Mass Effect 2: More waxing goddamn nostalgic.

[Dynamo Nath]

Thanks for the clarification re the 2 discs. I just assumed it would work in the same way as a pc game but admittedly hadn't thought about the arcade folk.

[11 Herbs 'n' Spices]

Completed last night and at the risk of repeating what's been said many times already... wow.

I managed to have my entire team survive but I think that owes a lot to the ship upgrades as much as it does the obvious team choices. It was funny to see a certain character

(Miranda)

continually offering their services for each choice only for me to choose someone else.

I wasn't really a fan of Garrus in the original but grew to love him in this. A shame that his 'voice acting during combat seemed so out of character. Was quite jarring at times, to the point that I was wondering 'who the hell is that?'.

Something else that irked me was the design of the Vorcha. Pretty much everyone else in this universe looked like they just fit and belonged. I realise that they are a savage race but they looked like assets that had been lifted from a far inferior game.

Other than that, an amazing experience.

[RubberJohnny]

More ending speculation:

Each race was melted down into organic metal for the construction of a Reaper, and Legion said there were many programs within one. Maybe the conciousness of each race member survives the melting and becomes collectively, part of the Reaper conciousness. Maybe they're ascending organic life, rather than destroying it.

[Gorf King]

Yeah, regardless of all the reasoning and logic behind it, I didn't like the final boss simply because I thought it looked daft. It made me laugh, which wasn't really the reaction I was hoping for to the finale; if for no other reason than the shaking put me off my first few shots.

Perhaps that was the aim all along. Cunning aliens.

[Snowman]

I wasn't really a fan of

Garrus in the original but grew to love him in this.

A shame that his 'voice acting during combat seemed so out of character. Was quite jarring at times, to the point that I was wondering 'who the hell is that?'.

It always seemed to me like he was trying too hard, as if he desperately wanted to be a badass like Shepard but ultimately, he just couldn't pull it off.

More ending speculation:

Each race was melted down into organic metal for the construction of a Reaper, and Legion said there were many programs within one. Maybe the conciousness of each race member survives the melting and becomes collectively, part of the Reaper conciousness. Maybe they're ascending organic life, rather than destroying it.

That makes a lot of sense.

Harbinger talks of humanity's destruction and salvation. It would be rather like Neon Genesis Evangelion if that's the case.

I've just had another run through the finale.

EDI does provide you with quite a lot of information regarding reaper construction and reproduction but there is still much that is left open to interpretation.

On a side note, the score throughout the closing sections featuring the choir and trumpets is absolutely phenomenal.

Yeah, regardless of all the reasoning and logic behind it, I didn't like the final boss simply because I thought it looked daft.

Gorf hits the nail on the head.

[Space Renegade Ulala]

It'd be hilarious if ***speculation*** just prior to the Reapers' arrival, Shepard shows up at the Citadel to save the day with a

Reaper-fied Normandy and a combined Geth-Krogan-Rachni armada

backing her up. Just for the look on the Turian councillor's face.

[Mallet]

It was a little daft I guess, still better than the end boss of the first game though.

[RubberJohnny]

[diggler]

Oh yes. I'll second the complaint about Archangel's in-combat voice. What happened there? It's blatantly a different voice actor. Well weird.

[Space Renegade Ulala]

It's the same actor but somewhat more hyper and with less modulation.

[Royshan]

More ending speculation:

Each race was melted down into organic metal for the construction of a Reaper, and Legion said there were many programs within one. Maybe the conciousness of each race member survives the melting and becomes collectively, part of the Reaper conciousness. Maybe they're ascending organic life, rather than destroying it.

Ah now that makes sense!

Got new 360 (hurray for working in a game shop) and finished it. I want me3 now.

The youtube video of a renegade Shephard is entertaining though.

[Ren]

"What do you think of the music here"

"if you've heard of it then it's already to mainstream for me"

[Space Renegade Ulala]

God damn, fighting across the bridge in Thane's mission is just one wonderful combination of action, visuals and music. Seriously, Thane's theme is the best in the whole damn thing, it's a glorious piece.

Such a shame about the Collector related difficulty spikes as Hardcore is otherwise perfect everywhere else.

[Chadruharazzeb]

Just finished! I look forward to being able to read this thread without avoiding all the

black blocks

.

[Chadruharazzeb]

Yeah, regardless of all the reasoning and logic behind it, I didn't like the final boss simply because I thought it looked daft.

Reminded me of that

Terminator skeleton boss in Contra

. Not quite as daft though.

[Jamin]

Just did my first Collector mission

on the derelict ship, which turn up to be a big fat trap. Enjoyed walking around at the beginning - just exploring the ship, enjoying this game a lot more when there is less gunplay. Predictably all the dudes turn up at the end to continually hand you your arse.

