Mass Effect 1: I don't get it

cANTaIM · Post by **cANTaIM** » Fri May 28, 2010 12:31 am

I just bought Mass Effect 1. This game is really confusing to me. I have all this, this, crap in my inventory as I randomly pick stuff up, having no idea why I pick it up, don't know how to use any of it, I have several weapons in my arsenal, but am only good with pistols, don't know how to get training in the other weapons, WTH is Omni Gel and what is it used for except to open locks, and so far I don't even need it for that. The menus are, in my opinion, user UNfriendly, it is not clear how to get to where you want to go, if I select some item in a menu, I don't even know if it is equipped. So far my gaming experience with this game is to run through levels, talk to various people, kill various people, and pick up crap I have no idea what to do with. Help?

TG

Darth Gavinius · Post by **Darth Gavinius** » Fri May 28, 2010 3:36 am

Well running around killing people, chatting to people and hoarding lots of crap is the definitive RPG. But Mass Effect does have a pretty naff inventory system and you can thank X-Box users for that. Most of the stuff you pick up is only good for selling or for Omni-Gel. Omni-Gel is used for hacking, opening locks and repairing the Mako in ground missions... trust me when you start fighting Thresher Maws you are gonna want lots of Omni-Gel. Inventory management is about deciding whats important and the gear you find is tailored to the level you are, so I usually just Omni-Gel everything lower. Most of the best weapons you don't randomly find and you can buy later in the game (like Spectre Gear).

Loki[D.d.G] · Post by **Loki[D.d.G]** » Fri May 28, 2010 5:41 pm

Mass Effect has always been more of a shooter with a sprinkling of RPG elements here and there. When you get down to it, the story is pretty much very linear and scripted. So, I suppose if you aren't enjoying it already, i.e. the story and gameplay, Mass Effect isn't for you.

I do agree that ME 1 had a pretty haphazard and woefully clunky inventory system. And the way BioWare remedied this in ME 2 was to make items almost non-existent altogether instead of fixing the user interface. That said, I felt that ME 2 was a better game overall, in terms of storyline and gameplay

cANTaIM · Post by **cANTaIM** » Sun May 30, 2010 9:00 pm

ehh...still don't get it

Once I became a Specter things started making more sense, but I went to the ice world and tried to get into some office, got into a fire fight and my team and I got TOTALLY owned. Not even close. Tried 4 times. Judging by the way we just got butchered there is no way I'll be able to beat that office thing. I still don't get it. Way too hard. That isn't fun. I generally like RPGs (loved Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess) but this? There is just too much to keep track of: how much money I have, what weapons and other equipment, I don't know what is good, and what isn't, I still can aim worth a crap with any weapon but pistols, and I have no clue how to get training. Really pissed about this right now. Sheppard is the LAMEST fighter I have ever played as in any game. Give me Turok!

DesR85 · Post by **DesR85** » Mon May 31, 2010 3:09 am

cANTaIM wrote:Once I became a Specter things started making more sense, but I went to the ice world and tried to get into some office, got into a fire fight and my team and I got TOTALLY owned. Not even close. Tried 4 times. Judging by the way we just got butchered there is no way I'll be able to beat that office thing.

A lot of fights in this game can be really cheap. Don't know what advice to give, to be honest, other than to take cover next to the door and hit any muppet within your line of sight to thin them out then send in your squad into the room to mop up any stragglers or just rush to the nearest cover and duke it out.

And if any of your equipment (weapons and armours) allow add-ons, then use those that might help increase your survivability, such as an increase in shield points for your armour or insert fire rounds into your favourite weapon to dish out some additional damage as examples.

cANTaIM wrote:I still don't get it. Way too hard. That isn't fun. I generally like RPGs (loved Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess) but this? There is just too much to keep track of: how much money I have, what weapons and other equipment, I don't know what is good, and what isn't, I still can aim worth a crap with any weapon but pistols, and I have no clue how to get training. Really pissed about this right now. Sheppard is the LAMEST fighter I have ever played as in any game. Give me Turok!

The inventory system is lousy with a capital L. The most you can do is to find the best equipment and equip them on all your team members and sell off/omni-gel the rubbish equipment (Omni-gel is important if you plan on doing a lot of hacking and decrypting).

As for training, there's none. You only get power-ups or passive skills by putting points in any discipline (hacking, assault rifles, shield, etc). In the beginning, it's best to focus on your weapon of choice (and others you find important), if I recall correctly. Put points in the other skills that you might be interested in once you max out the important skills.

And I agree that the combat leaves a lot to be desired, even when you max out nearly all of your disciplines. Guns still feel finicky and your team AI isn't bright plus most of the plot-based fights in the beginning can be real cheap, especially when the game overwhelm you with numbers.

jklinders · Post by **jklinders** » Mon May 31, 2010 9:57 am

Are you spending points in your class abilities? What class are you playing? Difficulty has a tendency to level off once you start to get decent gear and enough skill points. You say you only have training in pistols, sounds like you might be an adept, engineer, or sentinel. In any case you need to play to your strengths. Use your special abilities, and above all find decent cover. A properly leveled adept or sentinel should breeze through that crew. A badly leveled infiltrator or engineer...not so much.

I might be able to help but I need a morsel more info.

rustinpeace91 · Post by **rustinpeace91** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:08 pm

Loki[D.d.G] wrote:Mass Effect has always been more of a shooter with a sprinkling of RPG elements here and there. When you get down to it, the story is pretty much very linear and scripted. So, I suppose if you aren't enjoying it already, i.e. the story and gameplay, Mass Effect isn't for you.

I do agree that ME 1 had a pretty haphazard and woefully clunky inventory system. And the way BioWare remedied this in ME 2 was to make items almost non-existent altogether instead of fixing the user interface. That said, I felt that ME 2 was a better game overall, in terms of storyline and gameplay

really? i HATED mass effect 1 at first, but once i discovered the complex dialogue system and the deep backstories i really got into it. ME1 is mostly about getting through the story and suffering through the gameplay, ME2 has a much better combat system

Revans mask · Post by **Revans mask** » Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:56 pm

cANTaIM wrote:Once I became a Specter things started making more sense, but I went to the ice world and tried to get into some office, got into a fire fight and my team and I got TOTALLY owned. Not even close. Tried 4 times. Judging by the way we just got butchered there is no way I'll be able to beat that office thing. I still don't get it. Way too hard. That isn't fun. I generally like RPGs (loved Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess) but this? There is just too much to keep track of: how much money I have, what weapons and other equipment, I don't know what is good, and what isn't, I still can aim worth a crap with any weapon but pistols, and I have no clue how to get training. Really pissed about this right now. Sheppard is the LAMEST fighter I have ever played as in any game. Give me Turok!

Don’t run out to the field while enemies are shooting at you like a garsh dang be bob mule monkey with no common since of education in that brain of yours for starters. Take time to develop your own style of fighting, my style kept my Shepard alive even when my team was dyeing like a bunch of monkeys driving a BMW while wearing a neck tie in your neighborhood.