Mass Effect 2

[Reverend]

Yeah, I have to say I was disappointed at the romance options for femShep. I mean come on, she's willing to do it with a fish-frog and a bird-lobster but not Tali? Plus I was surprised Jack wasn't into the "girl's club", you'd think if any character had a lack of personal boundaries, it'd be her.

Also, I think they missed out on some comedy gold by not having a Joker romance option.

 

[Angel4576]

Looks like I took the middle road.

Lost half of the crew, including Kelli. Then Thane took one to the head when we were closing the doors, Tali succumbed to the swarm and got carried away, Zaeed took one to the chest when leading the 2nd fireteam, and finally Miranda died during the final bit.

Not particularly happy with that ending so I'll be redoing the final mission again tonight to ensure that both Tali and Miranda survive.

Awesome, awesome game.

 

[Mr Light]

Oh yeah that reminds me, I finally got my first sex scene. I didn't get it in ME1 because I was FemShep and I let the guy get killed. I was surprised all you see is the guy taking off his shirt and that's it. What the hell was all the controversy about back when ME1 did it? Did they show more in that game?

 

[ATimson]

What the hell was all the controversy about back when ME1 did it? Did they show more in that game?

Yes. Nothing R-rated, but... about as close as you could get without pushing you over, IIRC.

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

For anyone considering starting ME2 without a ME1 save, don't do it. There's tons of stuff you miss out on if you don't carry over the save file. If you're like me and you played ME1 on the console because of the retarded securerom crap on the PC version, but are now playing ME2 on the PC there's a way you can kind of carry over your character. Just find a completed playthrough that most resembles your ME1 playthrough from here http://www.masseffectsaves.com/ They have lots of different playthroughs to choose from. I found one that had almost all the same choices that I did. After that, start a new ME2 game using the downloaded save file. Once the game starts you'll get a chance to change your face so don't worry about what the downloaded Shepard looks like. After you get your first save you can download the save file editor from that same site and edit the name to match whatever your characters name was in ME1. Viola, you've now got a carried over character from ME1.

My first play through of ME2 didn't do this and there were areas that were notably empty or NPC's that were conspicuously non-talkative. If you carry over your save they'll all have stuff to say or mini-missions to do, and areas will be more populated with people related to the first game. Most of the conversation boils down to "remember me? thanks, you're awesome, this is how we're doing" but there's some other stuff that's more interesting. (I imagine if you were a renegade the responses would have been less nice.) I wish I had known about this option before starting ME2. Even if you're playing ME2 without ever playing ME1, it might be worth the time to download a save file that at least matches your alignment, so you don't end up with mostly random past events.

I actually played a little ME1 in contemplation of creating a new save for ME2, and man they really improved the combat. I forgot how clunky the fighting was in ME1. The Mako was actually fun, if they had just not overdone it, I wouldn't have minded a return in ME2. I'm glad they got rid of grenades, they were pretty worthless. Overall ME2 is a pretty good improvement over the first game, at least gameplay wise.

 

[Base_Delta_Zero]

So, I finished my Complete Renegade FemShep ME1 (Spacer/Ruthless) carryover and I'm about 3/4 through my Complete Paragon ManShep ME1 (Colonist/Survivor) carryover. The only other carryover I have left is a ManShep (Earthborn/War Hero) who chose the neutral/gray road on every choice he could, and flipped a coin when forced to be really nice or really dickish.

The question is, will the neutral choices make any difference in ME2 or are they slotted Renegade/Paragon at game start?

Also, I never killed Wrex in my three complete ME1 playthroughs because he was so cool. Is there a significant (and interesting) difference to the Tuchanka missions if I had? I assume WorfKrogan is the clan leader, but are the missions any different?

I really don't want to start a new ME1 anytime soon just to find out.

 

[Ryan]

Plus I was surprised Jack wasn't into the "girl's club", you'd think if any character had a lack of personal boundaries, it'd be her.

Especially since she mentions sleeping with women.

I agree with the dialog where Shep says she's fascinating. On one hand Jack's this horribly broken woman who was tortured into being something she never asked to be. On the other she's a murderous psychopath whose relationship with paragon Shep can only really end with one of them being dead; it's only a matter of time before Jack gets up to something Shep will have to end permanently.

 

[Ryan]

Just find a completed playthrough that most resembles your ME1 playthrough from here http://www.masseffectsaves.com/ They have lots of different playthroughs to choose from.

Awesome! I was hoping someone would release a save game creator but this is just about as good.

 

[firehawk12]

That actually makes no sense... since you have no control on who gets left behind to "hold the line". Unless they want you to take the weakest characters with you into the final boss battle, which makes no sense either (If anything, the "weaker" characters would be killed against the boss).

Er, you have complete control over who gets left to hold the line because who is left is based on decisions you have already made. If you chose poorly earlier on, then people who you'd need to have everyone survive may be gone... and that is a consequence of your own actions. It's not random.

