Mass Effect Trilogy remastered

_CreeD_ · 10-06-2021 12:12am

I just finished ME3, bittersweet really in that I think this is the last time I'll play through them all. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as much as I love nostaligia trips like this it's too easy to get fixated on them and there is a time to just move on permanently.
I left the Citadel: Shoreleave DLC until the last possible moment and realised I had forgotten so much of it, to the point I'm pretty sure I must have just been drunk as hell the first (and last) time I played it years ago and rushed through it without really engaging, it was so good, perfectly crafted dialogue and story beats and probably the finest epilogue'ish content I've seen in any game.
Now to just wait for my N7 helmet to arrive and take it's rightful place in mancave history

Markitron · 10-06-2021 8:42am

Zero-Cool wrote: »

I love that no matter who you bring from the squad, it's like they were meant to be there.

One thing annoying me about 3 is the amount of citadel side missions. You have to do then before certain missions and some can only be done after certain missions. Too complex to track when there's the big bad happening at the same time.

Yea this is a huge problem with the game, and it completely kills the pace of the game when you have to go back there nearly every second mission. Made worse by the fact that the quest tracker is a broken mess and the people you have to turn quests into either don’t show on the map or are in a completely different place.

Zero-Cool · 10-06-2021 9:15am

Yeah, last night i just googled each citadel quest in my log and how to finish it, skipping ones where i had to come back after later missions. Pain alright, made worse by the quest tracker not telling you what progress you've made so if you have to come back to a quest later and completely forgotten it, you've no idea where to go or who to talk to.

It's also bloating the game unnecessarily. I'm 17 hours in and haven't even done the geth dreadnaught yet.

I'm absolutely loving all the loose ends being tied up, feels like I'm meeting an old friend in every mission and their arc is coming to a meaningful end. I know people complain about the ending of this but to me, the whole game is like one big ending, great soaking it in and not rushing.

Markitron · 10-06-2021 11:20am

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Yeah, last night i just googled each citadel quest in my log and how to finish it, skipping ones where i had to come back after later missions. Pain alright, made worse by the quest tracker not telling you what progress you've made so if you have to come back to a quest later and completely forgotten it, you've no idea where to go or who to talk to.

It's also bloating the game unnecessarily. I'm 17 hours in and haven't even done the geth dreadnaught yet.

I'm absolutely loving all the loose ends being tied up, feels like I'm meeting an old friend in every mission and their arc is coming to a meaningful end. I know people complain about the ending of this but to me, the whole game is like one big ending, great soaking it in and not rushing.

I can't remember if you said you had played it before, so just in case, make sure to talk to Miranda at least 3 times on the Citadel. And be sure to mention Kai Leng to her as well.

Zero-Cool · 10-06-2021 11:22am

Markitron wrote: »

I can't remember if you said you had played it before, so just in case, make sure to talk to Miranda at least 3 times on the Citadel. And be sure to mention Kai Leng to her as well.

Yupp, multiple times but don't think i ever talked to Miranda 3 times before. Just had my second chat with her last night so i shall return

Markitron · 10-06-2021 11:30am

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Yupp, multiple times but don't think i ever talked to Miranda 3 times before. Just had my second chat with her last night so i shall return

Yea if you want her to survive you have to have 3 conversations with her on the citadel, don't break up with her if you romanced her, and warn her about Kai Leng - which is very missable. The citadel DLC should be done right before the final mission begins at the cerberus base, and if you want her there (which you do) you have to keep her alive in Horizon

How Soon Is Now · 10-06-2021 12:03pm

Finished the Virmire mission in Mass Effect last night. Wonder how much longer of the main story I have left doesn't seem like much but every time I get further I get a million side missions thrown at me!

My biggest issue so far with the first game compared to the rest is there is no % completed on the map so you have no idea how much more you need to explore plus you end up forgetting where you have been!

