Mass Effect 2

[doobiwan]

I have nothing particular to add, they've been promoting it senseless, except to say I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

I feel a little bit sorry for Splinter Cell, being sandwiched between ME2 and BC2, I really want to play it, but I figure there's no way I'll have time.

So, PC or 360?

[Voicy]

I've been following it quite extensively on mygaming.co.za

I'm really keen for this one...and apparently ME1 play outcome can be carried over to ME2's storyline.

I'm still undecided on which platform i'll get this one.

[Noodle]

Yeah there will be some caryy over from ME1. Your choices made in ME1 will carry over like who died etc....

If you import a level 50-60 character from ME1 you will also get some bonus perks to start off with. Along with your current characters face and what not.

360 for me, got the first one on there will get the second too!
Already pre-ordered it :D

[gus]

I already have it pre-ordered for PC.

[doobiwan]

I'm just a tad bummed, since I've changed my profile I can't carry over :(

At least it should one or too, uh 'cats' I let out the bag that I probably shouldn't have.

[Flatty]

I bought ME when Voicy so generously corrupted me with that 3 games for R180 offer.

It's quite a complicated game - I keep getting nuked as I walk into this room by biotic damage. Can I walk away to complete another mission, learn some more about fighting biotic opponents without affecting my ability to retry the mission I am struggling with?

AND like a douchebag, I just RTFM & worked out how to decrypt the locks I have been passing on because I figured it was something I would learn as I progressed in the game :slap:

[Noodle]

God damn dirty Pirates have a copy of this already! :mad:

[rainy]

I preordered for PC. Not sure if I still have my ME1 savegame though...

[doobiwan]

Okay looks like reviewers have it now, so it's officially time to stop ready press before some twit blows the plot in his first paragraph again :(

[Flatty]

I'm really stating to enjoy ME1. Once you get to grips with the strengths of the different classes it makes sense. I had 3 pure soldiers on my first char & kept getting pwned. Now I am using a mixture for two chars & a pure Biotic as the 3rd. Suddenly, managing mobs became a whole lot easier. :D

[Org]

I'm busy with my 4th playthrough. Trying to get all the achievements and deciding how the party should look that I carry over to ME2 - who dies, romances and what type of character my main oke(or girl :D) should be etc. Really like this game. Like Flatty says ... u need a balanced group otherwise the mobs are gonna pwn ure @$$.

Spoke to a friend of mine this morning, that got his hands on a beta version of ME2 (for PC). He says it's orsm - graphics and gameplay. Really can't wait. Just hope I finish this last play through of ME1 in time. Also playing Dragon Age, Sins of a Solar empire and BF2 and PR. There's not enough hours in a day I think :p

[Noodle]

I hate those Dirty "Beta" Players :mad:

[Flatty]

I finished the game, and was wondering if anyone who has completed it can tell me:

1. Are the expansion packs worth downloading?
2. I rushed through to the end, chasing Saren like a dog after a bone, missing out on gazoodles of missions. I did quite a few, but given that's it's taken me just over 4 days of play to complete, I was wondering how many missions there actually are & is it worth doing them all before you take out Saren - can you max all your talents?

This is one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. My GTX285 really does it justice. I was a bit bummed when there is no option to continue after you have defeated Saren.

[rainy]

I found my savegame. That and a few hours of replaying ME1 made me really amped for ME2. Bring on Friday!

[Noodle]

Flatty.
The side mission are very generic and only some add small parts to the story, it was done very much in a cookie cutter fashion where there were only a few buildings that made, then just reused over and over.

The DLC I only got one of them (Bring down the sky) it nevere added anything to the main story but did show off a new race that was ony spoken about in the main game.
No you can't max out in one playthrough, you would need 2 or 3 to do that. Choose the new game+ option to start over with your char at it's current level.

[Flatty]

Thanks, Noodle.

I downloaded the BDTS expansion today & I see you can download Pinnacle Station (I think that's what it's called) for R49.99. Also pre-ordered ME2.

This game would be so cool as an online MMORPG.

[Thumponius]

And give you another addiction to nerdrage against...

[Noodle]

http://kotaku.com/5456120/get-mass-effect-2s-dlc-for-free-free

Someone made an oops and made the ME2 DLC available already.
Follow the link for the direct links to each one.
I tried all but only the first one worked...

[Flatty]

And give you another addiction to nerdrage against...

WOW is a complete and TOTAL addiction. I finished the WHOLE of ME in one weekend, more or less. That isn't even close to giving me addictive feelings :p

[Thumponius]

My comment was made in response to this statement by you:


This game would be so cool as an online MMORPG.

Arguing/debating with you is like being with my ex. Fruitless/pointless and I just get a headache out of the deal.

---------- Post added at 02:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 PM ----------

And I am not disagreeing with you about the WoW thang.

[rainy]

http://kotaku.com/5456120/get-mass-effect-2s-dlc-for-free-free

Someone made an oops and made the ME2 DLC available already.
Follow the link for the direct links to each one.
I tried all but only the first one worked...

Meh, only for Xbox...

