Mass effect 2 Launch and impressions (the REAL One)

[pingwrx]

I just started doing the scanning of planets buying probes kinda sucks what happens if I run out of fuel?

[Ridah]

I just started doing the scanning of planets buying probes kinda sucks what happens if I run out of fuel?

It costs ca$h.

[Sarkus]

I played pretty late last night but tonight I knocked off earlier.  Two minor annoyances that came up this session were 1) being propelled into a mission simply by deciding to respond to a "phone call" and 2) a mission where the environment impacts my shields - like I want to add that gimmick to the fights. 

[metallicorphan]

2 million sold in less than a week
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=233156

it was released in Europe just yesterday(Friday)so that number is sure to rise

[Gratch]

2) a mission where the environment impacts my shields - like I want to add that gimmick to the fights. 

I just started that mission last night.  Not really looking forward to it, since I already suck enough as is.  I am, however, very much looking forward to who I recruit at the end.   

[Greggy_D]

2 million sold in less than a week
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=233156

it was released in Europe just yesterday(Friday)so that number is sure to rise

Wow.    Well done Bioware.

[Barrakketh]

2) a mission where the environment impacts my shields - like I want to add that gimmick to the fights. 

I just started that mission last night.  Not really looking forward to it, since I already suck enough as is.  I am, however, very much looking forward to who I recruit at the end.   

It's actually not too bad. There is plenty of cover in the shade so you aren't losing shields. And yeah, I was very happy to get them on my team.

[Gratch]

2) a mission where the environment impacts my shields - like I want to add that gimmick to the fights. 

I just started that mission last night.  Not really looking forward to it, since I already suck enough as is.  I am, however, very much looking forward to who I recruit at the end.   

It's actually not too bad. There is plenty of cover in the shade so you aren't losing shields. And yeah, I was very happy to get them on my team.

Wait, 'them'?  Thought it was just a 'she'.  Interesting

[Barrakketh]

2) a mission where the environment impacts my shields - like I want to add that gimmick to the fights. 

I just started that mission last night.  Not really looking forward to it, since I already suck enough as is.  I am, however, very much looking forward to who I recruit at the end.   

It's actually not too bad. There is plenty of cover in the shade so you aren't losing shields. And yeah, I was very happy to get them on my team.

Wait, 'them'?  Thought it was just a 'she'.  Interesting

Okay then, "she". I was using a gender-neutral term in case it was considered a spoiler. Perhaps not the best choice as it implies more than one.

Make sure you do her loyalty mission as well if you care at all about her character.

[jztemple2]

I just reached the point where it asked me for the second disc, so I started the mission, saved, and now I'm installing that disc to the hard drive.

While overall I'm enjoying the game, I do see some design weaknesses. Upon reaching a certain point, suddenly I get three dossiers to investigate and two crew want me to do missions for them. If this had been spread out a bit it would have seemed more "natural", but I guess it's okay.

Someday someone will make a game where the mission structure is so subtle that it will seem almost like random events that suddenly coalesce to uncover the grand scheme of things. But then the reviews would trash it because it would make players work too hard 

[jersoc]

you should do all the loyalty missions anyways. you'll find lots of upgrades, plus they get another spell that you can teach yourself. most of them are really well done too

[jztemple2]

you should do all the loyalty missions anyways. you'll find lots of upgrades, plus they get another spell that you can teach yourself. most of them are really well done too

Oh, I'm doing all of them, it's just that the triggering seems a little obvious at times.

Also, who the heck do I have to sleep with to get some more Element Zero? 

[Razgon]

you should do all the loyalty missions anyways. you'll find lots of upgrades, plus they get another spell that you can teach yourself. most of them are really well done too

Spells? :-D

Anyways - agreed, if for nothing else, then for the stories alone - I like them...really really fun!

[Roguetad]

2) a mission where the environment impacts my shields - like I want to add that gimmick to the fights. 

I just started that mission last night.  Not really looking forward to it, since I already suck enough as is.  I am, however, very much looking forward to who I recruit at the end.   

It's actually not too bad. There is plenty of cover in the shade so you aren't losing shields. And yeah, I was very happy to get them on my team.

It's not bad.  Just sprint between shade spots.  They are generous with providing convenient cover spots in the shade.  What I liked was that it pushed the pacing.  It felt more intense to me.  That section has a really cool storm the beach, blow up the bunker feel to it.  One of the more memorable combat set pieces for me.  And the reward at the end?

[DamageInc]

Heh, just had a conversation with Grunt. He was talking about the different amounts of force needed to kill each race with a blade.
Then he made a pun about getting "the point" and he chuckled at his pun. Great stuff.

[rshetts2]

2 million sold in less than a week
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=233156

it was released in Europe just yesterday(Friday)so that number is sure to rise

Wow.    Well done Bioware.

