To PlayStation 3 Loyalist: Without Mass Effect 1, what makes Mass Effect 2 so appealing?

It is great that people who only own the PS3 will be finally able to play Mass Effect 2 in January 2011 and eventually, Mass Effect 3. However, given the fact that Mass Effect is best enjoyed by creating your own Shepard and molding him/her by the choices you make throughout all 3 games. What makes Mass Effect 2 so appealing knowing that you would be missing 1/3 of the entire Mass Effect experience?

[MR LOOKINGBILL]

because it's a great game now please folks no more ME2 THREADS. It has been discussed to death.

[GameZenith]

Yes, Mass Effect 2 is a great game but as a whole, Mass Effect is a great series so why only experience 2/3 of the series? That is the question. It is obvious that you didn't even read the article.

[Karooo]

ME2 is a better game. its also 360s best game

[DasBunker]

nothing for me.. but im glad it came so i can see fanboys crying when they write articles like this one.

[BakedGoods]

Sounds like butthurt fanboys to me.

I've beaten both ME1 and 2, and while ME1 does a good job of setting up the story for ME2, it's nothing you can't just read about in a wiki summary.

ME2 does a good job of deepening the ME story without depending too much on past events.

[MrAwesome]

This game's fun isn't only in making decision that span across playthroughs the game will still be awesome and worth the purchase.

[ZombieAutopsy]

http://n4g.com/news/594320/...

I'm sure bioware is working on something to fill people in on the story of the 1st.

Also articles that are in response of other articles are lame.

[Hank Hill]

Sigh. It seems you Xbox fanboys will never get your butts healed after losing Mass Effect 2. Sad, really.

[sikbeta]

lol someone is really butthurt...

I tell you, now xbox loyalists have 1 less exclusive game and 1 less excuse to proclaim "teh better console", despite the fact that exist a PC counterpart and the game never was "only on xbox 360"....

And ME2 got great reviews, no one can deny it's a great game, so PS3 gamers have one more game added to the List of Great games we play,

Adding ME2 to the PS3 Awesome list of upcoming games:

Gran Turismo 5: The Definitive Driving Simulator
LBP2
KZ3D
MotorStorm:Apocalypse
inFAMOUS 2
SOCOM4
ME2
So on....

[Redrum059]

i dont hear ppl complain about playing
metalgear rising without playing metalgear, metalgear2, metalgearsolid, metalgearsolid2, metalgearsolid3, MGSportableops, peace walker, metalgearsolid4...

just some butthurt fanboy's rant for a loss of a major exclusive is all.

wellsaid fished

[fishd]

Idk man maybe the same thing that made MGS4 so appealing withouth
MGS1
MGS2
MGS3

eh?

[morganfell]

What made Mass Effect 2 so appealing to 360 and PC fans that didn't play the first game?

These ridiculous writers should just give up. You can't downplay Mass Effect 2 on the basis that the full Mass Effect 1 isn't coming to the PS3. In fact, these idiots behind such deductions haven't the slightest clue how Bioware will handle the introduction for the PS3 version. Something the so called writer seems to ignore.

Besides, any article that commences with, "I mean seriously..." has all of the insight and impact of "Dude where's my car." Guess what GameZenith, you are at a low point.

Article from PS3 Attitude > over disappointing your piece.

One thing is for sure. Said PS3 introduction, be it game play or cutscenes will be exclusive to the PS3. I personally think it will involve a mixture, light on gameplay and heavy on story because players have to be allowed to create a custom character that will then appear in any ME1 cutscene story elements.

[shoddy]

story simple to understand and straight forward. recruit squad then destroy geth and collecters.

I tried ME1 a little bit but not impress about graphic, not like ME2.
In other word I dont care for ME1.

[thebudgetgamer]

Casey Hudson, BioWare's project director response to the question "Do you need to know anything about the first game to play Mass Effect 2"

"It's probably the hardest thing to do while approaching this kind of narrative. You have to plan for each title to be part of the trilogy, but treat it as a standalone and satisfying piece. Mass Effect 2starts with a bit of the back-story, even if you haven't played Mass Effect, and while it has a definitive ending, it sets up for the third game in the trilogy."

http://content.usatoday.com...

