Mass Effect 2 - Character options

[Hithel]

I?m heading out this afternoon to grab a copy of Mass Effect 2 for PC. Looks to be a real treat, I?m glad Bioware is back on the throne regarding (western) RPGs.

Before I get started I?m curious about a few things however.

1. In ME I made the mistake of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, you basically had to decide at the start what kind of weapon you wanted to be remotely good by the end of the game and just plow down points into that category. Sniper rifles for instances had accuracy that was akin to shooting a BB gun in a storm, but sticking to it and it was a monster by the end of the game. Similarly a bow specialized Rogue in Dragon Age: Origins was getting his ass handed to him for the first half of the game, doing good around the middle and evening it out by mowing down anything in sight come the last part of the game. Is this the case in ME2 as well?

2. How is the Mass Effect 1 (ME) character porting handling? I uninstalled ME some months ago but kept the data files, will that do for porting the character decisions made in the first game? I have yet to see this particular point addressed in detail by Bioware.

3. Can the story really support an evil or female Shephard? Dragon Age: Origins did wonders for covering every option when it came to playing a specific race, background or personality but ME was a somewhat more linear affair in this regard. You had a default male character that were given some personality options through conversation and action but the options given was basically playing a grumpy Shepard or a noble Shephard. So, any indication of wether I?m missing out in missions, romances, ending, equipment by playing anything but a male middle-of-the-road Shephard?


Can't wait to get out of work and down to my Game Stop!

 

[Altorin]

1. No, weapon skills aren't even used in this game, and sniper rifles are fine from the getgo, if your class can use them.

2. If you import, you get all of your story choices, a bonus to your starting level, extra credits, extra crafting mats, and a bonus to your starting paragon/renegade.

If you don't import, you start at level 1 with very minimal credits, and have to enter the big choices in during conversations early in the game. Smaller choices are made for you (and again, some big choices, such as Ashley surviving Virmire)

OH, I'm not sure, but I think that will do, you don't import into ME2 directly from ME1.. I'm not sure, it depends what saves you saved.. I play it on 360

3. Uhh, yeah? Evil in Mass Effect isn't like Dark Side in Star Wars. Renegade just means doing the job no matter what the cost of innocent life and safety. You won't end up destroying the world with your evil ways, you'll save it by killing a bunch of innocent people.

As for female, yeah, there's no baggage attached to Shep's gender in either game. Play what you want, it's fine

 

[Aunel]

1) The assault rifle kicked the arse of everything in that game.
2) Well if it doesn't work, you can just install it again right?
3) of course they can support an evil character they're bioware, they can make anything work!
4) the Question you forgot: If Shepard's team was a band, who would play what instrument?
I choose Wrex as a bassist.

 

[Amnestic]

1) The assault rifle kicked the arse of everything in that game.

Assuming you're talking ME1, the Pistol was a superior/equal weapon due to Marksman bonuses.

And a Spectre Sniper X with two Rail Extension VII and High Explosive Round X>all. Handheld tank cannons for the win.

4) the Question you forgot: If Shepard's team was a band, who would play what instrument?
I choose Wrex as a bassist.

Depends on the genre of music. Wrex's voice could lend itself to certain lead vocal styles.

 

[Uilleand]

1. Sniper rifle is WAAAAY more fun in ME2. Very nice. However, there's a very limited number of skills on the tree...and none of them are weapons skills. You can use what you can use, and skills go to different types of ammo and powers

2.Character port is excellent. There's a config button on the launch screen that will lead you through the process...then you can choose to keep your Shep's face/class...or change either...or both. I finished one playthrough with a 'generic' Shep before porting in one of my own...the little detail changes are amazing.

3. Support? Support!?!? There were two defaults - John and Jane Shepard and I don't care who's on the posters, Fem!Shep's still got the superior voice performance... As for renegade ... yeah, all the options are there. (And some of the best moments come from being a jackass...hehe) (Although, considering some of the romance dialogue...I'm not surprised when I look at the writers' list and don't recognize any female names.)

 

[Kiju]

Just keep in mind...there's going to be 'ammo' clips in this game, instead of just the over-heat of the first one.

So...you're going to need to think of how to use your weapons more strategically than in the first one, and of course pick an arsenal that best suits your needs. The Sniper Rifle is a good choice, it always was for me...but with the new powers, abilities, and perks...it's going to just be situational preference again. Myself? ...I found myself enjoying the pistol, using it to shred an enemy's shields, then going in heavy with a Shotgun for the killing blow (and I played an Engineer, mind you.)