Am I "insane," or is insanity damn near impossible without a replayed Shepard (level 30ish)?
I stated an insanity playthrough with a level 5 Shep (imported ME1 lvl 60), and I am absolutely STUCK at one of the shutters in Garrus' recruitment mission.
Advice?
I don't mind lowering the difficulty to finish this, since I have to replay an old one anyway, but I just wanted to know what a "consensus" would be.
Thanks!
ME2 Insanity?
Débuté par
Ice Cold J
, févr. 23 2012 04:40
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#2
Posté 23 février 2012 - 07:21
Steven the Hawk
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It's certainly possible with a low-level Shep. I started at level 3, maybe, with an adept -- notoriously weak on Insanity -- and managed to get through it. What class are you playing?
Whatever your class is, take heart: the bit that's got you stuck right now is known to be very difficult on Insanity. I recommend taking your time, trying to ignore the countdown, and advancing cautiously until you reach the switch. Barely beating the clock is still beating the clock. If you can get through this, you probably won't see anything else that makes you want to bash your head against a wall until, like, the end of Horizon.
Whatever your class is, take heart: the bit that's got you stuck right now is known to be very difficult on Insanity. I recommend taking your time, trying to ignore the countdown, and advancing cautiously until you reach the switch. Barely beating the clock is still beating the clock. If you can get through this, you probably won't see anything else that makes you want to bash your head against a wall until, like, the end of Horizon.
Modifié par Steven the Hawk, 23 février 2012 - 07:22 .
#3
Posté 24 février 2012 - 10:09
Ice Cold J
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I gave in and switched the difficulty. I just want to get THIS playthrough done before ME3 comes out.
I'm playing as a vanguard, which I also heard is practically suicide on insanity.
It's good to know I'm not the only one who has trouble with this. I will ask if the enemies ever stop or if they spawn continuously until you close the shutter?
Anyway, once I get this finished and play through ME3 once, I'll go back and try it in a replay with a higher level Shep.
Thanks for the input, though!
I'm playing as a vanguard, which I also heard is practically suicide on insanity.
It's good to know I'm not the only one who has trouble with this. I will ask if the enemies ever stop or if they spawn continuously until you close the shutter?
Anyway, once I get this finished and play through ME3 once, I'll go back and try it in a replay with a higher level Shep.
Thanks for the input, though!
#4
Posté 24 février 2012 - 10:19
SpockLives
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You need Vanguard charging tips. Vanguard is almost unplayable until you have Charge maxed out for Heavy Charge. It's still pretty hard to charge as often as you'd like until you get the Hard Shields upgrade (requires 3/5 Damage Protection upgrades). This video by AverageGatsby shows some basic tips on how to know when to charge. Remember, don't let anyone tell you you can't do Vanguard on Insanity (I've done it 3 times, never on New Game +). You just have a steep learning curve, and it takes a while before you become a beast. Don't be afraid to be cautious sometimes.
Edit: On the room with the shutters, don't advance until you kill the second varren. Enemies will not stop spawning, but you should be able to push forward and go for the button after you kill the second varren. This video by the same person is with an Engineer, but he describes pretty well how to know when to move forward in that room. The part of the video you want starts at about 4:30 or 4:40. Also, check out the sticky at the top of this forum for more Vanguard guides by people like sinosleep, thisisme8, and sabresandiego. Scrogublitzen also has a guide on an alternative strategy he calls a Cryoguard.
Edit: On the room with the shutters, don't advance until you kill the second varren. Enemies will not stop spawning, but you should be able to push forward and go for the button after you kill the second varren. This video by the same person is with an Engineer, but he describes pretty well how to know when to move forward in that room. The part of the video you want starts at about 4:30 or 4:40. Also, check out the sticky at the top of this forum for more Vanguard guides by people like sinosleep, thisisme8, and sabresandiego. Scrogublitzen also has a guide on an alternative strategy he calls a Cryoguard.
Modifié par SpockLives, 24 février 2012 - 10:26 .