-_-

[Xelai]

To the people that flock this site, just bragging rights.

To gamers, well, it is an awesome game.

[MysticStrummer]

I despise both Microsoft and gaming on a PC. It would obviously be better to have all games in the ME series show up on the PS3, but I won't give money to MS or game on my PC just to get the whole saga. It's really not that important. It really isn't.

[Lifendz]

These guys act like if you play ME2 w/o having played ME1 you'll just be lost. Please. I didn't play AC1 and I went right to AC2 and I didn't miss a beat. It only takes a second to go to wiki and read the game's plot. If you really want to catch up you can go to youtube and watch a bunch of cut scenes.

As far as character carry-over, well that's a cool feature but that doesn't make ME2 significantly inferior w/o it. A lot of people are butt hurt over this. It's a business guys. 3rd party games are, by and large, not exclusive anymore. I guess 360 fanboys now understand how PS3 fanboys felt a few years back over DMC4, GTA4, etc.

[nickjkl]

why get any sequels

why get uncharted 2 without uncharted
why get infamous 2 without infamous
why get killzone 2 without killzone or killzone 3 without killzone 2

like why are people making such a big deal about it like didnt at the beggining of mass effect 2 they made a quiz for those that dont have a save from mass effect 1

not to mention bioware is adding things to mass efect 2 for ps3 users who didnt get mass effect

[Unicron]

Why get MGS Rising without playing MGS1, 2, 3, 4, PW, PO.... I mean you'll be totally lost!

Wow, the damage control being done is sad.

[SixTwoTwo]

Bioware has got my back. I won't need to play ME1 to get the full experience.

[ChineseDemocracy]

This is what I plan on doing.

Step 1. Wikipedia Mass Effect, read synopsis of first game
Step 2. Determine what type of character I want to be
Step 3. Select the "Decisions" made in the first game when starting ME2
Step 4. Enjoy Mass Effect 2 on the PS3.

[ingiomar]

Im asking the same question

@rroded
Yeah but the final fantasy series are not connected they are not the same story's

[rroded]

its fun...

seriously havin played the first one ill say its a fun game2 but not essential ta enjoying the second one any more than ff 1-6 are essential ta enjoying ff7....

[GameZenith]

That makes no sense. Mass Effect is a trilogy that builds off of the previous version. Final Fantasy games are all separate stories with new characters, new locations, new features etc....

The only Final Fantasy game that actually buildup off of a previous one was Final Fantasy X-2.

[rroded]

fine then its jus like playin kill zone2 without having played the original...

[iFLOWLIKEWATER]

which is the reason I didn't play the campaign and went straight online.

[fucadastates]

or metal gear (solid) rising whitout playing metal gear, metal gear 2, metal gear solid, metal gear solid 2, metal gear solid 3 and 4.

gamingdroid, what is lord of the rings 1 whitout the hobbit, ut it still lack the depth you otherwise would get out of the story. but hey you enjoy it still :)

[gamingdroid]

As an action RPG, story line is crucial to the game. In fact, without the great story line, ME1 might be just above average shooter.

It's like watching Lord of the Rings 2 without the first. Sure you would enjoy it, but it still lack the depth you otherwise would get out of the story. FF series, from what I know doesn't build on each other's story so yeah not a good comparison.

However, I'm sure Bioware figured out a way to drop you into ME2 without missing out too much of the overall background story.

With said, ME1's storyline was epic. The ending and the choices you are given at that point is fantastic. Get ME1 on PC, if you refuse to get a 360.

[Qui-Gon Jim]

Sure, ME may be more story based, but if the only way for me to play one of the highest rated games of this generation is without playing the previous one, then so be it. Does anyone believe that Bioware is NOT going to give PS3 owners some way of catching up with the story, though? That would just be stupid.

[kissmeimgreek]

I prefered ME1. ME2 is still an AMAZING game but it felt alot more actiony than the first ( less skills and ammo instead of recharge kinda bugged me). Still one of the best games this Gen though.

