If I didn't play Mass Effect 1, will I understand 2?

[sandorski]

If Story is important, you must play 1. If you don't play 1, you might as well not play any of them.

 

[Dessert Tears]

I am 5 hours into ME1 now and even with points into sniper (a lot, I thought), the thing waves around even at a distance of 30 meters like my guy is about 5 minutes from passing out due to being absolutely thrashed on alcohol.

And drank a pot of coffee to "sober up". The Assassinate skill steadies the scope in addition to the damage bonus. I used Assassinate pretty much exclusively until I invested a lot of points.

The best gun in ME1 was the pistol if you spec'd right.

I read that there was a bug with the assault rifle damage that contributed to this.

 

[viivo]

I love Mass Effect 1, but I don't see how it's necessary to play to understand the sequels. The majority of the game is chasing Saren and fighting Geth. The Reaper and Prothean stuff doesn't really become the focus until the end, all of which is covered in 2.

I have to say though that it's almost worth playing just for the conversation with the ancient AI. Reminded me of the ancient AI scene in KotOR.

 

[Fingolfin269]

If Story is important, you must play 1. If you don't play 1, you might as well not play any of them.

That's not true at all. I never finished 1 because I hated the combat and just read all of the backstory on the wiki before playing 2.

 

[JTsyo]

They did, it's a DLC called Genesis (free on PS3 I think). If nothing else at least do that, but I still say it's worth making the effort on ME1.

Some of the smaller decisions and plotlines that aren't in the comic also have effect in ME2, and likely ME3. Even simple stupid fun ones, like Conrad Verner.

The biggest reason, imo, to play ME1 is to feel more...I dunno...committed to the cause and your team. Tali and Garrus are on your team in ME2 as well. Taking the time to develop that connection with them in ME1 likely makes a difference to how you see them in ME2. Garrus and my Shep totally have a bromance, for example...or at least that's how I see it.

I think of it like Band of Brothers without the first 4 episodes. Sure, it'd still be a fantastic 6 episode miniseries, but you'd feel much less invested in each member of easy. Thinking about it, that's probably the biggest difference between BoB and The Pacific to me. I liked the Pacific quite a bit, but still not as much as BoB.

I haven't played ME3 yet but I hear from a friend that choices you made in one comes now in three.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I haven't played ME3 yet but I hear from a friend that choices you made in one comes now in three.

Some do, yes.

 

[yllus]

Play 1, but set the combat difficulty to the easiest setting. It's worth it for the story but not the combat.

2 is one of the top three games I've ever played, so that's not to be missed.