Mass Effect

[Bassman]

I now have to go back to worlds I have explored as the map does not show all the "goodies"... typical. At least I haven't visited too many planets so far.

Seem to be gaining a couple of levels per mission. Now up to Level 34. May even raise the difficulty as it has now become somewhat easier. I suspect that it takes a while if you change the difficulty level for you to actually "catch up" with it.

Now have over 500,000 credits, but there seems to be little point in buying things because you can pick them up on missions.

I nearly reached the maximum of 150 items being "carried". Soon converted the weaker ones to omni-gel (which I seem to avoid using).

[Ajay1986]

God what a game.

Ive played well over 10 hours now and only done the one of the first set of main story missions, everytime i think im gonna do the next i get sidetracked by different side missions. Has everyone been hacking computers that they find, so far i've found 5 side missions just off random computers.

Found an almighty shotgun last night, added the mod to give massive force boost combine that with the lift skill and its the ultimate in MASSIVE DAMAGE.

lol how many different games have been hailed as GOTY on the 360 so far, it doesnt matter to me becuase this really is GOTY.

[Simmy]

Five hours in and I'm really still not sure what to make of this. I'm finding the whole experience pretty Soulless atm, with the combat being especially poor in my opinion. I'm currently on Feros after skipping off the Citadel pretty quickly (Maybe this was a mistake, as reading back, allot of folks seemed to of enjoyed exploring every part of that) being desperate to get to my ship and start the exploration of other worlds.

First stepping into the Galaxy map was great, and I was pleased to hear that my favourite tune from all the trailers was in the background the whole time your in there. Pretty easy to navigate and find the galaxy I needed to head to, and then started surveying worlds for info. Was a little surprised by how few explorable planets there were in each system, but headed down to the first I was allowed to, only to be plonked on a barren rock. Found a few mineral piles and completed the quest I had and then headed back to the ship most unimpressed. After that I jumped to Feros which is certainly a more interesting planet, but the sections on it so far are mainly combat dominated, which while not being terrible, feels really detached to me, being a compromised combination of idea's from several other games, with non of them working as well as those from the games which they are inspired from.

The Mako is fun to bound around in, but atm at least seems mighty overpowered, with long sections on Feros being driven with a few small encounters which are utterly pointless as the mako's cannon just destroys all in it's path. And I have to ask why they didn't just copy the Warthog's controls exactly, with it basically being a warthog with a slightly corrupted control scheme.

The story seems OK so far, nothing particularly outstanding to me, but enough to keep you interested. The cut scenes while directed extremely well, don't seem scripted that much better than allot of games which come before this, but I appreciate the massive volume of conversations which are in the game. Not really far enough in yet to feel the effect of decisions I'm making in conversations, but the choices and reactions don't seem any more advanced than those of KOTOR from what I remember at least. I'm certainly not Jack Bauer tough as yet, even though I'm trying to be, and the game seems to think I am making me a Renegade.

All the above sounds really negative, and I guess is, but I have enjoyed the five hours I've put in so far, just not as much as I expected. The world or worlds just don't seem to be grabbing me as much as I expected, and I'm certainly not getting anything like the buzz I got for the first 50 hours or so in Cyrodyll, don't have the want to explore the world as much, and don't look forward to the combat or have much interest in the weapon set.

As I said above I think I really need to put some more time into this. I think I'm just a bit disappointed that I've not been grabbed (as yet) in the same way I was with Oblivion, especially with a game in a setting which appeals far more to me (Trekie No. 1 reporting for duty) !

[hudson]

This is definately one of my Games of the Year. I think it's probably because the whole look and vibe of the game is something that I'm into. So, I think if you're into Sci-Fi like Star Wars and love synth music along with some slick retro mixed with new decor and character designs, you'll love this also. That's not to say that you can't get your kicks from the gameplay alone... well, I dunno You might be put off by some of the technical probs it has. Okay, now I've forgotten what my point was going to be.

Basically, this is a game that tickles a fair few gaming g-spots for me.

[MartyG]

I was thinking Mass Effect is more Babylon 5 than Star Wars in reference - especially when in the gun battles. Maybe there's a bit of both there.

[hudson]

I was thinking Mass Effect is more Babylon 5 than Star Wars in reference - especially when in the gun battles. Maybe there's a bit of both there.

Sorry, I've never seen it. I get a lot Phantom/Clones/Sith vibe from some of the character design. Yeah, no doubt that the influences have come from all around the sci-fi galaxies.

[Xhorder]

I was thinking Mass Effect is more Babylon 5 than Star Wars in reference - especially when in the gun battles. Maybe there's a bit of both there.

Yeah.. a bit of a mix between Babylon 5, Star Trek, Star Wars and even Battlestar Galactica (think Cylons...)

I'm really happy I bought the game. At the moment Asassins Creed has to wait because Mass Effect is soooo good. It has its quirks with framerate and some idiot team members during battles, but I've spend 8 hours in the Citadel now and will finally do some star trekkin'. :-)

[Nembot]

I`m not an RPG fan in the slightest but I`m loving this game so far.

As have most, I spent ages in the Citadel exploring and doing side quests and having loads of fun just doing that. The game however in that area is very jerky and a bit annoying at times. I`m liking the combat too although I`m finding it a bit frustrating at times when the game goes all jerky again.