[Persistantthug]

:)

[raztad]

HAHAHAHAHA. This is becoming ridiculous.

I cant believe some people cant get over the simple fact ME is also on the PS3 (never a xbox exclusive).

ME2 can be played as a simple standalone game, as will be ME3. I dont see how xbox loyalist pretend Bioware/EA make a game aiming only a fraction of ME1 buyers. That is insane.

[DORMIN]

Its not even necessary to compare it to other franchises, plus Bioware will definitely explain/sum up ME1 and MORE IMPORTANTLY This will set up ME3 for PS3 owners.

[Silly Mammo]

Maybe because you don't need an Xbox to play the 1st ME. I bought ME back in January for $5 during a Steam Sale.

ME is a great game/story, but come on people its not like the story was written by Shakespeare or something.

[bjornbear]

how about "gamers that cant afford 2 consoles"?! do they count?

Without Mass Effect 1, what makes Mass Effect 2 so appealing?

a) its a great game in its own right

b) ME can be played on PC easily (im playing it right now on my 4 year old MBP and although it isn't on max, it runs great)

c) Why worry about ME not coming to PS3? what would you prefer? PS3 owners NOT to care about ME2 because of the absence of ME? i mean, you pose the question without considering the implications you are suggesting.

ME will probably not make it to PS3 because of MS and a bunch of legal crap, and worrying about it will be pointless.

my advice to PS3 only owners excited about ME2 but worried about absence of ME:

*Buy ME for PC (its dirt cheap and runs on almost anything 5 year old or older PC fine)
*Play ME
*Enjoy the fuck out of ME ( like I am =))
*When you get ME2, remember your path the best you can, and use those changes for ME2.

honestly I would prefer ME to come out to PS3, but what am I going to do? write an email to MS asking them to let it come to PS3? pff....rather spend my time playing ME for PC (the superior version =3)

/giant post

[Jaces]

Why do you care so much?

[Silly gameAr]

Exactly.

[EvilBlackCat]

Ok how is that this game that wasn't an xbox 360 exclusive before (according to ps3 mascots) NOW is an xbox 360 exclusive to them?

Oh the hypocrisy!

I remember that a lot of creepy creatures here bashed Mass Effect 1 & 2 and leave comments saying that this game cant compete with those crappy traditional JRPG's... but now... THE GAME IS DA SHIT!

Those who follow Metacritic and Game Scores are fools.

REMEMBER according to ps3 fanboys here the mass effect universe, story, characters, combat, graphics suck!

[40cal]

With out any Metal Gear Solid games what makes Metal Gear Rising so appealing?

There are tons of gaming IP's to make this argument with. Most of them are franchises that started out on the PlayStation platform.

[Sarcasm]

lol

First it was

"ME2 is never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever coming to the PS3."

Now it's "but but but but but but you never got ME1"

[yewles1]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

After Portal 2 announcement for PS3 with Exclusive Service Steamworks and superior version for PS3 (in console) and ME2 with all DLCs for free and superior version for PS3 (in console).

Is natural someone will get butthurted.

[NYC_Gamer]

i guess no1 remembers Bioware saying..you dont need to play the 1st game....samething with dragon age 2.....what made fallout 3 appealing?most never played the pc versions

[VGChartS]

different situation,fallout 3 has no story connection with the games before
but mass effect does

[Elven6]

Fallout 3 wasn't very connected to the past titles at all, most of the connections were simply nods to the previous games with the interface, Ron Pearlman, etc.

Storywise I didn't see many connections either but I could have missed some.

[ActionBastard]

If Bioware says they have an introduction eliminating the need to play the 1st game, why not be excited to play one of the best games of 2010 (or so I'm told)?

[Weaksauce1138]

I hope Wrex isn't dead in PS3 version

[PirateThom]

He will be. They'll use the same set up as PC and 360 for ME2 without ME1 save UNLESS the extra content allows you to interact with "past events" to some degree, the Rachni Queen, Wrex, Ashley/Kaiden and the choices at the end of ME1 being the big ones.

