How do you beat Mass Effect twice (or more times)?

[Stammer]

I beat Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 recently. They're without a doubt within my top 4 games at the moment. There are so many ways to beat them and I'd like to play through them both again. My only problem is, I can't.

Starting Mass Effect 1 again (this is about 3 weeks since my first play through), I'm finding myself unable to find it as interesting. It's all something I've seen before. I know every thing that's going to happen, I know all the spoilers, all the tricks, all the characters. I know all of my the big decisions I have to face and have already worked out in my head how I'm going to approach them all. I was 100% paragon male Soldier my first play through and now I'm going for 100% renegade female Vanguard-- it should be totally different but it still doesn't feel different enough.

So many people say they've played through both games tons of times. How? Is there a train of thought you have to follow or period of time you have to wait before you can immerse yourself into the experience again? I know it's a vague question, but hopefully at least one of you can help me out.

 

[MorsePacific]

I've played both several times and what keeps me going is the quest to see all the content. I like to watch the story unfold in different ways. Make different decisions, hear different dialogue.

Although, I can't stand Mass Effect 1 anymore. Just so bland.

 

[AlternatePFG]

How far are you into the game?

Because everything before you become a Spectre is just tedious on repeat playthrough.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I have the same problem with nearly every Bioware game.

On my first playthrough I absolutely love it, but the moment I try to replay it I'm hit by how terribly monotonous the gameplay really is. And I'll basically be dragging myself trough the gameplay to get to the story bits.

 

[Loop Stricken]

So many people say they've played through both games tons of times. How?

Achievements.

Like "Oh crap I absolutely have to have Liara and Ashley in my party at all times for ALL the sidequests" sort of thinking.
Tali and Garrus? No problem!

 

[Bobbety]

Maybe you shouldn't be replaying them if you find it too samey.

 

[CJ1145]

I only played through Mass Effect 1 twice-- one Ashley Romance, one Liara Romance, both full-on Paragon with all side quests done.

Mass Effect 2 I do everything a little differently. In my mind I'm watching a Mass Effect movie of sorts, and it entertains me to try and craft a cinematic sort of story, with all sorts of bits of drama and appropriately epic action sequences. I do the missions in a different order each time, to mix up the pacing of the plot, and I always take a different set of squad members on every mission so each character has their moment in the spotlight. While I'm certain this won't work for everyone it makes me enjoy the game even more immensely than before.

For example, one Shepard becomes best buds with Mordin from the start, and on his loyalty mission is patiently waiting out the Clan Weyrloc fanatic as he is ranting about how his clan will dominate the galaxy. But the moment he even mentions harming the Salarians, Shepard sees the look on Mordin's face and snaps, immediately setting those bastards on fire.

 

[Laser Priest]

I played the first at least ten times and the second six so far.

I have to play both of them more in preparation for Mass Effect 3.

 

[Stammer]

How far are you into the game?

Because everything before you become a Spectre is just tedious on repeat playthrough.

Not too far past that. I freed Liara first and now I'm on Feros.

 

[spartan231490]

I think some people are just more suited to replaying than others. i can reread a book a dozen times and still find it interesting, most people can't.

 

[WinkyTheGreat]

Have you tried mixing up your class? I've got about 3 or 4 difference characters and have played through the first one about 7 times.

 

[Stammer]

I think some people are just more suited to replaying than others. i can reread a book a dozen times and still find it interesting, most people can't.

As true as I think that may be, I can beat a lot of my games over and over again. Heck, I've re-watched lots of movies several times even. Maybe it has to do with the amount of emphasis on story? I find that games I have the most playthroughs on are games that emphasize gameplay over story. And have watched movies that are either funny or action-packed.

 

[Krantos]

Honestly, I've had the same experience as the OP.

I've only ever managed two playthroughs for both games, and I didn't do the second ME1 playthrough until ME2 came out.

I really don't know what it is, but these games just seem hard to replay. This is especially odd seeing as how I've done 4+ playthroughs on Dragon Age, and countless other characters I never finished.


I think the problem is the classes don't feel distinct enough. Just different flavors of shooting, really.

 

[TheKruzdawg]

I will admit that playing through Mass Effect 1, especially before you become a Spectre, can be very tedious. I replay for a variety of reasons:

1) Achievements. I want them all and I know that I can get them.
2) I honestly love the universe that has been crafted and I like exploring it.
3) Setting up Shepards for the sequels. Like you, I pretty much know how I'm going to make each decision (this playthrough I'm on currently is a Renegade) and I like seeing how the story will turn out this time and how these choices will ripple into the next games.
4) There are a lot of moments in this game that are awesome/dramatic/funny no matter how many times I go through them. A lot of the dialogue between characters, even if I know exactly when they will say it and how and what they will say, I love it. Some of Joker's lines, or the dry humor of Wrex and Garrus will never get old to me.

I recommend taking a break from the game for awhile. It could be it's just too much too soon for this game. Go play something else and then come back to it later. I've found I'm not able to play through the same game soon after I just finished a playthrough of it.

 

[Stammer]

Have you tried mixing up your class? I've got about 3 or 4 difference characters and have played through the first one about 7 times.

Like I said, my first playthrough was as paragon, male, Soldier Shepard, my second playthrough is as renegade, female, Vanguard Shepard.

 

[Irridium]

Fun fact, the game isn't that different no matter what you do, and even when you try to do everything the exact opposite of what you did before, things still play out more or less the same way. It's because the Mass Effect universe does not shape to your choices as you'd been led to believe. It's what Bioware's good at, providing the illusion of choice. You don't really have much of a choice over how the story plays out though.

That, and the second time your through the great story doesn't mask the mediocre gameplay. Almost all of Bioware's games have crappy-mediocre combat. Their best game gameplay wise was MDK 2.

I was able to re-play the first many times because I really liked it. And I knew what I was getting into with it being a Bioware game. It met my expectations, and exceeded them, so I enjoy it over and over.

 

[Mark Flanagan]

Play on the hardest difficulty, I'm doing this in ME:2 and DA:2 atm and it A) Slows down the game and B) Makes it interesting to me.

Really considering to play my first play through in ME:3 on Insanity.

 

[pspman45]

I have played Mass Effect 10 times
I have played Mass Effect 2 18 times

It is a fun game, and a unique experience. I just love being in the world of Mass Effect, Bioware did a fantastic job making it feel like it really was Sci-fi space

 

[badgersprite]

I never had any problem playing through them again, because I found the story interesting, and enjoyed the combat since the higher difficulty only unlocked after you beat the game at least once. Admittedly, at least part of the reason why I replayed the first Mass Effect is because I wanted to complete all the sidequests and get the best possible endings for some of the major quests, when, in my first runthrough, wasn't able to, say, get the best outcome for Feros.

I didn't even really bother changing Shepards. I found playing as Paragon Shepard multiple times more than interesting enough to hold my attention.

But then, that's just me. I'm a chronic game replayer. I've never had any trouble playing games several times. Maybe you're just not the sort of person who finds that interesting or entertaining.

 

[Ben Edge]

leave some time in between plays filled with other games is the only advice i can offer, it worked dam well for me