_CreeD_ · 10-06-2021 12:12pm

Markitron wrote: »

Yea if you want her to survive you have to have 3 conversations with her on the citadel, don't break up with her if you romanced her, and warn her about Kai Leng - which is very missable. The citadel DLC should be done right before the final mission begins at the cerberus base, and if you want her there (which you do) you have to keep her alive in Horizon

Also

To be able to warn her about Kai-Leng you have to have read the emailed Dossier on him from Anderson after the first Citadel attack

As for the side-quest mess on ME3 basically between each mission fly around the star map to any system that isn't showing 100% (there are a few story based single star-system ones that will never have anything but you'll learn these quickly). Fly to and scan everything in those systems, after your first run it'll take about 5 mins. Go back to the Citadel and walk through every map section picking up the new conversation hints aswell as direct requests. Hand in the ones you have picked up in this run, any others you won't be able to get to yet anyway (you've cleared all the available systems and new ones or new opportunities in existing won't open up until your next main is done) so you don't need to worry about where they might be. Do the next main mission, rinse and repeat. It saves a lot of time and frustration, but I also didn't mind being back to the Citadel doing a walkthrough as I love the little multi-stage conversations and the like going on, it was never as tedious as ME1 Citadel. Also make sure to check the Specter station as there are 2ndary request items in some of the smaller side missions that are very easy to miss, if you do they will be available for purchase there afterwards.

Markitron · 10-06-2021 12:15pm

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

Finished the Virmire mission in Mass Effect last night. Wonder how much longer of the main story I have left doesn't seem like much but every time I get further I get a million side missions thrown at me!

My biggest issue so far with the first game compared to the rest is there is no % completed on the map so you have no idea how much more you need to explore plus you end up forgetting where you have been!

Don't worry about the side missions, aside from a few that are clearly highlighted they are all pretty inconsequential. The amount that you have left depends on how soon/late you did Virmire. After you complete Feros, Novaria, Virmire and pick up Liara, you can begin the endgame section which takes about 3 hours maybe.

How Soon Is Now · 10-06-2021 12:17pm

Markitron wrote: »

Don't worry about the side missions, aside from a few that are clearly highlighted they are all pretty inconsequential. The amount that you have left depends on how soon/late you did Virmire. After you complete Feros, Novaria, Virmire and pick up Liara, you can begin the endgame section which takes about 3 hours maybe.

Cheers!

I done a fair amount of them but getting pain me arse with doing very similar ones over and over ha.

I obviously just don't want to miss anything that will effect future games.

Mitch Connor · 10-06-2021 12:21pm

Still going through ME1, on the last section of it now.

Despite my intentions.... Kaiden still bit it. Never made it through a play yet! I had planned to keep him this time, but when presented with the choice of rescueing him or Ashley - i couldn't help but consider (1) regardless of Ashley saying the nuke was going to go off regardless... Saren was there and the nuke had to be protected and (2) I said two nice things to Kaiden and he went full on love puppy. back off buddy.

Markitron · 10-06-2021 12:22pm

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

Cheers!

I done a fair amount of them but getting pain me arse with doing very similar ones over and over ha.

I obviously just don't want to miss anything that will effect future games.

There is almost nothing in the ME1 sidequests that will affect ME2/3. At best you will get an extra line of dialogue here and there or an email to your terminal.

The only non-main quest I would recommend you do is the Rogue VI on Earth's moon and Bring down the Sky. As noted, these won't really affect anything but they do give essential background on some plot points.

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Still going through ME1, on the last section of it now.

Despite my intentions.... Kaiden still bit it. Never made it through a play yet! I had planned to keep him this time, but when presented with the choice of rescueing him or Ashley - i couldn't help but consider (1) regardless of Ashley saying the nuke was going to go off regardless... Saren was there and the nuke had to be protected and (2) I said two nice things to Kaiden and he went full on love puppy. back off buddy.

If you are a biotic, its worth keeping Kaiden around to get access to reave in ME3. Beforehand I usually saved Ashely, but she definitely voted Brexit so she can **** off

How Soon Is Now · 10-06-2021 12:25pm

Markitron wrote: »

There is almost nothing in the ME1 sidequests that will affect ME2/3. At best you will get an extra line of dialogue here and there or an email to your terminal.

The only non-main quest I would recommend you do is the Rogue VI on Earth's moon, Bring down the Sky. As noted, these won't really affect anything but they do give essential background on some plot points.

Grand fairly sure I've already done that. I might go back to the side missions at some point but in general I'm enjoying the main story more!.

Kiith · 10-06-2021 12:39pm

You get a decent amount of small details if you complete all the sidequests. A fair few characters pop up for minor dialogue during 2 and 3, and it really adds to the sense that its your story.

Not for the "collect 10 dog tags" type ones though.

J. Marston · 10-06-2021 1:20pm

It's a shame James wasn't in Kaidan's spot in ME1. He's a far better character and carnage is an amazing ability.

