Starting With Mass Effect 2?

[mirror's edgy]

I know many will tell me to play the Mass Effect games any way I have to, but I also know they are very story- centric games. I am an RPG fan, and while ME2 sounds superior to the original, gameplay- wise, will I be struggling to keep up with the story? I have this problem because my PC cannot run it, but I do have a PS3.
EDIT: Sorry, I just realized another person started a similar topic.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

You probably won't be struggling to keep up with the story, but you will miss out on the little changes that happen as a result of what you do in ME1.

Still, I got ME2 before I got ME1 and to me importing a Mass Effect 1 savegame didn't make much of a difference when I got around to it anyway.

 

[Bek359]

Everything's explained pretty well, but you're stuck with the default sequence of events from the first game that they give you - council dies, Wrex dies, whichever human crew member has the same gender as you (Ashley/Kaiden) dies... Dunno what else. Many people have expressed the opinion that this is a pretty shitty default sequence of events, and I concur.

 

[jakko12345]

Personally, i would definitely play ME1 first. You won't get lost with ME2's story if you don't, but you'll miss out on a lot of references from the previous game that makes the experience so much better.

 

[Danceofmasks]

ME2 works reasonably well on its own.
I heard the PS3 version is going to have a sort of "the story so far" comic included, though.

 

[SomebodyNowhere]

If you have a PS3 just go with that version of 2 and hope that what they added as a story briefing is good enough to get you set for what awaits you.

 

[OliverTwist72]

I have a question, not trying to be mean, but is this forum always have a ton of Mass Effect threads or is it just today?

 

[KefkaCultist]

I have a question, not trying to be mean, but is this forum always have a ton of Mass Effect threads or is it just today?

Bioware and Valve are to this site as a child is to an overprotective mother. If you don't see a thread about either company or something they made then theres probably something wrong.

I would definitely start with ME1 just for all the little choices that transfer to the 2nd game and on to the 3rd. I do like that the PS3 version will have the ability to chose some of the major choices but those little ones that aren't chosen really add up to someone like me.

 

[Fishyash]

ME1 tells you lots more about the mass effect universe, but you won't get lost in the ME2 story, nor would it really be any worse just because you didn't play ME1 first, as everyone said, it's just little details from all the events from the previous game. Okay the story is a little worse since you don't identify from any characters you see from the first mass effect as well.

I... admittedly played ME2 first. But it was fine, I played it twice before I started playing ME1. And then for some reason the graphics look awful and the framerate in combat is abysmal. Maybe ME isn't liking my graphics card? And also I am terrible at it, I had to go down to normal from veteran due to the complete difference in gameplay. (Oh boy, I got a little bit sidetracked).

 

[MishiSings]

I concur with the above.

I think the Rachni Queen is also dead in the default, but since I've never played it, I'm not sure.

Bottom line is, if Mass Effects 1 and 2 are leading up to a Gondor Calls for Aid situation in Mass Effect 3, and you haven't spared Wrex, The Council, and the Rachni Queen, the aid you call to Gondor might turn out to be pretty paltry.

Maybe. I don't know.

 

[GiantRaven]

The only reason I'm currently playing through the first Mass Effect (and loving it) is because of playing the second game and I didn't really feel confused about the story and such.

 

[binvjoh]

Play the first one! It is awesome.

 

[NeedAUserName]

Can't play the first one, due to not being a PC gamer/xBox gamer, but I imagine the interactive comic that PS3 owners get with ME2 will at least help bring you up to date with the story.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I know many will tell me to play the Mass Effect games any way I have to, but I also know they are very story- centric games. I am an RPG fan, and while ME2 sounds superior to the original, gameplay- wise, will I be struggling to keep up with the story? I have this problem because my PC cannot run it, but I do have a PS3.
EDIT: Sorry, I just realized another person started a similar topic.

I hate to break it to you, but the official story in Mass Effect 2 is extremely short. So no, you won't have a problem keeping up on the story in the game. Most of the game is spent finding out about your squad. All you need to know is the Shep is a hero who blasted a Reaper in Mass Effect. There's more detail and whatnot than that, but it's easily researched. Plus, I played the Demo for the PS3, and that opening narration did a fairly good job of explaining things. You'll be fine. Pick it up as soon as it comes out.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I concur with the above.

I think the Rachni Queen is also dead in the default, but since I've never played it, I'm not sure.

Bottom line is, if Mass Effects 1 and 2 are leading up to a Gondor Calls for Aid situation in Mass Effect 3, and you haven't spared Wrex, The Council, and the Rachni Queen, the aid you call to Gondor might turn out to be pretty paltry.

Maybe. I don't know.

Quick! Someone light the beacons and send out the Red Arrow! I totally agree with you. I've saved everyone I possibly can in my games.

 

[Irridium]

Play the first one.

Default Shepard is the asshole Shepard. Meaning default Shepard is all Renegade.
Although in the end I guess it doesn't really matter since your choices from game-to-game did pretty much nothing.

 

[manythings]

I have a question, not trying to be mean, but is this forum always have a ton of Mass Effect threads or is it just today?

Bioware and Valve are to this site as a child is to an overprotective mother. If you don't see a thread about either company or something they made then theres probably something wrong.

I would definitely start with ME1 just for all the little choices that transfer to the 2nd game and on to the 3rd. I do like that the PS3 version will have the ability to chose some of the major choices but those little ones that aren't chosen really add up to someone like me.

They were also the last two Devs in the Developer Showdown. They both made some of the most nerd centric things in the medium.

OT: You don't HAVE to play ME1 first but I would advise it. Not so much story wise since you can pretty much pick up the salient points but gameplay wise you'll really appreciate that you started with the more difficult to control entry. Plus I did like importing my own shepard. If you really need it you can probably get a list of the things that the standard ME2 game (i.e. you don't import a save) has different vs. the other things.

 

[MishiSings]

Quick! Someone light the beacons and send out the Red Arrow! I totally agree with you. I've saved everyone I possibly can in my games.

I have GOT to reread LotR. My nerd cred is severely suffering from my inability to recall books I read 10 years ago.

I saved the Rachni Queen the first time because it would be tantamount to genocide and she promised to be good. I did it the second time because I read the Wild Mass Guess page on TV Tropes and figured I'd hedge my bets and hopefully I'll have an army of Rachni to command come Mass Effect 3. You better believe I've saving peeps right left and centre.

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

Eh. It pains me to endorse starting with ME2, but if all you have is a PS3, and you aren't interested in getting a 360, then I guess you have to take what you get.

You are absolutely missing out on an excellent game and a huge part of the story in ME1. I don't care that ME2's going to have a "prologue" that explains the story from the first game, it's just not going to be the same and it's not going to be nearly as effective as playing through ME1.

 

[Xaositect]

Youre missing out on most of the story by not playing (or being able to play) ME1, bar being condensed into a little comic that is, and its not really the same.

Instead youll dive right into the busywork, which is all of ME2s plot really.

Make no mistake though, 95% of the story that matters going into ME3 has come from ME1.

ME2 is mostly about pew'pewing your way through linear cover filled corridors at other peoples insistence. "Go here, do this while killing everyone in the entire level". Etc.