Question about Mass Effect/Mass Effect 2

[Ceefer]

I'm starting to play some PC games that I never got round to when I was totally addicted to Guild Wars (obsessed with it actually). Some of these go back a few years, like Crysis, Fallout3, Fallout:New Vegas, and Oblivion. Next I tried Mass Effect. I really wanted to like this as it has had excellent reviews but try as I might I just can't get into it. I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time messing about with hard-to-understand menus for weapon enhancements and squad commands. Can someone who has played Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 tell me, is the 'menu system' improved in the latter game?

[jim]

In ME2, they get rid of a lot of the RPG elements, so you no longer have to upgrade kit/armour etc in the same way.

In ME, IIRC, you used to pick things up endlessly, and compare it to all your other gear before deciding whether to sell or keep. In ME2/3 there are still choices, but it's usually one of two or three, so there's a lot less micromanagement.

Although I can't say I found ME's menus confusing at all.

[kalniel]

Mass Effect 2 plays very differently and I think does address your concerns with the first game. Like above, I didn't find ME menus confusing, but I did get fed up of them eventually, it's much improved in the second game.

[Ceefer]

Well, its clearly just me then. Anyway, your comments have encouraged me to try ME2.

[Spectoor]

Both are great games, but ME had a lot of fiddly details to it - such as the inventory system and gear stuff. which you could ignore 90% of the time.

ME2 is far less RPG and a lot more "Kill anything in your way", just dives straight in.
As the story is one of the best parts of the ME trilogy i'd suggest you push through ME 1 and then dive straight into ME2, I like my RPG's but ME2 is substantially better than ME1.

In any case - great series, enjoy ^^.

[Aexl]

ME2 is one of my best games of all time, I have no idea how many playthroughs/hours I've dumped into that game but it's a lot.

[jim]

Well, its clearly just me then. Anyway, your comments have encouraged me to try ME2.

Personally, I wouldn't want to play ME2 without having first experienced ME1. I wouldn't go as far as to say it won't make sense, but I think the story would lose a lot of its power, and the decisions carry through from game to game and it's great to see how they pan out.

[kylina]

Personally, I wouldn't want to play ME2 without having first experienced ME1. I wouldn't go as far as to say it won't make sense, but I think the story would lose a lot of its power, and the decisions carry through from game to game and it's great to see how they pan out.

This. Part of it is the relationship you can build up from your squaddies starting from ME1 and seeing it develop up to ME3. Imo it's the best part of the series.

While ME2 is more action-y than ME1 I can't help but wish I had more options in terms of weapons, amps and armor. They wouldn't let me use a sniper rifle as a vanguard! I love using the sniper rifle no matter the class.

[jim]

This. Part of it is the relationship you can build up from your squaddies starting from ME1 and seeing it develop up to ME3. Imo it's the best part of the series.

While ME2 is more action-y than ME1 I can't help but wish I had more options in terms of weapons, amps and armor. They wouldn't let me use a sniper rifle as a vanguard! I love using the sniper rifle no matter the class.

You do get to unlock an extra weapon class of your choice later on though, IIRC. I'm purposefully avoiding spoilers, but I'm guessing you know what I mean.

[Ceefer]

Personally, I wouldn't want to play ME2 without having first experienced ME1. I wouldn't go as far as to say it won't make sense, but I think the story would lose a lot of its power, and the decisions carry through from game to game and it's great to see how they pan out.

Last night I struggled through the early parts of ME (and this was after giving up in frustration a couple of times over the last week or so) simply because of the comments here. The inventory system I find very user-unfriendly, but I suppose I'll get used to it. I shall persevere! Thanks folks.

[kalniel]

To be honest, it's worth sticking it on easy and just ripping through the combat as fast as you can. The combat is quite tedious compared to the sequels, but story-wise it's a key chapter as it establishes most of the base lore for the rest of the series (by comparison, the main story in ME2 really sucks, but it's worth it for the characters you meet. ME3 goes some way to reconcile the two).

[jim]

To be honest, it's worth sticking it on easy and just ripping through the combat as fast as you can. The combat is quite tedious compared to the sequels, but story-wise it's a key chapter as it establishes most of the base lore for the rest of the series (by comparison, the main story in ME2 really sucks, but it's worth it for the characters you meet. ME3 goes some way to reconcile the two).

Blasphemy!

[kalniel]

Blasphemy!

But it does! It's completely at odds with the rest of the series.

[razer121]

Kalniel......just no o.O im currently on my 6th yes 6th playthrough of the ME series i thought the first was great the system was confusing at first but for like what a few hours of playing? guess im use to it due to my background who knows? either way,

The opening is epic in ME2 and although the story isnt maybe as powerfull as the first it is still by far an amazing story and as for overlord and the shadow broker....just wow

[jim]

But it does! It's completely at odds with the rest of the series.

In terms of the overarching plot, it does seem like a bit of a steeping stone designed to waste our time, but internally I think it had the most gripping storyline.

[kalniel]

In terms of the overarching plot, it does seem like a bit of a steeping stone designed to waste our time, but internally I think it had the most gripping storyline.

I think it's a bad story.. but it's told very well - pacing/gameplay wise especially.

guess im use to it due to my background who knows?

Spacer?