Mass effect 2 Launch and impressions (the REAL One)

[DamageInc]

For Arkon:

A few questions: 

- Did anyone find a use for the fake ID that you can take from Harkin's office?

Spoiler for Hiden:

There is an Asari sitting on a bench on floor 27 of the Citadel in the back section near the stairs to level 26. If you have a high enough Paragon you can get the "Blue" option at customs to avoid the Renegade option, which is giving her the pass

[The Grue]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

[Sarkus]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Hmmm . . .

Spoiler for Hiden:

Legion should work, he worked for me in that role, if by "hack" you mean the vents entry.  If they are loyal either Tali or Legion should survive.

 

[TiLT]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I used Legion as well and didn't lose a single team member. Was he loyal at the time? This is important.

[Razgon]

Same as Tit said, worked like a charm for me.

I went back and redid part of the final mission, and managed to get through without using any crewmembers. Interestingly enough, the GF sat watching the entire sequence, and actually found it quite interesting to watch, even though she didnt know anything. Its quite the cinamtic experience, the ending.

Man, I love this game! Anyone know when I can play ME3?! ;-)

[The Grue]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I used Legion as well and didn't lose a single team member. Was he loyal at the time? This is important.

Yes, he was.

Spoiler for Hiden:

He died when the doors got jamed and wouldn't close on time.  I had picked him to be the hacker while I did the vents section.

[TiLT]

Btw, I think Mass Effect 2's greatest cinematic achievement is the fact that it uses the Wilhelm Scream, and within the first few minutes of the game as well!   (the first game uses the scream in the opening mission too, for the record)

[CeeKay]

Same as Tit said, worked like a charm for me.

typos are funny.

[Kevin Grey]

There must be something wrong with me. I'm halfway through I guess and I'm just not really motivated to go on. The game is ok, but I'm not finding the story line to be as enticing as some of you do. I never did finished ME1 either.

Surprisingly, I'm in the same boat.  ME1 is one of my favorite games of the generation but for whatever reason this one isn't doing it for me.  Hard to pin down why so I think I'm going to shelve it for a time and come back to it sometime down the line when maybe I'll be in the mood for it.  

One thing I clearly don't like is the story setup though- basically there is no story IMO.  To use an analogy it feels more like a short anthology than a novel (and I far prefer the latter).  

[Roguetad]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I used Legion as well and didn't lose a single team member. Was he loyal at the time? This is important.

Yes, he was.

Spoiler for Hiden:

He died when the doors got jamed and wouldn't close on time.  I had picked him to be the hacker while I did the vents section.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I've read that Tali or Legion dying at the door as the tunnel/tech choice could be a result of:
- Your choice of the 2nd team leader
- The time you took moving from vent shutoff to vent shutoff completing that section

Just curious, who did you pick as your team leads?

[Barrakketh]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I used Legion as well and didn't lose a single team member. Was he loyal at the time? This is important.

Yes, he was.

Spoiler for Hiden:

He died when the doors got jamed and wouldn't close on time.  I had picked him to be the hacker while I did the vents section.

Spoiler for Hiden:

There are multiple ways for the vent specialist to die - i) be anyone other than Tali or Legion, ii) be Tali or Legion but not loyal iii) the fireteam leader is not Miranda, Jacob or Garrus, iv) the fireteam leader is one of those three mentioned, but not loyal. There is a clue in the cutscene right before as well, If the team leader calls for "covering fire", your vent specialist is about to die. If they call for "suppressing fire", your vent specialist should live. I noticed this while watching a few different people's playthroughs posted to Youtube.

Who did you use to lead the fireteam when Legion was in the vent?

[CeeKay]

One thing I clearly don't like is the story setup though- basically there is no story IMO.  To use an analogy it feels more like a short anthology than a novel (and I far prefer the latter).  

that's a good way to put it.  this outing just doesn't have any sections that feel epic like the first game.  granted I'm not done yet but I have the squad all gathered except for one and I have yet to encounter anything as large as Feros, Virimire or Noveria.

