Poll: ME2 Save progression

[razing32]

Hey ,

I have an issue with ME2 save progression feature.
If by ME3 you don't like a choice you made in ME1 you have to replay the whole series as I hear that the quiz at the beginning of each game won't cut it.

What do you, the honorable Escapist members, believe ?

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Yes, this is true.

It really sucked in ME2 that brand new characters were automatically assumed to have been utter jerks in ME1.

It was like Bioware's sneaky little way of saying 'that's what you get for not playing the first game first!'

Anyway... when ME3 is coming out I will gladly replay the first two.

 

[Enderrr]

I'll gladly replay the 2nd but I find ME1 difficult to play now after experiencing all the improvements made in the sequel.

 

[IronicBeet]

I think it makes it more like real life that way. If you can't just go back and change your decision in a few minutes, it gives it that extra layer of realism and helps you get more involved in the game. For example, I lost my two favourite crew members in the suicide mission. Would I love to have them back? Yes. But would it also ruin the continuity of the game and make me feel less involved in the story? Definitely. Having to deal with the decisions you made in the previous games makes it feel like a real story, and not just a third person shooter.

 

[Omikron009]

I have two characters I've finished ME1 and 2 with, and I plan on carrying them into the third one, so I have no problems.

 

[atol]

So... you're basically saying that you don't think Mass Effect should have had any choices, and had just been a linear FPS?

 

[Amnestic]

If you're on the PC, you can just use a savegame editor to only need an ME2 playthrough.

I highly doubt that there won't be a similar savegame editor for ME3 which will let you tailor make an ME2/ME1 import for ME3.

 

[razing32]

So... you're basically saying that you don't think Mass Effect should have had any choices, and had just been a linear FPS?

I'm not saying anything like that, I'm saying the replayability seems a bit forced.
But I'm more interested in what other people think of the game and how it was implemented or how it should be.

 

[flaming_squirrel]

So... you're basically saying that you don't think Mass Effect should have had any choices, and had just been a linear FPS?

I'm not saying anything like that, I'm saying the replayability seems a bit forced.
But I'm more interested in what other people think of the game and how it was implemented or how it should be.

It's not forcing you to do anything, it's just making you deal with your previous actions.
If you dont want to replay them then dont, but expect that it wont work out EXACTLY how you want it to.

 

[atol]

So... you're basically saying that you don't think Mass Effect should have had any choices, and had just been a linear FPS?

I'm not saying anything like that, I'm saying the replayability seems a bit forced.
But I'm more interested in what other people think of the game and how it was implemented or how it should be.

...And the only way to make it not seem forced would be to have made it linear. Unless you have another idea.

 

[razing32]

If you dont want to replay them then dont, but expect that it wont work out EXACTLY how you want it to.

That EXACTLY you so skillfully underlined , is my problem ...
Why ? People could have easily lost their saves. It doesn't seem fair to have to result to a 90 % gaming experience or to use hex editors.

 

[leeloodallasmultipass]

If you're on the PC, you can just use a savegame editor to only need an ME2 playthrough.

What are these save game editors you speak of... i completed mass effect 1, but lost my save file in a reformat. Wishing my choices of saving the council and such were carried over to the 2nd one. but alas i had no choice in creating a fresh characer for ME2... So atm im runnning around everyone thinking i Killed the council when i didnt in my original play through

 

[razing32]

...And the only way to make it not seem forced would be to have made it linear. Unless you have another idea.

I don't mind choice - it makes a game great . Especially game like ME2
I mind the save import - that's all.

 

[razing32]

What are these save game editors you speak of... i completed mass effect 1, but lost my save file in a reformat. Wishing my choices of saving the council and such were carried over to the 2nd one. but alas i had no choice in creating a fresh characer for ME2... So atm im runnning around everyone thinking i Killed the council when i didnt in my original play through

Just like there are cheats, there are programs that can help you cheat even if a game does not have a cheat prompt.
Trainers modify games during play by manipulating values.
Save game editors usually edit the save file that stores your data-choices etc. They are usually hex editors but they may be a bit hard to use.