[Flatty]

My comment was made in response to this statement by you:



Arguing/debating with you is like being with my ex. Fruitless/pointless and I just get a headache out of the deal.

---------- Post added at 02:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 PM ----------

And I am not disagreeing with you about the WoW thang.

Perhaps the problem lies in the fact that you assume it's an argument/debate and not a conversation.

Being compared to your ex is a smack in the face - I have more loyalty than that :p

[Vortex]

Perhaps the problem lies in the fact that you assume it's an argument/debate and not a conversation.

Being compared to your ex is a smack in the face - I have more loyalty than that :p

And I hear he looks hotter in a dress..

[doobiwan]

I put in about 3 hours worth.

I'm enjoying it, but I don't know if I'm quite keen on the inventory system (or lack thereof)

[Flatty]

I've just been told that my Limited Edition pre-order is in stock, so I should have it by Wednesday.

:woot:

In ME1 it really irks me that I can't tell how many items I am carrying & have to rely on the warning that pops up when I am nearing 150 items. Not much bloody good when I am half way through a mission & no way to get to a vendor :confused:

I am busy pushing through for level 60. Can I take my toons over to ME2, or what is score?

[Noodle]

You can convert the kak stuff to Omnigel if need be Flatty.

You you can take your chars over to ME2.... Kinda.
When you take the char over depending on if it's level 50 or 60 will determine what perks you get, like extra cash, more points start off with etc... Also you can take your chars facial features across as well.

[rainy]

BTGames should get the CEs in the course of the day...

[rainy]

I got mine :D

[Flatty]

I've done the whole omni-gel thing, but I am getting pretty handy with decryption, etc, so the omni-gel is rarely used. I prefer credits :D

Anyway, I'm on level 53 with my toons ATM so I'm trying to hit 60 before Wednesday.

[Noodle]

I got like 9999999999999 Credits so I could not be bothered with those :p

Busy installing it now! :D

[Flatty]

I got like 9999999999999 Credits so I could not be bothered with those :p

Busy installing it now! :D

Hacker :D

[Noodle]

Hacker :D

Lol, nah just after collecting all I could and selling you pretty much hit a cap.
I don't bother picking kak up anymore....

[Flatty]

This would be such a cool game to have 1-on-1 battles with i.e. your squad vs my squad.

[doobiwan]

Agreed, it'd also make a really good co-op game, it's a pity they didn't include it.

I must also say that I really didn't enjoy the cheesy opening, I find it a bit of a ridiculous premise.

[rainy]

First Impressions after putting in close to 8 hours yesterday:

So far it's a worthy successor of the first game. Story, atmosphere, music, all at least up to scratch if not better than the first game. Graphics, handling, ingame controls have improved, especially the control scheme is a lot smoother than I remember it from the first game.

I love the fact that you can now enter any planet's orbit and scan it for resources - which you need tor research upgrades and improvements. I also like the way the hacking has changed, basically it's two kinds of minigames you have to play to gain access to doors, safes, datapads... It's a bit if a pity though that hacking now seems to be limited to opening doors and getting credits. It would be nice if you could actually hack computers to get additional information or guidance, but nope, any hack that doesn't bypass a doorlock renders a few credits (and vice versa). And you can't use omnigel instead of hacking (because there is no omnigel anymore).

There also is no inventory system like in the first game. If you pick up a weapon, it is immediately available to all classes who can use the weapon type. There is no such thing as picking up new armor like in the first game, you can only improve armor through upgrades, and again any upgrade is immediately available to all squad members.

The interfaces to the private terminal, squad selection and weapons loadout is positively kludgy. Click to select the squad member, then click on a select button (instead of doubleclicking or hitting enter). Requires a lot of mouse mileage, and the scrollwheel doesn't work either in case of longer lists. There also seems to be no way to directly activate a specific weapon ingame, but I don't recall that being there in the first game either. It wouldn't be such an issue if weapon changes didn't take so darn long.

The DLC that comes with the CE is ok. You can play both pieces (Zaeed and Normandy Crash) in about 30-40 minutes total. It doesn't really add much to the story and if I hadn't gotten it with the CE, I wouldn't spend money on it. It seems to be the way to go for DLC though, short and quick and easy. I can only think of Fallout 3 as an exception to that, but I digress. If you own Dragon Age, you can use the Blood Dragon Armour in ME2 as well, and with the CE comes a set of Armour and a rifle that are quite cool. Both pieces however are not customizeable like the standard armour.

The following spoiler contains story elements, so read at your own risk.

A small thing that I am nonetheless enjoying. Shepherd dies at the beginning of the game and is genetically remanufactured, including all memories and such. However, before the process has completed, the facility is attacked, which means he or she ends up with a few facial scars. As the ship's doctor explains later on, the moral attitude you take in the game has an effect on the healing of the scars - positive attitude and actions will accelerate the healing of the scars, the opposite may mean that Shepherd will need some cybernetic implants. It's really no biggie but in a strange way it adds to the game.

A few nitpicks but they don't put me off the game. I have really enjoyed the first few hours and will go on playing just now.

[Noodle]

I got the Vanilla version and both crash site and Zaeed are available to me too! :D

[rainy]

OK, I thought it was CE only. If it wasn't free - would you pay for it?

