MASS EFFECT

[RobotNixon]

Anyone else notice there's room for one more crew member on the Normandy SR2?

The door past the Men's bathroom doesn't open
(just like Zaheed's door before the DLC)
and there's blank space on the far right of the 'Team Status' screen.

[Biotechnic]

I had all of the people. I can't remember who's there. Legion, Thane, Jacob, Miranda, Samara, Archangel, Tali'Zorah, Grunt, Zaeed, and Mordin. So, who are you missing?

[RobotNixon]

So, who are you missing?

I'm not missing anyone.
Zaeed, Tali, Miranda, Legion, Grunt, Garrus, Mordin, Jacob, Samara, Thane, and Jack.
Yep, got em all. (Except Morinth, cause she's dead. Woohoo for Lawful Good.)
I think it's proof of another DLC Team Member.

As I have stated before...

[Biotechnic]

That's weird. I don't remember having a blank space, I'll look next time I'm on.

[RobotNixon]

It's right past Life Support (where Thane is bunked) and the Men's Restroom.
And you'll also notice that there's still blank space on the far right Team Status screen.

Also, why the hell did I put the Assassin in Life Support and the Geth in EDI's AI?
Even though they turned out to be some pretty chill dudes that I would totally save the Galaxy with, WTF?

Spoiler:

Also, I am the very Model of a Scientist Salerian.

[Biotechnic]

Spoiler:

Also, I am the very Model of a Scientist Salerian.

Yes. Yes a million times over. That made me so giddy the first time I saw it.

Spoiler:

It almost made him assuming I was coming on to him OK. Almost.

[RobotNixon]

Here's another gem you can witness if you walk around Zakera Ward on the Citadel with Garrus and Tali as your squadmates.
It usually happens on the stairs leading from Level 28 to Level 27.

Garrus: (In a tone of sarcastic nostalgia.) You remember all those times we would ride on the elevators? Don't you miss them?
Tali: (In a matter of fact tone.) No.
Garrus: (He says it in a way that you know he's trolling at this point.) And how we would always ask you what life on the Migrant Fleet was like?
Tali: (Obviously a slight bit miffed.) This conversation is over.
Garrus: (He starts to smile at this point, provided you can see him as it doesn't take place in a conversation sequence.) And how we'd always inquire about your immune system?
Tali: (In a hostile tone.) I have a shotgun.
Garrus: (Lulz have been achieved, and with a slight laugh...) Maybe we'll talk later.

Garrus is such an a$$.

Also, this article has been out since December but it does hint at a great amount of DLC.

[Cylo]

You guys hear of Blasto yet? The movie about the first hanar spectre?

I still crack a smile every time I hear about it on Illium.

[RobotNixon]

"This one wants to know if the criminal scum considers itself fortunate."

"It does not have time for your solid waste excrement."

Dirty Harry and Pulp Fiction references. Damn BioWare is awesome.

[The Dog Whisperer]

Mine's not here yet.. I reckon the postman's nicked it. [&@%!].
I might just buy a copy in Game later today...

[RobotNixon]

I won't let this thread die!

Any thoughts on Grunt?
It almost seems like the krogan takes after Shepard as if Shepard was his father/mother figure.

Should be interesting to see what happens with Mass Effect 3.

Shep: Hey Grunt. (Slaps the Krogan on the shoulder.)
Grunt: Shepard. (With utmost respect.)
Shep: So, do anything interesting today? (Fiddles with his omni tool.)
Grunt: I've been having fun with the claw hammer you gave me.
Shep: (Turns off his omni tool and eyes Grunt.) What kind of fun?
Grunt: Well, there were these damn Batarians, just hanging around minding their own business...
Shep: Did you destroy the bodies? (Crosses his arms.)
Grunt: Yes Battlemaster. I even threw them through the Normandy's engine wash, just like you said to do!
Shep: Good job son! C'mon, let's go get some Ice Cream and Ryncol!
(They leave the cargo bay, claw hammer safely stashed under Grunt's grow-tank.)