I've been going across the galaxy looking for anomalies and I have to say some of them are odd.  one had me flip 3 switches while toggling a 4th to cycle between them.  that's it.  maybe there was a puzzle and I just got it on the first try but it felt like filler, and not even good filler.  another had me activating a mech and then replacing it's power cell by finding one lying on the ground every so often.  other than shooting a couple of varren that was it.  I kept expecting some twist but it never came.

[Razgon]

The end is...epic, as is some of the loyalty missions. Mordins mission is very very nice...

[The Grue]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I used Legion as well and didn't lose a single team member. Was he loyal at the time? This is important.

Yes, he was.

Spoiler for Hiden:

He died when the doors got jamed and wouldn't close on time.  I had picked him to be the hacker while I did the vents section.

Spoiler for Hiden:

There are multiple ways for the vent specialist to die - i) be anyone other than Tali or Legion, ii) be Tali or Legion but not loyal iii) the fireteam leader is not Miranda, Jacob or Garrus, iv) the fireteam leader is one of those three mentioned, but not loyal. There is a clue in the cutscene right before as well, If the team leader calls for "covering fire", your vent specialist is about to die. If they call for "suppressing fire", your vent specialist should live. I noticed this while watching a few different people's playthroughs posted to Youtube.

Who did you use to lead the fireteam when Legion was in the vent?

Spoiler for Hiden:

Samara  I figured she was such a badass and old and wise she would be a good leader.

[TiLT]

One thing I clearly don't like is the story setup though- basically there is no story IMO.  To use an analogy it feels more like a short anthology than a novel (and I far prefer the latter).  

that's a good way to put it.  this outing just doesn't have any sections that feel epic like the first game.  granted I'm not done yet but I have the squad all gathered except for one and I have yet to encounter anything as large as Feros, Virimire or Noveria.

I've been going across the galaxy looking for anomalies and I have to say some of them are odd.  one had me flip 3 switches while toggling a 4th to cycle between them.  that's it.  maybe there was a puzzle and I just got it on the first try but it felt like filler, and not even good filler.  another had me activating a mech and then replacing it's power cell by finding one lying on the ground every so often.  other than shooting a couple of varren that was it.  I kept expecting some twist but it never came.

Don't worry. Bioware has become very good at giving real and proper attention to the endings in their games, unlike most other companies. The final mission in ME2 is really epic (although not in length) and satisfying. The game ends on an awesome note.

[denoginizer]

One thing I clearly don't like is the story setup though- basically there is no story IMO.  To use an analogy it feels more like a short anthology than a novel (and I far prefer the latter).  

that's a good way to put it.  this outing just doesn't have any sections that feel epic like the first game.  granted I'm not done yet but I have the squad all gathered except for one and I have yet to encounter anything as large as Feros, Virimire or Noveria.

I think I liked it because it does feel like a series of small, relatively unrelated stories that kind of built up to the main quest at the end.  Each story could be played through in less than an hour and had a payoff.  I found the end mission to be pretty generic and anticlimactic.  If I would have played 20 hours just for that payoff I would have been disappointed.  But all of the small character stories are what made the game great in my view.

[jersoc]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I used Legion as well and didn't lose a single team member. Was he loyal at the time? This is important.

Yes, he was.

Spoiler for Hiden:

He died when the doors got jamed and wouldn't close on time.  I had picked him to be the hacker while I did the vents section.

Spoiler for Hiden:

There are multiple ways for the vent specialist to die - i) be anyone other than Tali or Legion, ii) be Tali or Legion but not loyal iii) the fireteam leader is not Miranda, Jacob or Garrus, iv) the fireteam leader is one of those three mentioned, but not loyal. There is a clue in the cutscene right before as well, If the team leader calls for "covering fire", your vent specialist is about to die. If they call for "suppressing fire", your vent specialist should live. I noticed this while watching a few different people's playthroughs posted to Youtube.