Markitron · 10-06-2021 1:46pm

J. Marston wrote: »

It's a shame James wasn't in Kaidan's spot in ME1. He's a far better character and carnage is an amazing ability.

I have played ME3 3 or 4 times and have never selected him once. Not sure why.

J. Marston · 10-06-2021 2:50pm

Markitron wrote: »

I have played ME3 3 or 4 times and have never selected him once. Not sure why.

I rarely pick him either (or the sexbot) because I'm so attached to Liara, Tali, Wrex and Garrus like everyone else but if he were in from the first game I think he would be much more highly thought of compared to clingy Kaidan or Brexit Ashley.

Markitron · 10-06-2021 3:23pm

J. Marston wrote: »

I rarely pick him either (or the sexbot) because I'm so attached to Liara, Tali, Wrex and Garrus like everyone else but if he were in from the first game I think he would be much more highly thought of compared to clingy Kaidan or Brexit Ashley.

Edi is probably my most used squadmate, she has incinerate and overload which pretty much cover all your bases by itself.

Tij da feen · 10-06-2021 4:03pm

Markitron wrote: »

Edi is probably my most used squadmate, she has incinerate and overload which pretty much cover all your bases by itself.

Edi and Liara was basically like playing easy mode during Insanity. Edi for shields and armour, Liara for singularity with double Throw for biotic combo from my Shepard got me through 99% of fights.

Kiith · 10-06-2021 4:36pm

I try to vary the team, though i always bring Garrus and Liara for the main story missions. Swap Liara for Tali on any of the Geth related missions. Javik, James and Edi are mainly used on the N7/Cerberus quests.

Below article has a fair bit of info on what squad has the most amount of unique dialogue.

https://masseffect.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:Temporaryeditor78/squadmate-mission_matchups_for_maximum_dialogue_immersion#mass_effect_III_

Markitron · 10-06-2021 5:00pm

Tij da feen wrote: »

Edi and Liara was basically like playing easy mode during Insanity. Edi for shields and armour, Liara for singularity with double Throw for biotic combo from my Shepard got me through 99% of fights.

Shame they are no use against that poxy final marauder

nozzferrahhtoo · 10-06-2021 5:01pm

Having great fun with Origin here. Reminds me why I never usually buy games new and always wait for months

Should have waited here too.

I live in a not great internet location, and I have limited monthly download limit of 250GB.

Anyway last night I started up ME launcher to play for the first time in days. And it suddenly said I required a 52GB patch before I could play it any more (was working the night before). I googled and sure enough they have released 1.03v.

Well at my download speed that would mean I would not be playing. So I made other plans. But with my download limit I couldn't get it anyway. So in the end I paid for my 4G "24 hours unlimited download" option, and used that instead. Left it running.

Checked it at 1.5GB/52GB and all was well. Check it again at 2GB and it had now changed to 2GB/7GB! Well that was a waste of buying the 24 hour download.

Anyway I had other plans so left it running. Checked it this morning and it was marked "complete" so I went to work.

Just now I started it up again and the Launcher opens, but it cant/wont launch any of the games. It starts to, then crashes out back to the launcher.

Clicked "verify" option to check the game files. And now..... 2 hours before my 24 hour download package expires it has to "repair" the files. 45GB to download

I will start it anyway. With any luck its artificially inflated the download expectation again and it will all suddenly right itself.

No love for Origin here

Anyway fully completed ME1 and ME2 in new legendary (think pretty much 100% completion on both). So looking forward to restarting ME3 from the beginning.

Riddle101 · 13-06-2021 1:27am

Was playing the Citadel DLC tonight and it got me thinking. The mission with all your squadmates taking part in the fight, where you had Mako and Hammerhead providing fire support, while you and your squad moved through could have been utilized in the final mission of the game too.

Imagine, you finally reach Earth after spending so long trying to gather allies, and everyone is there to help you out in the final battle. Or at least, everyone who is still alive is there. So basically all squad members from ME1, 2, and 3 would be part of the final mission providing support in some way to you, as well as other allies you gathered along the way.

So for example, there could be different parts of the mission where your allies would help you out. So let's say you get ambushed by reaper forces and it looks like your team is outnumbered. The Krogan forces led by Grunt or Wrex provide reinforcements making things easier, and in the final fire fight, your whole team comes to provide assistance in the final push.

