Should I play Mass Effect 1 before Mass Effect 2?

[Red Hawk]

part of an RPG is loot - getting newer/better items and equipping your party. ME2 had like 3 weapons and that was it. very disappointing in that regard

Part, sure, but not the whole thing. ME2 actually had more weapon types than ME1 -- SMGs and heavy weapons. ME1's inventory system was horrible, with tons of weapons within each type with zero difference in how they are used. At least the weapons in ME2 have a tangible difference between each other.

Can someone tell me what E and Q are bound for as default. Ive changed my keys, and dont want to change them just to check. I am at a part where I have to put henchmen on each side of the door.. and it tells me to use E and Q. Ive pressed every button, and nothing works. I hate lazy PC programmers.

E and Q are used to give orders to your henchmen, either to tell them to move where you are pointing or to attack a target you are pointing at.

 

[Aristotelian]

Serious case of deja vu here. :hmm:

Play ME 1, it is far superior in my opinion.

KT

That's great news for me, then. I'm about ...half way through ME2, I'd guess, and it is one of the better games that I have played in a while. I'm too into it to stop now and play ME1, but after I finish ME2 I'll go back and try that game.

 

[blckgrffn]

That's great news for me, then. I'm about ...half way through ME2, I'd guess, and it is one of the better games that I have played in a while. I'm too into it to stop now and play ME1, but after I finish ME2 I'll go back and try that game.

Playing through ME2 now (made a big run on it last night, but couldn't finish it...) and I think you'll be disappointed in ME1 after ME2.

Remember to keep turning things to OmniGel. Lots and lots and lots of omni gel.

Its a slower, more complex game. I think it was more satisfying, but you might feel frustrated at its more relaxed pace and its depth of sometimes frivolous equipment choices and the time it takes to buy/find the best stuff.

But about ME2...

But for the love of all is holy, at least you don't have to play the freaking retarded "scan planets" minigame in ME1. We have an AI on the ship, why?

Also, I thought you could only collect 25k of any resources at a time, then the bar would fill up and that would effect how many resources you got in future scans. Not true... *sigh*

Also, seriously lack of female on female flirting opportunities in ME2. My Jane Shepard doesn't dig the guys, because I don't

More secondary characters didn't make it that much better, either. They are fragmented, you don't get a real briefing on what to expect on the next mission so you take the best "all arounders" and you have that many more people to go talk to after every story mission. I guess it is different than than the default Wrex/Liara mix many used to go through ME1 because they were so good... Now you can choose from more mediocre sidekicks!

*end rant*

I wanted more of ME1 and they delivered. Sorta.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

ME1 is a great game. The inventory system sucked and the action wasn't quite as smooth, but still worth a play through even if just for the story.

 

[Keeper]

I did to be able to transfer your toon from game to game.
THEN I heard that you dont trnsfer your stats??!!??!! too bad if thats true. I was a sniper MAVEN.

I took a break from the ME series to play a Final Fantasy game.

I will say ME1 is my NUMBER 2 fav game in the world.
Only beaten by KOTOR 1.
So in my opinion, YES.

 

[JTsyo]

If you opt not to play ME1 it might be worthwhile getting a save from someone. Though I guess you might just be confused about the backstory.

 

[blckgrffn]

If you opt not to play ME1 it might be worthwhile getting a save from someone. Though I guess you might just be confused about the backstory.

I played ME1 about a year ago and I find myself being confused about the back story sometimes

They give you prompts about the major people, but that Harkin guy? Totally don't remember where he fit into ME1...

 

[zerocool84]

I played ME1 about a year ago and I find myself being confused about the back story sometimes

They give you prompts about the major people, but that Harkin guy? Totally don't remember where he fit into ME1...

Yea I should have played ME1 again. I just started ME2 on Sunday night and I played ME1 early last year and I don't remember a lot of the stuff.

I'm enjoying ME2 though. Voice acting is top-notch which always helps you get into the story. There is practically zero inventory system though. I guess since no one liked the inventory for the first one, for some reason they decided to eliminate it completely.

 

[Aristotelian]

I just finished ME2 last night, and really had a blast. I did not appreciate the mining process for upgrades, but thought that the story was very well done. I am also a bit miffed about the paragon/renegade system, as it seems that absolutism is required for the more advanced situations and someone who does both paragon/renegade choices depending on the moment is 'gimped' that way.

Before ME3 comes out I'll probably 100% ME1, import that character to ME2 and do likewise, before importing that character to ME3. Though I do have an urge to replay ME2 immediately and do everything there is to do.

 

[Red Storm]

Mass Effect 2 was a good game, but there's no question the first one was way better. Better story and better game play than ME2 (I have to collect "ammo" packs and reload now? Really?). Plus the 2nd was way too human centric (and it looks like the 3rd is going to be even more so).

