Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, I really liked Dragon Age. I take it the Mass Effect games are the same format, just sci fi and shooting guns instead of swinging swords? I have a PS3, I don't care for PC gaming that much... but is that the only version I'd be able to get if I wanted to start mass effect from scratch? I think PS3 starts with part 2.

Do I even need to play the first part? or can I just start off with #2 and go from there?

I bought my 360 Arcade (or rather, received it as a gift from the missus) in order to play ME. It was a great game but I wouldn't recommend going to that length to play it in 2011. ME2 for PS3 has a 15-minute motion comic that brings you up to speed on the ME plot and lets you make about five or so "key decisions" (i.e., the only ones that actually mattered relative to ME2) from that game. If you enjoyed DA:O, don't think you will automatically enjoy ME2 which is a very pared-down RPG. It's an entertaining game with strong characters but it is purposefully less a RPG and more a TPS. Judged against either genre, it's not one of the greats and I don't know that ME2 will be long remembered unless it spins off a crossover genre (which is likely enough). The main reason to play ME2 is for it's story. If you're the type of gamer who is into being told a coherent story (as I know you are), definitely go for ME2 on PS3. Just keep in mind that DA2 is right around the corner and it might be a better fit coming out of DA:O.

+1 on Manchu's opinion.

I really liked ME1 a few years ago. Heck it was the only reason why I bought a 360 originally. Then that 360 died (pre 3 year warranty days). I bought my second 360 for Mass Effect 2 last year. Now at the time a lot of sites were advertising ME2 for the PS3 in January 2010. Of course Bioware denied these claims several times, so that was why I went with another 360 for Mass Effect 2.

Now a year later, those same claims came true and the PS3 finally has it. I doubt we will see ME1 on the PS3. Bioware would have to build it from the ground up again, and if they did using the ME3 game engine, I know I would buy it again.

With that said, when I got my second 360, I spent some time playing ME1 again right before the release of ME2 on the 360. I still liked the game, but I found myself powering through the game without completing the side quests like I did the first time. I really only wanted to do this so my choices would import over with the ME1 game save.

You see when I first played ME2 on the 360 it gave me all the choices that I hated in the first game. I will not go into details, but pretty much the stock choices without a ME1 game save were the ones I would not have chose. So that was my main reason for playing ME1 again.

Now the PS3 pretty much recaps all of those major choices with the comic so I think you would be safe playing it. If you have a 360 and you are bored, play it when you find it cheap.

Why not just play the first? I haven't played Dragon Age, but it is still a good game and should provide some hours of entertainment. Also, from what I've been told, you can port your character to ME2. A nice way to get to know the universe, become immersed in it, and further enjoy the latter games.

Just my two cents.

EDIT: confused your post with Manchu. But if your PC can run ME, why not give it a try?

Destrado wrote:Why not just play the first? I haven't played Dragon Age, but it is still a good game and should provide some hours of entertainment. Also, from what I've been told, you can port your character to ME2. A nice way to get to know the universe, become immersed in it, and further enjoy the latter games.

Just my two cents.

EDIT: confused your post with Manchu. But if your PC can run ME, why not give it a try?

Pretty much what I was thinking. I would play it if you are bored. It is still a decent game. But I wouldn't fret over not porting your character from the first one over if you get ME2 on the PS3. You can recreate you character's face pretty easily and the choices from the first game are recapped in the interactive comic. You don't take your level or equipment over or anything.

Yeah, he can always play ME1 later if he really feels like it. I finished Halo 1, 2, 3, Reach, and replayed Halo 1. Not the same situation, but if you really like a universe, you can still enjoy it later.

Destrado wrote:Yeah, he can always play ME1 later if he really feels like it. I finished Halo 1, 2, 3, Reach, and replayed Halo 1. Not the same situation, but if you really like a universe, you can still enjoy it later.

I did the same myself. After reach I really felt like playing the first one. I still didn't beat it on Legendary but it was fun anyways. I am also thinking about playing Halo 2 and 3 again as well.

I was really just thinking of ME1 to get the full story, and I heard you can import your character and I like that idea. But, I guess I'd be better off just starting with ME2, since I won't be able to import from a PC and won't want to eventually play all 3 on a PC.

With DA:O I'm blowing through it again. The first play through took like 80 hours and in the end there were some choices I would have liked to be different in the ending. I just blew through the main game in half time time and now I'm doing them same with Awakenings. I also picked a rogue this time, since it always bugged me having to switch to open a chest, and it bugged me having to miss a lot of chests before I met up with Leliana .. even though there wasn't much in them, it's still fun to be able to get them all.

