Mass Effect 2

[jfe2]

I am finally at the last battle in Dragon Age, and my Fallout 3: GOTY edition should be here soon, so I'll be playing that for the first time. I'll probably play a few shorter titles in between, though. Of course there's a DA expansion coming in March, too...

I don't get the hype for Mass Effect 1 or 2. What about the games makes them so good? Is it just the fact that it's an action RPG set in space?

For me it was the depth of the game's world. It's comparable to Dragon Age in that aspect.

[MrPopo]

I don't get the hype for Mass Effect 1 or 2. What about the games makes them so good? Is it just the fact that it's an action RPG set in space?

Essentially it takes the standard Bioware goodness and makes it more palpable to the 360 crowd. So you still have a good Bioware story and character interactions, but now you get to shoot stuff.

[nickfil]

I don't get the hype for Mass Effect 1 or 2. What about the games makes them so good? Is it just the fact that it's an action RPG set in space?

Essentially it takes the standard Bioware goodness and makes it more palpable to the 360 crowd. So you still have a good Bioware story and character interactions, but now you get to shoot stuff.

yup. you pretty much nailed it.

[Flak Beard]

I've been sitting on getting into the Mass Effect games for a while now, but plan to start soon. Is it essential to play the first game before playing ME2, or just recommended?

[nickfil]

I've been sitting on getting into the Mass Effect games for a while now, but plan to start soon. Is it essential to play the first game before playing ME2, or just recommended?

if you want to experience everything the game has to offer- i'd play the first one.

The difference is you have some control over what happens in the second game. Not direct stuff, but it is cool to see choices you make play out. I'm watching a buddy of mine play through cold, while i am playing through from my save. There are a lot of little differences. Characters that you met and interacted with in the first game will be there for me, but not for him. They don't give you super secret tech or powerups or anything like that, but it makes the world seem fuller and more real.

[Flak Beard]

if you want to experience everything the game has to offer- i'd play the first one.

The difference is you have some control over what happens in the second game. Not direct stuff, but it is cool to see choices you make play out. I'm watching a buddy of mine play through cold, while i am playing through from my save. There are a lot of little differences. Characters that you met and interacted with in the first game will be there for me, but not for him. They don't give you super secret tech or powerups or anything like that, but it makes the world seem fuller and more real.

Financially too, I'm guessing it would be wise. I've seen copies of ME1 at a local shop used for $10. By the time I was ready to move on to ME2, it likely wouldn't cost $60 any more.

[Gamerforlife]

I bought a copy, but can't play it yet. Dragon Age is too good a story to just drop it and I'm have reluctantly accepted that I need to play some more Mass Effect 1, especially since there was a major story decision in that game that I want to change since it carries over into Mass Effect 2. The import feature is awesome...and also annoying for obsessive types like me

[RadarScope1]

I'm playing the first one for the first time. I didn't understand the combat system at first (and still feel like I don't quite get it), so I had to start over on the easiest setting as a soldier class. It's a testament to how engaging the story is that I started over. I usually don't stick with games that frustrate me in that way. I still feel like I'm using the combat system to its full extent but now I take very little damage and just roll over the basic enemies.

With the success of ME2 -- 2 million copies were sold in the first week -- it looks like we will get a true trilogy out this thing. I got really sick of publishers and devs announcing "this is gonna be a trilogy" before the first game was even half way done. I realize you have to plan in advance to make a long-form story actually work, but the promises get old after a while.

So frustrating, I REALLY want to play this, but I haven't even finished one playthrough of Dragon Age. Also, Mass Effect 2's import feature compels me to go back to Mass Effect 1 and get that perfect playthrough to carry over to Mass Effect 2. I never did get to level 60 either or get all the achievements and I hear Mass Effect 2 has bonuses for both of those things.

It seems like a horrible thing to say, but I almost wish ME 2 hadn't come out for a couple more months. I'm not ready for it yet darnit! But I'm hearing everyone talk about it and how awesome it is

The guys on the Giant Bombcast said it doesn't matter to power up your character all the way in ME1 to import to 2. It's much about the choices you made, not your experience level or equipment, according to them.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm playing the first one for the first time. I didn't understand the combat system at first (and still feel like I don't quite get it), so I had to start over on the easiest setting as a soldier class. It's a testament to how engaging the story is that I started over. I usually don't stick with games that frustrate me in that way. I still feel like I'm using the combat system to its full extent but now I take very little damage and just roll over the basic enemies.

With the success of ME2 -- 2 million copies were sold in the first week -- it looks like we will get a true trilogy out this thing. I got really sick of publishers and devs announcing "this is gonna be a trilogy" before the first game was even half way done. I realize you have to plan in advance to make a long-form story actually work, but the promises get old after a while.

So frustrating, I REALLY want to play this, but I haven't even finished one playthrough of Dragon Age. Also, Mass Effect 2's import feature compels me to go back to Mass Effect 1 and get that perfect playthrough to carry over to Mass Effect 2. I never did get to level 60 either or get all the achievements and I hear Mass Effect 2 has bonuses for both of those things.

It seems like a horrible thing to say, but I almost wish ME 2 hadn't come out for a couple more months. I'm not ready for it yet darnit! But I'm hearing everyone talk about it and how awesome it is

The guys on the Giant Bombcast said it doesn't matter to power up your character all the way in ME1 to import to 2. It's much about the choices you made, not your experience level or equipment, according to them.

That's cool, I probably will do one more playthrough of ME 1 still though, just to make sure I'm made all the story choices I want sticking with me for two more ME games. This is really one of the most personalized franchises I have ever played

[bladerunner]

Financially too, I'm guessing it would be wise. I've seen copies of ME1 at a local shop used for $10. By the time I was ready to move on to ME2, it likely wouldn't cost $60 any more.

Who knows how this will work out though. When you buy ME2, you can only play the game with a Cerberus Network account (comes with the game). This will impact the used game market as the accounts can only be used once and a new one costs $15. This is obviously EA trying to kill the resale/used market with this title. So I guess it would not be a problem if you planned on getting a new copy. Someone correct me if I am wrong about this?