Mass Effect 2

[Skyblade]

It is different, but it works out so far.

Although there are fewer weapon choices to make, you do still get to upgrade weapons as you go. One of the other new large parts of the game is a research system. As you collect minerals (from both unexplored planets and from caches during missions), you can use them to research new upgrades. You can research upgrades for particular weapons (and buy a couple of the upgrades outright from the shop). These upgrades affect an entire item category, like +10% damage to Sniper Rifles. While an increase in damage is the simplest type, it is not the only type. As you unlock enough boosts, you'll get more advanced research, like an increase in armor penetration or an increase to headshot damage while using Sniper Rifles.

You can also research upgrades to unlock new heavy weapons, or to increase particular characters attributes (for example, there is a research to upgrade the Tech Damage of a particular character by 10%).

And, not to be forgotten, you can upgrade the Normandy's systems. As you are searching to fight a more technologically adept foe, your ship needs some enhancement as well. You will need to upgrade the ship's armor, weapons, and shields to have a better chance of survival. Other ship upgrades offer more directly useful enhancements, such as cutting the time it takes to search out new minerals and missions on planets, or increasing fuel you can carry, which will increase the distance you can travel from refueling bases on the galaxy map (and, thus, the planets you can visit).



Oh, and Moon Rabbits, the Mako is gone. There is a drop ship which will drop you at points to start ground missions on unexplored planets, but the exploration and fighting is done on foot. Although according to the wiki, there is a Hover Tank availible for DLC, I have not yet encountered it (I haven't done the DLC missions yet). But it is not required.

[DK]

Tomorrow... :hux:

Had my copy for a while now, love having a game store owner who doesn't give a smurf about release dates.

[JKTrix]

The Mako is still around, you just don't use it (just did a mission where I saw it :P).

Aside from the two starting humans, the rest of the characters are bloody awesome. Zaeed (downloadable character) is basically Clint Eastwood, Mordin has some excellent lines (and talks like Captain Kirk), and Archangel is just slick.

I'm kind of disappointed to find out that the 'bonus' from playing the iPhone game is just some extra dialogue between the two characters involved. Want my $2 back.

'Nother part of the RPG 'downgrade' is in your actual stats. It seems everyone has only 5 abilities to upgrade. Much like the inventory system though, compared to the first game each single upgrade makes a big difference compared to adding individual points.

The ability combinations are pretty sweet too. They did it in Dragon Age as well, if you combine certain techniques they are more powerful. I froze a guy while he was suspended in mid-air, and when he fell he shattered to pieces. I actually defeated the krogan Garm while defending Archangel by freezing him after his protection was down (with full health) and shooting him to shatter him. Great stuff.

[Madame Adequate]

Everything sounds so sweet, I cannot wait. On that note,

Tomorrow... :hux:

Had my copy for a while now, love having a game store owner who doesn't give a smurf about release dates.

You are a bastard who does not deserve to live

[Ouch!]

So far the thing that's standing out the most to me is the way that conversations have drifted away from the static face-to-face interaction from the first game. A majority of conversations now involve more dynamic and cinematic elements. Characters are more frequently interacting with their environment and with each other. It's wonderful.

[NorthernChaosGod]

The ability combinations are pretty sweet too. They did it in Dragon Age as well, if you combine certain techniques they are more powerful. I froze a guy while he was suspended in mid-air, and when he fell he shattered to pieces. I actually defeated the krogan Garm while defending Archangel by freezing him after his protection was down (with full health) and shooting him to shatter him. Great stuff.

This sounds hella sweet.

[DK]

Am I the only one who Finds Jacob's disturbing facial similarity to Kanye West distracting?

[JKTrix]

You are not.

I'm finding Jacob and Miranda to be the least interesting so far. Archangel, Zaeed and Mordin are all muuuuch more interesting.

Weird thing just happened. I got to the citadel, and there's a store owner that says "IrraSHAYMAAAASU", pronouncing a Japanese greeting incorrectly. I played a little bit of No More Heroes 2 earlier (released the same day), and there's another store owner who also pronounces "Irrashaimase" incorrectly. I thought it was funny.

[Mogi]

I want this game so bad, but I have no money!
>.<

[Shiny]

I want this game sooo bad, but I didn't even get the first Mass Effect yet.

[JKTrix]

I just had my first "Holy Effin' Plot, Batman!" moment when I figured out who Aria (the Asari 'Queen' of Omega) was. The other links to the minor plot elements of the first game have been cute, like news reports and such, but this is the first one that kind of blew my mind with how it was presented.

You really have to go digging for it too. Colour me impressed.

[Moon Rabbits]

Can man Shepard still not sex "asexual but very male looking" aliens?

[Skyblade]

The announcement of Francis Kitt's all-Elcor production of Hamlet remains one of the funniest moments in any videogame ever.

Oh, yeah, and Francis Kitt's Elcor performance of Hamlet was an award winner that is now availible at home, or in a 14 hour live performance. Watch the advertisements on the Citadel.

And the poor sap from the citadel wards markets who was trying to get a refund is still trying, after two years.

[Madame Adequate]

I got this yesterday, only to discover that because I have a new 360 my old ME1 file was just plain doggone absent I burned through it on Easy in a few hours and started on 2, which I've now played for a little bit.

Mostly my reaction is "Holy smurf this is awesome". Combat is mostly improved. Conversations are better and it's nice to be able to interrupt properly sometimes, and it's definitely good to see people interact more with each other and their environments. The characters are even better than they were in the first one.

I have three gripes, though. One: Why the hell do I have ammo? I don't mind it as a mechanic but it doesn't add up. It would make sense to be able to swap a hot gun barrel but that should be an alternative option, probably one which you specifically have to adapt the gun for. Two: I do miss how customization and inventory worked. I really miss armor and I don't like how I can't bloody well see which guns do what in stat terms. Yes, the old inventory screen was clunky as hell, but that was an interface issue much more than a mechanics one. Three: Skills feel in short supply. I miss how I could put points into so many different things. Now it really just feels lame and like it doesn't have much effect. Class choice is far more important than choices made within that class, at least so far.

However none of these complaints are seriously damaging my enjoyment of the game. My grenade launcher is beautiful, I can actually use melee when it is convenient for me (haha I punched out a Krogan), and it's really hard for me to stay in-character as an alien-hating xenophobic Human supremacist with so many completely smurfing awesome alien characters around.

PS: Oh and I hope I can totally screw Dr. Chakwas finally.

PPS: I can't wait to play through both and do things differently to see the consequences.

PPPS: Asari x Hanar porn lol

[Captain Maxx Power]

Am I the only one who Finds Jacob's disturbing facial similarity to Kanye West distracting?

Commander Shepard doesn't care about black aliens.

Right now I'm at the very last mission. Will post my thoughts on the whole game when I've done it right, (SPOILER)i.e. without any of my ship mates dying. I will reload until I get it done.