So, uh... Mass Effect- Am I missing something?

[Jursa]

Finished the game twice, once as a conniving treacherous asshole and another time as a goody goody two shoes. The only thing those 2 times I played had in common was Rex... oh I loved the guy... Personally I loved the adept, I really felt like I was literally crushing the enemies with the power of the force, plus singularity was cool just to look at. Second time I was the infiltrator and I have to say, it was shit. Ya the hacking, cracking and sniping work well for a while, but a while after when you're killing your 1000th geth... you wish you had that extra something that drags the enemies into one place for aoe kill...

 

[JakubK666]

Well...if you're gonna bother doing those shitty repetitive secondary mission (EPIC PHAIL from a dev that brought us some of the best extra quests ever made) then shotgun is a MUST. There's something about the AI in enclosed space that makes them rush you...

 

[Aardvark]

But that's the point, all the classes (except soldier) are pointless classes.

I was the Engineer and the Adept when starting the second hardest and hardest difficulties. I had no problems with them at all.

The only part in the whole game that I found difficult was the moon level, only on impossible mode. Those little bastards swarm your arse the moment you alert them, so I was reduced to killing a few, leave the building, come back, killing more, leaving, getting sick of this, going away, leveling up, sticking high explosive rounds in my sniper rifle, coming back and dominating.

On planets with no cover, you've got the Mako. Half experience, sure, but once you get used to the thing, you can use it to whittle them down to a sliver of health, then knock it off with the Sniper rifle. Once you get to segments where you lose the Mako, there's cover everywhere.

Come to think of it, I still haven't clocked the game with Soldier yet. A bit of a boring class, after being sniper king of the traverse for three games.

 

[DirkGently]

So, I recently got a 360, and have just now gotten around to playing one of the four games I deemed necessary: Mass Effect. My sister adores the game, telling me it was pretty much KOTOR with a bunch of Pew-Pew lazers thrown in. So, that's nice and all, but I can't help but feel like I'm missing something.
I played Bioware's Star Wars games, and they were at a rational level of difficulty, but I just keep dying in their spiritual sequel. Take, for example, one of the very first firefights, in which you have to shoot some dudes and dismantle a few atomic bombs. Subtle U2 refrences aside, I follow the instinct based in years of FPS games- make some distance and snipe the bastards. I die six times with this method, for god knows why. Then I say, "To hell with it," and take the direct, AKA ten feet away from the enemies' faces route, and the whole thing's a breeze.
This trend has continued in my few meager hours with Mass Effect- be at the right place at the right time or die- and I must say, I find it very disruptive to an otherwise beautiful and fun game. Considering past gaming experiences, I am awefully tempted to think that I am missing a simple, albeit vital factor in the game, so I am now asking yall, rather than immediately condemning it as poor design.

At first, yeah, that happened to me. Near the end it gets like that
where you're fighting the hardest enemy units that aren't 'boss' units (eg, the giant walking tanks), and you've got a series of missile launcher designed to take out star ships shooting at you. From the beginning to end game, just use cover like it's nobodies business.

On the sniping, you really need four or five points into the skill before it becomes non-fail and usable. The 'super-gun-skill-boost' abilities are quite useful as well. If you're a tech/biotics class abuse the hell out of the skill. They make it alot easier and more fun. Also, after you get 'Get X kills with Y weapon" or "use X skill Y times" achievement, you can choose to add one of those that you've unlocked to a new character.

 

[geldonyetich]

It's a pretty solid game once you get the hang of using cover and abilities. Combat with the Mako becomes particularly manageable once you learn to zoom before firing.

You can complain about the classes, but I did my first runthrough with an Infiltrator and it wasn't impossible. Having learned quite a bit about using cover during that run, I can now pretty much beat the game on the highest difficulty and any class.

In the end, my only complaint about Mass Effect is that Mass Effect 2 isn't out yet. Well, that and on a replay you become aware of just how dialogue heavy it is. You can't skip every line, either

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

Once you get past the tutorial area it's not so bad. You really do have to level up your weapon skills before they're much use though; shotguns, assault rifles and sniper rifles are all pretty useless in the tutorial level. However, later on, they become much more integral to your success, as does making sure you pick the right weapon mods (Hammerhead rounds in shotguns FTW).