[Raendom]

To writer of article: you suck balls.

[GameZenith]

Thank you

[Raendom]

LMAO he has an account on N4G. Epic fail. Your site = close it down dude you're wasting your money.

[Majestic Jazz]

@ Raendom GameZenith.com is a nice blog that is very progressive and which the writer speaks his mind on various topics. Maybe you're just jealous that you do not have the talent to do the same.

The writer replied to your ignorant reply with "Thank You" and obviously that irritated you so you attack back by degrading this blog. How old are you, 11?

[Raendom]

Aww Majestic jazz is sad :( Looks like you're as raged as I am... but I'm not raged. So STFU. :)

Nobody here has GameZenith.com bookmarked let's say that. Maybe you do, you're probably his b*** buddy. :)

And I'm 19. I act childish because I can.

[GameZenith]

@Raendom

Well it doesn't matter anymore, this submission got approved anyways and not, this wasn't flame bait. But because this article doesn't appeal to you, why bother commenting further?

[GuruStarr78]

bait....

[UP]

To XBOX 360 Loyalist: Without MGS 4, what makes Metal Gear Rising so appealing?

[-Gespenst-]

I ain't an Xbot or a Sony droid, but in fairness, Rising apparently has little relevance to the plot of all the other MGS', and it also looks like a really good game. I think they're allowed to be excited about it.

[GameZenith]

I'm not an 360 Loyalist but with Metal Gear Rising, there is no option to import a character that has made 300+ decisions which can effect the current playthrough.

Nice try

[fucadastates]

GameZenith no but you will still sit down watching 1/4 of a film :) the first time you meed jacks girlfrind an jada jada ;)

[Lazarus69]

@GameZenith

I am sorry i have played ME2 both with and without a character port from the first.The only decisions from the first game that make any difference are.Who you sacrifice,who you have a relationship with,whether you save the council or not,and what you decide to do with wrex.Which all can be covered by a small interactive cut scene at the start of the PS3 version

[FiftyFourPointTwo]

To XBOX 360 Loyalists: How can you find the entire Fabula Nova Crystallis universe appealing if you cant complete it without playing FFVSXIII which is a PS3 exclusive?

[Anorexorcist]

To the day FFXIII was announced for Xbox 360 to today, FFVXIII is heading forward as a PS3 exclusive. Why did so many Xbox 360 gamers bother with FFXIII if they know they couldn't continue the story or mythology in FFVXIII.

Anything can happen and it can eventually go multi-platform, but the current lookout for the game is that it will not be hitting Microsoft's console. But no web-wide impulse to write articles or blogs stating the futility of FFXIII on Xbox 360 occurred.

Having said that, these articles do bring a very strong Butt Hurt-type of sensation in trying to disparage the benefits to owning a Playstation 3. I mean seriously, is it that damn hard to play a damn game without first experiencing it's previous installment.

I never played Assassin's Creed and I had gotten completely wrapped up and addicted to Assassin's Creed 2.

[FiftyFourPointTwo]

Played the first one on PC. Will be playing ME2 on PS3 of course. ^^

[callahan09]

I already played both on 360 and PC. Great games! Maybe I'd get ME2 again and play it on PS3. I doubt it, that might be overkill, but I first played the first two on 360 when they first came out. Then a couple weeks ago EA had a big sale on them for PC downloadable versions, I got both of them for like 25 dollars total, and I'm playing them all over again.

[-Gespenst-]

I'm probably just gonna play the first one on a PC someday.

[telekineticmantis]

So many Microsoft Fanboys with gaming sites. How do you propose a question this way?? Does microsofts money stretch this far. Everyday I read some article that sounds like it's been written by some kid off youtube. For god sakes be Professional.

[LeAspect]

http://n4g.com/news/594320/...

[Philoctetes]

It's been what, two weeks now? And 360 fanboys are still butthurt over this.

[kane_1371]

with that said.....
we PS fans didn't get over ff13 easily, i mean, we (me definitely included) would burn down all MS' buildings around the world, just to stop it from happening, if we could.

but yet again, ME shouldn't even be compared to FF even in millions of years.

