Mass Effect 1 before playing 2?

[Wam7]

I am wondering how imperative it is to play ME1 before 2. If so, do you install and play the DLC packs before starting from the beginning or only once you finished the ME1?

[jim]

I would definitely play Mass Effect 1 - it's an excellent game anyway.

Then add onto that the fact that you get to make your own decisions about how things will pan out in the second game - if you just play the second game, then some of those decision are made for you and it won't seem like so much of a "journey".

[Salazaar]

I wouldn't bother with the ME1 DLC, it adds very little to the game. You can install and play it at any point before or during a game if that's what you want though.

As to whether you should play 1 before 2, it would certainly add a lot to the overall experience but it's not critical. ME2 does work well as a stand alone game, though given the option I'd play 1 first and import your character.

[Zadock]

I wouldn't bother with the ME1 DLC, it adds very little to the game. You can install and play it at any point before or during a game if that's what you want though.

Bring down the sky is pretty good its relatively easy to get hold of and you get some good items for playing it e.g. Savant X biotic amp, which is the best in the game.

Personnally I would play ME1 first because its a good introduction to the universe, just depends how interested in the story you are I suppose. Its certainly not critical though.

[Zoso]

Like everyone's said it's certainly not critical, but I think it's well worth it. I'm about 20 hours into ME2 and I've met a load of characters from the first game who've referenced what happened, even if it's just "Hey Shepard, remember me from (wherever)?" It's a nice touch (and they've suggested you'll be able to take save games from ME2 to ME3, so it'd give the full effect of working through the trilogy).

[Gunbuster]

Bringing down the sky was really good fun. I liked it.

I got it for free when I joined the Bioware forums, before they moved to Social.

[transylvanic]

I reckon Mass Effect 1 is such a spectacular game, you'd be doing yourself a disservice playing through 2 before 1. It just makes sense to do them in order. I haven't yet got the second one, and am tortured by the idea of doing another runthrough of 1 in order to pimp out my character and life choices before starting 2. But that'd require far too much time and patience!

[Champman99]

I'd definitely play ME1 first. Part of what Mass Effect so great imo is the setting and the first game explains alot more about that. Things like the citadel, the council even the alliance are barely a part of second game.

So yes, I would definitely recommend playing ME1. As said above, its such a good game you should play it anyway, and better before than after!

[chuckskull]

I only recently played ME1 myself, great game in it's own right still IMO. If you enjoy the storyline and lore of a game, then playing 1 first is a must. The choices you make in the first have consequences in the second(and eventually third).

[unreal]

Definitely complete ME1 if I were you, I only played it (and quickly completed it due to how much I got into the game) during the summer we just had, and it was such a good game. I mean if you completed ME2 and went back to play ME1, that would be a completely backwards move (literally too, I guess lol) as the game doesn't run as well or as pretty as ME2 nor has all the gameplay improvements. And you get awarded for importing a character you used to completed ME1 with.

Plus ME1 is cheap as hell right now!

[Barrichello]

I am wondering how imperative it is to play ME1 before 2. If so, do you install and play the DLC packs before starting from the beginning or only once you finished the ME1?

Might as well play 1 first and then buy 2 when it drops to half price soon, what i have done, only just got 1 on steam at xmas for some seriously low price

[Zadock]

I have found that if you create a new character in ME2 your story is reduced, game play is still good and enjoyable but you are stuck in one end game scenario from the previous game [Spoiler]you sacrificed the council making humans the dominant force and you cannot regain your spectre status... there is quite a few other things I noticed as well, certain people missing from various parts of the game who were there when I used a transferred character.

Slight tangent there, bottom line is the first one is very good and enriches your experience of the second one if you play it first

[chuckskull]

Thanks Zadock. Might have to reinstall ME1 either try and get it to resurrect my old save or blast through it again. That's exactly what happened to me(see whining in other ME2 thread).

[Iasthai]

Honestly if your going to play ME1 your going to be doing it solely for storyline, ME2 completely destroys ME1 in terms of game play and character interaction however it is alittle lacking in storyline, so if you have the time play ME1 but otherwise jump right ahead in to ME2

[Zadock]

Honestly if your going to play ME1 your going to be doing it solely for storyline, ME2 completely destroys ME1 in terms of game play and character interaction however it is alittle lacking in storyline, so if you have the time play ME1 but otherwise jump right ahead in to ME2

Actually, I don't entirely agree with your conculsion. both games are very good but I find ME2 to be dumbed down in a number of ways particularly the RPG system, which I think is over simplified and doesn't give you as much room for customisation as ME1 does. Same can be said for the inventory system.

[Iasthai]

Actually, I don't entirely agree with your conculsion. both games are very good but I find ME2 to be dumbed down in a number of ways particularly the RPG system, which I think is over simplified and doesn't give you as much room for customisation as ME1 does. Same can be said for the inventory system.

I see your point, but mass effect 1 its self is very weak on customization and inventory, by which i mean choice of weapons and armour, the only real flavour being the mods you can add to either.

What are we talking about when we say RPG here? are we talking skills and levels or character interactions and the choices you can make? i feel that ME2 is superior in both aspects personally.

Agree with the dumbing down, but thats not a bad thing in this case.