Mass Effect 2 gameplay thread

**frogbeastegg** · 03-17-2010, 18:59

The extra strict spoiler policy has expired. Standard arena spoiler policy applies.

**Secura** · 03-17-2010, 22:03

Really chuffed to have just finished ME2 for the first time, my thoughts on the end past the tags:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

I was unable to ensure Jack's loyalty again, but did have enough Paragon points to diffuse the Tali-Legion dispute and keep them both on-side. I had about 95% Paragon rating overall before going to the Relay, and I couldn't find any other means of increasing it to win Jack over, so took the chance and the jump through Omega 4 (after getting my romance on with Garrus :D).

Some of the cutscenes had me pretty worried; heavy damage to the ship, Miranda getting shot... pretty stressful. I went along with the standard team set-ups for each choice (Tali as tech-spec, Samara as biotic shield, Mordin leading Chakwas/Chambers etc back to the Normandy, Miranda as leader on both occasions), and then ended up with that tough choice at the end.

I heard that leaving the bigger party members behind (Grunt, Garrus, Jacob) would ensure that those holding the line had a better chance of doing so without dying, so I simply took Tali and Legion along with me and left everyone else behind, crossing my fingers that Jack wouldn't end up with a bullet in her head despite the fact I wanted her to.

I found the final boss to be anti-climatic at first; destroying four vial chambers? But then the bloody thing came back and the fight was really on then; Tali was utterly useless, just had her hide back and use her auto turret when it was available; Legion was much more effective, basically able to one-shot those darn Harbingers while I concentrated on the Reaver with the Collector Particle Beam weapon.

Cue another heart attack on my part when the cinematic comes up and it looks as though Tali and Legion were dead, only for them to be simply pinned beneath some wreckage. I enjoyed the whole 'leap of faith' thing at the end, got my "Survive the suicide mission" achievement and then thought that I'd missed out on Leave Noone Behind achievement. Turns out I just had to tell the Illusive Man to get lost, return to my crew and the achievement popped up and I did the happy dance. xD

Amazing game, can't wait to go back through and pick up the achievements I missed (Lvl.30, fully upgraded weapon, etc etc). The third installment looks set to be fantastic, really glad I can import my character. :3

**tibilicus** · 03-18-2010, 00:15

Originally Posted by Secura

Really chuffed to have just finished ME2 for the first time, my thoughts on the end past the tags:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

I was unable to ensure Jack's loyalty again, but did have enough Paragon points to diffuse the Tali-Legion dispute and keep them both on-side. I had about 95% Paragon rating overall before going to the Relay, and I couldn't find any other means of increasing it to win Jack over, so took the chance and the jump through Omega 4 (after getting my romance on with Garrus :D).

Some of the cutscenes had me pretty worried; heavy damage to the ship, Miranda getting shot... pretty stressful. I went along with the standard team set-ups for each choice (Tali as tech-spec, Samara as biotic shield, Mordin leading Chakwas/Chambers etc back to the Normandy, Miranda as leader on both occasions), and then ended up with that tough choice at the end.

I heard that leaving the bigger party members behind (Grunt, Garrus, Jacob) would ensure that those holding the line had a better chance of doing so without dying, so I simply took Tali and Legion along with me and left everyone else behind, crossing my fingers that Jack wouldn't end up with a bullet in her head despite the fact I wanted her to.

I found the final boss to be anti-climatic at first; destroying four vial chambers? But then the bloody thing came back and the fight was really on then; Tali was utterly useless, just had her hide back and use her auto turret when it was available; Legion was much more effective, basically able to one-shot those darn Harbingers while I concentrated on the Reaver with the Collector Particle Beam weapon.

Cue another heart attack on my part when the cinematic comes up and it looks as though Tali and Legion were dead, only for them to be simply pinned beneath some wreckage. I enjoyed the whole 'leap of faith' thing at the end, got my "Survive the suicide mission" achievement and then thought that I'd missed out on Leave Noone Behind achievement. Turns out I just had to tell the Illusive Man to get lost, return to my crew and the achievement popped up and I did the happy dance. xD

Amazing game, can't wait to go back through and pick up the achievements I missed (Lvl.30, fully upgraded weapon, etc etc). The third installment looks set to be fantastic, really glad I can import my character. :3

About Tali being useless in the final fight, on insanity I've found her useless for pretty much the whole game. Why does her combat drone need a 30 second cool down if it's going to be destroyed in less than 5 seconds?

