The Mass Effect Thread

[Asher]

No, that's not how it works in Mass Effect.

[DrSpike]

I caved and bought my copy earlier today. Wont be able to play until Friday though.

[Asher]

Why?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by DrSpike
I caved and bought my copy earlier today. Wont be able to play until Friday though.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Asher
Why?

It'll take a couple of days to arrive and I'm busy Wednesday and Thursday.

If all goes to plan though I'm off on Friday, which could work out nicely.

[Kuciwalker]

This game is really bad at warning you that a boss is coming up so you can save

[flash9286]

Yep, I learned early to save often. Has anyone completed the find all the matriarch's writings or league of one medallions? Do you get anything cool for completing these?

[Asher]

I like how when you finish the game, it unlocks new options and lets you re-start the game on harder difficulties with your existing character. Makes getting to L50/60 possible.

Also, your actions in the first play through determine what's possible in subsequent playthroughs. Eg, if you save certain party members...

I haven't come close to finishing it the first play through anyway.

[vovan]

So actually, Asher, I am curious to know more about that, can you elaborate? I don't know how far you are into a second playthrough, so maybe you can't answer some of these yet...

Does having a levelled-up character at the beginning of a playthrough make it too easy? In the Gamespot review (I think?) they mentioned that with high skill levels the end-game becomes almost too easy. I guess part of that is gear, also.

Sure you can start a new playthrough with a fresh character, but doing a second run with the same guy -- do choices you make in your first run lock you into a certain style of play the second run?

[Asher]

I'm still on my first playthrough myself. But from what I've read, finishing the game unlocks Hardcore difficulty and lets you use your old characters from previous playthroughs. They keep everything (inventory, equipment, skills) except for paragon/renegade, which are reset -- which means you aren't locked into the same play styles and choices as before.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Asher
I like how when you finish the game, it unlocks new options
Also, your actions in the first play through determine what's possible in subsequent playthroughs. Eg, if you save certain party members...

Hm? If you get certain party members, you can't not get them again?

[Asher]

More info:

Character Benefit Unlockables

You have to attain certain achievements to gain benefits on future plays through the game. Simply do the achievement to gain it.

+10% Experience Bonus: Complete 75% of Game
+10% Hardening Bonus: Complete 75% of Game with Ashley in Squad
+10% Health Bonus: Kill 150 Organic Beings
+10% Shield Bonus: Kill 250 Synthetics
+25% Marksman Cooldown Bonus: Attain 150 Kills with Pistol
Assault Rifle Skill for New Characters: Attain 150 Kills with Assault Rifle
Decryption Skill for New Characters: Use Sabotage 75 Times
Electronics Skill for New Characters: Use Overload 75 Times
Shielding Skill for New Characters: Use Dampening 75 Times
Shotgun Skill for New Characters: Attain 150 Kills with Shotgun
Sniper Rifle Skill for New Characters: Attain 150 Kills with Sniper Rifle
Spectre Grade Weapons for Purchase: Attain 1,000,000 Credits in your Wallet.

Hardcore Mode: Complete the game once
Increased Level Cap (51 - 60): Complete the game once
Insane Difficulty: Beat the game on the Hardcore difficulty without changing the difficulty
New Game +: Start a New Game, then select to use existing Career. You'll be playing with your older character (with all items and skills intact)
Unlock Prestige Class: Reach level 34

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


Hm? If you get certain party members, you can't not get them again?

From my understanding, they're available again if you use a new character, but not if you continue using your old character in a new game.

[Kuciwalker]

Something I found interesting: the film grain effect looked really good on the TV at home (30-something inch, CRT, 1080i), but absolutely horrible on my TV at school (42", LCD, 1080p).

Unlock Prestige Class: Reach level 34

Jesus Christ, I'm level 34 already? I haven't even finished the first set of three parallel missions, and I just became a Commando...

[vovan]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Jesus Christ, I'm level 34 already? I haven't even finished the first set of three parallel missions, and I just became a Commando...

Is experience easy to come by, or are you just doing a bunch of side missions first?

Incidentally, how does levelling up work? Is it old-skool style -- getting XP by doing quests? Or more Oblivionesque -- getting experience in distinct skills by doing the related tasks?