Mass Effect 2 is the best sequel ever

[micrometers]

I LOVE this game. Holy crap. Best $5 steam purchase ever.

It fixes everything I hated about Mass Effect 1, and it is the first bioware game since KOTOR that I really liked. Hell, the combat IMO is more fun than Halo.

It is the best implementation of RPG characteristics also in a video game, so that it's about customization of your character in meeting various challenges, and it doesn't slow you down with minute number crunching. Also, no looting bodies, no annoying inventory management, none of the dumb parts of RPG's. Fantastic!

So I'm about 3/4 through so don't spoil anything please...

but I'm thinking of doing a second play through. Right now I think I'm a vanguard, basically I have a charge ability and a shotgun. What other fun classes are there to play? The engineer and the stealth class look like they might be fun.

Oh, and the story, it's so much better than ME1. ME1 bored me to tears with the predictable story, but this one has a story that has me wondering who to trust.

I wonder if Dragon Age 2 is of a similar flavor to ME2, compared to its predecessor.

 

[zerocool84]

I preferred part 1 to part 2 because the story is much better but the combat is definitely better in 2. Both are great games and I can't wait for 3.

 

[micrometers]

I preferred part 1 to part 2 because the story is much better but the combat is definitely better in 2. Both are great games and I can't wait for 3.

I really didn't like ME1. Really really didn't like it. ME3 I am excited for.

This is the best thing bioware has done since KOTOR IMO.

 

[irishScott]

I LOVE this game. Holy crap. Best $5 steam purchase ever.

It fixes everything I hated about Mass Effect 1, and it is the first bioware game since KOTOR that I really liked. Hell, the combat IMO is more fun than Halo.

It is the best implementation of RPG characteristics also in a video game, so that it's about customization of your character in meeting various challenges, and it doesn't slow you down with minute number crunching. Also, no looting bodies, no annoying inventory management, none of the dumb parts of RPG's. Fantastic!

So I'm about 3/4 through so don't spoil anything please...

but I'm thinking of doing a second play through. Right now I think I'm a vanguard, basically I have a charge ability and a shotgun. What other fun classes are there to play? The engineer and the stealth class look like they might be fun.

Oh, and the story, it's so much better than ME1. ME1 bored me to tears with the predictable story, but this one has a story that has me wondering who to trust.

I wonder if Dragon Age 2 is of a similar flavor to ME2, compared to its predecessor.

The infiltrator (stealth) class is pretty repetitive actually. I just found myself using the sniper rifle + incinerate and keeping my distance. Cloak helped me get out of tight spots. Effective, and made for some satisfying headshots, but repetitive. When I find the time I want to replay as a sentinel.

 

[NoSoup4You]

Preferred ME1, ME2 was awesome though.

The Biotics classes are by far the best and most fun to play. You basically have "Force Powers" a la Star Wars.

 

[micrometers]

also I should add that the mini games are a lot better this time around. The stupid pipes game in ME1 was dumb, but the hacking games are just better.

 

[micrometers]

The charge ability of the vanguard is so much freaking fun. yeah, I die a lot, but charge plus pummeling them to death with your fists makes me feel like superman.

 

[Todd33]

I thought me2 was weak, me1 was better but still not great. Nothing happened In me2, it was a bunch of busy work and then a weak ending.

 

[irishScott]

I thought me2 was weak, me1 was better but still not great. Nothing happened In me2, it was a bunch of busy work and then a weak ending.

For a space opera video game I thought it was freaking epic. But then again you apparently see character development as busy work so... to each his own.

 

[SpeedZealot369]

I reallllly enjoyed me2, one of the best games I've ever played.

 

[Bateluer]

I thought me2 was weak, me1 was better but still not great. Nothing happened In me2, it was a bunch of busy work and then a weak ending.

This. ME1 was a better game, with some rough edges. ME2, rather than actually fix those rough edges, they just removed them entirely. Weakened the entire game. Final battle was a joke.

ME3, I am crossing my fingers for. After finishing the dismal Dragon Age 2 yesterday, I don't have high hopes for what EA will do to the Mass Effect franchise.

 

[irishScott]

This. ME1 was a better game, with some rough edges. ME2, rather than actually fix those rough edges, they just removed them entirely. Weakened the entire game. Final battle was a joke.

ME3, I am crossing my fingers for. After finishing the dismal Dragon Age 2 yesterday, I don't have high hopes for what EA will do to the Mass Effect franchise.