#5
Posté 25 février 2012 - 12:13
swenson
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Not impossible at all. I'm past the Collector Ship with my first-playthrough vanguard, and while it's difficult at times (EXTREMELY difficult, they call it "insanity" for a reason), it's entirely possible. Like SpockLives says, though, you need to learn to charge, and you need to do it constantly.
There's a few questions, though. What's your bonus power? Personally, I find Reave to be indispensable (rips through armor/barriers, temporarily immobilizes unshielded organic enemies, AND can heal me to boot), although some people use other powers as well. If you're using Reave, then my advice (given to me by another, and it was VERY helpful) would be to level up the passive skill and Charge at the same time, leveling up the passive FIRST if you can't do both at once (to charge properly, you MUST have high weapon damage and health or you will die instantly!). Once you have both up to the highest (Heavy Charge and whichever passive gives more weapon damage), level up Reave. (I did Area Reave because I usually managed to kill people before the first one ran down, but Heavy would be a viable way to go as well.) Only then should you worry about ammo powers. Cryo or incendiary, both are valid ways to go. If you do cryo, then you get to charge into and smash people; if you do incendiary, then you get to light them on fire (temporarily immobilizing them AND causing entertaining impromptu breakdancing!).
There's a few questions, though. What's your bonus power? Personally, I find Reave to be indispensable (rips through armor/barriers, temporarily immobilizes unshielded organic enemies, AND can heal me to boot), although some people use other powers as well. If you're using Reave, then my advice (given to me by another, and it was VERY helpful) would be to level up the passive skill and Charge at the same time, leveling up the passive FIRST if you can't do both at once (to charge properly, you MUST have high weapon damage and health or you will die instantly!). Once you have both up to the highest (Heavy Charge and whichever passive gives more weapon damage), level up Reave. (I did Area Reave because I usually managed to kill people before the first one ran down, but Heavy would be a viable way to go as well.) Only then should you worry about ammo powers. Cryo or incendiary, both are valid ways to go. If you do cryo, then you get to charge into and smash people; if you do incendiary, then you get to light them on fire (temporarily immobilizing them AND causing entertaining impromptu breakdancing!).
#6
Posté 25 février 2012 - 06:51
SpockLives
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I disagree slightly with swenson on leveling priority. Charge is virtually worthless until maxed out. Since charge is what you use to restore your shields, I recommend maxing it first and passive second. Quite frankly, the puny 6% weapon damage of choosing Destroyer over Champion will not kill enemies in fewer shots. I recommend maxing out the passive for cooldown reduction rather than weapon damage because charge does NOT benefit from the Biotic Cooldown upgrade. Your passive skill is the only way to shave those few precious fractions of seconds off your cooldown for charge that could save your life. Swenson's recommendations are fairly solid, but I prefer getting my shield boost before the passive.
The Claymore is a great shotgun, but you won't get it until mid-game. Quite frankly, the Katana will do fine if you don't have the Eviscerator. I am currently playing a Scimitar Vanguard, and I used the Katana up until I got the Scimitar. Most people like the Eviscerator best. You also haven't mentioned whether or not you have the Geth Plasma shotgun. My advice is to use it on caster classes, but not Vanguards. The geth shotgun will get your Vanguard killed.
I do agree with his recommendation of reave as a bonus power, and that Squad Cryo and Inferno ammo are both great, but can wait until later. I'll close by adding that the main thing to realize is that Vanguard charging has a learning curve. Once you learn it, you can use pretty much any skill set and weapon selection even on Insanity.
The Claymore is a great shotgun, but you won't get it until mid-game. Quite frankly, the Katana will do fine if you don't have the Eviscerator. I am currently playing a Scimitar Vanguard, and I used the Katana up until I got the Scimitar. Most people like the Eviscerator best. You also haven't mentioned whether or not you have the Geth Plasma shotgun. My advice is to use it on caster classes, but not Vanguards. The geth shotgun will get your Vanguard killed.