[Flatty]

I believe the first DLC was supposed to be absolutely free for all versions...

I'm getting the limited edition - figured a R100 wouldn't make much difference & I'm on lvl 58 now :D

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, Rainy. As Doobi says, a decent inventory management system would have been great. Why can't you filter items levels you want to automatically vendor.

Ah, sucks to be a programmer, I guess - but then that's what it's about, anticipating the needs of the end user. Such a simple thing, really, an inventory system.

[rainy]

Flattie, the whole component of picking up loot and selling/omnigel-ing it has been taken out of the game. You earn credits by hacking wallsafes and terminals and such, and as rewards for other things. Those you can use to buy weapon upgrades, but you don't peddle off items anymore.

[Flatty]

That's brilliant :)

[Flatty]

I love the club in Omega, Afterlife. There are a couple of dancers that really reflect the true nature of Ravers. The music is something I'd listen to all the time - repetitive as it is. I even like the way Shepard dances when you tell him to.

I loaded the game this morning after failing to hit 59 by 2000 points after completing a hardcore run. I could have gotten there but I figured the final assault at the Citadel would net me 40K - I figured wrong. I just couldn't wait anymore. The videos were jerky until I loaded new nVidia drivers & now I have it running maxed - it looks simply stunning.

I was quite disappointed that they changed ALL the key bindings, but I am getting used to it. It would have been nice to have a graphical printout of the damage done by each weapon like the first one. One failing, I found, in the first one is that you didn't get to see how much increase/decrease in damage, rate of fire, or shots before overheat that each specific weapon/ammo upgrade made to your gear. Surely it wouldn't have created a massive system overhead to include this little calculation?

The mouth movements during speech were better in the first one. Now all you see is teeth & cheesy grins.

The game play is vastly improved - being able to vault over objects & take cover behind items at all angles is a definite plus.

I play an Infiltrator so the CE assault rifle is useless to me personally - I think they should have thought about alternatives for other classes. The CE armour is alright, though I prefer the standard issue, customizable, armour. I am playing with the CE armour for the bonuses, but I wish I could remove my helmet.

This game is setting new benchmarks in terms of graphic beauty & game-play innovation, I think.

[Flatty]

This has to be the best game I have ever played. I finished it tonight.

'Time (magazine) featured Mass Effect 2 on "The Short List of Things to Do", and described it as "the Avatar of video games — except it's better written." '

When I got tired of running around I'd go into one of the clubs, watch the dancers and listen to the music.

The cutscenes are simply beautiful.

One of the things that really impresses me is the way they let the music build up each individual fight scene. It's different music every time, so it doesn't get boring - it really adds to the atmosphere.

The endgame is out of this world.

The game mechanics are brilliant, and the fight scenes are intense.

I wish there were a lot more games like this.

I cannot imagine playing this game on anything but a high end system, however.

[rainy]

I finished the game yesterday and have not much to add to what Flattie said. The game is a vast improvement over the first one, which already wasn't too shabby (to put it mildly). I really enjoyed the exploration factor which would render resources and the odd side mission, which never felt tacked on or superfluous. I also liked the fact that the moral system was a tad more fuzzy than in the first game - no clear-cut black&white, good vs. evil decisions. I actually found that the last decision to make in the game

Which is whether to destroy or keep the Collector base
was not an easy one and had me thinking for a bit.

Flattie, if you enjoyed this one and haven't tried Dragon Age yet, give it a shot. Same makers, similar mechanics. Also I'd like to recommend an older fave of mine - read up on it here (http://www.wargeeks.org/showthread.php?t=4599) and here (http://www.wargeeks.org/showthread.php?t=5117).

[Arbythep00nage]

Borderlands > all
That is all im saying :p

[rainy]

That's because you wouldn;t know a really great game if it kicked you in the face ;)

[Flatty]

Rainy. I am playing it again on Hardcore, and I all I can say is, "Seriaaasly hectic!"

There is no way in hell anyone would get through the first run through of ME2 on Hardcore, even after reaching 60 in ME1. I now have all my gear from the first run through (you get to keep all your gear & talent points) and I had to seriously rethink my strategy. No more standing up from behind cover and taking pot shots while under fire. The enemies have more armour & better weapons - when you get hit by a rocket launcher, you know all about it. I am loving it - it's like playing a completely different game.

I think some of the better FPS'ers could take a leaf out of these fight mechanics.

I am also noticing things, new areas, etc, that I missed completely in the first run.

RB gave me Dragon Age, so I'll give it a bash.

[gus]

Borderlands > all
That is all im saying :p

I think one simply has to play both Borderlands and ME2.

[Mugato]

This game is a huge WIN!!

[Flatty]

This game is a huge WIN!!

As Rainy suggested to me, I shall suggest to you. If you enjoy ME2 try Dragon Age. It's the same engine & a really compelling play with so many different ways to play it.

[doobiwan]

I really enjoyed it, but my criticism of it is that the story is pretty much straight up, with little or no deep plot points or arching reveals. It suffered typical "middle game" syndrome as far as story goes.