I'm just curious, what do you think was better about ME1? Is sorting through and selling a crapload of items that your character couldn't possibly be holding all at once at the end of every mission really that much fun?

By the middle of any ME1 playthrough I had the max limit of credits and all loot was useless. Never-mind that looting in the first place is a tedious and usually pointless part of any game IMO. Likewise the inventory/equipment/weapon mod menu took forever to navigate, and you basically had to memorize what each character had or spend 20 minutes going through each locker and outfitting them appropriately for the upcoming mission.

 

[BD231]

Been meaning to play this one again, my first run was on a 17' monitor/4000 series Radeon and now I'm sitting on a 27' + updated GPU + CPU. Should look pretty .

Is ME1 worth a play through?

 

[zinfamous]

ME2 is very good. ME1 was great, however. They are almost completely different games, in some way.

I prefer a lot of the mechanics of ME2--action-oriented, but I do like that ME1 is a bit heavier with RPG elements and the story is far superior.

 

[Fenixgoon]

ME2 is very good. ME1 was great, however. They are almost completely different games, in some way.

I prefer a lot of the mechanics of ME2--action-oriented, but I do like that ME1 is a bit heavier with RPG elements and the story is far superior.

all of this.

ME2 went too far in the other direction in trying to get away from the RPG elements that plagued ME1 (namely inventory), but still was a very fun game. looking forward to ME3.

 

[micrometers]

all of this.

ME2 went too far in the other direction in trying to get away from the RPG elements that plagued ME1 (namely inventory), but still was a very fun game. looking forward to ME3.

I disagree.

ME2 focused its energies on things that matter like character missions.

ME1 focused too much on elements of RPG's that are frankly obsolete. The most obvious is the slot-machine looting system. Hell, in ME1 most of the loot I found was useless anyways, and it only served to slow down the game and create inventory problems.

ME2 distilled what makes an RPG distinct from a pure action game like Halo or Gears of War: customizable characters. This is done through the talent system and it provides far more variety than what you see in a Halo type game.

I really hope more games are like ME2 in the future.

 

[Bateluer]

I'm just curious, what do you think was better about ME1? Is sorting through and selling a crapload of items that your character couldn't possibly be holding all at once at the end of every mission really that much fun?

Like I said, rough edges. Supposedly, the PC version had an improved inventory system. Improved my ass.

By the middle of any ME1 playthrough I had the max limit of credits and all loot was useless. Never-mind that looting in the first place is a tedious and usually pointless part of any game IMO. Likewise the inventory/equipment/weapon mod menu took forever to navigate, and you basically had to memorize what each character had or spend 20 minutes going through each locker and outfitting them appropriately for the upcoming mission.

As opposed to ME2 where your companions are almost a hindrance, excluding a few special skills?


Edit - If the OP wants to see a real sequel, he needs to play BG1 and 2 and The Witcher 1 and 2.

 

[irishScott]

Like I said, rough edges. Supposedly, the PC version had an improved inventory system. Improved my ass.



As opposed to ME2 where your companions are almost a hindrance, excluding a few special skills?

? My companions were usually a help. Especially using overload to take down mechs, pull/push to knock enemies down/pull them over ledges, and at the very least they drew fire and didn't run in front of my gun. In many boss fights my companions' abilities were responsible for about 1/3 of the total damage.

What kinda irked me about ME1 combat was that the enemy AI usually just banzai-charged your position, and aside from the husks and Rachni (and maybe the Krogan) that just doesn't make any sense. Most species tend to care about their lives and wouldn't just throw them away, although it was effective and made for some tough battles if your gear wasn't up to spec.

I will admit I would like the vehicle sections to come back. They get a lot of criticism, but I liked circle-strafing enemies in the MACO. Plus it gave the worlds a larger sense of scale, although the visuals in ME2 did a fair job of that as well.

 

[Bateluer]

? My companions were usually a help. Especially using overload to take down mechs, pull/push to knock enemies down/pull them over ledges, and at the very least they drew fire and didn't run in front of my gun. In many boss fights my companions' abilities were responsible for about 1/3 of the total damage.

What kinda irked me about ME1 combat was that the enemy AI usually just banzai-charged your position, and aside from the husks and Rachni (and maybe the Krogan) that just doesn't make any sense. Most species tend to care about their lives and wouldn't just throw them away, although it was effective and made for some tough battles if your gear wasn't up to spec.

I will admit I would like the vehicle sections to come back. They get a lot of criticism, but I liked circle-strafing enemies in the MACO. Plus it gave the worlds a larger sense of scale, although the visuals in ME2 did a fair job of that as well.