I do agree with his recommendation of reave as a bonus power, and that Squad Cryo and Inferno ammo are both great, but can wait until later. I'll close by adding that the main thing to realize is that Vanguard charging has a learning curve. Once you learn it, you can use pretty much any skill set and weapon selection even on Insanity.
Modifié par SpockLives, 25 février 2012 - 06:53 .
#7
Posté 27 février 2012 - 04:52
Ice Cold J
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Thanks y'all!
I'm gonna keep referring back to this thread very often when I finally DO hit that Insanity run-through.
...
I'm gonna keep referring back to this thread very often when I finally DO hit that Insanity run-through.
...
#8
Posté 27 février 2012 - 05:28
Arkalezth
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This may be about the 1000th thread about vanguard's builds (in other words, search the forums), but anyway...
I recommend against Reave. Its cooldown is long enough to prevent you from charging at times, which is what you should be doing most of the time as a vanguard. If you want to strip defenses, that's what companions are for. My pick for a bonus power is usually Slam (for warp bombs), though Stasis is pretty good too if you have LotSB.
The usual leveling order is: max charge (heavy), max passive (either works, I use to go with Champion), Inferno ammo. That's the basic vanguard build, after that, I usual go for Squad Cryo Ammo (for your companions, you should always use Inferno), and Heavy Slam. if you want to have some adept-like abilities, you can skip those two and take Pull Field (I'd use Stasis in that case).
Sinosleep posted some low level vanguard tutorial videos here: http://www.youtube.c...85&feature=plcp
I recommend against Reave. Its cooldown is long enough to prevent you from charging at times, which is what you should be doing most of the time as a vanguard. If you want to strip defenses, that's what companions are for. My pick for a bonus power is usually Slam (for warp bombs), though Stasis is pretty good too if you have LotSB.
The usual leveling order is: max charge (heavy), max passive (either works, I use to go with Champion), Inferno ammo. That's the basic vanguard build, after that, I usual go for Squad Cryo Ammo (for your companions, you should always use Inferno), and Heavy Slam. if you want to have some adept-like abilities, you can skip those two and take Pull Field (I'd use Stasis in that case).
Strongly disagree. It's obviously better when maxed out, but it can work at any level, you just need to learn how to use it properly, as you said, it has a learning curve.SpockLives wrote...
Charge is virtually worthless until maxed out.
Sinosleep posted some low level vanguard tutorial videos here: http://www.youtube.c...85&feature=plcp
#9
Posté 28 février 2012 - 04:17
Ice Cold J
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Arkalezth wrote...
This may be about the 1000th thread about vanguard's builds (in other words, search the forums), but anyway...
I wasn't looking for a Vanguard BUILD, just for whether or not people ever played Insanity successfully with a new Shepard instead of a level 30 one.
#10
Posté 28 février 2012 - 04:40
Arkalezth
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Yes, the beginning can be actually harder in NG+.
Modifié par Arkalezth, 28 février 2012 - 04:40 .
#11
Posté 28 février 2012 - 06:47
Ice Cold J
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Why?
Do they scale the difficulty based on level?
Never heard that...
Do they scale the difficulty based on level?
Never heard that...
#12
Posté 28 février 2012 - 06:51
Arkalezth
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Yeah, enemies are stronger and you have no upgrades at the beginning.
#13
Posté 01 mars 2012 - 09:28
Destroydacre
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Ice Cold J wrote...
Why?
Do they scale the difficulty based on level?
Never heard that...
Yes the enemies scale based on Shepard's level so a NG+ on insanity is much more difficult because upgrades don't carry over from game to game.
Playing on insanity for the first time is very difficult. I went through the same problems. I recommend sticking with it. You'll eventually get better. I can't play ME2 on anything but insanity anymore and although I know the game and the enemies like the back of my hand there's still parts in the game where I can count on dying. The shutter on the right (I'm assuming that's the one you're talking about) is still very tricky. But it's an awful lot of fun as well when you get it closed on insanity.
#14
Posté 01 mars 2012 - 09:26
WarChicken78
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Is it essential for you to play a Vanguard?