Further, they're not talking about characters being "weaker", but not performing as great in a defensive situation, which is pretty different from an offensive one.

I just feel like they don't make that explicit at all. At the very least, given that they "menu" all the other choices, you should be able to say "Garrus, take point on the defense. Mordin, since you're just a meatbag waiting to explode, hide behind that rock."

Similarly, I have no idea what conditions define the success of the "crew escort" mission other than loyalty.

For anyone considering starting ME2 without a ME1 save, don't do it. There's tons of stuff you miss out on if you don't carry over the save file. If you're like me and you played ME1 on the console because of the retarded securerom crap on the PC version, but are now playing ME2 on the PC there's a way you can kind of carry over your character. Just find a completed playthrough that most resembles your ME1 playthrough from here http://www.masseffectsaves.com/ They have lots of different playthroughs to choose from. I found one that had almost all the same choices that I did. After that, start a new ME2 game using the downloaded save file. Once the game starts you'll get a chance to change your face so don't worry about what the downloaded Shepard looks like. After you get your first save you can download the save file editor from that same site and edit the name to match whatever your characters name was in ME1. Viola, you've now got a carried over character from ME1.

Thing is, in ME1, a Renegade playthrough basically ends with you killing everyone - so there's almost no one around to talk about what you did in the first game anyway.

Plus I was surprised Jack wasn't into the "girl's club", you'd think if any character had a lack of personal boundaries, it'd be her.

Especially since she mentions sleeping with women.

I agree with the dialog where Shep says she's fascinating. On one hand Jack's this horribly broken woman who was tortured into being something she never asked to be. On the other she's a murderous psychopath whose relationship with paragon Shep can only really end with one of them being dead; it's only a matter of time before Jack gets up to something Shep will have to end permanently.

There are no gay people in the future (except in the novels).

Just find a completed playthrough that most resembles your ME1 playthrough from here http://www.masseffectsaves.com/ They have lots of different playthroughs to choose from.

Awesome! I was hoping someone would release a save game creator but this is just about as good.

I really do hope that BioWare sells a save tool for ME3. I mean, I'd wish it was free, but I understand you have to monetize this extra stuff nowadays.

 

[TheGodBen]

Oh yeah that reminds me, I finally got my first sex scene. I didn't get it in ME1 because I was FemShep and I let the guy get killed. I was surprised all you see is the guy taking off his shirt and that's it. What the hell was all the controversy about back when ME1 did it? Did they show more in that game?

In ME1 the characters were completely naked and there was several shots of bare ass. Also, there was what appeared to be lesbianism since all Asari are female. Here's the lesbian vid if you want to see it.

Frankly, it was thrown out of proportion by the media because many in that industry still think that games are only for kids and the inclusion of a romantic, character-driven sex scene is deemed dangerous somehow, especially if it involved homosexual activity. ME2's sex scenes were noticeably toned down, possibly because of the controversy with the first game.

Also, I never killed Wrex in my three complete ME1 playthroughs because he was so cool. Is there a significant (and interesting) difference to the Tuchanka missions if I had? I assume WorfKrogan is the clan leader, but are the missions any different?

I really don't want to start a new ME1 anytime soon just to find out.

The missions play out exactly the same, the difference is that Wrex's brood-brother is now the leader of clan Urdnot and he's a traditionalist. It's not a big difference gameplaywise, but whether Wrex lives of dies does change the political landscape of Tuchanka and potentially affect the future of the Krogan people.

 

[firehawk12]

Oh yeah that reminds me, I finally got my first sex scene. I didn't get it in ME1 because I was FemShep and I let the guy get killed. I was surprised all you see is the guy taking off his shirt and that's it. What the hell was all the controversy about back when ME1 did it? Did they show more in that game?

In ME1 the characters were completely naked and there was several shots of bare ass. Also, there was what appeared to be lesbianism since all Asari are female. Here's the lesbian vid if you want to see it.

Frankly, it was thrown out of proportion by the media because many in that industry still think that games are only for kids and the inclusion of a romantic, character-driven sex scene is deemed dangerous somehow, especially if it involved homosexual activity. ME2's sex scenes were noticeably toned down, possibly because of the controversy with the first game.

Someone on the BioWare forums claimed that it wasn't due to any pressure to tone down the sexuality. Of course, they've also gone back and claimed that the Asari aren't female, so there ya go.

 

[Ryan]

The most offensive thing about the sex scenes in ME2 is how horrible they are. It's like watching marionettes awkwardly banging against each other. I'm kinda glad my Shep stayed faithful rather than go through that indignity.

 

[firehawk12]

Unless they go the pre-render route like Uncharted - which they can't because each Shepard looks different - then that's probably the best they can do.

Heck, there are still some awkward clipping issues when people try to touch each other in the game.

 

[Arrqh]

I just feel like they don't make that explicit at all. At the very least, given that they "menu" all the other choices, you should be able to say "Garrus, take point on the defense. Mordin, since you're just a meatbag waiting to explode, hide behind that rock."

