Mass Effect

[Super Buu]

I'm just about to leave the Citadel for the first time, and the game is definitely warming up. I'm glad that the rest of the characters after the first three are aliens; I always think it's a shame when a cast is filled up with all of the same species, when you can have a more interesting variety. As it stands, the cast is good (if a bit, as others have said, monotone in the characterisation. Out with Stargate-esque militants, in with a few amoral rogues!).

The non-combat missions remind me of KOTOR a bit, in that they're a bit samey and fetch quest-ey. But the well fleshed-out backstory is enough to keep me going. I feel like I'm just about to start the 'real' game, so we'll see how it goes.

[Kaden]

I feel like I'm just about to start the 'real' game

You are. I agree completely about the first chunk of the gaming being pretty scripted. They definitely wanted to make sure that you got pretty much the same introduction to the universe no matter what you're trying to do with your character. A little unfortunate if you're... well... picky, but the game more than makes up for it later on.

One of the things I really liked about Mass Effect was how all of the main characters had their distinct personalities, but the game did not seem to track any kind of "influence" for them. Your actions definitely provoke different responses from each party member, but that doesn't seem to have any effect on how far into a character's backstory you can delve. I'm one of those players that likes to soak up as much as I can about all the main characters, so it was refreshing that I won't need to play through the game with different parties each time so I can get enough influence with each of them so I can get to the end of all of the characters' conversation arcs.

Also, as an fyi, you're definitely locked into a single romance arc per playthrough. Can't have your cake and eat it too, I guess.

[Super Buu]

Oh yes, it's got me hooked now. Well and truly.

The conversation wheel is definitely one of the best features - from the way it only puts small phrases instead of full sentences, to the fact that it's all laid out categorically to let obsessive players like me make sure they've exhausted every option before advancing the conversation. It's very intuitive, it's just a shame that many of the 'choices' are purely superficial and lead to Shepard saying exactly the same thing.

I was all set up to woo Ashley the first time through, but Liara has won me over with her naive bookish asperger-ey quirks. That, and Ashley's stupidity was starting to grate on my nerves. I've got them both on my team for this first runthrough, since I'm an engie and I'm balance-obsessed.

On that note, I also like how the characters all level equally. Should be the RPG standard, if'n you ask me. Whilst playing through FFX, some characters I only wanted to use situationally, but the system 'obliged' me to level them up. This is way better, removes unnecessary grinding.

[Szar]

What I did, is I just did whatever I wanted in the story, then in the conversations on the Normandy I said whatever they wanted me to, regardless of my alignment. It seemed to work out pretty well.

And, for anyone that plays adept: Max Lift+Grenade=fun.

Edit: Curse you second page!!

[Kaden]

I was all set up to woo Ashley the first time through

That was my plan, until I locked myself into the Liara romance arc. At one point she flat-out asks you who you want to hump. I didn't know it would be so final. I imagine you'll have to pick between her and one of the human regardless of what gender you make Shepard.

Lesbians and bi-sexuals alike can rejoice.

[Super Buu]

Aye, for girls it's Kaiden and Liara. The game was actually banned in Singapore for a while because of the 'lesbian sex scene'.

How long did it take you guys to finish? I'm 20 hours in now, just got my speciality class, and only just about to head to Feros (still got Noveria to do). I blame this on the fact that I read everything (Codex, planet descriptions) and my obsessive planet exploration. Probably a few hours of pausing in there as well, though.

[Dr. Cringle]

Aye, for girls it's Kaiden and Liara. The game was actually banned in Singapore for a while because of the 'lesbian sex scene'.

How long did it take you guys to finish? I'm 20 hours in now, just got my speciality class, and only just about to head to Feros (still got Noveria to do). I blame this on the fact that I read everything (Codex, planet descriptions) and my obsessive planet exploration. Probably a few hours of pausing in there as well, though.

Still not finished, unfortunately. My mom took my X-Box out of my room to fiddle with it's internet adapter and get X-Box Live working on it, so I haven't been able to play it much. Currently I'm finishing up a few side quests, or at least trying to. Then I'm heading to Feros since I've already been to the Prothean site and Noveria.

Also, I try to read most of the Codex stuff, but sometimes I just gloss over the ship information or weapon information. Some of it gets real technical, and I don't like muddling through it. I do read up on the race Codex stuff though. Some of it's interesting, like the stuff on the Quarians. (Speaking of quarians, I remember trying to court that one Tali chick for a while, thinking she was one of the girls I could choose for the romance subplot. I realize now it's only Ashley and Liara, but for a while I thought she was one of 'em. xD)

[Kaden]

I think it took me just over 40 hours. Something in the 43~45 area. I was also very meticulous in my first playthrough. I'm significantly less-so in my second playthrough.

[Super Buu]

Aye, I imagine I'll cut out time in the questions that don't advance the plot, but are purely for information (like, "why do you hanar speak like that" etc).