You really have to learn to use your abilities as well. Adrenaline Boost is very important, as it renews all your other abilities and is available to most classes. Generally you can cycle through your abilities before using Adrenaline Boost to get them all back again. What I'm really saying is if you make it to the end of the investigation on the Citadel then you'll have the variety of skills that you need to succeed, whatever class you are. It's also worth considering the side missions there, as they are the least repetitive in the game.

My only problem with the combat was that if Shepard goes down it's all over, whereas any of the other characters get up fine. It really became a problem against enemies who single you out and try to rape you (like geth destroyers).

On another note, why are people saying the soldier is the only decent class? The vanguard is brillaint; a combination of levitating, throwing and shielding powers and a high stopping power shotgun is hilarious. It's also very effective against enemies like the Krogan (and Husks) who try to rush you, since almost of the tools at your disposal are very effective at stopping them.

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

I've only played through the game once and it wasn't even on my console. It was when my 360 died and I was waiting to have it repaired so I borrowed a friends console. I played as a Vanguard and personally found it quite enjoyable. However most of the time it was clunky switching from weapon fire to biotics.

I found myself using my pistol and shotgun more than biotics anyway... Pistol for chipping off health from a distance and then using my shotgun to blow Geth and Krogan away. The shielding powers came in handy and so did levitating but the throwing was just pointless. And yeah, cover is really important otherwise you're gonna get shredded.

 

[Ophiuchus]

I borrowed it from my housemate three months ago, played it for about three hours over the course of a couple of days and haven't touched it since. Just couldn't get into it. Then of course there's the words. Oh dear God, the words. Millions of them. Everywhere. Pouring out in torrents at every opportunity. Gahhh.

...I think it's fair to say I'm not likely to pick it up again any time soon.

 

[nimrandir]

On another note, why are people saying the soldier is the only decent class? The vanguard is brillaint; a combination of levitating, throwing and shielding powers and a high stopping power shotgun is hilarious. It's also very effective against enemies like the Krogan (and Husks) who try to rush you, since almost of the tools at your disposal are very effective at stopping them.

See, I was wondering if the OP was playing as a Vanguard, simply because almost all the powerful talents for that class are locked in the early game. I had a much harder time with the first combat scenarios as a Vanguard than I did as an Infiltrator, Soldier, or Adept simply because if my shields went down, I had no recourse but to hunker down.

My own experience with the game's combat (on the normal difficulty setting) was fair. I died a few times before I got a handle on the command menu and the cover system.

 

[MintyFreshBreathGuy]

I didn't like the game. I only had two "dies-a-lot" situations but that was either because the earlier missions made me go in there with one health or the AI screwed up. All-in-all I can't see why everyone likes this games as much as the first KOTOR or Jade Empire (Jade Empire was awesome). People can like what they like but I just didn't. Btw I played through the game as an infiltrator on medium it was hard having to use just the pistol.

 

[SkinnySlim]

All I can say is, I have gotten more use out of this game than just about any other 360 game I've played. Good story, good gameplay, and I disagree with those that say that the game doesn't play any different with different classes, because it is totally different. I don't know how you can say playing as a bull soldier guns blazing is the same as playing as a tech adept sabotaging enemies from afar. Mass Effect is a rare game, it takes some time to learn how to manipulate and jive with your team, but it clicks soon after. Sure, there are a few bugs, but the story and gameplay are well worth it. Plus, the DLC is tops. I play it regularly in anticipation for the sequel. Hopefully the planetside exploration is a little better next time, though...

 

[AceDiamond]

just to throw in my thought on classes, I first played through as the Infiltrator and I had no problems.

Then again maybe I just enjoyed the idea of making people's weapons break.

 

[Shurikens and Lightning]

So, I recently got a 360, and have just now gotten around to playing one of the four games I deemed necessary: Mass Effect. My sister adores the game, telling me it was pretty much KOTOR with a bunch of Pew-Pew lazers thrown in. So, that's nice and all, but I can't help but feel like I'm missing something.
I played Bioware's Star Wars games, and they were at a rational level of difficulty, but I just keep dying in their spiritual sequel. Take, for example, one of the very first firefights, in which you have to shoot some dudes and dismantle a few atomic bombs. Subtle U2 refrences aside, I follow the instinct based in years of FPS games- make some distance and snipe the bastards. I die six times with this method, for god knows why. Then I say, "To hell with it," and take the direct, AKA ten feet away from the enemies' faces route, and the whole thing's a breeze.
This trend has continued in my few meager hours with Mass Effect- be at the right place at the right time or die- and I must say, I find it very disruptive to an otherwise beautiful and fun game. Considering past gaming experiences, I am awefully tempted to think that I am missing a simple, albeit vital factor in the game, so I am now asking yall, rather than immediately condemning it as poor design.