Who did you use to lead the fireteam when Legion was in the vent?

Spoiler for Hiden:

Samara  I figured she was such a badass and old and wise she would be a good leader.

what? she like hammers it home she has worked alone for centuries.

[The Grue]

Beat it tonight and lost one stinking crew member.  I guess there is a perfect choice on who you choose for the options to do things or something because in my opinion, the character I chose for a particular task should have lived (

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose Legion to hack, when I guess I was supposed to take Tali, but either should have been a wise choice

).

At any rate, I loved the game and I think the Mass Effect series now tops the Baldur's Gate series as my favorite RPG of all time.  Will be interesting to see how all my choices play out in the third.

Spoiler for Hiden:

I used Legion as well and didn't lose a single team member. Was he loyal at the time? This is important.

Yes, he was.

Spoiler for Hiden:

He died when the doors got jamed and wouldn't close on time.  I had picked him to be the hacker while I did the vents section.

Spoiler for Hiden:

There are multiple ways for the vent specialist to die - i) be anyone other than Tali or Legion, ii) be Tali or Legion but not loyal iii) the fireteam leader is not Miranda, Jacob or Garrus, iv) the fireteam leader is one of those three mentioned, but not loyal. There is a clue in the cutscene right before as well, If the team leader calls for "covering fire", your vent specialist is about to die. If they call for "suppressing fire", your vent specialist should live. I noticed this while watching a few different people's playthroughs posted to Youtube.

Who did you use to lead the fireteam when Legion was in the vent?

Spoiler for Hiden:

Samara  I figured she was such a badass and old and wise she would be a good leader.

what? she like hammers it home she has worked alone for centuries.

Yeah, but te description talks about her being wise.  I didn't want to go with the obvious couple of choices and thought she would be a good fit.

[TiLT]

Yeah, but te description talks about her being wise.  I didn't want to go with the obvious couple of choices and thought she would be a good fit.

Spoiler for Hiden:

Wisdom has nothing to do with leadership. A suicide mission where the galaxy hangs in the balance shouldn't be a situation in which you take chances with your people. You go for the obvious choices, the ones who you are sure can get the job done. You only take chances if you have no other choice. That's an order!

[The Grue]

Yeah, but te description talks about her being wise.  I didn't want to go with the obvious couple of choices and thought she would be a good fit.

Spoiler for Hiden:

Wisdom has nothing to do with leadership. A suicide mission where the galaxy hangs in the balance shouldn't be a situation in which you take chances with your people. You go for the obvious choices, the ones who you are sure can get the job done. You only take chances if you have no other choice. That's an order!

Spoiler for Hiden:

Yes, sir!

[Daehawk]

Two free DLCs tomorrow

Cerberus Armor and a Eviscerator Shotgun

Tomorrow Mass Effect 2 fans will be able to get the new Cerberus Assault Armor and M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun DLC for free through the Cerberus network. The DLC should be available on both the PC and Xbox 360 at 12:00 PM Mountain Standard Time.

Cerberus Assault Armor

    * Cerberus assault armor is designed for shock troops, turn the tide of battle against creatures or
    * forces that would decimate normal soldiers.
    * Increases heavy weapon ammo capacity by +10%
    * Increases shields by +10%
    * Increases health by +10%

M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun
The M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun is a longer-range shotgun with armor-piercing loads. This design also violates several intergalactic weapons treaties, so the M-22a is not distributed to militaries.

[CeeKay]

Barring anything coming up at the last minute I should be hitting the endgame tonight. I guess it's time to break some hearts.

[Nonnahob]

Ooo, new shotgun just in time for my 2nd playthrough. Looking forward to trying maybe a Vanguard class this time.

[Daehawk]

Ooo, new shotgun just in time for my 2nd playthrough. Looking forward to trying maybe a Vanguard class this time.