I think all that I can import to DA2 is some back story things that I acomplished so I just want to make sure the world is in order before I move on

I guess after DA2 I'll move on to ME2. I tried the demo and it was pretty fun, but I decided to jump into Dragon Age first.

Personally I think taking a character through both games is part of the experience of the ME series. That kind of personalized continued narrative is really unique to video games. I'd play the 1st if I were you, but then you'd have to get both on the PC. Then of course there's the whole "you get all the DLC for free on the PS3" deal.

Dragon Age was alright but the more I played the less engaging it became. I think ME2 was one of the best game in years, an instant classic.

So, If I really, REALLY liked DA:O, will I like ME2?

Not necessarily, the gameplay is vastly different and the presentation is also dissimilar. There's no fondess meter or whatever it was called in ME, but you get the paragon/renegade meter. The conversations in ME2 are a lot more cinematic and engaging especially with the interrupts. ME2 had a great pace to it, I feel like DAO slowed down a bit too much, albeit those slow downs were due to pretty fun tactical fights. Also there was less of a sense of direction in DAO, especially when you had to revisit certain areas. ME was nice in that you visit a planet beat up all the fools there and be done with it. It even gives you a helpful percent of this solar sytem complete tip, so you know what quests you've done.

Generally speaking ME is far more cinematic, the conversations are quick and well shot. You don't need to open up menus to mess with skills or inventory that often. And the action itself moves quickly though you can pause if you like.

Also technically speaking ME2 is really good looking and has pretty diversified set pieces. DAO was simply ugly graphically and in its design. 10 reskins of the same armour? N64 ground textures? No thank you.

Additionally, both worlds are decently fleshed out and more or less tie in that regard. Both have pretty good quests with satisfying branches, consequences, writing, etc, so the side missions tie. The main quest is almost identical: gather an army to figh the big bad evil. ME2 also gets bonus points for a better OST though DAO's iain't bad either

Finally, I think if you have an old ME1 save it vastly improves ME2. Seeing that character continuation is a great.

Sorry, long post is long : P

Yeah, Dragon Age and Mass Effect don't have that much to do with each other. However if you like DA:O you'd prob be one of the people that likes Mass Effect 1 better than the 2nd. It's more RPGey.

Lord Scythican wrote:I did the same myself. After reach I really felt like playing the first one. I still didn't beat it on Legendary but it was fun anyways. I am also thinking about playing Halo 2 and 3 again as well.

Gah, Reach Legendary is frustrating. I did it offline... Stupidly hard. Though it made those Elite assassinations feel like they were worth a medal each.

But I'm eager for that Halo: CE remake that's been said to be in the works.

For me, these kinds of games I'm more interested in the story than the gameplay as long as it's not too tough or just annoying. In fact, I usually just play em all on the easiest setting. And I like a more cinematic feel, makes it seem more like an interactive movie where you play along, I guess. And I like how it takes a good 2 weeks or more to get through, one thing I dislike about the shooters is you can get through the campaign in a day or 2. I really feel like I got my money's worth with Dragon Age 1.

I gotta agree, play ME. Right now you can probably find the game for cheap and it's well worth twenty bucks or so. Great game and the continuation of your character through the games is a great feature.

Necros wrote:For me, these kinds of games I'm more interested in the story than the gameplay as long as it's not too tough or just annoying. In fact, I usually just play em all on the easiest setting. And I like a more cinematic feel, makes it seem more like an interactive movie where you play along, I guess. And I like how it takes a good 2 weeks or more to get through, one thing I dislike about the shooters is you can get through the campaign in a day or 2. I really feel like I got my money's worth with Dragon Age 1.

Then you will Definately like ME1. The conversation wheel is actually from ME and is the best thing ever. ME is much, much more cinematic than Dragon Age because your character is fully voiced.

DA:O's silent protagonist was a big negative for me, upon reflection. While you shouldn't kid yourself about making Shepard "your character," being able to participate in conversations with NPCs is a major advantage over DA:O in terms of its entertainment value. Again, don't confuse any of this with immersive storytelling. It's no more immersive than watching a TV show or movie that benefits from thoughtful production. Unless your tastes are genre specific (in terms of gameplay or setting), you should really enjoy ME2. Skipping ME is not something you need to lose sleep over.