Im thinkin that if there was any doubt that ME3 would get made this has completely stomped it.

[Kevin Grey]

2 million sold in less than a week
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=233156

it was released in Europe just yesterday(Friday)so that number is sure to rise

Wow.    Well done Bioware.

Im thinkin that if there was any doubt that ME3 would get made this has completely stomped it.

I think they confirmed that ME3 is already in production and is targeting end of 2011, early 2012 release. 

[rshetts2]

Yeah I remember reading that somewhere, still many promising games have failed to see the light of day so its nice to see a strong sales opening for ME2. 

[Gryndyl]

One of the load screen tips actually mentions hanging on to your ME2 save game for ME3 so I don't think there's any doubt at all.

[Razgon]

If the two million sales is true, then it beats games like Assasins Creed 2 by a mile, which is pretty crazy, and that was only NA sales as far as I understand. And AC2 does get a sequel, so - yes, this game will continue. Lets just hope we dont get some watered down games set in "the same universe" though... Can anyone imagine an FPS set in Mass effect? Sigh...

;-)

[metallicorphan]

If the two million sales is true, then it beats games like Assasins Creed 2 by a mile, which is pretty crazy, and that was only NA sales as far as I understand. And AC2 does get a sequel, so - yes, this game will continue. Lets just hope we dont get some watered down games set in "the same universe" though... Can anyone imagine an FPS set in Mass effect? Sigh...

;-)

if Bioware wasn't doing the Star Wars MMO,i think Mass Effect could of worked well as one after the main trilogy,they have said that Mass Effect will continue in some form after the trilogy ends

[Nonnahob]

I had the audio in game freeze up on me a couple of times last night during cut scenes. Not sure what was wrong because I could still watch the video clearly, but the audio was gone for a few seconds.

One of them was

Spoiler for Hiden:

when I was choosing between letting Morinth or the Justicar live. I guess Justicar is defaulted, which is fine because that's who I was going to pick anyways... but still kinda frustrating.

Otherwise, I'm finding a million side quests distracting me from the main story... I can't stop playing!!

[Kevin Grey]

If the two million sales is true, then it beats games like Assasins Creed 2 by a mile, which is pretty crazy, and that was only NA sales as far as I understand. And AC2 does get a sequel, so - yes, this game will continue. Lets just hope we dont get some watered down games set in "the same universe" though... Can anyone imagine an FPS set in Mass effect? Sigh...

;-)

Not quite- apples to apples, AC2 did 5 or 6 million shipped to retailers (I forgot the exact number that Ubi's PR announced).  You are thinking of North American NPD numbers for AC2 but those can't be compared to worldwide sold to retailer announcements. 

[KePoW]

If the two million sales is true, then it beats games like Assasins Creed 2 by a mile, which is pretty crazy, and that was only NA sales as far as I understand.

I don't understand... I certainly would have expected ME to sell more than the AC franchise.

[Kevin Grey]

If the two million sales is true, then it beats games like Assasins Creed 2 by a mile, which is pretty crazy, and that was only NA sales as far as I understand.

I don't understand... I certainly would have expected ME to sell more than the AC franchise.

AC is a monster.  AC1 sold at least 3x what ME1 did. 

[TK-421]

I'll admit to an immature giggle when I hear Tricia Helfer's voice telling me "Probe away." 

In my mind I'm responding, "Don't mind if I do."   

[leo8877]

I just went to the Citadel for the first time at 25 hours, that's more than my entire ME1 playthrough was!

[rshetts2]

Even tho Im not a big "shooter" gamer I am really enjoying the game.  I have to agree that if the Star Wars Old Republic MMO wasnt getting made, they could have done a great job with one based on ME.  The one thing that does suprise me, especially as this comes on the heels of DragonsAge, is the lack of intersquad banter.  A little comic relief in the midst of the waves of baddies would have been a nice touch.  Most of the banter seems to be of the generic "nice shot" or "I got that one good" variety. Thats a minor complaint tho, over all ME2 is a blast.    With the recent releases of ME and DAO Bioware has to be feeling pretty good about now.

[Azhag]

Regarding the intersquad banter, I do wish the Bioware teams would pull a couple of these things from one another. Get Mass Effect's graphics and such into Dragon Age and the old banter from DA and Baldur's Gate into ME. That said, I'm loving ME about 15 hours in.

[KePoW]

If the two million sales is true, then it beats games like Assasins Creed 2 by a mile, which is pretty crazy, and that was only NA sales as far as I understand.

I don't understand... I certainly would have expected ME to sell more than the AC franchise.

AC is a monster.  AC1 sold at least 3x what ME1 did. 

It did???  Consider me corrected then, I had no idea.

I thought ME1 was a big hit.