I play on easy with that game because i play for story not Pew Pew guns. It is trying to become a cross platform but i like the old kotor methods better.

 

[Jennacide]

No class is pointless, the real problem is that Soldier is bordering on broken. If you want to play and have an insanely easy time play soldier. The class you pick does have an impact on the actual difficulty of the setting you put it on. IE: if you pick full Biotic of full Tech (forgot class names) the difficulty is basically one notch higher than you picked because those classes are inherently weak early on.

My suggestion for first class if you don't want Soldier is Vanguard. Nice mix of some soldier strengths with some Biotics to play with. Personally I'm still infatuated with ME and can't wait for part 2 coming out someone in late Q3 early Q4 this year.

 

[Lokithrsourcerer]

not sure how old this thread is popped up in a google search

I love this game but i'm not sure what everyone is talking about with the difficulty.

so far in my 2 runs of the game the only problem game play wise i've come accross is that the ally AI is somtimes a bit retarded.

but the sniper rifle is ace so long as you give it about 1 second to steady never needs more than 2 shots in my experince and if u stick cryo rounds in it its seems to be pretty mutch a 1 shot deal.
infact all the guns are sick, the shotgun to my amusement when lvled up can be used at long range and later on in the game the pistol does almost as much damage as the shotgun!!

and the assult rifle well it pretty much does exactly what it sez on the tin!

the graphics are beautifull and the main plots and story's are enthralling while the atmos remainded me of a kind of DS9 /dune feel. with the occasional nod to oher scifi faves.

my only compliant is the side quests while not nessacery for the story they do raise a lot of cash and xp and obsesively completeing them may be why i found the rest of the game to have the perfect level of challenge. but surley they could have made a few more layouts and back drops.

oh yeah and what the fuck is the maco all about it handles like a kids toy. surounded by insane mind-blowing technology and yet they give you a car from wacky races to get around in!

 

[Deef]

I use the sniper, but a close range. It has so many upgrades that it overheats in one shot that can destroy half a geth behemoth.

 

[The Shade]

Don't use sniping until you have
a) a higher sniping level
b) a decent rifle

Otherwise it's freakin' impossible. Sniping is barely effective when you start out, but it becomes your greatest ally when you're deeper into the game. (Assuming you're playing a character that has Sniper as a skill, such as Soldier.)

EDIT: Wow...just noticed how old this thread actually is. Nevermind then...

 

[veryboringfact]

why all the sniper rifle hate....

Pick Infiltrator, level up your sniper skills, and HEY FUCKING PRESTO IT DOESN'T SWAY ANYMORE. What a terrible design flaw that causes classes who aren't meant to use sniper rifles to actually suck at using them....

I levelled an infiltrator to 60, and with master spectre gear at mark ten, put some rail mounts and high explosive rounds in your sniper and you have something that makes the death star look like a spud gun, using it to gutshot thorean creepers and watch them fly literally several game-kilometers into the distance never gets old, and is the best way to really see the game's physics engine in action.

And as for advising people to pick soldier "to learn the game", i can only assume the game in question is Gears of War, seeing as you learn Mass Effect the same way as any RPG, throw yourself in at the deep-end with the hardest class and difficulty and bask all the more in your own ego as you finally rise to becoming the most powerful being in the galaxy.

I wouldn't reccommend the soldier to anyone as you will only end up learning all of the story without learning any of the game.

 

[Fenring]

if you need to beef up your stats, do a few side missions ins which the vehicle plays a large role, explore some planets, maybe do the "Find Liara" quest. I've ran through the game at least once with every class, most on the hardest setting, and I've found that once you reach level 20 and do the quest on the Moon, things get easier.

I did think the Benezia battle was pretty hard if you do that early on, I normally do Novaria after Feros.

 

[Simriel]

Yeah I was like this first time round. But you cannot compare it too much to KOTOR or it ruins the game. They are very different. Now its one of my fave games evar.