It shouldn't be explicit... that would be really strange and clunky. You might as well be asking for the game to say "do you want Mordin to live or die?" and then you pick yes or no. The way it works is that the deaths are not explicit and are all consequences of your choices. They aren't made entirely clear but it would be silly if they were.

As an example, for the biotic shield, lots of people picked Miranda because apparently they didn't like her and didn't care if she died. But choosing a bad biotic doesn't cause the biotic to die, it causes someone in your party to die. And this makes total sense... if the biotic shield died then you would die as they're shielding you. Some people were annoyed at this because they were expecting the choice to be explicit but the game never indicates to you that this is the case and it makes so much more sense this way.

Same deal with the upgrades on the Normandy. Each of the three upgrades represents a potential loss of one of your party members. Does the game tell you "if you don't upgrade this, then Tali will die"? No, and it would be dumb if it did. Not all of your choices have obvious consequences and if they did what would be the point? Your supposed to be making choices, not picking outcomes.

 

[firehawk12]

Well, I guess the question then is - why bother with the menu listing for all the other decisions in the end game?

I just feel like those other parts set it up so that you have to be a person who doesn't/can't read in order to fail (unless you want to fail on purpose), so to have this other part fail with no feedback from the player is very strange.

 

[ATimson]

As an example, for the biotic shield, lots of people picked Miranda because apparently they didn't like her and didn't care if she died. But choosing a bad biotic doesn't cause the biotic to die, it causes someone in your party to die. And this makes total sense... if the biotic shield died then you would die as they're shielding you. Some people were annoyed at this because they were expecting the choice to be explicit but the game never indicates to you that this is the case and it makes so much more sense this way.

My problem with that wasn't that it was someone other than the biotic who died, but rather that you're told that all biotics can do well, and all biotics falter equally at the end - it's arbitrary and unsignaled that you lose a party member if it's not Samara or Jack.

(Me, I chose Miranda the first time because she's the least-untrustworthy biotic besides Jacob, and Jacob was leading Dr. Chakwas back to the ship.)

 

[Ryan]

Me, I chose Miranda the first time because she's the least-untrustworthy biotic besides Jacob, and Jacob was leading Dr. Chakwas back to the ship.

You see, I didn't trust Miranda at all. She was an apologist for Cerberus all the way through, never once questioning them. It was always some "rogue" cell's fault. The fact that Cerberus was specifically designed to carry out illicit acts and benefit from them while maintaining plausible deniability never occurs to her.

What's weird is her decision at the end of the game if she's in the final attack squad. It comes way out of left field and is the same whether Miranda's loyal or not.

 

[ATimson]

You see, I didn't trust Miranda at all. She was an apologist for Cerberus all the way through, never once questioning them.

True. But at least she's not an admitted mass murderer like Samara and Jack are.

 

[Skywalker]

Unless they go the pre-render route like Uncharted - which they can't because each Shepard looks different - then that's probably the best they can do.

Heck, there are still some awkward clipping issues when people try to touch each other in the game.

Sometimes I kind of wish they'd gone that route and just made an unchangeable male Shepard and an unchangeable female Shepard. Most custom ManSheps look horrible, and most custom FemSheps all look the same anyway.

Plus that way the female Shepard would actually have a unique, highly-detailed face like the male Shepard.

 

[Arrqh]

As an example, for the biotic shield, lots of people picked Miranda because apparently they didn't like her and didn't care if she died. But choosing a bad biotic doesn't cause the biotic to die, it causes someone in your party to die. And this makes total sense... if the biotic shield died then you would die as they're shielding you. Some people were annoyed at this because they were expecting the choice to be explicit but the game never indicates to you that this is the case and it makes so much more sense this way.

My problem with that wasn't that it was someone other than the biotic who died, but rather that you're told that all biotics can do well, and all biotics falter equally at the end - it's arbitrary and unsignaled that you lose a party member if it's not Samara or Jack.

(Me, I chose Miranda the first time because she's the least-untrustworthy biotic besides Jacob, and Jacob was leading Dr. Chakwas back to the ship.)

Well, your told that by Miranda and she actually gives you pretty crappy advice.

It's interesting that you looked at it from trustworthyness... I looked at it from the perspective of "who is the best biotic?" to which I answered myself "Samara is an Asari, so probably her." Miranda isn't a biotic specalist... she's more like a sentinel as one of her three abilities is overload. Jacob is more of a vanguard as he has incendiary ammo. Whereas Jack and Samara are both pure biotic. I certainly wouldn't call Samara a "mass murderer" either in the sense of being trustworthy... her code thing is more complicated then that. Considering I had everyone loyal expect Jack, it wouldn't have occurred to me to worry about my team being trustworthy. Except Jack, of course.

Morinth, however, would be another matter entirely.

And I didn't find it arbitrary at all. The biotic is shielding your party so a lesser biotic would produce a lesser shield therefore putting your party at risk.