I've just started..on that first space station. Im looking forward to the shotgun. the one I have is so bad unless you are right on them. this should rock.

[CeeKay]

I haven't been a big fan of the shotgun in either ME. I always think of them as a close quarters weapon but none of the levels outside the mini bases in ME1 seem right for them. 

[leo8877]

I thought this was pretty funny

[CeeKay]

Hive-Prince Xyvrox Requests Your Aid 

[TiLT]

I haven't been a big fan of the shotgun in either ME. I always think of them as a close quarters weapon but none of the levels outside the mini bases in ME1 seem right for them. 

I used a shotgun (as a soldier) for my second playthrough of ME1, and I could just waltz through pretty much any enemy in the game. I one-shotted most of them by the end, except the mini-boss types. Even at a distance it was incredibly powerful, though inaccurate.

[jersoc]

lol a shotgun. by far the shittiest guns in the entire game.

armor looks alright, won't wear it unless i can take the helm off. srsly bioware, there's a reason most games let you turn off helm graphics. because all games make shitty looking helms.

[Razgon]

yeah, not like in Reallife(tm) where helmets are Da bomb and looks cool...

[CeeKay]

lol a shotgun. by far the shittiest guns in the entire game.

I gave one a spin on the IFF mission tonight and wasn't too impressed.  the new one in the pics looks that Daehwak linked off of VE3D make it look like a glorified super soaker 

[jersoc]

yeah, not like in Reallife(tm) where helmets are Da bomb and looks cool...

not sure what your point is exactly with this. if you think artists should get a free pass because helms in real life look shitty you're dellusional.

[CeeKay]

some final dev diaries.  it's kinda hard to believe it's all over and now we begin the wait for ME3....

[CeeKay]

I just found out, FemShep can hook up with Tali!

[Beer Goggles]

A shotgun rebalance mod.

[Roguetad]

I just found out, FemShep can hook up with Tali!

Spoiler for Hiden:

During my 1st playthrough I was looking forward to seeing her face more than destroying the collectors, so when they pulled away during the mask reveal I let out a nerdrage yell of frustration, NooOOoooOOoo!  With fully fueled nerdrage, I brought hell upon the pitiful collectors, sorry bastards.

   

[The Grue]

I just found out, FemShep can hook up with Tali!

I wonder how you make this happen, because it wasn't an option for me.

Edit - After watching this, I guess it is a PC user who modded it.

[CeeKay]

I just found out, FemShep can hook up with Tali!

I wonder how you make this happen, because it wasn't an option for me.

Edit - After watching this, I guess it is a PC user who modded it.

yeah, they just through the female skin onto their male character.  it's hilarious when femshep first speaks.

[Razgon]

Not sure if it belongs here, but wanted to make you all jealous... My gf turned on the Xbox last night, booted up her own profile and started Mass Effect 2...she then asked if she should play the first one first, or if she should go ahead and play this one, since she thought my playthrough seemed very interested :-D Man, I have the bestest GF ;-)

[rickfc]

Not sure if it belongs here, but wanted to make you all jealous... My gf turned on the Xbox last night, booted up her own profile and started Mass Effect 2...she then asked if she should play the first one first, or if she should go ahead and play this one, since she thought my playthrough seemed very interested :-D Man, I have the bestest GF ;-)

Nice!   

My wife just comes up to the media room with me and reads her Kindle.  She'll look up from time to time and mention how this and that is cool.  If it's not SNES, she doesn't really want to play.  She can't adjust to 3-D games very well.  Oh well.

I had forgotten that for some stupid reason, when I played through ME2, I played without importing my ME1 save, so instead of starting a new playthrough with the ME2 save, I just restarted with the ME1 save.  I guess I'll have to play it through a third time now in order for my decisions from 1 and 2 to carry over to 3.  I've already noticed several little nuances and nods to ME1 that weren't there my first playthrough.

Rick