So I bought Mass Effect 2...

[sygnus21]

So I just picked up Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition (PC) today. Beautiful looking package. According to Amazon.com, the package weighs about a pound which includeds a tin case containing 3 discs – game install discs 1 & 2, bonus materials disc 3, manual. You also get another cardboard box containing a 24 page limited edition Mass Effect Redemption #1 comic book, a 48 page hardcover art book, and a Limited edition Cerberus Network card granting access to bonus content.

There’s also a case sized card for the bonus collector armor and assault rifle, and another case sized card advertising Dragon Age: Origins and the fact that the game offers a Special Downloadable Item for Mass Effect 2 (the Blood Dragon armor). Since I already have DA:O Collectors Edition, I now have the armor as well. Thus I have two additional armors, one from ME2-CE (Collector Armor) and one from DA: O-CE (Blood Dragon). Nice!

The bonus material disc contains videos on the making of ME2, trailers, and wallpapers

Installation was a breeze and took about 10 minutes for the 2 discs. You're also given the option of installing DX, If needed, before installing the game.

The opening screen is about the same as ME1.



The Configuration Utility is the same as it was in ME 1 with the addition of adding your old saves from ME1.



I choose to have everything on set to high – We’ll see how that goes.

Loading up is pretty quick and once you load up, enter your Cerberus Network activation code to get your DLC, which for the time being is going to be the ME2 collectors stuff - the same items you got with the reg. code for the “Bonus Downloadable Items” (Collectors Armor & Rifle) HUH???

However, there’s supposed to be more to follow (fingers X’d) :huh:



Clicking on "New Game" allows you to create your character, but you can also import your old character from ME1. Cool! I choose to import my character.



Note – When you choose to import your character you will (may) be presented with multiple import choices. For me it was two (dependant on the choice I chose for the council at the end of ME1). Cool. Also, you can still customize your imported character before starting your game. So If you wish to customize or choose a new character, but keep his/her old progress, you can. I chose to keep my character in tact.

So now it's off to see what it offers – will keep you posted. BTW, I tend to explore everything, and do every little side mission possible, so don’t expect expedient posts about my progress. In fact some of you may finish before me.

Peace.

 

[AstaLaVista]

What does Action Role Playing actually mean? I usually only Play First Person Shooters with the exception of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic but I have never played an ARP game... signus, can you give us a crash course?

 

[sygnus21]

OK,

I don't think/hope I'm spoiling anything by saying that in the opening video, the Normandy is destroyed. Nuff said.

As for game play thus far, smooth as butter for me; but than again, it's early. My system specs are listed for the curious.

The one thing I hate already is the new hacking system. Ugh...

Graphics look good thus far but of course I'm just starting so...

That's it for now.

Peace

 

[sygnus21]

What does Action Role Playing actually mean? I usually only Play First Person Shooters with the exception of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic but I have never played an ARP game... signus, can you give us a crash course?

I initally avoided ME1 because I didn't really understand the term Action Role Playing and always associated it with a Dungeon and Dragons or Might and Magic, which are games I can't get into. I know this train of thought is stupid, but that how I initally saw it. I guess that's why I still haven't played Dragon Age: Origins yet even though I bought in on release day

The fact that I love first person shooters also skewed my view as well. What changed my thinking was Fallout 3. I absolutely love that game and in fact am looking forward to another expansion; but that's a story for another time.

To answer your question... I would imagine it would mean to take on the role of a character you develope, which is the case of both Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and to some extent, Fallout 3 and even KOTR, and play that character to it's conclusion.

As for the game play of Mass Effect - The best way for me to anwswer you question is to say that if you like FPS and liked Star Wars KOTR (which I absolutely hated), than you'll like Mass Effect's play style as well. Think third person perspective. Examples of this for me would be Dead Space, Lost Planet, and Fallout 3.

If you're really curious and don't want to spend a lot of money, get ME1 and try it out. It's going for around $18 bucks (US), maybe less. I think you'll like it.

As a side note, having just finished off ME1 (about two weeks ago), I was eagerly awaiting ME2. Now that I have it, the only question is will it live up to the expectations that ME1 brought me.

At any rate I hope I answered your question.

