Thinking about Mass Effect - skip the first one?

Hi all,

After reading numerous recommendations, I'm thinking about giving Mass Effect 2 a try, but I never played the first one. Should I just skip the first one and start with Mass Effect 2, or should I go grab the first one and play it first?

My first thought was start with the most recent - it's probably got overall better performance, and may incorporate 'fixes' the first one didn't have. But then I thought that:

a) I might be missing out on some good backstory that would make me enjoy the 2nd one more
b) I could probably find the first one for less money, therefor getting a taste of the game initially cheaper (and, if I decided I didn't like it for some reason, be out less cash), and
c) hey, it's a new game - this way I'd have two to look forward to!

So, I'm thinking start with the first one after all. Any reasons not to, or other logic I may be missing?

 

get the first one. there is no reason to skip a great game.

 

definitely play mass effect 1 first. expecially since you are supposed to be able to use your old characters

 

First one, absolutely. It's a fantastic game, and if you play through the first one, then install the second, you can import your character from the first (won't be the same level and all) but your choices and actions from the first game influence the second. If there was a series of games to follow, this would be it.

 

The 1st one is worth playing.

 

go get the first one. its only $5.

http://eastore.ea.com/store/ea/en_US/DisplayProductDetailsPage/productID.102427200

use the coupon: M93SW4PQQ2

 

is this game a shooter or like the fall out series?

 

oooh, good question. Is there an option for an over-the-shoulder or 3rd person view, or does it have to be played as a FPS?

 

It's a 3rd person shooter, but with pauses to use skills, give orders to teammates and such. Definitely not a run and gunner.

 

Oh, this is even better - historically I dislike FPS games, and had passed on Mass Effect because of this. Only recently, after reading the reviews and gaining interest did I reluctantly decide to give it a shot...

...now it turns out the reason I was staying away was incorrect? Sounds like I need to go get this NOW!

 

it's definitely more action than rpg.

 

You know I am in the same boat as jeffery there. But I think im going to skip the first game and just go straight to the sequel. Seeing as they did great improvements over the first game I don't know if I can play the first one with all of its fault.

 

Skipping the first game is a bad idea.

The list of 'improvements' is causing quite a split in the community, so you shouldn't consider it faulty without experiencing it for yourself. A lot of people are calling ME2 a step backwards.

You'll be missing out on what's widely consider one of the Top 10 games of the past decade, if you pass on Mass Effect.

 

Sounds like it's official - going to give the first one a try. Thanks for all the input!

 

FIRST ONE FIIIIRST

if you want to enjoy the second to the fullest

 

Did you really just blame a game for "all of its fault" without ever playing it?

 

Do you guys know what will happen if you play the sequel without playing the first one? My dilemma is I already played the first ME1 on my old laptop which is now a brick. And not only that, i plan on getting it on 360 so my bro can play too, so if I don't have a previous save file is it like ME1 in character creation where I just create a backstory for what I did in ME1?

 

ME2 will automagically make a backstory and then bring you up to speed with it if you don't have a save-game.

 

even if the changes are indeed improvements, that doesn't make the first one a bad game.

 

Yes, yes I did ... Anyways, I been seeing and reading all of these fixes they did and the world looks more appealing for some reason than what I saw in the first game. The first mass effect never really interest me, but for some weird thing ME2 really intrigue me. Im not really an rpg fan and shooters is what I like and ME2 looked like that have improved the shooter mechanics. Well since I miss the 5 dollar steam deal I don't think im going to get the first one anytime soon. O hell I dunno I think im just going to skip both games altogether...lol j/k

 

Just grabbed it from the EA site for $10; though I'm a little worried I won't have access to a game manual. Anyone know if EA packages a digital copy of the manual with the game downloads?

(Edit: downloading now.... an hour to go... )

 

I haven't completed the first one yet either but there is no way I will skip it and jump straight to the second one. I think it comes down to impatience. Some want to experience the new and improved one straight away. Bad idea!

 

Just finished the 1st one, definitely contender for favourite single player game in my books.

 

Did you miss post #6? It's going for just $5 with the coupon code....

 

lol... missed the coupon code - followed the link, saw $10, and thought I must have just missed the sale. Oh, well, I was thinking of paying $20 from Steam, so I guess I could look at it as I saved $10 instead of I lost $5...

 

You'd miss so much information and clever insights...I'd recommend you play the first one-it's not bad trust me

 

You definitely want to play the first one. I have two saves from the first game, both of them with completely different choices, and it practically makes Mass Effect 2 two games in one because of the different choices I made in the first one.

 

You can download the ME1 manual off the Gamestop or EBgames website.

 

Awesome, thanks - I played around for an hour or two last night, and I think I'm going to like it. I'm not any good at conrtolling my squad, but maybe glancing at the manual will make this a little easier!

 

Make sure you access the "Squad" menu every time you level. I can't seem to find a hotkey that opens it, so you will have to press Escape and click Squad. This enables you to assign your talent points.

 

Cool, thanks. I only got to level 4 last night, so not too many points to assign (and, frankly, I'm tempted to go back through and replay the brief bit I played, now that I'm starting to get a little better feel for the controls!)

I think I ended up doing just as you said (escape, then 'squad') for most of the times, but near the end of the night I stumbled on a hotkey that opened the screen where I could spend skill points ('U' I think it was...)

At any rate, thanks again for all the good info; looks like I've got another good game to play!