Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Mass Effect DLC

[Garwoofoo]

Made it past the bit I was stuck on, so thanks for the words of encouragement (and the tip about the X button, which I'd missed completely - shame you can't skip the cutscenes entirely, mind).

Got sidetracked by a TF2 session shortly thereafter but I am looking forward to cracking on with this. Still finding almost every bit of it bastard hard but hopefully as you say it will get easier as I progress.

[Ninchilla]

'Lift' is your best friend.

Yes, this.

And the HMWPX pistol with two Frictionless Materials X and Hammerhead Rounds.

[Swallow]

And the HMWPX pistol with two Frictionless Materials X and Hammerhead Rounds.

lol what

I gave Mass Effect two goes at impressing me and it fell on it's miserable arse both times. The thing was physically painful to play.

[Prole]

lol what

I gave Mass Effect two goes at impressing me and it fell on it's miserable arse both times. The thing was physically painful to play.

Please see recent replies in the GTA4 thread.

[Ninchilla]

I gave Mass Effect two goes at impressing me and it fell on it's miserable arse both times. The thing was physically painful to play.

ANGRY

[Ianos]

lol what

I gave Mass Effect two goes at impressing me and it fell on it's miserable arse both times. The thing was physically painful to play.

Maybe the pain was a by-product of your furious rage at seemingly every good game ever?

[Luscan]

edit - something went wrong here...

[JDubYes]

Finally went back to this on saturday, and completely lost my weekend to it.

Have nearly done all of the side missions that don't involve trawling all of the planets looking for metal etc, but haven't seen mention of the DLC mission. Does it only come into play if you had the DLC prior to starting the game? And if not, what do I need to do/where do I need to go to get it to kick in?

[JDubYes]

Right, I can't find the proper thread for the game, so this'll have to do....

Finished Mass Effect yesterday, after spending an unhealthy amount of time on it in the last few weeks.

Me and the game have had an odd relationship. In the week after release I played for about 8 hours, but in the following 5 months I only played it for about another 3-4. When I started again a few weeks ago it was more down to wanting to play something that wasn't GTA rather than a real wish to play ME, but it was better than I remembered (it does start off slowly, but it'd started to pick up before the break), and once I'd started again I was hooked. I plowed through the side-missions, then played the DLC (sort of inhabits the middle ground between the side-missions and main story with regard to quality), then got back into the story with renewed vigour.

First thought upon completion - I am really looking forward to Mass Effect 2.

It's all about potential, you see. ME has numerous flaws - I don't like the Mako, the side-missions are a disappointment, the graphics are buggy, and it has the odd technical glitch (I had to reload a save at one point because I got stuck in the scenery, and even the end credits seemed to have frame-rate problems(!)), but when this is good it matches anything you'd care to mention. All the story missions were good once you have your own ship, but the final few hours in particular were outstanding, with a real sense of scale and importance added to a story that at times had previously only been mildly diverting, and makes the villain situation much more interesting. The characters in your party are a lot more engaging and interesting that in pretty much anything else you'd care to mention too, and the pains BioWare have gone to to create a believeable universe is outstanding.

And this is why I'm looking forward to ME2 - it's often the case that a video game sequel fixes many of the original's issues, and delivers a more refined experience (it's often the antithesis of the law of diminishing returns associated with film sequels). With this in mind, ME2 could be something truly special.

[Brian Bloodaxe]

Behind the times as ever I finally started playing Mass Effect this morning. Played for three hours and can't wait to get stuck back in. Anyway I was wondering if I want to get the DLC now or if it is better to save it for later. And does anyone know if the novel is worth reading/buying?

[JDubYes]

I was wondering if I want to get the DLC now or if it is better to save it for later. And does anyone know if the novel is worth reading/buying?

The main story missions in Mass Effect are well designed and engaging. The side missions are mildly diverting, generic, and a good source of items. The DLC falls somewhere in-between, but closer to the story missions in yerms of quality, even though it isn't related to the main plot.

If you think you'll only play through the game once, it's worth getting as soon as, and then playing it before you finish the game.