 

[Red Hawk]

Again, I'm pretty sure the majority of gamers do in fact think the second one is better. Your "no question" is just your opinion.

 

[Red Storm]

Well of course it's only my opinion, this is a forum after all.

IMHO, there are more FPS fans out there than RPG fans, and so those specific changes to ME2 were seen as improvements.

 

[Red Hawk]

Well, you didn't specify that ME1 was a better RPG, just a better game. Genre distinctions aside, most people think that ME2 was the better game.

 

[Red Storm]

That's because I do think it was a better game. Better story, better setting. I never understood the change to needing what essentially were ammo packs in the 2nd. That was really annoying.

 

[blckgrffn]

That's because I do think it was a better game. Better story, better setting. I never understood the change to needing what essentially were ammo packs in the 2nd. That was really annoying.

Don't worry about it. Red Hawk is merely forwarding his *opinion* on what he feels is the aggregate of other peoples opinion, which is like saying that most people feel that the 360 is better than the PS3 - that discussion isn't heading anywhere.

Thats said, I happen to agree with you.

Give the first game an actual inventory management system like any other MMO/Loot based RPG and it would have been nearly untouchable. That, and less time scaling slippery mountains in your truck.

 

[Red Hawk]

That the aggregate of other people's opinions is that ME2 was the better game is a fact, not an opinion. Unless somehow the numbers I see when I go to Metacritic or any website that allows user scores is somehow a figment of my imagination.

 

[blckgrffn]

That the aggregate of other people's opinions is that ME2 was the better game is a fact, not an opinion. Unless somehow the numbers I see when I go to Metacritic or any website that allows user scores is somehow a figment of my imagination.

Your assertion that metacritic is an accurate measurement of how gamers feel about a game is also an opinion.

See the DA2 thread for references to the total inaccuracy of metacritic.

LOL @ the concept that anything can be *proven* the internet. Statistical analysis FTL. About peoples opinions, that is

 

[Red Hawk]

By "metacritic" I meant the professional reviews, not Metacritic's own user score. And DA2 is a special case; users bombed the reviews out of spite without really giving it a chance.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Yes. ME1 created the story for ME2 and you need that thorough background to really appreciate all the intricacies of ME2's story, plus my personal opinion is that ME1 was a better game. ME2 is a single player shooter with a little upgrading, window dressing, etc...whereas ME1 was an enticing and undeniable RPG.

 

[s44]

By "metacritic" I meant the professional reviews, not Metacritic's own user score. And DA2 is a special case; users bombed the reviews out of spite without really giving it a chance.

DA2 got mediocre pro reviews, too, as its 80-84 Metacritic average shows...

What a bust. Now that's a case where they really did rip the RPG guts out. ME2 is, on top of everything else, a better RPG than ME1 (a lot more and better actual role-playing, for one).

 

[blckgrffn]

By "metacritic" I meant the professional reviews, not Metacritic's own user score. And DA2 is a special case; users bombed the reviews out of spite without really giving it a chance.

Professional game promoters?

Whatever man. It's evaluating an art form.

See what's going here? There will be no agreement. What's next? Deciding if Fallout 3 was a great game? LOL!

Prodigy and S44 proved the point... completely contrasting opinions in back to back posts...

ME2 question - can I get better DPS with the 2nd Tier Sniper Rifle on my infiltrator versus the slow and powerful T3 Version? Seems like I would be able to - missing also would not be such a big deal... Ammo expenditure would also be more "right sized" on levels with tons of easy guys... I wish I could leave the useless heavy weapon behind and carry both sniper rifles... like some other game I am thinking of

 

[Red Hawk]

I'm not arguing that ME2 is in fact a better game, nor am I saying that popular opinion that ME2>ME1 proves that it is a better game. I'm just saying that the popular opinion is that ME2 is the better game.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm not arguing that ME2 is in fact a better game, nor am I saying that popular opinion that ME2>ME1 proves that it is a better game. I'm just saying that the popular opinion is that ME2 is the better game.

On Metacritic. And if you go back and read through the original Mass Effect reviews, a lot of the zeros came from people who were upset with the DRM requirements of having to connect to servers. This is becoming a universal practice in today's games, so how many of those zeros wouldn't be there if ME1 was released today?

Point is, Metacritic only proves one thing... nothing.

 

[blckgrffn]

I'm not arguing that ME2 is in fact a better game, nor am I saying that popular opinion that ME2>ME1 proves that it is a better game. I'm just saying that the popular opinion is that ME2 is the better game.

I follow you. And you are free to that interpretation of the data you accept as true.

Personally, I am not buying it. Are we talking simple majority here or what?

I am sure Bioware is influenced by sales numbers and pressure from EA to put the game out this holiday season.

Popular opinion is likely an irrelevant factor, unfortunately.

 

[Red Hawk]

Not just on Metacritic, but on virtually every user score aggregate. And the DRM only applies to user reviews for the PC version, not the 360 version.