Once I managed to tear myself away from the Citadel I spent some time exploring planets, class!

I need some help though in some parts because I`m struggling a bit, I am currently lvl 20.

1. If there is any lockers for me to open I am only allowed to have a go at average encryption.

2. When I land on a planet and there is debris there, I don`t have enough electronics skill to have a go at it.

3. In combat my party seems to die alot eventhough I`ve put them in the most expensive armour I can get. I have Garrus in my party and he dies straight away in any combat situation.

4. I`ve been doing a lot of side quests to try and get money but I never seem to have enough, any tips for getting a lot of cash?

5. Garras has an Omni-tool, what is it and what does it do?

Cheers guys!

[Simmy]

@Nembot

I'm suffering the same problems you mention in your points 2 and 3 above.

I've found a few pods it won't let me salvage due to low electronics skills, the first time it happened I went back to the ship and brought an electronics strong squad member down with me, but it made no difference and did not seem to take his skill into account when deciding whether I could salvage or not.

Squad members I now just move to cover, I've not found them of any use in any of the battles I've been in and just move them out of the way so I don't have to waste gel on reviving their health. TBH I've not needed them in battles so far, but the couple of times I've asked them to engage an enemy for fun they have just run out and been shredded. I've read back through the thread now and a few seem to be having allot more joy with their squads. I've spent quite a bit of time setting out my squads equipment and levelling them up but it's made no difference. My squad now rolls with a full Combat bar, but apart from me no ones doing any killing I'm on Veteran, which I'm not really finding that hard, but maybe it's to much for the squad !

[chopemon]

For electonics you need

->Open Spoiler<-

Tali

unless you have levelled up Garrus's electronics.

In combat take Wrex and another and just order them to cover your flank while you hop into cover.

Pro Tip: if one of your boys goes down, hopping back into the Mako will revive them. If you give them the First Aid interface they will then regenerate while you all ass to a safe distance.

Also, because there is no tutotial, the Mako has a big cannon on the RB button which helps.

Also, because I haven't posted in here yet:

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GAME.

[Simmy]

Also, because there is no tutotial, the Mako has a big cannon on the RB button which helps.

Helps ! That thing destroys - 1 shot kills on all standard Geth a couple and most of the little robot walkers that get ship dropped are down. Have to say I feel pretty invunerable in the Mako atm, well apart from the snake beast monster I encountered on an early exporation, that thing puked me to death several times

Does the Sniper every steady up with upgrades ? I've got a Hammer 2 atm I think with about a 40 accuracy, does the amount of movement when scoped improve as the accuracy goes up ? Got offered a much better snipe on Feros but don't have the cash for it atm, and just wondering if it will make any improvement to the aiming. Seem to earn most of my kills with a sniper shot and then if neccessary a pistol shot to finish them off. Shotty if they charge which they seem to be doing more and more !

[Brats]

I was thinking Mass Effect is more Babylon 5 than Star Wars in reference - especially when in the gun battles. Maybe there's a bit of both there.

I don't think it's like either tbh (although I agree it is more like B5 than Star Wars). I'm not a fan of B5 or Star Trek (too hokey imo) and yet I love this.

Mass Effect gives off the whiff of Sci-Fi novella rather than a TV show. It's more like Orson Scott-Card or Iain M Banks novel than anything I've seen on TV or film.

I adore the richness and complexity of the different classes and the politics between them. There are obvious references to modern day politics in many of the conversations which are very well handled. Its deftness of touch in places is remarkable.

It is very much like KOTOR (which I also adore), but with KOTOR although the look was very much like Star Wars, the best parts imo were the bits that were completely removed from the Star Wars universe and were completely Bioware. This is where I disagree with the Edge review, that although the feel and look of Star Wars is great, the background story behind it is a very simple story of good vs evil and not all that interesting. This is partly why the prequel trilogy fails, because it tries to bring a political intrigue to a simple story that doesn't have the weight behind it. Mass Effect does and is all the better for it.

[MartyG]

I like how your actions in the game are referenced again later on. For example, I was doing an interview with a reporter, who was being really annoying and implying my actions weren't pure. In the end I got fed up and punched her down.

Later on I get a message about how HQ wasn't happy about how I handled the situation when I was on the ship. Then when I was in a lift in the Citadel, there was a news report about the incident.

Very smart

[Wools]

I'm around 7 hours in and have just made it Outpost 15 that's on an ice planet and is need of help.

So far it's brilliant. It's the first Bioware or JRPG that I can play because it has real time combat and that aids the game twofold. It looks and sounds beautiful with only a bit of loading and slowdown spoiling the party. The game is incredibly atmospheric and is almost creeping up on Resident Evil 2 for sheer completeness and consistency that the game worlds are set in.

I have a few questions if anyone can answer?

->Open Spoiler<-

I have a Tali member with me who is a bit handy with electronics but is there any way I can send her in to open locks or doors? So far, apart from combat, I can't seem to use my party to open locks.

If a teammate falls in combat, I usually continue the fight and then they get back up. Is this okay as there seems no reason to pick them back up or an option to?

Omi Gel, hope I spelt that right. Is this used mainly for repairing your craft and using to open locks? What other uses are there for it?

[Simmy]

Unity which I think you get when you become a spectre revives fallen squad members in combat, but as you say why bother when they will only die again