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[favreorite]

I decided to go out and buy the regular disc version brand new. (usually I try to wait for the game to be for sale a good while and pick it up for less money whether new condition or used)

Because Microsoft owns the rights to the original Mass Effect that means PS3 owners will never have their own version of ME1. So EA / BioWare gave PS3 owners a way to achieve some degree of pleasure and satisfaction of participating in Mass Effect by allowing their character, Commander Shepard, to make decisions that affect his (or her's) story line and that of his crew, friends, and others involved in the game. I would guess some decisions that are made have unforseen consequences. Just like real life, right? Art imitating life? I'm down for that.

I have never played any of the Mass Effect games nor do I know diddly squat about the story and its characters before the other day. All I knew before buying it was that it looked to be some shooter in outer space that also had a good story and was nominated for game of the year. If a game has those creds, I'm in like Flynn. I won't ask any questions, I'll just plunk down my cash and be off with it.

First thing I noticed after opening the game was that it contained NO Instruction manual. I called Game Stop to let them know of my missing instructions and was placed on hold. It was during that time that I realized I had overlooked a notice on a 3-page fold-out card that said the manual was included on-disc.  Problem solved.
In the same area of that card, EA made mention thanking me for supporting their efforts to significantly reduce paper in their products. Umh yeah, sure, whatever.  I'm no tree-hugger and I doubt EA / BioWare is either but I believe this is the start of an emerging trend among game companies to slightly increase profits by not having to absorb costs that paper instruction manuals incur. Now their bean counters can smile a bit at their increased bottom line.  Good for them, not so good for those of us who treasure traditional manuals.

Continuing on, I sliced open the case and slid the blu-ray disc into my PS3. First thing I noticed after inserting the disc is that I had to wait roughly 30 minutes while the blu-ray disc loaded a really good size chunk of info onto my PS3's HDD. Presumably to lessen or eliminate load times during gameplay. There may be other reasons as well.

So, after that wait I was now in the driver's seat and ready to start playing. The first images I saw of the game was a small cut-scene where this woman named Miranda and somebody called the Illusive Man were having a discussion about another person named Shepard who did "everything right" and he was about to battle the Geth. Miranda made mention of how the Geth weren't the real enemy or problem.

This was the beginning of an approximate 25-minute long intro into the game. I had heard before buying the game that PS3 owners would get a special interactive comic book to aid them on their abbreviated journey through a handful of major decision points along the way that as far as I can tell originally were in ME1.

I was unsure of what was happening at the very beginning of ME2 when I started playing. I'm referring to the part that comes right before the interactive comic. The ship Normandy is out on manuevers in stealth mode but gets intercepted nonetheless by an unidentified hostile ship that drills the Normandy and its crew hard with numerous, powerful, devastating laser blasts. I was giving orders to my crew, and making life or death command decisions. About half a dozen times I'd say.

What was this that I was playing that lead up to the interactive comic part? Was I playing the beginning of ME2?  Was it the beginning of ME1, or the ending? If the latter, that would make some sense as it would allow the story of ME1 lead into ME2 but first let you interact with the comic book ME1 story that allows you to simultaneously learn and interact with that past story so that when it is done being told, you are brought up to speed and ready to start the beginning of ME2 and the creation of your character.

Okay, I think I'm a bit confused and unsure how the beginning played out and the order of things. That's okay, I only went through the beginning, pre-character-building part only one time. It will benefit me to go through it at least once more before doing it for real. Maybe buying the strategy guide would help as long as I don't accidentally learn of spoilers.

This is what I know to be true regarding the disc format of ME2 when buying it new. Here is what you get:  6+ hours of bonus missions. Includes Kasumi: Stolen Memories, Overlord, and Lair of the Shadow Broker.
Additionally, here is more included info as printed verbatim on the redemption code card:

Activate the Cerberus Network Today!*
Connect now and receive included bonus downloadable content:

Download Zaeed, a lethal gun for hire, for your squad!

Gain Access to the Cerberus Assault Armor and M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.

 Decimate entire enemy squads with the Arc Projector Heavy Weapon. 

 Take command of the Hammerhead heavy assault vehicle and more!

*Single-use Cerberus network code is enclosed with new, full retail purchase and expires January 1, 2012. EA account and game registration with Cerberus network code required to access online features and services. Cerberus network code is nontransferable once used. Additional Cerberus network pack available for purchase.

The rest of it continues with legalities and such.

There is also more available content to download from PSN.

Lastly, PS3 owners get the added benefit of having ME2 recreated on Biowares new ME3 game engine, which also will be used for, what else, the upcoming Mass Effect 3. By the way, IGN.com did a side-by-side review of the ME2 and ME3 engines using a scene from ME2 as the source material for the comparison. IGN had the review set up showing the difference between the two engines using a split-screen; Xbox 360 using ME2 engine on the left, PS3 using ME3 engine on the right. Trying to be objective, I thought the difference was an easily noticeable improvement with the ME3 engine showing a good overall bump in quality. But I watched little of it. I'll leave it at that. You can make up your own mind by visiting IGN or by doing a search.

I'm sorry if I confused anybody regarding the beginning goings-on of the game. I'll have to play it again to wrap my head around it. Hope this helped some PS3ers decide whether to buy the game and if so, whether to buy the downloaded version from PSN or the regular disc format. I vote for the disc; more content for the same money.

Peace!

[Torhagen]

If you really want to know the story of ME1 you should either watch it on Youtube or play it

The Genesis comic left some important things out like how Shepard was able to comprehend a 50.000 year old message and other important stuff

[prazision]

Your post implies you played through the interactive comic, yet you made no mention of the (extremely lengthy) Cerberus download you must do to access the comic. I'm confused.



That was my major beef - the back of the box clearly states:



INCLUDES:



- Complete Mass Effect 2 Game

- INTERACTIVE COMIC

- 3 Bonus Missions



Items 1 and 3 are true; those are what's literally "included" in the box, on the disc. Item 2 is NOT "included", it's part of the Cerberus Pack, which is mentioned further down on the box.



To put it simply, the box lies, and anyone buying it used should be aware they will NOT get the comic for free, which causes you to miss out on some MAJOR information and decisions.