Mass Effect: early thoughts

[owlmoose]

I promised many people my thoughts, but I don't have much to say yet. We're maybe 12 hours in. Picked up Liara but have otherwise been focusing on sidequests so far. Playing a fem!Shep Infiltrator named Jane (I tend to use the default name my first time through any RPG). She's a Spacer, a War Hero, and a Paragon through-and-through. The shooting part of combat isn't going too awfully, but I am worse than useless at handling the Mako. (May-ko or Mah-ko?) Fortunately, this is what I have a husband for.

Seems like we end up with a fair number of grayed out dialogue options. Is this because our Charm and Intimidate scores aren't high enough? Or do I need to get more Paragon points? (I think we've chosen something like three Renegade options so far, so I don't expect to build up much there.)

Also, we have yet to manage to open a single safe or locked door without use of omni-gel. Even the ones marked "Easy". Am I missing something, or is the unlocking game just stupidly hard?

Is it worth going to talk to the other team members on the Normandy on a regular basis, or do you get through most of their conversation options the first time through? Will the game make it clear when the options change, or do I need to just keep checking in with them?

I'm finding everyone on the team interesting so far. Shepard is getting along with everyone, although she's not thrilled by Ashley's anti-alien attitudes (she's a big believer in interspecies collaboration), and she and Tali got into a bit of an argument about whether the geth were justified in defending themselves. At the moment, Kaidan looks like the romance she's more likely to pursue, although it's early days yet.

I like the political stuff, predictably. The Council versus the Alliance, humans as upstarts and the jealousy of the older races that feel like humanity is getting its perks too soon. The various other interspecies rivalries. The Progenitors and the question of who came before. Shepard's vision and its implications. I look forward to seeing what comes of all of it.

Thanks to fandom osmosis -- and the fact that we attempted ME2 first, so we ran through the tool that lets you set up your choices and create an import -- I've been spoiled for quite a bit of this game, so I can relax my usual anti-spoiler rules a little bit, but I'd still appreciate it if everyone could keep spoilers vague and to a minimum in comments. Thanks. :)

Comments

[fireeye]

Charm and Intimidate unlock charm and intimidate dialogue options, respectively. So yeah, the more you boost one, the more dialogue options you get. Boost both and you unlock them all. (It's worth mentioning that you keep your talent allocation for a NewGamePlus - so you can boost over multiple playthroughs to get a charming or intimidating, or master manipulator, Shepard - but I had a full paragon bar and half an intimidate bar on my first playthrough).

Not sure on the unlocking game - did they port the version with Simon Says or XBox? Or the Frogger one from PC? If it's the Simon Says, I recall having to slow down and be very deliberate or I'd hit the button twice and fail. (Also, if I recall correctly, the higher your... and your squadmates? I think it combines, although it may simply be whoever is highest, unlocking talents, the easier/slower it goes - but you can still only screw up once.)

Teammate conversations unlock about one per major plot planet, although you can unlock them earlier by doing lots of sidequests. This is useful if you, say... get Liara, Wrex, or Garrus later, so you can get all the conversations. (You can also get some ambient dialogue by talking to them randomly in the field - not as deep companionships as DA, but still charming.)

Kaidan is adorable, and that is all I have to say about that. XD

[stealth_noodle]

The unlocking game took me forever to get right--the timing is WEIRD. Even after getting the hang of it (I've played through ME1 three times now), I still manage to screw it up from time to time. :/ I'm glad that particular mechanic is not present in the rest of the series, I tell you what.

I found it really helpful my first time through to save before attempting locked doors so that I could retry them without having to resort to omni-gel.

I also talked to everyone after almost every sidequest because I was so hellbent on making love interests out of characters who aren't. :) Like fireeye said, though, you really only have to talk to them after each plot mission to make sure you don't miss anything.

Also, did you spring for either of the DLC? Pinnacle Station is skippable, but Bring Down the Sky is worth playing, IMO.

[sarasa_cat]

I keep thinking about putting aside time to play the Mass Effect series but probably not until the spring or summer. (why must life be so busy that I have to *schedule* epic video game time??)

How does the story in Mass Effect compare to Dragon Age? I assume the games are equally as story heavy?

[lassarina]

Oh! I'm so excited that you're playing Mass Effect. (Is it as weird for you as it is for me, to hear the occasional flashes of Lightning in Liara's voice? Yes, the capitalization there was intentional.)

I've made paladin play these games through for me so many times. I probably ought to do it myself, but....aaaaah shooters noooooo.