 

[Frostmourne]

That quad-core will limit you - Mass Effect 1 is heavy on your CPU. As for settings push them to maximum and set the filtering to the second option. I would be surprised if a 4890 can't max out texture/shadow settings.

 

[madtownidiot]

Only thing stopping me from buying the game is the DRM only allows for 5 installs. My method of keeping my system clean and running fast is to wipe the system partition from my HDD every week or so and reinstall using an image made when I 1st installed and updated windows, then reinstalling the applications I want to keep. The DRM would stop me from using the game after about a month.

 

[sygnus21]

That quad-core will limit you - Mass Effect 1 is heavy on your CPU. As for settings push them to maximum and set the filtering to the second option. I would be surprised if a 4890 can't max out texture/shadow settings.

All I know is the game is running just fine on my system thus far

I'll also add that I haven't seen anyone complaining here... Mass Effect 2 Discussion - Page 9 - Rage3D Discussion Area

Thanks

 

[Frostmourne]

That quad-core will limit you - Mass Effect 1 is heavy on your CPU. As for settings push them to maximum and set the filtering to the second option. I would be surprised if a 4890 can't max out texture/shadow settings.

All I know is the game is running just fine on my system thus far

I'll also add that I haven't seen anyone complaining here... Mass Effect 2 Discussion - Page 9 - Rage3D Discussion Area

Thanks

Still, max out all settings except the filtering. Push that 4890.

 

[sygnus21]

Only thing stopping me from buying the game is the DRM only allows for 5 installs.

Since I don't do OS reinstalls that's a non-issue for me. Same with DRM, never had a problem with it.

If you like reinstalling your OS like a thousand times a year, yeah, activation is going to be a problem

 

[Frostmourne]

Only thing stopping me from buying the game is the DRM only allows for 5 installs.

Since I don't do OS reinstalls that's a non-issue for me. Same with DRM, never had a problem with it.

If you like reinstalling your OS like a thousand times a year, yeah, activation is going to be a problem

By the way, did you notice micro stuttering in the first Mass Effect? It was really a non issue, but it was slightly noticeable.

 

[sygnus21]

Still, max out all settings except the filtering. Push that 4890.

I obviously left this statement out of my initial post when talking about the configuration panel when I stated that I maxed everything out, same as I did in ME1.

In fact unless my system "tells" me it can't run it, I always try to max game settings out!

 

[Frostmourne]

Still, max out all settings except the filtering. Push that 4890.

I obviously left this statement out of my initial post when talking about the configuration panel when I stated that I maxed everything out, same as I did in ME1.

In fact unless my system "tells" me it can't run it, I always try to max game settings out!

Agreed, the first ME loaded up at 1024x768 at medium or high. Shame developers can't code proper detection of hardware.

 

[sygnus21]

Agreed, the first ME loaded up at 1024x768 at medium or high. Shame developers can't code proper detection of hardware.

I'm running ME2 in 1680x1050, same as I did in ME1 without any hiccups



So far so good.

WOW - more ME2 "free" DLC goodies. Not bad for a newly released game

Zaeed - The Price of Revenge (Cerberus Network) = 598MB

Cerberus Weapon and Armor (Cerberus Network) = 62MB - The actual file reads Normandy Crash site.



Hmmm....Won't know the true worth til I run through the game

 

[LPDad]

Here is a great review of ME2: Seven Samurai in space: Ars reviews Mass Effect 2

 

[Fumz]

... My method of keeping my system clean and running fast is to wipe the system partition from my HDD every week or so and reinstall using an image made when I 1st installed and updated windows, then reinstalling the applications I want to keep...

Are you serious? This is probably the least efficient method I can think of.

 

[madtownidiot]

Are you serious? This is probably the least efficient method I can think of.

An hour and a half to two hours a week doing this keeps my system running just as fast as it was the day I installed windows 7. All my media and personal files are on a separate partition from the OS and programs, so I don't lose anything when I do it. Everything else I've tried results in an inevitable slow down. Maybe when I can afford a large SSD it won't be necessary any more, but I like being able to cold start my system in about 30 seconds.

