Mass Effect 1,2 & 3...

MooMoo444 · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:05

So I have never played any of these, 2 days ago I took the plunge and bought all three, due to not having anything to play currently. Should be arriving in the next day or so. So, fill me in chaps.

Without spoiling anything..

Have I made the right decision?
Which of the three is the best one overall?
Hows the replay value?
How long am I looking at hourwise for each game?

Cheers :-p

'Wes · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:08

Have I made the right decision? Yes.
Which of the three is the best one overall? Haven't played the third yet, but i prefer the first.
Hows the replay value? Mass Effect 1 i've played through about 5-6 times, Mass Effect 2 i'm currently on my second playthrough, but i wouldn't play the first again or the second.
How long am I looking at hourwise for each game? The first is long if you do all the side quests and planet exploration with the Mako, the second is quicker in my opinion, took me less than a week to finish.

HeX · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:11

You've bought a lot of game, you're looking at a good 120hrs to go through all 3 at least.

I'd say ME1 has the best storyline, but the gameplay (action wise) is much improved in ME2&3. However ME1 is much more 'open' and RPG like.

Clav · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:23

I'm a huge rpg fan but just couldn't get into ME1 or ME2, just too much grind involved. Not going to bother with ME3. Out of the two tho I preferred ME1.

Good luck with them and hope you enjoy!

iamtheoneneo · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:24

2 is the best for me, I can see that being one of the best games ever made in a few years - it gets so many things right. ME1 is good too but a bit of a slog really.

I think 120 hours is a slight over exaggeration you can do all 3 in about 50-60 and get all the good endings / most of the side stuff done.

MooMoo444 · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:25

I like going on sidemissions and exploring, hehe - Skyrim got boring after a while though with its repeating dungeons!

Has ME1 aged well? Does it look good on max settings compared to todays games?

bushmins · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:34

Great story, rubbish game. I played the first two games once through but couldnt play them again. Inventory is awful, youll never need to spend money, boring filler bits i.e. driving the buggy in me1 and shooting probes in me2. The side missions in me1 are also bad, same interiors the whole time and very little reason to do them. The DLC for me1 felt like a side mission it was over before i even realised it was the DLC. Me2 DLC is better.

The story pulls you through very well, combat is an after thought. I would avoid all side mission and play the few hours worth of main story, because that is a joy.

Ill probably pick up me3 in the steam sales.

'Wes · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:35

MooMoo444 said:
I like going on sidemissions and exploring, hehe - Skyrim got boring after a while though with its repeating dungeons!

Has ME1 aged well? Does it look good on max settings compared to todays games?

Yeah, it's aged well, you just need to force AA on though, and for the second as well.

MooMoo444 · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:36

Is the DLC for 1+2 free or $$?

The ME3 I bought comes with some DLC stuff but I have no idea what it is.

Teaf · 14 Mar 2012 at 09:56

MooMoo444 said:
Have I made the right decision?
Which of the three is the best one overall?
Hows the replay value?
How long am I looking at hourwise for each game?

1. Yes
2. In my opinion, 2
3. Has very good replay because the story changes depending on actions taken. Very fun to replay the game again, I've done each (excluding 3) about 4 - 5 times and plan on doing it again.
4. ME1/ME2: 40 - 80 hours, depending on which DLC you have. ME3 about 30 - 40.

MooMoo444 said:
Is the DLC for 1+2 free or $$?

Mass Effect 1 has 2 DLC, one is free the other costs a couple of quid. Mass Effect 2 has a truckload of DLC but a lot of it is just extra weapons of fancy looking armor. You get a bunch of DLC free if you bought the game new, if not you'll get nothing. If you're selective on the DLC you get then I'd recommend getting Kasumi's story, Overlord, Arrival and Lair of the Shadow Broker. For more info see here.

Shamikebab · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:03

flibby said:
If you're selective on the DLC you get then I'd recommend getting Kasumi's story, Overlord and Arrival. For more info see here.

And of course Lair of the Shadow Broker, probably the most important (and best) one.

Admiral Huddy · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:13

Similar to you, i bought the first two last year and played them back to back.. I enjoyed them both immensely. I have ME3 waiting once i've complete Dues-Ex and had my BF3 fix.. Both are equally as good.. i thought the combat/inventory process in the second was an improvement on the first.

Make sure you explore all the planets for sub-quests

I reckon 50 hours for both but it does depend on if you decide to take the sub-quests.

jakspyder · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:17

If you play to play each game once in order. Before playing around with replays. Think long and hard about your decisions because they have consequence right through the trilogy! You will have a blast!

Teaf · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:17

Shamikebab said:
And of course Lair of the Shadow Broker, probably the most important (and best) one.

Damn, how'd I forget that! would definitely agree.

Stoner81 · 14 Mar 2012 at 10:17

I finished ME3 in 43 hours (give or take a bit) and I explored everywhere I could get myself in to.

Stoner81.

shaggyd · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:29

Just started ME1, spent whole weekend completing the irritating Citadel quests of run here and sort out his/hers & that's personal problems. Now doing main & sub missions on various planets with the buggy. I know that the game uses the UT3 engine, but the Mako is a little too bouncy for my liking. It is like driving a helium filled dune buggy.

My only problems is that despite finding lots of cabinets, my crew do not have enough decryption skills to open them.

Is there a way for Wrex to have a relationship with a member of the crew? He needs cheering up a little...

Witcher1979 · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:43

MooMoo444 said:
I like going on sidemissions and exploring, hehe - Skyrim got boring after a while though with its repeating dungeons!

Has ME1 aged well? Does it look good on max settings compared to todays games?

Hell yeah, I have started a fresh ME1 playthrough and plan to do all 3. ME1 actually looks better then some recent games, imo it looks really great still. Don't forget ME1 has free DLC Bring Down the Sky as well.

HeX · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:14

iamtheoneneo said:
I think 120 hours is a slight over exaggeration you can do all 3 in about 50-60 and get all the good endings / most of the side stuff done.

You can do them faster yes, but you won't have done half the sidequests and whatnot.

My ME1 save is about 50hrs, ME2 around 40hrs, and i'm about 25hrs into ME3 atm.

Kainz · 14 Mar 2012 at 13:12

ME1 will have the longest playability and it is the best as it introduces you to the main characters that lay down the foundation of the ME as a whole. It is more RPG'ish than the rest. Replay value = High. I replayed it 8 times on the 360.

ME2 is good, but has repetitive sub-games all over the place. It features a more dumbed down inventory system letting you get right down to the action. Replay value = Low. I am replaying it the second time right now.

ME3 focuses a lot more on action again and is the shortest of the lot. It is darker, with a lot more focused emphasis on combat. I did virtually everything and finished it in 28hrs. Replay Value = Sod that...

The entire trilogy is one of those things that most gamers of this generation will tell their kids, it is that good. There is a lot of background lore to be learnt from the ingame codexes too.

olivier renault · 14 Mar 2012 at 13:43

Clav said:
I'm a huge rpg fan but just couldn't get into ME1 or ME2, just too much grind involved. Not going to bother with ME3. Out of the two tho I preferred ME1.

Good luck with them and hope you enjoy!

ME3 has no grind. It's a lot more straight forward than the two previous chapters. Since there is so much combat, it's more repetitive in that regard.