Question About Mass Effect

[badsanta]

As the title implies, I have a question about Mass Effect; I'm interested in playing it, but I'd only be able to play the first game. As for why, I don't have a next-gen console because there aren't enough games I'd interested in on either the PS3 or Xbox 360 to justify the purchase. That leaves the PC, but as it is, my PC can only play the original Mass Effect; it doesn't have high enough capabilities to run the second one. So the question is; would I be able to play just the original Mass Effect, and have a complete, satisfactory expereince? Is the 1st game just fine on it's own?

[Der Jermeister]

The first game is one of my favorite Western RPGs (and I'll admit I really don't like WRPGs that much), and it's just fine on its own, if somewhat short (about twenty hours).

[Prime Mover]

I eventually grew to like it, on my second playthrough. Ask anyone around here, it really took me some time to warm up to the game... but most people fall in love with it off the bat. It's unfortunate that you wont be able to play the second, IMO, that's where the real fun begins. However, it's hard to imagine that some day, probably within the next decade, you will have a computer or console capable of playing ME2, so don't view it as an absolute inevitability. The question is, do you want to wait to play ME1 until you can also play ME2, or do you want to whet your appetite with the first game, and then wait a while before the next?

[CDFN]

The problem is that you will want to play the sequels, believe me. But yeah, you'll eventually have the hardware to play them so you might as well get started because you're missing out on one of the best franchises this generation has to offer. I was just doing a bit more progress on my second playthrough of ME2 and it can't be said enough, Jennifer Hale's voice is fucking sexy!

[badsanta]

I eventually grew to like it, on my second playthrough. Ask anyone around here, it really took me some time to warm up to the game... but most people fall in love with it off the bat. It's unfortunate that you wont be able to play the second, IMO, that's where the real fun begins. However, it's hard to imagine that some day, probably within the next decade, you will have a computer or console capable of playing ME2, so don't view it as an absolute inevitability. The question is, do you want to wait to play ME1 until you can also play ME2, or do you want to whet your appetite with the first game, and then wait a while before the next?

I think I'll take the 2nd option; I'll probably get a new, better computer at some point, but I have no idea when that is. So, I think I'll just play ME1, try to enjoy it on it's own, and then play ME2 whenever I'm able to. In that case though, another question please (anyone, Prime Mover or not, can answer,) ; I did not enjoy DA:O's combat very much; it was 'bleh', to put it mildly. Everything else was alright, but dungeons weren't exactly short, to say the least, so the system really made a presence... and not a good one. It got to the point that it really brought my opinion of the game down, despite everything else, which even then was just alright. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank ME's battle system? (Again, anyone can answer.)

[Eusis]

Did you try running ME2's demo? ME1-3 are all 360 games (well, 2 & 3 PS3 too) running on UE3, so if your computer can run one decently it should run the other two without much of a problem. Even if it is a problem then as long as you're not on a laptop or whatever you can probably just upgrade your video card and run them fine, something that's $100 or less would do the trick.

[badsanta]

Did you try running ME2's demo? ME1-3 are all 360 games (well, 2 & 3 PS3 too) running on UE3, so if your computer can run one decently it should run the other two without much of a problem. Even if it is a problem then as long as you're not on a laptop or whatever you can probably just upgrade your video card and run them fine, something that's $100 or less would do the trick.

...

I did not know this existed. I will download this demo and give my PC a real test. (As to whether or not ME2 will work on my laptop, of course.) Thank you, good sir. :)

[CDFN]

My previous PC was able to run ME1 and couldn't handle ME2, it's possible that it wont work.

[badsanta]

My previous PC was able to run ME1 and couldn't handle ME2, it's possible that it wont work.

Yeah, well, I don't have to shell out any money for a demo, so I may as test it out.

[badsanta]

Played the ME2 Demo; the game actually works fairly well. And I liked it. =) I may end up getting both ME's at some point after all.

[kyuusei]

I've never played the first, but I'm dying to after beating the second. Hope you like them. :)

[Itches]

You can enjoy Mass Effect 1 without needing to play Mass Effect 2. The way they set up ME1 is akin to a movie where the ending of the movie leaves room for a sequel but is still a complete experience. This is as opposed to say Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 where you know things are abruptly stopped and nothing is really resolved and you feel empty inside until you can complete the entirety of it.

[Yoda]

ME1 is one of my favorite titles ever. It starts off with a fun and exciting mission but after that you're doing some stuff on a space station. After that the game opens up for you to do side-quests or main missions in the order of your choosing. The space station part in the beginning was fun for me but it can probably seem like a drag to some people.

Stick with it, turn down the sound effects and dialog volumes and crank the music because it's the best sci-fi sounding stuff I've ever heard.

[Lazlowe1984]

Mass Effect 1 had a formal conclusion and I enjoyed the game greatly.If you have to wait 2 or 3 years to get a next gen console or stronger PC,stay patient.I had to wait 3 and a half years before Mass Effect 2 released but my patience was greatly rewarded.

Great series,I really enjoy it.

[Prime Mover]

In that case though, another question please (anyone, Prime Mover or not, can answer,) ; I did not enjoy DA:O's combat very much; it was 'bleh', to put it mildly. Everything else was alright, but dungeons weren't exactly short, to say the least, so the system really made a presence... and not a good one. It got to the point that it really brought my opinion of the game down, despite everything else, which even then was just alright. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank ME's battle system? (Again, anyone can answer.)

Just so you know, I HATED DA:O's battle system. I actually didn't really like DA:O much at all, and sold it the day I finished it. ME1's battle system is completely different, not really even comparable. The ME series is a TPS/RPG hybrid. The battle system plays like a TPS with pause-aiming and sci-fi "magic". I would say the battle system is a 6 or 7 on the scale, for what it is. ME2's is a solid 9 though, IMO. My biggest problem with ME1 is not so much the battle system but the equipment system, which is terribly organized, slow, and overly "tweaky" for being slow and badly organized. There are a million different equipment addons with very specific uses... things that might come in handy ONCE. It has an item limit, and a terrible inventory management/trading. In battle, this means that you often find yourself stopping for periods of time to re-equip yourself for that situation. You don't HAVE to do that, but the game acts as if that's how you're supposed to play it, and it's frusterating. Besides that, the battle system is quite solid. ME2 did away with all the bullshit addons, and concentrated on using strategy and basic weapon switching, which I found to be much more managable. The dungeons are a lot more interestingly laid out, and they adopted duck-and-cover fighting, which was really well implemented.