 

[AstaLaVista]

Thanks Signus, I will give it a shot. My friend buys games sight unseen, it doesn't matter what it is, his way of giving his son all the love he can handle, half (if not more) of those games are never even open or used for more than 1 day so I am sure he can lend it to me for testing purposes and since I don't do Online, he shouldn't have a problem.

Good Luck with it.

 

[sygnus21]

... My method of keeping my system clean and running fast is to wipe the system partition from my HDD every week or so and reinstall using an image made when I 1st installed and updated windows, then reinstalling the applications I want to keep...

Are you serious? This is probably the least efficient method I can think of.

And then complain about limited reinstalls of software. Huh??? :huh:

At any rate back to my post …

Having just recently finished the first ME I now find I have to get used to the Gameplay/keyboard functions changed in ME2.

For example, in ME1 I could bring up my inventory with the "I" key, check my Journal with "J", and view Codex (Encyclopedia/Info) with the "O" key. I could also see a mini map of the area I was in with the "M" key.

In ME2 all these functions are brought up on a "Mission Computer" using the "Esc" key. You then click the appropriate tab to bring up the info you want. Ironically this is the same way the Mission Computer works in ME1, using the same key!

Another big change, and one I REALLY miss,… In ME1, if you walked up to a wall/object and continued pressing "W" it would automatically put your back to the wall, thus allowing you to take cover and fire around the wall/object without fully exposing yourself. While you can take cover in ME2, it’s not this sophisticated (you can’t walk up to a wall/object and have it done automatically), and you’re in a crouched position. In ME1 you can do this standing or crouched, depending on the object.

I’ve found myself plenty of times running up to a wall/object looking to "automatically" take cover only to be reminded that it doesn’t work this way in ME2. Argh…

I personally think it would have been nice to keep the same key functions/movements, especially since it wasn't that long ago when the first game was released, and it’s still the same company.

Also the game seems to put a little more emphasis on using your team members and their talents. In the first game I could do a lot of assaults by myself and get away with it. In this one, you need to rely on your team members for success/survival. That's good; I'm just use to my FPS ways.

Good game thus far, though I’m just in the "putting my team together" phase so it’s still early. Plus other priorities haven’t fully allowed me to explore the game yet; maybe this weekend.

That’s it for now.

 

[sygnus21]

@ AstaLaVista, I really think you should give Mass Effect a try as I think you'll like it. Again, if you don't want to try ME2, give ME1 a try, it can/should be found for a fairly cheap price, and the graphics/gameplay isn't that far off from ME2. Plus if you like it and decide to move to ME2, you can import your character's progress/level over to the new game

@ Frostmourne,

I missed your question about micro-stuttering yesterday, but to answer it today, no, I haven't noticed it. In fact ME1 ran buttery smooth for me with all settings on high @1680x1050.

As for micro-stuttering, the only time I ever noticed it was in Fallout 3, but after turning the radio off, it went away.

I have read/heard that most people who suffer micro-stuttering are running dual card setups, but I’ve always run single card. I've just heard too many game issues with dual card setups to even consider it, even now. But that's me.

As for performance issue in ME2, I haven't noticed any yet with my setup, but it's early.

 

[Wishmaster]

IMHO, EA's copy protection is actually no where near as bad as it is made out to be.

In fact.. I personally prefer it over some other methods

You get 5 activations .. TRUE, but ..
that 5 activations on ANY PC. So if you have 3 PCs, each can activate with 2 more left.

Now if you need to re-install Windows on any of them, or are at your 5 activation limit and need another, simply un-install the game for the newer releases.
Some of the older ones, require you to download the de-authorization tool and run it.
You get your activation back for that PC to use on another, or the same PC after a format.

I mean seriously .. i don't get it. Whats wrong with this form of DRM?? Quite resonable i think since they are going to implement DRM one way or another.
Far better than most others IMO. Maybe I just see things differently.

None-the-less, as far as ME2 goes, very good game so far and runs beautifully
And it looks very good too, better than ME1.
So far no issues at 1920x1080 with MAX settings, runs as smmoth as can be. no stutter or lag at all so far.
even set to use x4 AA with rig in my sig

i always thought micro stutter only effected X-Fire and SLI systems?