[Dlarsh]

Having just beaten it, I have to admit that my feelings are surprisingly mixed...
Let me start by saying that, overall, the game was excellent one of the best I've played in a long time. That said, there are some things that irked me:

Spoiler:

1. Mission stucture: A big one for me, I was a little displeased with the fact that you spent the majority of the main game finding people who would help you stop the Collectors and then ensuring that they were loyal. The actual goings on in the galaxy seemed to fall to the way-side. I'm glad they improved team building beyond the first game's tactic of collecting almost everyone on your first stop at a hub world, but I would have liked a few more "battle the Collectors" missions. A few other raided human colonies are mentioned, I wouldn't have minded another attempt at saving one (since Harvest failed so miserably), or perhaps tracking down other groups who frequently deal with the aliens (it's mentioned in both the game and the second book that some merc bands actively seek potential Collector targets to reap the benefits).

2. Thermal clips: These were implemented poorly for the game's lore. I was quite happy an ammo system was introduced, it provides another level of tactical thinking to the game, but implementation was terrible. Bioware threw one half-assed codex at us to explain why the entire galaxy switched over to an only marginally better weapons system in the span of just two years, then they completely ignore the previously established concept behind MA weapons. It was just frustrating.

3. Zaeed: I like the characer, but they did a hack job adding him to the game as dlc. I've actually got a few issues:
3a. First meeting: Really? I wander onto the first recomended hub world and he's practically staring me in the face? Weak.
3b. He tells you about his loyalty mission immediately upon meeting him (unless it's different when he's present for a new game): The man is a self sufficient merc betrayed by a commrade, has survived years on his own and established a fearsome reputation. I find it hard to believe that such a man would trust someone he's never even seen before with helping him on such a personal mission right off the bat, especially since that someone works for Cerberus (Zaeed mentions a rather violent past with the organization, I certainly wouldn't trust one of their opperatives, regardless of the number of credits I'm getting paid).
3c. No conversation options: Outside of the first meeting and his loyalty mission, I can't actually speak to the man. Sure I can head down and listen to his stories (which are quite enjoyable, I'll admit) but I can't talk to him.
3d. No upgrade: This ties in with the one above, but is sufficient enough to warrant it's own section. Upon first visiting him on the engineering level, I spied with my little eye an interesting assault rifle with an examination marker. After checking it out and hearing the full story behind Jess, I was almost certain that I knew what Zaeed's upgrade would be (I hadn't spoken to the man yet, so I was unaware he was lacking a dialogue wheel). I knew it wouldn't be Jess, the rifle has too much sentimental value to be repaired by just throwing resources at it, but I was certain I would finally have a team member who could equip the Revenant LMG. Grunt gets the Claymore Shotgun, and Legion has the Widow Sniper, but no one can use the Revenant but Shepard. It would have been perfect for him...

Anyway, that's my take on the game. Overall, an extremely enjoyable and worthwhile experience, but with certain components that just [&@%!] me off

[The Dog Whisperer]

I hated reloading so much I imported my Adept character after a short stint using my Soldier. :\ Still bothers me a bit tbh, cos my best pistol can have like 24 rounds max.. And SMGs are total plop.
I also had an initial 'Duh' period with Hacking, as I read the game's book description and not the in-game description. Missing the overriding on hacking mini games. After 4 or 5 playthroughs they're gonna get extremely boring.
Favourite new thing atm is the scanning planets yoke, weirdly. Sounded boring when I heard about it, but I spent a whole hour messing with it.

Dunno what I expected, but something feels different.. Like the game is way more combat oriented now and less adventure-like.

Anyway, not a final opinion. Just thoughts so far.

[RobotNixon]

I've found that being the Infiltrator class is a lot more fun this time around.

