not all of us have the time that you do, to replay an entire game;( in a weekend.

Haven't finished the game yet, real life keeps getting in the way.

Using an ME1 save game, changed from Infiltrator to Soldier for my first run through,
generally Paragon unless the situation dictates more direct action
ie pushing folks out of high storey windows or back stabbing Gunship mechanics.

Disappointed with my first meeting with my former love Ash, so I think I'll
probably romance Miranda in one run through then stay loyal to Ash in another
just to cover my bases for ME3.

One of my only gripes so far is that the Presidium is so restricted no opportunity to
wander around.

I didn't beat Mass Effect in a weekend, I've been playing it for about 2 weeks now, and beat it over last weekend..



Yea, i guess the story behind it is there's still some rebuilding needed to be done in the Citadel, maybe there will more DLC with the citadel. Overall though, they made up with a long citadel area, to split it between 3 areas, in terms of also Omega and Illium (God is does that feel like Courasant)

And speaking of DLC, they released 2 new free pieces today a Shotgun and Cerberus Armor.

Although, the armors are pretty lame because they look cool, but since you can't take off the helmet during conversations, it just looks wrong.

They've never done the Citadel right. The first game was ok but this was just stupid. I land on the Citadel and all I can do is move up or down three levels?

I haven't had much time to play anything, but I've played a little through me1 (about an hour a day, maybe) since I got back into town.

Roaming on planets in the Mako is still horrible. It is the very definition of tedium.

haha can't really argue with that, and the combat parts are not as fun when you've already played ME2's superior combat mechanics.

It's still doable because the story is still pretty good in ME 1. I'd also like to point out, that now that I've played both, I have to say the side quests for ME 1 (the real ones, not the gathering minerals, tags, and crap like that) is probably better then the ME 2 (I don't count the Loyalty missions as side quests for ME 2 only because they seem to be an integral part of the story itself, that it would be rather silly not to do them). Notice, how in ME 2, most of the real side quests don't really have any dialogue? Compared to the first one, which actually some conversations in them?

The thing that that bothers me, and I see why the side quests can take a back seat in the first one, are those damn repetitive levels which were horrendous for the ME 1 Side Quests.

Overall, I'd love to see the level/mission design of the 2nd one, with the story elements of the first one for the side quests for ME 3. Hopefully we'll get that.

In the end though, i hope that the real DLC coming in a few weeks doesn't bomb.. It would be a real indication on how things will be if that DLC fails.

I went back and played (still am) Mass Effect after the second game, to see the differences, get refreshed on stuff I missed and play through the second one again, but this time straight after the first game ends.

The one thing that stands out is how small the hubs are in the second game. In the first game, you really have to run a small distance to get to places. In the second game, everything is a spitting distance away from each other. You get out of the space port and then you're in the market, ten steps later you're in the night club, just to the side of that are the people you talk to so you can do plot missions.

I know they want to streamline it for the console shmoes who can't concentrate on anything for more than two seconds, but come on, you're just making things too small. Why not just remove towns all together and just go with menus? The Xbox bros will probably like that better.

Another thing that stands out is the story progression. The second game feels like one big recruitment game, with bits of plot to motivate you on, then comes the finale. In the first game, it feels like more of an over-arching plot to find what Saren is looking for and piecing together what the Eden Prime vision means. But I suppose that fault comes with being the second game of a trilogy. More burden of answering questions and setting up the final act.

It is nice to be able to use my Sniper rifle on my Infiltrator without worrying about running out of ammo, though. Don't have to rely on a secondary weapon 90% of the time.

OMG.... Mordan has just sang Gilbert and Sullivan (sort of)... game worth it just for that.

haha, ya was pretty shocked when he did that, and the dead silence after he did it, was just priceless too.

I can see your point Jimbot when comparing it to ME 1 and all, but man don't those repetitive level designs of all those side quests get to you? It certainly got me that's for sure.

Still got one more playthrough of Mass Effect in me, this time as a female Shepard as I never played one before (I hear Jennifer Hale does a good voice over), and hopefully by the time I'm back into Mass Effect 2 again that promised DLC will be available..

No matter what, I see this as my last complete playthrough of going to (ME 1 to ME 2), for awhile considering I'll now have 3 different variations of Shepard (Along with the different decisions) that I can import to ME 3 when it's out which will be awesome.

Ohh and BTW, if anyone ever gets a chance in their renegade games, do play the Renegade option for the Migrant Fleet for Tali's Loyalty Mission towards the end, it was totally awesome seeing Shepard flip out on the Admiralty Board!!

Yeah, the side quests are pretty tedious, but I soldier through. They aren't as bad as I remember them, but they aren't the pinnacle of good side missions either. I finished about 90% of them all already, this is going to be another completionist save. Working on Bringing down the sky right now, then heading to Virmire.


Save game editor (Direct link)
Mass Effect saves
Barrak Obama (221.1GW.RWW.W31.FDS.1DW.DW1.6JW.NFA.DS1.1S7.6)

Ya I got the completionist achievement again too for my first playthrough in the Renegade Shepard I did, the only side quests I didn't do were the gathering minerals stuff, and the scanning of the keepers, everything else I pretty much did.

Anyhow, whenever you complete the saga from after beating ME 2 let me know how it felt as a full playthrough like that? Personally, I thought it was a incredible experience, like reading a interactive book of some sorts, hehe.

Also, not sure if you purchased the Pinnacle Station DLC for ME 1, but if you have, don't forget to check that out, it's an easier way to get higher tier gear once you complete all its simulation missions. Now, whether it warrants the 5 buck purchase, I don't know, it really added nothing at all. (At least Bring down the Sky had a story behind it)