considering how amazing the game turned out it seems they prioritized correctly.

 

[neojubei]

Quiet you, I miss my Mako...

Awwwe that's cute.

 

[LiK]

All those sections needed was a more navigable terrain and some more flora and fauna for a bit of diversity.

However I don't really care that they stripped it from the second game (until the Hammerhead DLC comes out) simply because it allowed them to focus time and resources on other things, and considering how amazing the game turned out it seems they prioritized correctly.

I think I only liked driving around looking around a planet and enjoying the ambience. I didn't like the cookie cutter warehouses either. It was sorta fun when I discovered some ruins while driving around.

If the Hammerhead stuff has something similar but make it more focused, it should be good.

 

[Dresden]

It would've been nice if the probes were just probes, and you actually had to head down to where you tossed your probes with your Mako to explore and exploit the planet's resources.

 

[taku]

Fuck yes! I fucking did it, I made it out alive without a scratch on anyone's ass! All credit goes to my beloved White Russians. I must say, what a great game this was. I just wish I'd hit level 30 before I finished the game, I don't really feel like starting a "new game +" just for achievements anyway..

I agree with the rest of the folks in this thread..

I feel like Mass Effect 2 took as many steps forward as it took steps backwards. The attention to detail in this sequel was really breathtaking though, I feel like the characters were even more complex and interesting than the last game. Story? Not that interesting, but really, who are we kidding, was the story in Mass Effect 1 that interesting to start with?

In closing; What a great ride! Give me Mass Effect 3, now!

Edit: Oh, oh. Also! What the shit!

Spoiler

I was so hyped about seeing what a Quarian really looked like. And there they were, he even took off her mask, but they never showed me! What a fucking tease! Fuck you, Bioware!

 

[MisterAnderson]

I think I only liked driving around looking around a planet and enjoying the ambience. I didn't like the cookie cutter warehouses either. It was sorta fun when I discovered some ruins while driving around.

If the Hammerhead stuff has something similar but make it more focused, it should be good.

In my ME1 replay, I did not enjoy the Mako sections nearly as much as the first time through. Something I did notice while exploring random planets on my Mako, though, was that ME1 has some of the most beautiful skyboxes in any game, ever.

 

[MisterAnderson]

Story? Not that interesting, but really, who are we kidding, was the story in Mass Effect 1 that interesting to start with?

wat




Edit: Oops, didn't mean to double post.

 

[ExtraKr1spy]

worst planet for the Mako was the one with the space monkeys or the one where you have to find the thing for the asari consort. so many hills/mountains and 80-90 degree cliffs.

Just need to
Tactician(11/20)
Brawler(18/20)
Warp(4/25)-Do you have to deplete enemy shields or barriers with warp?

 

[Macmanus]

I feel like Mass Effect 2 took as many steps forward as it took steps backwards.

Really? I'm on the last 4/5ths through the game, so I can only assume the ending must be terrible because so far it feels like they took five steps forward for every one step back.

The over arching story does feel inferior to the first one, but the subplot character driven stories are a vast improvement over the last game.

 

[ExtraKr1spy]

Spoiler

Just did a sidequest inside a mine and there was a prothean artifact that caused Shep to have the flashbacks from ME1 but this time there were collectors in the flashback also

 

[taku]

wat

Edit: Oops, didn't mean to double post.

No wait. Actually, that's not really what I meant. I was just trying to wrap my head around how some people thought that the story in Mass Effect 1 was superior to Mass Effect 2. It was not.

That said, I personally thought that the story and story development in both Mass Effect 1 & 2 was quite sufficient..

 

[neojubei]

In my ME1 replay, I did not enjoy the Mako sections nearly as much as the first time through. Something I did notice while exploring random planets on my Mako, though, was that ME1 has some of the most beautiful skyboxes in any game, ever.

Yeah have to agree.

 

[deim0s]

Are there stats somewhere for ME2 weapons?

In-game descriptions ain't really helping, to which one is better... aside from trial and error.

 

[selig]

to those complaining about the lack of mako: Did you replay the first ME more than 2 times?

I finished it 11 times, and the mako is soooo bad. Controls are fine, but: Other than you yourself, the mako doesnt get "stronger". Where you can rush through enemies once you´ve leveled up enough, the mako is still vulnerable as pussy. It´s soooo boring. Especially the way on Noveria, where you have to drive back a rather long part of the way to save (and saving there is a good idea).

And the minigame in ME2 makes it so much better. If I imagined i had to land with the mako and drive around 30 or more minutes every time i need to find palladium or element zero to upgrade my ship and stuff, it´d drive me insane.