Since you changed difficulty with that one, I thought you might want to try your insanity run with another character...
I tried Insanity with my Vanguard and thought it really (really, really) impossible.
The Vanguard is almost always in the middle of the battle and if youdon't take very much care, he's goo in no time.
My recommendation is someone who can use a more distant approach. An infiltrator should do nice (especially with his possibility to turn invisible and flee) or an Adept (Which I used). Both of them will have severe Problems once a Praetorian shows up, tho. I was just about to toss my keyboard out of the window on the horizon mission
.
A Soldier might work fine, too with his Adrenaline Rush.
Since you changed difficulty with that one, I thought you might want to try your insanity run with another character...
I tried Insanity with my Vanguard and thought it really (really, really) impossible.
The Vanguard is almost always in the middle of the battle and if youdon't take very much care, he's goo in no time.
My recommendation is someone who can use a more distant approach. An infiltrator should do nice (especially with his possibility to turn invisible and flee) or an Adept (Which I used). Both of them will have severe Problems once a Praetorian shows up, tho. I was just about to toss my keyboard out of the window on the horizon mission
.A Soldier might work fine, too with his Adrenaline Rush.
Modifié par WarChicken78, 01 mars 2012 - 09:27 .
#15
Posté 01 mars 2012 - 09:30
WarChicken78
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Arkalezth wrote...
Yeah, enemies are stronger and you have no upgrades at the beginning.
That first part is not true. Enemies are not stronger on any given point in the game.
Enemies are harder to beat in the beginning, since you haven't found all those nice little upgrades, then.
That is why the Praetorian on Horizon is a lot more difficult than the one you encounter later on.
#16
Posté 01 mars 2012 - 09:59
Arkalezth
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That doesn't explain how early, pre-update enemies (Freedom Progress for example) are harder on NG+.
You just need to get used. Vanguard is the class I've played the most by far (I always play ME2 on insanity), and I'm not a god of gaming.WarChicken78 wrote...
I tried Insanity with my Vanguard and thought it really (really, really) impossible.
The Vanguard is almost always in the middle of the battle and if youdon't take very much care, he's goo in no time.
Modifié par Arkalezth, 01 mars 2012 - 10:02 .
#17
Posté 02 mars 2012 - 01:03
Jamin101
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Ice Cold J wrote...
I gave in and switched the difficulty. I just want to get THIS playthrough done before ME3 comes out.
I'm playing as a vanguard, which I also heard is practically suicide on insanity.
It's good to know I'm not the only one who has trouble with this. I will ask if the enemies ever stop or if they spawn continuously until you close the shutter?
Anyway, once I get this finished and play through ME3 once, I'll go back and try it in a replay with a higher level Shep.
Thanks for the input, though!
It haunts me to this day I have 61/62 ME2 achievments but I just couldnt beat it on Insanity. Maybe its because were both Vanguards, I never even tried playing it as a different class because it just wasnt fun. Hardcore was enough challenge for me
#18
Posté 02 mars 2012 - 01:05
Jamin101
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Problem with vanguard is on insanity even a default merc or geth starts with shield/armour/barrier so your biotic powers might as well not be in the game. By the time an enemy is in the red its usually faster just to kill him
#19
Posté 02 mars 2012 - 05:04
HippeusOmega
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I'm doing a vanguard on insanity and been reading through the comments left and it has given me a lot to think about with it how to play as one. Having a slight problem though. Not sure how I should invest my squad members powers early on. Could someone recommend how I should skill up some of the squad members early on? Especially with Kasumi cause I like to do her mission right away and its a lot different as a Vanguard.
Level 5 at the moment and saved Miranda's powers for the time (cause not sure what I should do with her) and have Jacob almost ready to learn Squad Incendiary Ammo.
Level 5 at the moment and saved Miranda's powers for the time (cause not sure what I should do with her) and have Jacob almost ready to learn Squad Incendiary Ammo.
#20
Posté 02 mars 2012 - 06:43
WarChicken78
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[quote]Arkalezth wrote...
