Mass Effect Part 2

I'm a little further along with Mass Effect. I think I've completed all of the side quests, based on a list I looked up on GameSpot. I haven't looked through the guide (I never use them on the first play-through of a game,) but I think I'm about 75% done with the main quest, barring any unforeseen plot twists.

After re-reading the negatives I posted before, I just wanted to restate that this game is A LOT of fun to play, especially now that I've found or bought some really great gear. It's difficult to successfully mix RPG, sci-fi, and shooter genres, but Bioware has done a good job. I haven't had this much fun since I played System Shock 2... well, maybe the first Deus Ex was this fun.

I'm already planning my character design for the second playthrough. This time I played a long range fighter, using assault rifles and sniper rifles for most of the game. Next time I'm going to focus on close combat skills, boosting my hand-to-hand, pistols and shotgun. I'm looking forward to duking it out toe-to-toe with a geth juggernaut. Or I might try the tech and/or biotic skills. There are so many ways to play; it's hard to decide.

Other thoughts:

I know it's a sci-fi/shooter game, but I'd like to have more hand-to-hand weapons. As it stands, you just use your equipped weapon to pistol-whip or butt-stroke an enemy when they get too close. It's rather lame. I know they have to be careful not to make the game a KOTOR clone, but there are options for space-age melee weapons that don't rip off Star Wars.

I wish there were more things to do with money. My funds capped off at 9,999,999 credits, because I have nothing to spend it on. There are precious few merchants in the game, and most of them stock the same old crap. I think I must have the best weapons and armor in the game. I haven't been able to buy or find anything better for a very long time. I keep hoping for better upgrades, but I think my base equipment is as good as it gets. It would be nice if I could buy upgrades for the ship and land rover, or buy different vehicles, or spend money to change my character's appearance, or buy a place to live, or invest in stores or fund a black market arms dealer... something to flesh out the sparse game economy.

I still haven't figured out the difference between "Increased Weapon Stability" and "Reduced Weapon Recoil," but I have figured out the difference between "Weapon Damage" and "Weapon Force." Increasing weapon force increases the chance of the target being knocked prone by the shot. It can really help turn the tide of battle since prone enemies are easier to hit and can't shoot back. I've had great success by equipping my character with as many damage increasing mods as I can, and boosting weapon force for my squad members. They knock them down, and I finish them off. If the enemy is behind cover, it's a great way to advance on them. Knock them down and then rush their position while they're getting up.

Grenades are usually handy to have since they can be tossed over walls or bounced around corners. The grenades in Mass Effect are not as useful, since they fly in a straight line. They do come in handy if you can funnel enemies into a corridor. They can also be used to get at enemies behind cover since the grenades stick to walls and such. If you can toss it so that it sticks to the edge of their cover on onto a wall directly behind them, you can still kiss them with a little grenade loving. If the detonation doesn't kill them, it will usually flush them out into your field of fire.

In my experience so far, heat reducing weapon upgrades have been few and far between (until I got my experience levels in the mid forties.) I found and later sold a few heat sinks early in the game before I really understood their significance, and I regretted it afterwards. Since ammo is unlimited, heat buildup is the only factor that limits how long you can fire without switching weapons. More heat reduction = longer sustained fire!

(slight spoiler concerning unlockable achievement awards)

It turns out some of the achievements you can earn unlock functionality for subsequent playthroughs. It is possible to earn achievements that make certain skills available to newly created characters that they normally couldn't access. It takes some time and work, but it is possible on the second playthrough to have more flexible skill options at character creation.