Mass Effect

Wossi · 28 Mar 2011 at 10:25

I finally got round to playing Mass Effect after owning it for years. Each time I started to play it I got distracted with another game so never got far.

Now I'm 20 hours in and have barely touched the main story as I'm doing all the side quests and the collectible quests. How long is it going to take to actually complete it? I'm not complaining as it's a brilliant game and I'm kicking myself for not giving it a proper go before now.

Also, is it worth it to play again afterwards with the same character before starting Mass Effect 2?

[Olly] · 28 Mar 2011 at 10:32

Not played it for a while but from what I remember you could probably look at about another 20/30 hours of gameplay, thats if you continue doing all the side quests.

It's definitely worth a second play through, I'd try a different type of character though, if you've gone with a combat build the first time, maybe try an engineer or biotics build, or vice versa.

Fizzy002 · 28 Mar 2011 at 10:32

It can take quite a while if you try to do everything, I think I got 50+ hours out of it though I did play through twice.

It is worth playing through again, that's the only way you can get to level 60 and max out your stats. You can also play through differently, like going the renegade route if you were paragon on your first playthrough.

Matteysan · 28 Mar 2011 at 13:39

With my first play through it took 34hours, But i'm sure I missed out a couple of side quests.

I'd say the main story is about 20 hours?

I haven't played a second play through though I just went straight onto Mass Effect 2.

Schnoob · 28 Mar 2011 at 13:50

IIRC my first playthrough was just shy of 60 hours, and that's only with the first DLC.

Did just about everything, was addicted to it big time

Running through it post 50, I think a playthrough lasted soemwhere between 15-20 hours, however I couldn't be doing with the sidequests again, just wanted achievements

Wossi · 28 Mar 2011 at 15:35

When I get round to my second playthrough, can I change the character at all from the first go or will it be exactly the same?

McDaniel · 28 Mar 2011 at 15:39

Wossi said:
When I get round to my second playthrough, can I change the character at all from the first go or will it be exactly the same?

From memory if you do a New+1 type game itll be the same character/stats/type etc...

Most start from scratch as a complete new build!

My first playthough was ~45hours and i did everything extra I could find

Schnoob · 28 Mar 2011 at 17:03

Wossi said:
When I get round to my second playthrough, can I change the character at all from the first go or will it be exactly the same?

For the level 60 achievement it's easier to start with same character. You can start a complete new game, but if memory serves, it's solid lol.

If I were playing ME1 now, I don't think I'd be able to leave ME2 alone while I went through another ME1 playthrough. As soon as credits start rolling I'd be off to shops to get ME2.

And for for that reason I've made sure I've 100%'d ME2, so I don't panic when 3 comes out.

DaveyD · 28 Mar 2011 at 22:17

On your second play through, if you keep your old character, you'll start at whatever level you finished and it will be the same class / history etc. I *think* you can re-assign all your points though, or at least you can with any team members.

If you really do spend a long time in your first playthrough, you'll get to level 50 (it's capped on the first go), so then when you play through your second, you could get to level 60, however it's a bit of a grind!

I think I've played through ME1 five times now(!) as I wanted to make sure my 2 characters had a different history for importing in to ME2, especially with good/evil choices. If you manage to get to level 60, you'll get some good bonuses when you start ME2. It's good fun playing through on insanity, makes you think properly about squad usage.

I'm just starting my second ME2 playthrough on Insanity, such a good game! Can't wait for ME3!