As a plus, she can use a shotgun though which puts her on par in terms of usefulness with jacob.

**Krusader** · 03-18-2010, 00:19

Originally Posted by tibilicus

About Tali being useless in the final fight, on insanity I've found her useless for pretty much the whole game. Why does her combat drone need a 30 second cool down if it's going to be destroyed in less than 5 seconds?

As a plus, she can use a shotgun though which puts her on par in terms of usefulness with jacob.

Aye. Hadn't it been for Legion's sniper rifle both of them would be useless. I usually take along Mordin, Grunt, Garrus, Thane or Miranda. Overloads, Warps, Incinerates + different ammo types make them IMO the most useful.

**Secura** · 03-18-2010, 00:55

The reason I took those is because the information I recieved about that final choice suggested that the success of the defenders relied upon who was left behind.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Unfortunately for Tali, I feel her weapon combination of Shotguns/Pistols just doesn't really do her any favours. She needs a weapon with a higher rate of fire, or more health to offset the fact she prefers to be up-close with the shotgun. Otherwise she's simply a weaker, more tech-orientated version of Grunt or Jacob.

Legion's actually pretty decent, his unique sniper rifle sorta made my jaw drop at how powerful it was, but I feel that the fact he's geth and he comes into the game so late doesn't really give you much scope for relating to him as you might Garrus or Miranda, for example.

**Wishazu** · 03-18-2010, 16:52

Originally Posted by Secura

The reason I took those is because the information I recieved about that final choice suggested that the success of the defenders relied upon who was left behind.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Unfortunately for Tali, I feel her weapon combination of Shotguns/Pistols just doesn't really do her any favours. She needs a weapon with a higher rate of fire, or more health to offset the fact she prefers to be up-close with the shotgun. Otherwise she's simply a weaker, more tech-orientated version of Grunt or Jacob.

Legion's actually pretty decent, his unique sniper rifle sorta made my jaw drop at how powerful it was, but I feel that the fact he's geth and he comes into the game so late doesn't really give you much scope for relating to him as you might Garrus or Miranda, for example.

You don't have to go through the relay immediately after recruiting Legion. As I mentioned in a previous post, bottom of page 6 I think you can get alot more mileage out of him if you go to the derelict Reaper before recruiting Tali, then take Legion aboard the migrant fleet. A few interesting exchanges ensue between Legion and the Admirals.

Legion is my favourite character, his sniper is very powerful, he can absorb alot of damage when his shield boost ability is upgraded, I love the way he speaks and he's Geth! Take the time to chat to him as much as pos, you will not be disappointed.

Addendum: Has anyone else seen him do the Robot dance when you enter the AI Core?

**Scienter** · 03-18-2010, 14:07

Originally Posted by Krusader

Aye. Hadn't it been for Legion's sniper rifle both of them would be useless. I usually take along Mordin, Grunt, Garrus, Thane or Miranda. Overloads, Warps, Incinerates + different ammo types make them IMO the most useful.

Like you, I used Garrus, Grunt, Thane, and Mordin a lot. I found Mordin less effective in combat but he's so funny that I wanted to take him along just to hear him talk. Sometimes I used Samara and Jack together for a crazy kill everything with biotics party. My Vanguard and Jack had maxed out Shockwave by the end, it was fun to have two characters using it at once. :P

**al Roumi** · 03-19-2010, 15:09

Originally Posted by Scienter

Like you, I used Garrus, Grunt, Thane, and Mordin a lot. I found Mordin less effective in combat but he's so funny that I wanted to take him along just to hear him talk. Sometimes I used Samara and Jack together for a crazy kill everything with biotics party. My Vanguard and Jack had maxed out Shockwave by the end, it was fun to have two characters using it at once. :P

I took Mordin on any mission mostly involving biological enemies - Neural shock and cryo-blast are great, incinerate is good on the big mechs' armour. Thane's Shredder ammo also makes him a good team mate for biological enemies. I mostly then used Garrus, Miranda or Zaeed against sinthetics.