Mass Effect 2 - Cumulative Thread

[The Dude]

Best thing about side missions in ME2 is that if you get the DLC packs, the game's standard side missions are completely optional. You get enough money and experience from doing the main storyline + loyalty quests + overlord, shadow broker and kasumi DLC's. The side missions are completely trivial in the sense that there's no longer any necessity to do them. You might still want to though just to experience the smaller stories that are woven into some of the side mission's followups.

 

[Stavroforos]

Indeed, what I didn't like was that there wasn't any actual reason to do most of the sidequests. You just kinda ran into them or maybe had them come from another mission, maybe.

In ME1, the sidequests were boring, dull, and unoriginal, but the story behind them was pretty decent. Especially the Cerberus ones.

 

[EmperorJulian]

Well I just finished ME2, It took me more than a week to get through everything and I certainly enjoyed it. Naturally I plan to go through it again and get some of the other DLC packs (well mainly the Lair of the Shadow Broker) but I think I'll go through ME1 first and get a non-meta character imported this time.

Most of the problems I had with ME2 are quibbles and not really complaints. The only thing I actually didn't enjoy was the Hammerhead stuff, it just wasn't very interesting at all. I enjoyed how the missions, even the minor ones occurred in unique locations, but it seems like the unique and engaging environments were at the expense of variety and story telling. I suppose its something of a trade off, but I felt ME1, despite the numerous identical locales had a bit more bang-for-your-buck with its side quests. Especially with Admiral Hackett calling in to give you extensive background from time to time. ME2 also has some glitches and bugs, more so than I remember seeing in ME1, though nothing major. I guess my only personal regret, as I said, was using a meta-character import from the first game. Next time I wont input a Shepard that was created with a meticulously followed walk through.

As for what I enjoyed, I'd put the story at the top of the list. I thought the addition of "ammo" even if it makes zero sense in terms of story was a fine addition gameplay wise, I didn't think it detracted from anything. The dialogue was good and the acting as well was better than expected. I was impressed with how much more work was put into Joker, a relatively minor character from the first game with a few pivotal exploits. I didn't do any romance options this go-around, mainly because I thought none of the female alternatives were particularly attractive. Certainly I couldn't see Shepard with Miranda, anyone who wants to install a mind-control device in my brain is pretty much disqualified for intimate encounters. ME2 naturally ended much like the first game and I'm curious to see how this leads into the third installment, which sadly is still a long way off. Though perhaps not as far away as The Elder Scrolls V or Half Life 2: Episode 3.

Well I've rambled for long enough, the game was a good buy, more so since I got the Cerberus thing for free and I paid well under the 59.99 original price tag. And of course, what game can go wrong with Michael Dorn on the team anyway? Cheers!

 

[Beregond]

glad you enjoyed it, Julian

On the sidequests. At least one of them was really good in my opinion (well, they all were pretty nice). The one about infected mechs, it consists of 3? missions and has some nice scenes, like a dead space station with corpses of stuff killed by crazy VI

 

[squatlover]

What do people think about the difference between Insanity and Hardcore difficulty levels. I first played the game through on Hardcore, then a NG+ on Insanity, and to start off with, it was difficult because I actually had to learn how to use powers rather than just using it as a shooting game. I was surprised how hard Insanity was - ie: unloading an entire clip into an enemies face at point blank range did not kill them (before you get weapon upgrades) and they just look up and blow you away in 3 shots. Or unloading an assault rifle clip (no incenderies) into a vorcha, reloading, and finding in the time it took to change the clip, the vorcha had regenerated the health.
I was forced to change my tactics, -ie: spend most of my time defensively, in cover and keeping distance between enemies and me (because the enemy would flatten you trading blows), and I've gone back to hardcore as an adept and it is so easy. I almost want them to make a super insanity, where all the enemies try an rush you at once, although that would be super frustrating.

 

[Musthavename]

Personally I just found Insanity time consuming rather than difficult. It was tricky at first when you really had to learn how to utilise the guns you had, but otherwise it was fine (Horizon was horrific at that difficulty though) After I cleared it on that difficulty I played subsequent campaigns on Hardcore instead. Then again, i've only cleared the game as Soldier/Infiltrator/Vanguard. The lack of a primary weapon for most of the game really put me off the other classes, but i'd imagine going through hardcore as an Adept would be ridiculously hard.

 

[Captain Jin]

I had lots of fun on insanity. I thought it was much better. Some parts were pretty challenging, like whenever that big wraith or reaver or whatever the hell that floating rotting corpse thing that blasts you with the ray gun comes around. Both on Horizon and on the collector ship, but the ship was much harder part. On Horizon you just have to kill the husks then kite the floater around the pick up truck on the left hand side of the map and keep shooting away. Meanwhile you post up your two companions on a walkway behind there and leave them there, they just help you and shoot husks while the floater follows you around.

 

[Kamos]

Oh dear sweet lord the Collector ship on insanity was maddening.

 

[Legio]

Praetorians were always a .

 

[squatlover]

I heard that the collector ship was hard so I didn't spare the medigel on insanity, and it was easy (even though I used 6 medigel). I am very frugal with medigel and heavy weapons, in fact, I don't tend to use them at all unless I run out of ammo. I do get frustrated with squadmates on Insanity as they just die and do very little damage (because the enemy health is high and their weapons are strong), but on Hardcore I find that they are alive at the end of each mini - battle - amazing!
Difficult parts on Insanity I found were: Horizon (husk wave plus 2 scions at the start until I found you can take out the scions from the stairs), Mordins recruitment mission with the fans (squadmates last about 3 seconds as they jump out of cover to get hit by 1 rocket to the face and a couple of shots and they fold, nothing you can do about it), 180 mechs side mission caused me to die many times, and the shadow broker DLC just before you get into the ship.