Again, if you played ME1 just once or twice, I can kinda understand the complaints. But if you did the companion-achievements (doing EVERY sidequest three times) and replay the games many, many times, it´s a bs-complaint. Scanning a planet for 2 minutes is much better.

 

[taku]

Really? I'm on the last 4/5ths of the game, so I can only assume the ending must be terrible because so far it feels like they took five steps forward for every one step back.

The over arching story does feel inferior to the first one, but the subplot character driven stories are a vast improvement over the last game.

I don't know about you but I really loved the diversity of weapons/armor/equipment in Mass Effect 1, no? Also, not enough exploration in Mass Effect 2..

I'm not trying to start an argument though. These opinions are just of the top of my head..

 

[PIMPBYBLUD]

Not sure if this has been posted but here is a website for instructions to get the Dr. Pepper ME2 Promo DLC items for free. Very easy just read the directions. Only good in the US

http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/Hellforge/Mass-Effect-2-Free-Dr-Pepper-Promo-DLC-Codes

 

[ExtraKr1spy]

Yeah have to agree.

They could have put the stargazing deck to good use in ME 2 by showing how the galaxy/system your in looks. Haven't seen anything out of it besides darkness and stars.

 

[EatChildren]

I don't know about you but I really loved the diversity of weapons/armor/equipment in Mass Effect 1, no? Also, not enough exploration in Mass Effect 2..

I'm not trying to start an argument though. These opinions are just of the top of my head..

Diversity is subjective. While someone might call ME's loot diverse, I call it 4 weapons with incrimental stat increases. There was nothing diverse about it.

The change in gunplay mechanics is a huge factor into why the loot is thinned down. They removed a massive amount of the dice rolls and replaced them with player feedback. You aim, you shoot, and its based on your skill level rather than a number. A lot more so than the original anyway.

Because there's really no numerical values for damage anymore there's no need for a loot system like the original game. The numerical damage values, accuracy values, etc are no longer relivant as they're not part of the game's design.

Thats why pretty much all of the weapons we find have a functional difference, not a numerical difference, and thats why there isn't loot anymore.

 

[golem]

In my ME1 replay, I did not enjoy the Mako sections nearly as much as the first time through. Something I did notice while exploring random planets on my Mako, though, was that ME1 has some of the most beautiful skyboxes in any game, ever.

Yeah the Mako sections kill me when I replay ME1.. ugh

 

[Revengeance]

For the next game, I want your teammates to develop relationships between each other. Just seems a little weird how they're on this ship on this impossible mission, and for the most part, the only person they ever converse with is you. I want to roll up on a conversation happening between say, Mordin and Grunt and just watch it unfold, without any interaction from Shepard.

 

[kitzkozan]

to those complaining about the lack of mako: Did you replay the first ME more than 2 times?

I finished it 11 times, and the mako is soooo bad. Controls are fine, but: Other than you yourself, the mako doesnt get "stronger". Where you can rush through enemies once you´ve leveled up enough, the mako is still vulnerable as pussy. It´s soooo boring. Especially the way on Noveria, where you have to drive back a rather long part of the way to save (and saving there is a good idea).

And the minigame in ME2 makes it so much better. If I imagined i had to land with the mako and drive around 30 or more minutes every time i need to find palladium or element zero to upgrade my ship and stuff, it´d drive me insane.

Again, if you played ME1 just once or twice, I can kinda understand the complaints. But if you did the companion-achievements (doing EVERY sidequest three times) and replay the games many, many times, it´s a bs-complaint. Scanning a planet for 2 minutes is much better.

I am really interested in seeing how the Hammerhead turn out.

I think the hammerhead and planet exploration will be quite different from the Mako.I expect it to be much more action packed and the hammerhead to be much more exciting in term of vehicle/combat gameplay.

It make sense in a way,since Mass effect 2 is much more action oriented.I would love to take on a big tank with the hammerhead (or vehicle bosses).

 

[Sir Garbageman]

For the next game, I want your teammates to develop relationships between each other. Just seems a little weird how they're on this ship on this impossible mission, and for the most part, the only person they ever converse with is you. I want to roll up on a conversation happening between say, Mordin and Grunt and just watch it unfold, without any interaction from Shepard.

This x100. Or at least some party banter like DA:O during missions.

 

[FrankT]

biofeed Free in-game content in a couple weeks for those who have activated Cerberus Network! Stay tuned for more details.

http://twitter.com/biofeed

Nice! That's what I like to see.