@ALL THE BUTT HURT FANBOYS saying oh ps droids are hypocrites, they down talked and bashed ME.

well, i can never recall a single comment, anywhere, that was bashing ME, infact we didn't care.
it is just a young IP that was out there showing face.
it wasn't no HALO to hate because of being overrated or overhyped.
it was simply a good game so shut up.

@everybody who brings MGS into this.
remember MGS Rising has nothing to do with original story of MGS, it is a side story about Raven's missions.
so it doesn't matter if you play older MGS games.
and for those who said something about MGS multiplat blablabla
well, as i know, the continue of original MGS story just got released a couple of months ago on psp.

[Ichiryoka]

I logged in. Yes this retarded question made me log in. Ok what makes ME2 so appealing. Dude are you blind? The game looks freaking amazing, not only that but the story in itself is interesting. Ok, so what if you cant import, people will enjoy the game anyway, I mean Bioware will be releasing the back story to catch everyone up, Now ask yourself this, what makes it not appealing?

Answer that.

[Lord Gunchrote]

Why write an article about something so stupid...lol who gives a rats ass about a lame sci fi story anyway. People just wanna play it.

[JonnyBigBoss]

Already have beaten both on PC. Beating Mass Effect does little in the way of making ME2 better. This article makes no sense.

[Ether]

Not sure what the writer is trying to say, are you suggesting that any PS3 owner who wants to experience the whole of ME should buy a 360/PC?

Well, duh. That argument is pretty pointless at this juncture, since anyone who wants to play ME that bad has probably already gotten a 360, or played it on the PC.

[chrisgay]

Or maybe they were waiting for a PS3 announcement, seeing as it was being rumored every couple of week. Now that announcement has come, but maybe for some PS3 owners, it isn't enough.

It is a very relevant point and makes complete sense- you have the choice of playing Mass Effect 2 on your PS3 or playing both games on PC/360, although in my opinion Mass Effect 1 is not worth spending that much money for.

[Philaroni]

How come no one is saying any of this when DMC4 came to the Xbox or any other game. Metal Gear Rising even you will still need to know the backstory of MGS to really get whats going on but not one article about it ever. Same can be said for many other games that came to the Xbox this gen before the PS3 was out and there past counterparts where on the PS2. All theses ME2 posts fail so hard. Also Bioware plans to fill PS3 owners in. Until they show off how they plan to do that and if it is effective all these articles are meaningless.

[Hellsvacancy]

U could say the same about Metal Gear Risin, isnt that game supposed 2 take place after MGS2 and B4 MGS4? if so what use is that 2 360 owners? ill tell u, its coz the devs also know of this so im sure theyll do summin 2 get people up 2 speed

Ive never played a ME game but i shall buy ME2 next year when it arrives

[Close_Second]

...there are those that would have you believe that you cannot play ME2 without playing through ME. That in some way ME2 is a broken experience.

Is there no depths to how low fanboys will go to discredit a game they actually love in fear of it doing well on another platform?

[chrisgay]

I played Mass Effect 1 about this time last year when I picked up my 360 and I have no recollection of the story- nothing.

It is a very forgettable game I think. I'm yet to play the sequel but Playstation owners aren't missing much- a simple cutscene at the beginning will be more than enough I'm sure.

[despair]

they might even have an interactive recap of the first game so some of the decisions will be made by you, but even a simple cutscene is enough for ME1, I also could care less about the game and I played it 2 days before ME2 was released, its an ok game with way too many bugs and way too overrated.

Plus the whole decisions made in the first game carry over to the second is very overrated and misleading, and if you never played the first just some cosmetic and referential differences would you see. No impact on the story.

[shark97]

To xBOX360 Loyalist: Without Metal Gear 1 and to and 3 and 4, what makes Metal Gear Rising so appealing?

same with FF , DMC ...etc

my point is .. it doesn't matter !!