Praetorians plus Oculus were really annoying in that they were easy to beat if you just ran from them, because they ignored your squadmates and just chased you around, which took you out of the game, but they were likely to kill you if you tried to face hem head on.

 

[Musthavename]

Personally I found Praetorians and the Oculus a joke. They consumed a ton of ammo to kill, but nothing about them was difficult, except maybe a bunch of random husks being annoying. Honestly, Husks on insanity were easily the toughest creatures, especially early on in the game where your weapons and ammo are very limited.

 

[Bolkonsky]

Anything's easy to kill with the Incisor.

 

[Captain Jin]

Praetorians a joke? Say whaaat? Maybe on Horizon once you've dealt with the husks, but on the collector ship? Omfg hells no. As far as squad mates on insanity, I found that if I micromanaged their movements a bit more than usual they were pretty useful.

 

[Kamos]

Soldiers with snipers got me through insanity. Of course once I got Legion and his Widow I might as well of had an orgasm on Insanity.

 

[Captain Jin]

I did insanity as a soldier and as a infiltrator. I started a game as a female biotic and man it's ing hard.

 

[Banfred]

 

[Cyrus the Virus]

I did insanity as a soldier and as a infiltrator. I started a game as a female biotic and man it's ing hard.

The female race is weak. Have that in mind.

/discrimination

Seriously, am really considering going with ME1 today.
Would I want to be a soldier. AGAIN?
Thing is I don't want my Shepard being too different, like with biotics.
Soldier feels like him.

 

[Musthavename]

Praetorians a joke? Say whaaat? Maybe on Horizon once you've dealt with the husks, but on the collector ship? Omfg hells no. As far as squad mates on insanity, I found that if I micromanaged their movements a bit more than usual they were pretty useful.

None of the extra enemies respawn or come in extra waves even on Insanity. At least on the collector ship, you end up having 2-3 husks and a couple collectors to deal with. I always stay on the raised bit at first and go behind the pillar to block the Praetorian's attack. The husks will come to you and are a fairly easy kill. The Prae will then generally come up the left side, that's when I would rush down the right and try and take out those collectors quickly. Once that's done, just kite the guy.

Soldiers with snipers got me through insanity. Of course once I got Legion and his Widow I might as well of had an orgasm on Insanity.

Agreed. I've personally found any squadmate without a Sniper Rifle is nigh on useless. Except maybe Grunt, as he really takes a lot to put down. The guys with Snipers do noticeable damage, and you can stick 'em way at distance out of harms way.

 

[Captain Jin]

None of the extra enemies respawn or come in extra waves even on Insanity. At least on the collector ship, you end up having 2-3 husks and a couple collectors to deal with. I always stay on the raised bit at first and go behind the pillar to block the Praetorian's attack. The husks will come to you and are a fairly easy kill. The Prae will then generally come up the left side, that's when I would rush down the right and try and take out those collectors quickly. Once that's done, just kite the guy.

Yes, I eventually used that method to beat the thing, but not before I died on that section a bunch of times, enraging me beyond all reason.

Agreed. I've personally found any squadmate without a Sniper Rifle is nigh on useless. Except maybe Grunt, as he really takes a lot to put down. The guys with Snipers do noticeable damage, and you can stick 'em way at distance out of harms way.

I don't know man, to be honest when I was playing through with my fem-shep I found some of the other teammates to be pretty useful on insanity when used properly. To my surprise I actually found Miranda to be quite useful. Although I haven't played too far with Fem-shep game cause I want to get all the DLC before I play through again.

 

[Hotspur]

Miranda with an upgraded machine pistol and the right ammo just shreds.

 

[Top-Tier-Tech]

Spoiler

That is gold, pure gold.

 

[Kurtz]

What the hell happened to that Armistan Banes storyline from ME1? I expected for some more insight into him in ME2 with that whole Cerberus thing but I got none. I assumed he was TIM but I don't know for sure.

 

[Razvus]

http://kotaku.com/5677754/game-dev-helps-test-super-suit-for-space-flight

The new suit in development at MIT's Man-Vehicle Laboratory is meant to simulate the effects of gravity on the human body, according to PopSci. It does this by compressing the body, shoulder to heel, in a tight fitting elastic suit with stirrups

damn dude, we're one step away from having ME suits in reality. A few decades and Shepard's mom will be born.

 

[Bolkonsky]

Virgin is planning to launch civilian space travel as well. Now just to find meself a Quarian!

 

[Captain Jin]

I just downloaded ALL the ME2 DLC finally. Can't wait to play again, though I'll have a busy weekend so I guess it has to wait.

 

[Top-Tier-Tech]

New 6 hour mission in PS3 ME2 Original post here http://social.bioware.com/forum/4/topic/81/index/5170462

 

[Captain Jin]

What it's a PS3 exclusive or something??

 

[Top-Tier-Tech]

What it's a PS3 exclusive or something??

Noone knows yet.

 

[squatlover]

I did think mass effect 2 on insanity was difficult until I played Halo on Legendary. I can't believe I found Horizon and Mordins Recruitment Mission difficult now

 

[Beregond]

It'd be real crap if that new mission was only for PS3 version