That doesn't explain how early, pre-update enemies (Freedom Progress for example) are harder on NG+.
[/quote]
No argument there - Maybe I didn't notice it since all my playthroughs after the first ones were NG+
[quote]WarChicken78 wrote...
I tried Insanity with my Vanguard and thought it really (really, really) impossible.
The Vanguard is almost always in the middle of the battle and if youdon't take very much care, he's goo in no time.
[/quote]
You just need to get used. Vanguard is the class I've played the most by far (I always play ME2 on insanity), and I'm not a god of gaming.
[/quote]
Also agree here. For sure, if you practise long enogh or if you get into the style you need to do it.
Maybe I was just too discouraged after dying a bazillion times during the first two missions already
Also I did not only play on insanity - I did it once to get the archivement, normaly I played on "normal".
That doesn't explain how early, pre-update enemies (Freedom Progress for example) are harder on NG+.
[/quote]
No argument there - Maybe I didn't notice it since all my playthroughs after the first ones were NG+
[quote]WarChicken78 wrote...
I tried Insanity with my Vanguard and thought it really (really, really) impossible.
The Vanguard is almost always in the middle of the battle and if youdon't take very much care, he's goo in no time.
[/quote]
You just need to get used. Vanguard is the class I've played the most by far (I always play ME2 on insanity), and I'm not a god of gaming.
[/quote]
Also agree here. For sure, if you practise long enogh or if you get into the style you need to do it.
Maybe I was just too discouraged after dying a bazillion times during the first two missions already
Also I did not only play on insanity - I did it once to get the archivement, normaly I played on "normal".
#21
Posté 02 mars 2012 - 10:06
Arkalezth
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Normally I follow this order:Panznerr wrote...
I'm doing a vanguard on insanity and been reading through the comments left and it has given me a lot to think about with it how to play as one. Having a slight problem though. Not sure how I should invest my squad members powers early on. Could someone recommend how I should skill up some of the squad members early on? Especially with Kasumi cause I like to do her mission right away and its a lot different as a Vanguard.
Level 5 at the moment and saved Miranda's powers for the time (cause not sure what I should do with her) and have Jacob almost ready to learn Squad Incendiary Ammo.
- Miranda: Unstable Warp, Area Overload, passive (+damage, though I don't know if there's a noticeable difference really).
- Jacob: Squad Incendiary, Pull Field. Normally I don't play Jacob anymore after that, but you can max either the passive or, since he'll use it anyway once unlocked, Heavy Barrier.
- Kasumi: Improved Flashbang. Very, very useful when playing a vanguard. After that it's up to you, I usually go for Area Overload, then Shadow Strike (I usually take Rapid, though an argument for any version can be made). Don't put points in her passive, it's bugged.
Yeah, well, it may be hard at the beginning, specially for a first time on insanity. Maybe it's better to try another class first to get used to difficulty, I guess it depends on the player.WarChicken78 wrote...
Also agree here. For sure, if you practise long enogh or if you get into the style you need to do it.
Maybe I was just too discouraged after dying a bazillion times during the first two missions already
Also I did not only play on insanity - I did it once to get the archivement, normaly I played on "normal".
I did my first playthrough on veteran (that's normal IIRC?), next on hardcore, next on insanity, and I've played there since.
#22
Posté 02 mars 2012 - 11:40
Jamin101
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Invest in anything that takes down shields/barriers/armor really fast so you can use your biotic powers and not have to widdle down shields with gun firePanznerr wrote...
I'm doing a vanguard on insanity and been reading through the comments left and it has given me a lot to think about with it how to play as one. Having a slight problem though. Not sure how I should invest my squad members powers early on. Could someone recommend how I should skill up some of the squad members early on? Especially with Kasumi cause I like to do her mission right away and its a lot different as a Vanguard.
Level 5 at the moment and saved Miranda's powers for the time (cause not sure what I should do with her) and have Jacob almost ready to learn Squad Incendiary Ammo.