I spoke too strongly on companions. It just didn't feel like they were necessary, that Shepard could handle everything on his own easily enough.

World exploration in both ME games could use some improvement. And I want to see more Normandy improvements in ME3. I had tons of extra resources left over at the end, with every upgrade for the ship too. Shouldn't be able to do that, you should be forced which parts of the ship you want to upgrade. Weapons or shields? Engines or sensors. Shouldn't be able to get every upgrade.

 

[Red Hawk]

Glad you enjoyed the game. I loved Mass Effect 1 myself, but if I had to choose I would say that Mass Effect 2 is the better game. It has its flaws, to be sure, but those flaws are outweighed by the massive awesomess overall. However...

I wonder if Dragon Age 2 is of a similar flavor to ME2, compared to its predecessor.

...not really. Mass Effect 2's changes worked partially because Mass Effect was never really a traditional RPG to begin with. Also, Mass Effect 2 is the direct story continuation of the first game, and improved in just about every area with regards to art style, characters, etc. Dragon Age: Origins was specifically made as an old-school PC style RPG (the console versions were actually ported over from the PC, believe it or not), but Dragon Age II took it in a more action-focused direction, wasn't a direct continuation of the story from Origins, and thanks to a rushed production style was generally on a lower level of quality than Origins.

 

[s44]

ME2 focused its energies on things that matter like character missions.

ME1 focused too much on elements of RPG's that are frankly obsolete. The most obvious is the slot-machine looting system. Hell, in ME1 most of the loot I found was useless anyways, and it only served to slow down the game and create inventory problems.

+9000

(Actually, I think the looting system still has its place. But not in a game that's mechanically a shooter.)

That said, it's only the second best sequel ever. (BG2)

Mass Effect 2's changes worked partially because Mass Effect was never really a traditional RPG to begin with. Also, Mass Effect 2 is the direct story continuation of the first game, and improved in just about every area with regards to art style, characters, etc. Dragon Age: Origins was specifically made as an old-school PC style RPG (the console versions were actually ported over from the PC, believe it or not), but Dragon Age II took it in a more action-focused direction, wasn't a direct continuation of the story from Origins, and thanks to a rushed production style was generally on a lower level of quality than Origins.

... and this too, exactly.

DA2 was the unholy result of Bioware overreacting to how well ME and ME2 turned out.

 

[s44]

As opposed to ME2 where your companions are almost a hindrance, excluding a few special skills?

Whoops, I missed this.

Seriously -- you're doing it wrong. Hotkeying companion skills = perfection.

Try playing, say, a Sentinel (which is ME2 easy mode) with Samara and Thane. Or any caster + Liara in Shadow Broker -- which, if the OP hasn't bought it, is the best DLC ever. Strip/lift/BOOM. So much fun, particularly when you strip with the lightning capacitors or by using your shield blowback.

 

[JoshGuru7]

I also liked ME2 more than ME1. The production values were better all around but more importantly the game play was better. ME1 had a great story and RPG elements but it felt like the combat was an annoyance that got in the way, especially with all of the identical planets and clearing those same mercenary camp layouts dozens of times. ME2 was simply more fun to play in my opinion.

That being said, the best sequels of all time were Lords of the Realm II and Tie Fighter.

 

[Zenoth]

ME1 has better story-telling quality and better banter between teammates. ME2 has better action/combat, better N7/side-missions. Worst part of ME1 is the inventory UI (hated it), and the worst part of ME2 are some story holes, and an extremely disappointing last boss.

I really liked both games, but appreciated them differently. As far as the story goes ME1 has more development than ME2's, since 90% of what you do (progression) in the game is gathering a team and playing psychiatrist with them. With that said, the Shadow Broker DLC is one of the best DLCs ever, period.

I can't wait for ME3.

 

[Bateluer]

Whoops, I missed this.

Seriously -- you're doing it wrong. Hotkeying companion skills = perfection.

Try playing, say, a Sentinel (which is ME2 easy mode) with Samara and Thane. Or any caster + Liara in Shadow Broker -- which, if the OP hasn't bought it, is the best DLC ever. Strip/lift/BOOM. So much fun, particularly when you strip with the lightning capacitors or by using your shield blowback.

Companions in ME2(And DA2) served only to keep the main character from getting swamped with too many bad guys at once. Shepard was always the most effective.

Though, I didn't buy any DLC for ME2. Previous DLC purchases have . . . soured me on DLC. Unless I buy a boxed set that includes the DLC, I don't waste the money.