[Thin_J]

I just went to the Citadel for the first time at 25 hours, that's more than my entire ME1 playthrough was!

It was similar for me. I had just crossed 20 or 21 hours, I forget which, before I finally went back to the Citadel. I'm at 29 now and just finished all the crew loyalty missions and did a couple of the ones you find when exploring random worlds.

If the two million sales is true, then it beats games like Assasins Creed 2 by a mile, which is pretty crazy, and that was only NA sales as far as I understand.

I don't understand... I certainly would have expected ME to sell more than the AC franchise.

AC is a monster.  AC1 sold at least 3x what ME1 did. 

It did???  Consider me corrected then, I had no idea.

I thought ME1 was a big hit.

Yeah, Kevin's right. I'm pretty sure I remember the first Assassin's Creed game passing 6 million copies sold.

[Kevin Grey]

I thought ME1 was a big hit.

ME1 did quite well.  AC, however, one of the biggest hits of this generation so almost anything not named Modern Warfare suffers in comparison. 

[MaxSteele]

ME1 sold 2.1 million on the 360.

http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=7635&region=All

I can't find any sales figures for ME1 on the PC.

Assassin's Creed was a multi-console release, selling 3.63M on the PS3 and 4.77M on the 360.  Again, can't find PC numbers.  Console sales alone were over 8 million.

[MaxSteele]

Even tho Im not a big "shooter" gamer I am really enjoying the game.  I have to agree that if the Star Wars Old Republic MMO wasnt getting made, they could have done a great job with one based on ME.  The one thing that does suprise me, especially as this comes on the heels of DragonsAge, is the lack of intersquad banter.  A little comic relief in the midst of the waves of baddies would have been a nice touch.  Most of the banter seems to be of the generic "nice shot" or "I got that one good" variety. Thats a minor complaint tho, over all ME2 is a blast.    With the recent releases of ME and DAO Bioware has to be feeling pretty good about now.

I have to say I'm getting tired of the "Gravity is one mean bitch!" quote....  heh

[Barrakketh]

If you get any fish for your fish tank, make sure you go back and feed them. I didn't. 

Now I worry my space hamster needs to be fed as well, but I don't see any option.

[MaxSteele]

If you get any fish for your fish tank, make sure you go back and feed them. I didn't. 

Now I worry my space hamster needs to be fed as well, but I don't see any option.

Ah yes, the space hamster.  Couldn't they have recorded the sound of a hamster, instead of having an intern say "Squeak!" into a mic and speeding it up Chimpmunk-style?

[Destructor]

Ah yes, the space hamster.  Couldn't they have recorded the sound of a hamster, instead of having an intern say "Squeak!" into a mic and speeding it up Chimpmunk-style?

I keep poking at him in hope that he'll suddenly say his real name - Boo.

[leo8877]

Well I'm now 26 hours in and I'm having a blast.  I've recruited everyone and done all but 1 loyalty mission.  I'm playing as an Engineer and the playstyle has been really cool.  Being able to add a bonus power is great and I've even found something to allow me to train another weapon, which is even better.  I've even been switching my teammates up and that's been interesting.  Some of the set pieces are really cool and it's neat to see them go there, after playing ME1.  I hope there's still a fair amount of stuff left, but I fear I am on the tail end now.

I wish there was more element zero though, I have 50k+ of everything else, but barely 2-3k of element zero at any given time.

[MaxSteele]

Well I'm now 26 hours in and I'm having a blast.  I've recruited everyone and done all but 1 loyalty mission.  I'm playing as an Engineer and the playstyle has been really cool.  Being able to add a bonus power is great and I've even found something to allow me to train another weapon, which is even better.  I've even been switching my teammates up and that's been interesting.  Some of the set pieces are really cool and it's neat to see them go there, after playing ME1.  I hope there's still a fair amount of stuff left, but I fear I am on the tail end now.

I wish there was more element zero though, I have 50k+ of everything else, but barely 2-3k of element zero at any given time.

Oooh a way to train another weapon?  Excellent!  My dream of having an engineer with a sniper rifle can come true!

[leo8877]

Well I'm now 26 hours in and I'm having a blast.  I've recruited everyone and done all but 1 loyalty mission.  I'm playing as an Engineer and the playstyle has been really cool.  Being able to add a bonus power is great and I've even found something to allow me to train another weapon, which is even better.  I've even been switching my teammates up and that's been interesting.  Some of the set pieces are really cool and it's neat to see them go there, after playing ME1.  I hope there's still a fair amount of stuff left, but I fear I am on the tail end now.

I wish there was more element zero though, I have 50k+ of everything else, but barely 2-3k of element zero at any given time.

Oooh a way to train another weapon?  Excellent!  My dream of having an engineer with a sniper rifle can come true!

Yes sir, I am an engineer with Assault Rifles!