the workshop tumblog

My ‘Mass Effect’ Link & Info Dump

Today is Mass Effect 3 Launch day and I’ve gotten myself all hyped-up for it by re-playing the Mass Effect 2 suicide mission (everyone survived this time) and the “Arrival” DLC that I hear is a key plot point you shouldn’t miss before starting 3.

If you haven’t played Mass Effect 1 and/or 2 and like any space science fiction, well you really should play these games. Read this first link, you’ll be hard pressed not to run out and grab a copy of Mass Effect.

• Why Mass Effect is the Most Important Sci-Fi Universe of Our Generation - io9.com

You can potentially skip Mass Effect 1 if you really want… If you play the PS3 version of 2 or download the “Genesis” DLC for the Xbox 360 you can play an interactive graphic novel that fills you in and lets you make key plot choices before starting Mass Effect 2.

Personally I think you’d be missing-out by skipping 1. Sorry PS3 fans, it is exclusive to Xbox 360 and PC though as it was published by Microsoft before EA bought the developer BioWare.

Pro-Tip for playing Mass Effect 1: you might want to skip a lot of the side missions and planet exploration as it was unfortunately mostly filler consisting of driving a space-buggy around boring planets with poor controls and low gravity. Filler content aside, Mass Effect 1 is a great first game in the trilogy.

• Mass Effect 1 (360, PC)
• Mass Effect 2 (360, PS3, PC)
• Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC)

• Mass Effect 2: Genesis (Xbox 360)
  Only if you skip the first game.
• Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker (Xbox 360)
  The best add-on and one of the best missions in Mass Effect 2.
• Mass Effect 2: Arrival (Xbox 360)
  Needed for plot leading into Mass Effect 2.
• Mass Effect: Infiltrator (iOS: iPhone & iPad)
  A side story that ties into Mass Effect 3. I hear an Android version is in the works too.

I haven’t actually done any Mass Effect 3 review reading so I go into the game without any expectations beyond my own. I’ve even avoided watching any game trailers since the first announcement. The scores look good, so I doubt I’ll be disappointed.

• Mass Effect 3 Review - VOX Games (10/10)
• Mass Effect 3 Review - IGN (9.5/10)
• Mass Effect 3 Review - Joystiq (4.5/5)
• Mass Effect 3 Reviews - GiantBomb (4/5)
• Review: Mass Effect 3 - Destructoid (8.5/10)
• Mass Effect 3 Review - Ars Technica
• Mass Effect 3 Video Review - 1up

I put 52 hours into my latest Mass Effect 2 save: