More on Mass Effect 2

[kane_magus]

ME2 apparently considers Shepard to still be in the romance with Liara. My reasoning behind coming to this conclusion is due to the fact that she frenched him when they finally met again for the first time in 2 years (and I, as the player, didn't have any sort of say in the matter). There doesn't seem to be any clear way to break it off through conversation dialog with her, which is kind of annoying. Therefore, my Shepard is just going to have to be a philandering jerk* and there will likely be some sort of messy confrontation between Shepard, Liara, and Tali (with whom I haven't had a chance to start anything as of yet, aside from discussing her apparent interest in Shepard with the yeoman and having him agree that this is a good thing) in Mass Effect 3, I'm guessing. And given just how much Liara has changed between the two games, and the manner in which she has changed, that confrontation could be rather interesting, and possibly dangerous. >_>

Anyway, about ME2 in general. Overall, it is very similar to the first game in many ways. I guess I'd describe as ME1, but with an extra layer of grit. It does not, however, take itself nearly as seriously as the first game did. Just about all of the conversations upon which you can eavesdrop are hilarious. And then there are the various announcements, news reports, and commercials that play in the background, particularly those kind of creepy ones that are on those vid screen on the Citadel.

Lastly, it's looking like just about every single thing that you do in ME1, down to the most seemingly insignificant side quest, will have some sort of effect on what happens in ME2 or will at the very least be mentioned in some way. That's rather cool.

* - Actually, not really, since I turned Liara down in the first game, but since that didn't kill the romance like I was hoping it would for ME2, it still makes it kind of feel like Shepard's a scumbag for going after Tali when he didn't (have an opportunity to) break it off with Liara first. :/

Comments

[eibra.livejournal.com]

In your cabin, on your desk between the medals of honor and the terminal, you should have a picture of whomever you had a relationship with in the last game. As things get serious with someone new, the picture will be turned face down. It's definitely a neat touch.

I'm playing my imported female Shepard from the first game and I had a relationship with Liara in the first game. My relationship in ME2 is... Someone different LOL. Lauren and I have been laughing our asses off because the conversations are incredibly awkward and hilarious. I also turned down or at least looked like I could have started something with at least 3 other characters. So yes Shepard feels a little bit like a slut. I think on my next play through I will try and cultivate every relationship possible, just to see what kind of nuclear meltdown I can have when it comes to a head.

[kane-magus.livejournal.com]

I've already turned down Miranda, and I've been mostly ignoring Yeoman Kelly aside from business stuff even though she flirts at every possible opportunity and you could totally reciprocate if you wanted. I figure I'll have to all but fistfight Jack to keep her away after completing her loyalty thing, which I haven't done yet. Not sure if Samara is a potential interest, and I haven't completed her loyalty quest yet either, but the hints are there that she probably could be.

Tali's romance is pretty cute though. She gets all flustered and stuff at first and then is surprised/shocked that Shepard feels the same way about her, but then she's all worried about Shepard and how she'll understand if he wants to forget her and be with someone else. And then there's the fact that she's having to do some sort of research to find a way for them to be together without it literally killing her, due to the weak immune system thing, yet is willing to risk it anyway, even if Shepard himself may not be. That's as far as it's gotten so far, but apparently that's enough for Liara's picture to be face-down now. Speaking of Liara, I'm vaguely surprised that at least Tali, if not any of the other possible romance choices, doesn't ask about the ME1 romances. Especially given that, for me at least, Tali was there when Liara was playing tonsil hockey with Shepard. (I'm also kind of disappointed that there wasn't any interaction between Tali/Garrus and Liara if you brought them with you to see her.)

Given the choices for male squad members, it's kind of scary to contemplate what those would be like for a female Shepard. Well, I guess Garrus, Jacob, and maybe Thane would be all right, but Grunt? Mordin? Legion? Zaeed? (I doubt Zaeed is even possible, though, given his flimsy, tacked-on DLC status, and the fact that you can't even have normal conversations with him outside of first meeting him and during his loyalty mission.) Is Joker an option for female Shepard? That could be interesting. >_>

On an different topic, did you get the Shepard VI from that guy on the Citadel during Thane's mission, assuming you've done it yet? I had him give me one, and was hoping it would actually be something, maybe in Shepard's quarters or whatever, but it doesn't seem to be anywhere that I can find. That would have been awesome if you were able to have a VI of yourself to talk to, but oh well... :(