If you're going to shoot through on your first playthrough, then play again and take your time to do all of the side missions, then you might as well wait.

I don't know owt about the novel though, sorry.

[Ninchilla]

Just finished this on Hardcore a couple of days ago, and the Achievement in the ingame menu claims I've unlocked a new gamer picture, but I'm unable to find it in the list. I know it's likely lame, but it's the principle of the thing, dammit!

[And]

I am hijacking this thread.

I bought this yesterday. And presumably will play it at some point

I am aware that there are different classes you can play as, so who played as what? Any recommendations, do's / don'ts.

Am thinking I will get the dlc and go for a full see everything go through first time out, unless theres any reason not to?

So what should I be prioritising? Come on boffins, give me your knowledge.

[JDubYes]

I am hijacking this thread.

I bought this yesterday. And presumably will play it at some point

I am aware that there are different classes you can play as, so who played as what? Any recommendations, do's / don'ts.

Am thinking I will get the dlc and go for a full see everything go through first time out, unless theres any reason not to?

So what should I be prioritising? Come on boffins, give me your knowledge.

I went through as bog-standard soldier man, which was fine as you can then just rank up the special powers of your minions while ensuring that you yourself are a super-hard bastard.

If/when I play through the second time I will be the class that has (effectively) force powers, for that authentic Sith vibe.

The electronics-type class that decrypts/unlocks stuff is, as far as I can tell, vastly less interesting than either of the aforementioned, and rendered largely pointless by the fact at least two other members of your party can do those skills if you level them up appropriately, meaning that you can concentrate on learning more entertaining skills

And yes, I couldn't be bothered to look any of this up to use the proper names and make it sound authoritative.

[Ninchilla]

I played as an Infiltrator; tech/soldier type with pistols, sniper rifles and hacking/decryption. Soldier I found dull, because it's just shooty-shooty, and the Biotic classes were too slow for my tastes.

[JDubYes]

I think And's going to need a third opinion, seeing as Ninchilla and I apparently have differing opinions on this.

It's also worth pointing out that it looks like he's actually played with more than one class though, and his opinion should therefore carry more weight than mine (which is based on one full playthrough with one class and assumptions of the others).

[cavalcade]

I have played through once as Soldier, but tried all the classes for a fair while first.

To have the most fun, and to enjoy the story the first time out, I think Soldier is the best choice. Concentrate through the game on getting the Weapon Specialist achievements (Shotgun/Sniper/Assault Rifle). Then, when you restart (if you restart) you can make an excellent blended Biotic/Infiltrator character that packs some firepower if needed. The game is quite tough for the first few hours with only pistol as a wepon (or even the Sniper Rifle). I would also suggest a first playthrough on Easy, just doing the main story arc, and then restarting and playing again on a more difficult level with a blended character (different sex too), and doing all the side quests. The story is brilliant, absolutely up there with the best, but the more side quests you do, the more the experience is diluted. Let it give you a 15 hour hit of sci-fi goodness, and then perhaps get the DLC, sit back and relax and do another, slower playthrough, playing with all the big moral descisions...?

Just a suggestion. It's what I'm doing, and I haven't regretted it.

[JDubYes]

So can you start a new game with the abilities you finished your previous playthrough(s) with then? I got the impression you couldn't....

[Garwoofoo]

What are the difficulty modes available? Is it Easy/Normal/Hard or just Easy/Hard?

I'm thinking I might start this again. Loved the story, atmosphere and characters; hated the combat. If it's Easy/Normal/Hard, then I would have picked Normal and would probably enjoy the game much more on a suitably lightweight setting.

[cavalcade]

No, only the abilities you've "Mastered" by getting the Achievements. You can then add them into the bonus slot you get when you resart. hence me now being a mage who can handle an assault rifle.

And yes, Gar, Easy, Normal, Hard. I played bits on Normal, bits on Easy, I enjoyed it far more on the latter. I wasn't really playing it as a combat simulator, for me the combat, while good, was basically the book ends between story bits, and I wanted to get to them as quickly as possible.