[SpikeSpiegel]

Did receiving only RE5, Shenmue 2 , Metal gear Solid 2 (which we all know contained many references to MGS), Jet Set Future, etc. ruin your enjoyment of playing those games because they weren't the "full experience"?

It seems like many people are suffering sour grapes from the announcement of ME2 (and more than likely the rest of the series) and have to downplay those who finally get a chance to play it. Do you think that everyone who bought Mass Effect 2 used their save data from ME? Would Bioware alienate potential customers by only catering to those who are holding onto a 3 year old created character?

Shenmue 2 was a story driven game that was only released in the US on Xbox (was still released on Dreamcast in PAL regions). Like ME 2, it had the highly touted feature where you can carry over your save data from Shenmue. For those whose only taste of that series was through the Xbox, was your enjoyment of the game lessened by the fact that you couldn't carry over your save and only could watch a recap of the first game?

[TheColbertinator]

I played the Mass Effect 2 story without a Mass Effect 1 save file.It was still a great game,PS3 owners will enjoy it

[tiamat5]

You make a good point Redrum059. There were no articles asking why 360 owners wanted MSG4 without the others. Now that we took their best franchise away from them at only the second game suddenly everyone wants to know why we want ME2 without ME1. Gamers and the gaming media who work them up are very strange people.

[StitchJones]

Something is better than nothing. I'll take ME2 on PS3 with no ME 1, I don't really care.

[P_Bomb]

No one said this when Resident Evil 5 came out on 360. Weren't XBox-only owners wondering where the zombies went and wtf this Las Plagas thing was (RE4), how Wesker was still alive and superpowered (Code Veronica), what this Racoon City incident was they kept hearing about (RE2/RE3), or wtf all those loading screen intel messages were even talking about (Spencer mansion, G-virus, Marcus' leeches...what?)...

How will PS3-only owners play this? Same way XBox-only owners played Silent Hill 3 without Silent Hill 1 and GTA3 without Liberty City Stories.

[Nac]

Mass Effect is one single story/experience split into three parts, the Killzone and MGS series are not. Thats the difference between a planned trilgoy and a trilogy based simply of the success of previous instalments. Thats the difference between "planned" and "profited".

People say Halo is this generations Star Wars? Please..... Mass Effect is this generations Star Wars! You wouldnt start out with Empire Strikes Back would you?

[P_Bomb]

Considering Star Wars started with Episode 4, your point is kinda moot.

[Nac]

You honestly think he had the concept for 1-3 in 77? There called Prequels for a reason.
I would have used The Lord of the Rings as an example, but I didnt think that it was BIG around this community.

[silkrevolver]

...I just got a 360 and the first game I got was Mass Effect 2.... that game alone is pretty damn appealing.

[chiwoo]

The appealing thing is that more people can play it now

[devilhunterx]

Its just fun to see how the xb2 loyalists cry about their lost console exclusive.

[Unicron]

Fanboy damage control.

[N4PS3Fanboys]

Your enjoyment of ME2 hinges on if you've played ME1 and have a character to import. There are so many little details and story developments that rely on your knowledge of the first game, that a lot of things will just fly right over your head. Hopefully EA releases ME1 to the PS3, because it would increase people's enjoyment of ME2 by 100 times. Watching a 5 minute recap of the first game is nowhere near enough.

[Dorwrath]

MAss Effect 2 is a good game that should be experienced by all. Frankly I could careless that it's on the PS3.

Mass Effect 1 has a far superior story to Mass Effect 2, however I do prefer the game play of Mass Effect 2.

The problem with Mass Effect 2 is that it's just a prelude to Mass Effect 3. All you do is recruit your team, do their loyalty missions and go fight the human reaper. The End

[madpuppy]

"To PlayStation 3 Loyalist: Without Mass Effect 1, what makes Mass Effect 2 so appealing?"

Last time I checked "PS3 loyalist" or maybe using the less volatile "PS3 gamer"

!!!!!ARE GAMERS!!!!!

Thus "we" as "gamers" happen to like games. all kinds, especially if they are considered great.

The question makes no sense!!!

[Denethor_II]

To Xbox fanatic, FUCK OFF.