Manchu wrote:DA:O's silent protagonist was a big negative for me, upon reflection. While you shouldn't kid yourself about making Shepard "your character," being able to participate in conversations with NPCs is a major advantage over DA:O in terms of its entertainment value. Again, don't confuse any of this with immersive storytelling. It's no more immersive than watching a TV show or movie that benefits from thoughtful production. Unless your tastes are genre specific (in terms of gameplay or setting), you should really enjoy ME2. Skipping ME is not something you need to lose sleep over.

But he's in it for the cinemas. IGN once sarcastically refered to bioware's works as "The Great Canadian Talkie". Necros, Manchu is just trying to discourage you buying an xbox. Give in to the dark side!

I agree with the silent lead too.. I didn't like that about DA. I mean, they gave you voices for combat, they could have just used the same male/female voice. I'm also a little bummed that DA2 doesn't continue with the same characters.. I'm sure I'll still enjoy it though.

Well I guess I'll just start with ME2 and take it from there.

I played ME before DA:O so its hard to go from that to that. It definately feels like your taking a step backwards when it comes to voice acting.

KC is right, I am definitely anti-xbox. But you already made the right decision in that context so no need to rehash it. BioWare has motivated me to buy two Microsoft consoles so far: first with KotOR and then with ME. I loved both games, mind. But I never played another xbox esclusive on either that would have similarly motivated me to buy the console. (Even Reach didn't make that cut.) And that includes Dragon Age: Origins (:spits. I don't know that ME is a step back from DA:O -- quite the reverse, IMO. But it simply doesn't merit purchasing a new console after this long. If you want to play ME3 as soon as it comes out, however . . .

Yes, I mean DA:O is a big step backwards from ME... in pretty much everyway. Even though I think it came out afterwards. Pretty sure, ME team is the A team and DO:A is the B team.

Considering how cheap ME1 probly is now, the fact that some actions carry over to ME2 and it has a far better story.

Overall id say get ME1 even if it is for the PC then gew ME2 for PS3.

But id say if you get ME1 on PC then keep the rest on PC purely for the save carry over.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Pretty sure, ME team is the A team and DO:A is the B team.

That's what I've heard -- especially considering that Kanluwen said BioWare started working on DA2 before DA:O was even released . . . and now we see that DA2 is being very free with what DA:O established about Ferelden.

To the fans: I don't want to see DA2 fail just because I think DA:O was a failure. Quite the opposite!

Are they going to change up the combat? If so, I will get it. If not, probably not.

I heard the combat in DA2 has a lot more action to it. I think the demo is out now so I'll probably download it, but I wanted to get through DA:A first.

Dragon Age Origins feels like a test-run for the genre compared to DA2.

Like, I absolutely adored DA:O, but the combat was sort of boring, and the non-voiced character was sort of...boring.

A good game, but it looks like DA2 is improving on all concepts of DA:O, and is fixing a lot of its flaws.

Yes, combat is extremely overhauled. Much more flashy, and much more well thought out.

I know this is rather off-topic, but here is the video for the DA2 combat. Judge it for yourself.




The demo for Dragon Age 2 is out on Feb 22nd for the PS3, 360 and PC.

Upon completion of the demo you will unlock Hayden’s Razor for use in DA2, an ancient Dwarven Blade that increases Health, Mana and Skills.

But that's not all. If the demo achieves one million downloads before the 1st of March, Bioware will include two items for all to use that will increase the amount of money and experience earned in the main game.

Karon wrote:Dragon Age Origins feels like a test-run for the genre compared to DA2.

Like, I absolutely adored DA:O, but the combat was sort of boring, and the non-voiced character was sort of...boring.

A good game, but it looks like DA2 is improving on all concepts of DA:O, and is fixing a lot of its flaws.

Yes, combat is extremely overhauled. Much more flashy, and much more well thought out.

I know this is rather off-topic, but here is the video for the DA2 combat. Judge it for yourself.




The demo for Dragon Age 2 is out on Feb 22nd for the PS3, 360 and PC.

Upon completion of the demo you will unlock Hayden’s Razor for use in DA2, an ancient Dwarven Blade that increases Health, Mana and Skills.

But that's not all. If the demo achieves one million downloads before the 1st of March, Bioware will include two items for all to use that will increase the amount of money and experience earned in the main game.

...looks pretty good. But I'll rent this time first. I won't be fooled again!

Looks cool. I think I'll be doing it action rpg style most likely. I like being able to run into the middle of a fight and have the rest of my group back me up on their own


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So, I noticed I can download the full game for ME2 on PS3... it's $60 though. Is it worth it, or should I wait and look for it used? Seems kinda high for a year old game, even though it's "new" for PS3...

ME2 is $20 on the PC.

$60 is definitely too high.