The Official Mass Effect Thread.......

[Loco]

Right, just got this for the 360 and I've played so far up until the point that we land on the first planet and begin the first mission ( pretty much the tutorial thingy ).

So far, I've tried to read up on all the responses via the dialogue consoles, is there anything I should really keep an eye on as far as "not missing" within the dialogue boxes etc?.

Gotta say, I bought this game on a "whim" after reading about it and so far, even though I'm barely just scratching the surface of it, I'm really enjoying it. 8-)

[Pinecone]

Lucky you; l have to wait till March to play it (PC version, that is).

[Fenris Wolf]

Make sure after every story line mission you talk to everyone on your ship. Towards the end it starts to really become a chore, but alot of times I was able to just sit there and enjoy the whole thing. Also, you gotta play your cards right to decide which one of the ladies you get to be with. I was trying to nail both, but unfortunately that didn't work out.

As far as what dialouge options...the upper left are usually the "good guy" ones and the lower left are usually the "tough guy" ones. Some of them are more effective at getting information, and you pretty much have to take a wild-ass guess on which it'll be. I played through mostly as a good guy last time, so I'm being a total prick this time around. And my intimidate and charm skills are maxed out, so I always have those options. And don't forget to do every single little side mission that you possibly can before moving on to the next story line missions. The story missions are typically pretty long with the side ones being relatively short, but you need to boost your expierence as fast as possible to be able to really take on some of those later missions. And you'll still probably have to turn the stupid aim-assist on to finally beat the game.

Wait until you get access to the specter weapons. Those are fantastic. They're especially wonderful at the beginning of the game the next time you play through it.

What class did you choose to play as?

[blackguy32]

mass effect is hilarious only for the fact that halfway through the game, you will be an unstoppable killing machine with pretty much unlimited credits. After you get the spectre weapons, you are pretty much playing the game on easy mode.

[DarkPenfold]

mass effect is hilarious only for the fact that halfway through the game, you will be an unstoppable killing machine with pretty much unlimited credits. After you get the spectre weapons, you are pretty much playing the game on easy mode.

If you're playing on Easy or Normal, yes.
Not so much on Hardcore or Insanity mode, especially if you're a combat specialist. Bad guys are your level plus 5-20 more, depending on their rank. (On Easy/Normal, they're either the same as, or below, your current level.)

[Ska Wars]

Wait until you get access to the specter weapons. Those are fantastic. They're especially wonderful at the beginning of the game the next time you play through it.

If you replay it do you get to keep your weapons then?

I just created a new character, but wishing I hadn't if thats the case.

[DarkPenfold]

When you clock the game, you're given the option to replay with all squad characters at the level they were at when you finished the first time, complete with weapons, mods and armour. Just go to your previous character profile after selecting "New Game".

The downside is that you keep your specialisation from the previous playthrough - so if you're an achievement whore like myself, you can't switch from being a level 50 Soldier to a level 50 Biotic Specialist in order to get the ability achievements. You do get to keep all your charm/intimidate points though, so if you're playing through as a Renegade having finished a playthrough as a Paragon, you can still defuse some situations through diplomacy if you haven't been able to put enough points into being a mean-hearted bastard before that point.


On my second playthrough, I somehow managed to wind up having sex with the Asari Consort through random dialogue choices. (As they say over at Three Panel Soul, it's "the only game I've ever played where you can have lesbian sex without meaning to".)


All in all though, Mass Effect is one of the best games I've played in a long time, and another reason why 2007 will be remembered as one of the best years in gaming history.
The only two things I take issue with are the terrible texture popup issues due to the lack of hard-drive support when at least 90% of the people seriously into gaming enough to buy Mass Effect will own a 20Gb HDD or better, and the quite frankly idiotic team-mate AI. They always seem to want to use the same piece of cover that you're currently leaning out from, usually taking up position just in time to force you out into the enemy's line of fire - and no matter how many times you tell them to stay back in a dark corner far away from the fighting, as soon as shots are fired they come running like excited little puppy-dogs.

Usually just in time to stand right between you and the person you're firing at.
Whilst you're using a shotgun loaded with high-explosive ammunition.

[Penguin]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/article ... ass-Effect

[Fenris Wolf]

Also, if you chose to create new characters after each play through, whatever weapon achievements you get (usually the 150 kills with specific weapon) carry over to your new class and allow you to open up that weapons abilities. I'd really love to use a shotgun or assault rifle, but I went with the recon and am pretty much a pistolero.

[Burris]

Just finished the DLC. Some definite setups for ME2. Hopefully a new DLC comes out before then to elaborate more.