 

[Jandau]

Hey ,

I have an issue with ME2 save progression feature.
If by ME3 you don't like a choice you made in ME1 you have to replay the whole series as I hear that the quiz at the beginning of each game won't cut it.

What do you, the honorable Escapist members, believe ?

1. There is no quiz at the start of the game. You get a predetermined set of decisions that amount to the crappiest ending and screwing up/ignoring every side quest in the damn game. A save from the first game is pretty much mandatory to play ME2 to its fullest.

2. There are sites with tons of save data from ME1, like this one [http://www.masseffectsaves.com/], where you have a wide variety of ME1 characters to choose from. If you don't feel like playing ME1 again (or at all), go here and pick the one that you like.

3. I'm fairly sure that by the time ME3 comes out, there'll be sites filled with ME2 saves of all types, so don't worry about it too much.

 

[Woodsey]

Well that is sort of the point of making choices...

 

[razing32]

1. There is no quiz at the start of the game. You get a predetermined set of decisions that amount to the crappiest ending and screwing up/ignoring every side quest in the damn game. A save from the first game is pretty much mandatory to play ME2 to its fullest.

2. There are sites with tons of save data from ME1, like this one [http://www.masseffectsaves.com/], where you have a wide variety of ME1 characters to choose from. If you don't feel like playing ME1 again (or at all), go here and pick the one that you like.

3. I'm fairly sure that by the time ME3 comes out, there'll be sites filled with ME2 saves of all types, so don't worry about it too much.

Thank you ...

 

[Amnestic]

If you're on the PC, you can just use a savegame editor to only need an ME2 playthrough.

What are these save game editors you speak of... i completed mass effect 1, but lost my save file in a reformat. Wishing my choices of saving the council and such were carried over to the 2nd one. but alas i had no choice in creating a fresh characer for ME2... So atm im runnning around everyone thinking i Killed the council when i didnt in my original play through

Spoiler: Save Game Editor Explanation

Give me a minute, I'll find a link...Here we go. [http://mod.gib.me/masseffect2/saveedit_rev25.zip]

Download, extract the files into a folder of your choice, doesn't matter where.
To create a new import file (which is actually more of a NG+ due to how it's handled), go File->New. Setup your character's class, name and all that stuff under the 'Basic' tab.

Then, under the Plot->Player tab, check "Played Mass Effect 1", ignore the Plot->Henchman tab for now, that's not going to change anything. The Plot->Mass Effect 1 tab has most of what you want for this stuff. Read the notes for the Values tab.

Not done yet! If you start like that, you'll have the default Shep head (depending on your gender) so you'll likely want to import a new head. Best way to do this is to make a new game yourself, make your own head (either using face codes from here [http://www.masseffect2faces.com/] or making your own), load up a second copy of the editor, load that save file with the new head, export the head mesh, then re-import it into your desired custom-made Shepard.

Finally, head to the Raw tab, scroll down to the Plot section of the table and there will be a End Game State line, click the drop down menu where it says 'NotFinished' and change it to LivedToFightAgain. Click save, make sure you save your new Shepard in a folder of their own in your ME directory (mine is Anna_11_Vanguard_110210. It goes Name_XY_Class_DD/MM/YY. The 'XY' refers to your Origin. X is Origin. Y is Notoriety. So in Anna's case, she's 11 which is Spacer Survivor. 32 would be Earthborn War Hero. You can find the numbers under the Plot->Mass Effect 1->Notes tab.)

You then boot up the game and import your character. If you LOAD your character, none of the changes will be in effect and you'll get the basic New Game settings.

Hope that all made sense. There are some other cool things you can do with the Editor like give yourself the Illusive Man's eyes (only come in red so far, the next version should come with the ability to change them.)

 

[razing32]

Okay Amnestic , I admit i rushed that answer ....

 

[Jenova65]

I have no problem dealing with choices I made in the first game or the second by the time 3 comes out. I fully anticipate having a few saves to pick from anyway, since it is probably my most played game. I also still enjoy the first as much as I did before (except I appreciate things like the skill tree more than ever, as levelling up is real fun in the first)
The only reason I would start a game without an import is just to see a different beginning.