I realize now that they can't change the game now, but it would have been nice to see something like that in the final mission of Mass Effect 3. Citadel got it right though, it was a nice love letter to players.

J. Marston · 13-06-2021 1:48am

I agree to letting Diana Allers on the ship just so I get to kick her off it.

fixXxer · 13-06-2021 4:11pm

Realised now

destroying the Genophage cure

may have been a mistake as I think about starting ME3. Finished it when it came out and only played it the once. I've never played any of the DLC either so its going to be an almost new game experience. Also, I made a mistake in getting the reaper IFF. Thought I could do two missions and in

return I got to watch Kelly Chambers get liquified. :-/

Kiith · 13-06-2021 4:37pm

You're not missing anything with that 2nd spoiler. Tiny part in the 3rd game, one i forgot was even in there.

1st spoiler though can have a pretty big impact on Tuchanka.

Coming to the conclusion of my playthrough now. Finished all the main missions and DLC, with just Citadel to go before the end game. Will get stuck into it tonight, and finish what has been another extremely enjoyable run of the games. Easily one of my favourite games/series of all time.

J. Marston · 14-06-2021 11:33pm

I thought you could get the platinums in one playthrough but apparently you need to start a NG+ for ME3 to upgrade a weapon to +10. Annoying.

Riddle101 · 15-06-2021 12:49am

I started Mass Effect Andredmeda twice today, because my male Ryder came out looking like prince charming from shrek with a permanent confused look on his face. Not exactly what I was going for. I think I'll just go for default Scott Ryder although I'm not too keen on his facial hair. I wish you could customize the default character as well.

Vicxas · 15-06-2021 7:13am

J. Marston wrote: »

I thought you could get the platinums in one playthrough but apparently you need to start a NG+ for ME3 to upgrade a weapon to +10. Annoying.

Can't you buy the +5 - 10 through the spectre requisitions?

Kiith · 15-06-2021 7:48am

In case anyone subscribed to EA Play Pro for the month to clear this, and your expiration is coming up, you can keep the game running and minimized even after cancelling. Had to leave it running since Sunday night, as i was a few hours away from clearing it and didn't fancy spending another €15 quid.

Markitron · 15-06-2021 8:28am

Vicxas wrote: »

Can't you buy the +5 - 10 through the spectre requisitions?

No, the max you can get to is +7 in a single playthrough. To get to a +10 you have to import your character and start a NG+ and play up to the citadel.

If you set the difficulty to narrative and have the game choose all your dialogue, you can fast skip through almost every conversation and knock it out in less than a half hour.

J. Marston · 15-06-2021 10:14am

I thought I'd do a renegade playthrough after this run but I just don't have the heart to be mean to Tali, Mordin, Garrus and my son, Grunt.

fixXxer · 15-06-2021 12:17pm

J. Marston wrote: »

I thought I'd do a renegade playthrough after this run but I just don't have the heart to be mean to Tali, Mordin, Garrus and my son, Grunt.

Grunt responds really well to it :pac:

Mitch Connor · 15-06-2021 12:56pm

i'm doing a basically full paragon run through at the moment (with some renegade pieces where they make sense, imo).

I am looking forward to a big renegade run through.

Might leave garus on the Citadel in ME1, might bring Wrex along to deal with him at Virmire.

Kiith · 15-06-2021 1:22pm

Finished it this morning, and once again annoyed that i missed that last speech check with the Illusive Man. Have cleared the game several times now, and have never managed to get that one. Think its because of the first conversation on Mars.

As for a Renegade run, i can't bring myself to do a full one. Kill Wrex? Betray Mordin? Hook up and get killed by Morinth? No way..except maybe that last one :pac:

J. Marston · 15-06-2021 1:24pm

Kiith wrote: »

Finished it this morning, and once again annoyed that i missed that last speech check with the Illusive Man. Have cleared the game several times now, and have never managed to get that one. Think its because of the first conversation on Mars.

As for a Renegade run, i can't bring myself to do a full one. Kill Wrex? Betray Mordin? Hook up and get killed by Morinth? No way..except maybe that last one :pac:

Even renegades must find it hard picking Morinth. Samara is infinitely the better character.

fixXxer · 15-06-2021 1:29pm

Kiith wrote: »

Finished it this morning, and once again annoyed that i missed that last speech check with the Illusive Man. Have cleared the game several times now, and have never managed to get that one. Think its because of the first conversation on Mars.