It also makes more sense with the Spacer/War Hero back story,
because a sniper is better suited to holding off a small army than a man with an assault rifle.

[Cylo]

I feel they kind of nerfed the vanguard class v.v

But infiltrators are really fun, yeah.

[Dlarsh]

I'm officially addicted to this game/series...
I just spent $40 to get the Inferno and Collector dlc codes...
I'm about to finish off a full ME1 transfer character (level 60, all missions complete etc.), so I hope they show up shortly.

[The Dog Whisperer]

Argh, one of the most annoying cliffhangers ever.

Biotics rock, once I had my sniper I had no prob's with any enemy, and reloading wasn't a problem since once I got that extra headshot damage upgrade I could kill anything super fast, even those annoying scions.

Any thoughts on Grunt?
It almost seems like the krogan takes after Shepard as if Shepard was his father/mother figure.

Did you play a Renegade character?
'Cos it didn't play out like that for me.
I have a general dislike to krogan anyway, even if he was an extremely useful sponge.

[RobotNixon]

Did you play a Renegade character?
'Cos it didn't play out like that for me.
I have a general dislike to krogan anyway, even if he was an extremely useful sponge.

Nah,
I've always been straight Paragon in Mass Effect. (Or any RPG for that matter.)
That was just something I came up with about 30 seconds before I posted that.

I just think it would be cool to get Grunt a Claw Hammer for his released from grow-tank day in Mass Effect 3.

Hell, they could make it DLC and I'd be happy.

Is it wrong that I like all the characters in Mass Effect pretty much equally?

[The Dog Whisperer]

Is it wrong that I like all the characters in Mass Effect pretty much equally?

Yes.

I have a clear personal chain of command when it comes to my team;

• Garrus
• Samara
• Jack
• Tali
• Mordin
• Miranda
• Thane
• Grunt
• Jacob
• Legion

Not that I'd never use the ones in the lower bracket, but I don't like them that much. But it is true that I almost always had Garrus with me..

[RobotNixon]

I almost always had Garrus and Tali with me.

It's good to have people you trust with you at all times.

[The Dog Whisperer]

Replaying the same character through on Insanity now.. It's not difficult at all.
Barrier is super strong, and mine's only level 2.

Well .. okay, I did die once. But a Blood Pack warrior rushed me and I was way out in the open. >_>

[RobotNixon]

[The Dog Whisperer]

I hate Garrus at the moment.

Spoiler:

Doing his recruiting mission at the moment on Insanity and he keeps dying because he won't move if he gets shot.. Even when I move out to cover the stairs, he sticks his head out just in time to get a rocket to the face.

[The Dog Whisperer]

Double post. I'm such a rebel.

Is it just my horrible aiming skills or was Insanity way harder this time?
I had to restart twice because of unresolvable problems. The one in my previous post, which I solved by switching to soldier (Adrenaline Rush + Snipers ftw ) and then on

Spoiler:

the disabled collector vessel. At the platforms I actually could not kill anything.. Restarted and chose Warp Ammo as my bonus skill. I breezed through. :\

And; I dunno how, but I managed to get all the achievements in just 2 playthroughs.. Admittedly I tried for some, like

Spoiler:

keeping them all alive on the final mission. I replayed the whole thing like 10 times.

But then there's the skill specialization ones, that I got through squad mates using their skills.

Anyway, be nice to see

Spoiler:

what happens in ME3 now that I gave the Illusive Man the Collector's base. >_>

[Dlarsh]

Insanity is significantly harder than ME1, but I'm not running into too many problems.

Spoiler:

The wide shutter in Garrus' mission ticked me off since there isn't much of a break between waves.
I only died three times on the platform trap in the Collector Ship, but I know for a fact that I got lucky with the Scions (my team actually stayed in cover when they fired a shot), but those were my only deaths during the whole mission (the Praetorian was easier than Horizon's...).

Speaking of Horizon, I got through it without dying once