Speaking of which, does anyone have any tips on defeating those

big fat metallic flying things (can't remember their name). It takes me ages and practically all my ammo to finally make it snuff it.

.

But good lord if I knew this bit would be this hard I'd have bothered to go up to the Captains quarters and upgrade my armour beforehand.

[James Ape]

Finished this last night, it was really good,

the terminator reaper did seem very out of place though

My only complaints are that scanning the planets for metals etc was very tedious. I didn't mind the other mini games as they required at least some level of thought.

And I felt compelled to get every member of the team and do their loyalty missions, but i don't think there was enough variety in the missions and i was getting a bit bored of it towards the last one or two.

though in fairness it does finish very soon after you assemble the whole team so it's not much of a complaint.

[Meka]

Archangel's loyalty Mission -

No way, I let the guy live. Shepard's a pragmatic, do what needs to be done badass but not a cold-blooded killer.

I've just visited the Citadel and listened to the news,

and Sidonis has given himself up to the authorities!

We made the right choice.

[Vemsie]

That Renegade Shep vid is entertaining. I couldn't resist some of the interrupts, but I see I missed some pretty cool ones on my first playthrough.

[minkee]

I haven't heard anyone talk about the *good* crazy fan ending.

I humoured Conrad, sorted out the little problem he'd gotten himself into, and told him it was very good of him to try and help people but maybe he should find a better way. After all, I was back now, so he didn't need to be doing MY job.

A later news announcement on Illium says that Conrad Verner had set up 'Shepards', an organisation for orphans and the needy or something. Maybe he'll get a good administrator and it'll all be okay.

[Swallow]

I've just visited the Citadel and listened to the news,

and Sidonis has given himself up to the authorities!

We made the right choice.

No way!

I let Archangel have his way, his mind was set. I've been the biggest goody-two-shoes ever but that decision felt right in narrative terms.

[Rev]

Is Mass Effect 3 out yet then? If not COME ON.

[Space Renegade Ulala]

Is Mass Effect 3 out yet then? If not COME ON.

This.

Y'know, for all the Mordin, Archangel, Quarian and *final companion* love, there are other charcters in the game who, despite playing minor parts in the grand scheme of things, deserve a mention for helping make the galaxy that bit more fun:

* Poet Krogan and his Asari girlfriend - he's so sweet while her comments on the pros/cons of a relationship with Krogans compared to humans was just hilarious

* Quarian Girl and her friendzoned Turian buddy - funny and awkward all at the same time

* Eternity's bartender - she was just awesome, especially if you drank too much

* Citadel Refund Dude - "I've been trying to get this refund for TWO YEARS now!". Missed you, buddy.

* The Salarian Stag Party - mindblowing Asari revelation free with every purchase!

* The Turian being searched at Zakera ward - "No sir, you cannot bring a 12" serrated blade with you" "You humans are racist!"

* THE BIOTIC GOD

* and last but not least, the Salarian videogames saleman. That guy ruled.

[minkee]

* The Salarian Stag Party - mindblowing Asari revelation free with every purchase!

what this?

[Uzi]

* The Salarian Stag Party - mindblowing Asari revelation free with every purchase!

what this?

Go to the bar at Illium

[Corleth the Fey]

* The Salarian Stag Party - mindblowing Asari revelation free with every purchase!

what this?

It's implied that the Asari use mind control to -

appear attractive to individal races. IE they look like hot humans to us, but look like hot Turians or Salarians to those species.

I loved that bit.

[Space Renegade Ulala]

Re. the Stag party

It's a Salarian's human and Turian buddies giving him a send off (complete with Asari stripper on their table) before he enters into his 'wedding' (it's not quite the same as it is for other species). The Salarian bitches about it at first, doesn't see what the fuss is about but as they gets more and more drunk, the Salarian starts coming around to the Asari's gyrations. It's at this point the Salarian mentions that he doesn't get why the other two fancy her given Asari look almost identical to Salarians. The human chips in with 'no, they look like blue humans???' followed by the Turian saying they're both wrong and that they look a lot like female Turians. Then the human drunkenly raises the notion what if the Asari are fucking with everyone's minds to make them appear more attractive to each species...

[Chadruharazzeb]

I've just watched the death scenes on YouTube. They're really quite pathetic, absolutely no reaction from Shepard whatsoever.

[RubberJohnny]

I've just watched the death scenes on YouTube. They're really quite pathetic, absolutely no reaction from Shepard whatsoever.

He mourns when the mission is over. Like he tells Ashley/Kaiden to do in ME1.

[minkee]

aha - thanks. i only caught the first parts of that interaction. i was too distracted by the ridiculous turian hounding after the quarian.