As for a Renegade run, i can't bring myself to do a full one. Kill Wrex? Betray Mordin? Hook up and get killed by Morinth? No way..except maybe that last one :pac:

The Renegade checks are the same as the paragon ones, just angry though? I played Renegade in ME1 and didn't kill Wrex when I chose the red option.

Zero-Cool · 15-06-2021 2:12pm

Leviathan DLC was class, amazing bit of lore about the reapers! Just have Citadel DLC and then last 2 story missions to do. Really looking forward to Citadel.

J. Marston · 15-06-2021 2:14pm

I'm waiting until I get Tali before doing the DLCs.

Adyx · 15-06-2021 7:44pm

Shepard's lost her eyelids again.

Vicxas · 15-06-2021 9:10pm

Finished 3 there. What a wild ride and a great nostalgia trip.

A solid months worth of gaming there. Sad its over though.

Zero-Cool · 16-06-2021 4:34pm

Just finished 3, Jesus what a rollercoaster. Citadel DLC was just perfection, what a damn blast. Even the choosing an ending, it all seemed just right. Went red as that's what looks like canon in the teaser for the next mass effect.

Only downer, i ran out of save files so i need to complete the last mission again from last save point, whenever that is, to have the chance to start ng+ to upgrade a weapon to 10 and grab the plat.

I have so many screenshots saved i could make a photo album. ****ing love this universe and will honour it by staying Andromeda soon and doing my best to enjoy it.

_CreeD_ · 16-06-2021 4:55pm

Zero-Cool wrote: »

and will honour it by staying Andromeda soon and doing my best to enjoy it.

Now that's just crazy talk, honour it by ignoring Andromeda

.

Okay it wasn't absolultely terrible and I am kinda tempted myself but I do have memories of being bored with large portions of it.

ItsHoggie · 16-06-2021 5:14pm

Downloaded Andromeda last night to have a look off it. Played a couple of hours of MP this morning, I’m short 4 trophies for the platinum and I wanna get it but I’d never compete an insanity play through and the MP is an awful grind. I’ve a level 13 human and a level 15 Asari so would still take a fair few hours to get either of them close to level 20 and attempt the gold missions for the trophy. The other 3 I’m short are related to single player which I could get fairly easy if I do decide to do a NG+.

Zero-Cool · 16-06-2021 5:15pm

_CreeD_ wrote: »

Now that's just crazy talk, honour it by ignoring Andromeda .

Okay it wasn't absolultely terrible and I am kinda tempted myself but I do have memories of being bored with large portions of it.

I only ever got about 25% through as i was just bored playing it but i need to clear it before the next ME, which should give me a few years at least

J. Marston · 17-06-2021 11:04pm

I thought ME2 was my favourite but playing through ME3 has made me re-evaluate.

The gameplay is improved upon again and most importantly the squad and ship feels much more alive. Everyone in ME1&2 is stuck in place but the characters hop around the Normandy in ME3 and interact and there is more banter on missions.

Markitron · 18-06-2021 1:09pm

J. Marston wrote: »

I thought ME2 was my favourite but playing through ME3 has made me re-evaluate.

The gameplay is improved upon again and most importantly the squad and ship feels much more alive. Everyone in ME1&2 is stuck in place but the characters hop around the Normandy in ME3 and interact and there is more banter on missions.

If it had managed to top the suicide mission I might have agreed with you.

Kiith · 18-06-2021 1:21pm

Yeah, i'd say 3 was the best game overall, but the Suicide Mission itself was the best single moment of the trilogy, as i loved picking characters to do specific roles, and then seeing them do it.

Garrus leading the fire team and holding that door...nearly lost it when he fell over afterwards.
Legion in the ducts opening doors
Samarra with the biotic bubble
Jacob back to the ship cause, you know, Jacob :pac:

J. Marston · 18-06-2021 1:34pm

I put Garrus as fire team leader, Kasumi in the vents, Samara with the bubble and Mordin back to the ship because that's the safest job, all they have to be is loyal to survive.

Edit: Found this on Reddit. Funny/creative reused assets throughout the trilogy...

https://imgur.com/a/isDQWfy?nc=1

Vicxas · 18-06-2021 2:45pm

I had Miranda as second team leader, Kasumi in the vents and Samara with the bubble.

Mordin escorted the crew back and they all had their loyalty mission done. Everyone survived

Mass Effect Trilogy remastered

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