[Saz]

I think it took me less than 30 hours.

[Kaden]

I just finished my second complete play-through (ditched the character I made for my first "second playthrough") and it clocked in at just over 20 hours. I think I finished every secondary quest, as well.

It also looks like you only get one "Ally" badge per playthrough. Not sure about that, but I had Tali and Liara in my party for the exact same amount of time and only got Tali's badge. I was a little annoyed. Anyway, I'm starting a third play on Hardcore difficulty.

Also, for those who weren't aware, the "Adrenaline Boost" ability instantly recharges your Medi-gel as well as your skills. I was more than a little excited to discover that.

[Saz]

I still haven't started my second playthrough. Haven't really had much time for gaming lately.

I was just wondering, if I want to carry on from my last characters level, does that mean I would have to use my previous character, so I wouldn't be able to alter his appearence and class?

[Super Buu]

I just finished my second complete play-through (ditched the character I made for my first "second playthrough") and it clocked in at just over 20 hours. I think I finished every secondary quest, as well.

It also looks like you only get one "Ally" badge per playthrough. Not sure about that, but I had Tali and Liara in my party for the exact same amount of time and only got Tali's badge. I was a little annoyed. Anyway, I'm starting a third play on Hardcore difficulty.

Also, for those who weren't aware, the "Adrenaline Boost" ability instantly recharges your Medi-gel as well as your skills. I was more than a little excited to discover that.

I actually wondered about the Medi-Gel thing, but thought 'nah'. That's good to know.

About the ally achievements, the Asari ally is notoriously difficult to get, there's lots of topics about it on other places. Basically for the various ally achievements, you have to have completed a certain number of quests/missions with them in the party, and unless you get Liara as soon as she's available, without doing any other sidequests, it's very hard to get the achievement.

I'm on the final cusp of the game and still hoping to get it (I got Soldier Ally a while ago). Just heading into Virmire, with all sidequests done (save the League of One medallions). I slowed down a bit because rushing RPGs can be a headache.

Also, Protip: You can zoom the Mako's cannon in further after aiming by clicking the right stick. This is immensely useful, lets you basically snipe everything from afar. A lot of people go through the game without ever noticing this.

[Kaden]

Saz: haven't tried a new game + yet, but that's what I'm planning for when I make an insane run-through. I'll letcha know if I get there before anyone else posts.

I always get Liara first. No sense in not having your whole party as soon as you can get them. In my first play, I had Ash and Liara pretty much the whole game. I didn't miss more than three or four side-missions, but I never got the Asari ally badge. My assumption is still that you only get one per-playthrough, and since I had had Ash in my party a bit longer than Liara, it gave my the Soldier Ally badge.

At some point I also want to try running only the primary quests and see if that's enough completion for one of the Ally badges. If it is, then it wouldn't be too hard to get all of them if its only one at a time. The main story of the game isn't really that long.

Nice to know about the Mako cannon. I'll definitely be trying it out.

[Saz]

I still haven't got round to starting a new game. As soon as I finished my first playthrough I was really excited to start over with a new character, new class and all that good stuff, but now I'm not bothered. The thought of re-doing some of the side quests is putting me off a bit, among other things. Once I complete Assassin's Creed I'll probable play through on hardcore just to get a few more achievements and play through the story again, maybe once I start over I'll rediscover what I saw in the game on my first playthrough.

[Kaden]

The thought of re-doing some of the side quests is putting me off a bit

That's what I thought at first. So when I played through, I just ignored everything but the main quest. By the time I got towards the end of the main story, I actually wanted to go back and do a bunch of the sidequests. It worked out nicely.

[Saz]

I might try that.

[Super Buu]

After leaving it for a few weeks, I came back today and finished the game. Damn is that ending good. I remain disappointed by the lack of actual choice in terms of how your character behaves (I couldn't agree with Wrex on Virmire, what the hell?) but if you just accept the plot as a linear thing as you would any other RPG, you can appreciate it's awesomeness.

Now to go through as a renegade Vanguard.

Edit: It's also ironic that I've planned to make a soldier called Samus, and I found out the person who does the voice acting for female Shepard is also Samus's VA in the Prime games. lawl

[Kaden]

I didn't really like the Vanguard class. I thought I would. I didn't.

If you have the choice, I would highly recommend giving your Vanguard the Assault Rifle skill tree.

[Saz]

In case anyone cares, you can't start a new game + and change your characters appearence or class, you start with exactly the same stats and equipment as when you finished the game. A bit dissapointing, I was going to try and get the extreme power gamer achievement, but it doesn't seem worth it now. I want to try out the biotics class, I'll probable change appearence too, oh and also I'm gonna be brave and try the hardcore differculty. Apparently the biotics class is a slow starter so I might struggle at the beginning, but I should be alright.