Heed Totilo's warning -- keep a late Mass Effect save to play new DLC

by Griffin McElroy { Feb 9th 2008 at 6:30PM }

We're certain that anyone who is excited about the new DLC for BioWare's intergalactic opera Mass Effect probably beat the game late last year, allowing their respective Commander Shepherds to grow portly and short-winded in the following months. While you may be tempted to delete those vestiges of space adventures past from your hard drive so you can start anew when it comes time to 'Bring Down the Sky', MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totlio strongly suggests you don't -- unless you want to wait a few hours before perusing the new content.

You see, in order to access the new missions provided in the download, you'll need your trusty space-faring vessel, which is not available for the last couple of hours and first few hours of the game. So, whether you've started the game over, or just deleted your old saves, make sure you reclaim your wings by March 10 if you want to venture forth into uncharted territories in search of new extraterrestrial nookie.

Tags: bioware, DLC, ea, Mass-effect, masseffect, totilo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Shimrra @ Feb 9th 2008 6:40PM

I still havent picked this game up from the sounds of it seems like I should wait just a little bit more so they can fix this problem. Hopefully Bioware will release a special edition or a game of the year edition with the extra content already on it.

FatalisticDread @ Feb 9th 2008 6:49PM

Are you serious? This isn't a problem. If you are one of the people planning on downloading the DLC, you either aren't going to care about playing for a couple of hours to get to the DLC or you already have a save game that is from the 15-20 hours that are in between the beginning (2 hours) and the ending (2 hours). Everyone has their panties in a bunch over this, but I'm sure they would complain about the cheap price or the "approx 90 minutes of gameplay" if it wasn't for this non-existent problem.

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Feb 9th 2008 7:17PM

"Hey Steve!"

Supino @ Feb 9th 2008 6:44PM

this makes the DLC a lot less attractive to me..

Viridium @ Feb 9th 2008 6:56PM

Why? It's a new planet, you need your ship.

LaughingTarget @ Feb 10th 2008 12:17AM

He could take an elevator there, but based on the fact it takes a minute to get down two floors, it would probably take 800 million years to get there.

fester @ Feb 9th 2008 6:48PM

Wow! I thought Craig Breedlove was going to try for the LSR again when I saw that pic....the game didn't excite me much tho. lol

Royale @ Feb 9th 2008 7:04PM

So if my only save is within the last 2 hours of the game I can't access the DLC? That seems a little strange.

I guess I'll have to get back to playing through again... I won't mind.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Feb 9th 2008 7:15PM

God, how can anyone complain about this? Yes, it's a new freaking planet, of course you will need your ship. You don't get your ship as soon as you start.

What's so hard about not deleting game data? I don't do it because it's only a few megs.

FidliousWong @ Feb 9th 2008 7:55PM

having not played it, I cannot make definative statements but from what I gather from hearing complaints in the game, you get to a point and you can never go back. Most JRPGs warn of this issue by naming the final area something like "Final Rest" or confirming you want to progress.

So to me, it seems rather foolish to add additional content to gamers where they have to essentially WORK to get where they can use it. This would be like selling an additional car in Forza 2 but then requiring the player to finish a huge circuit to unlock what he bought.

FatalisticDread @ Feb 9th 2008 8:05PM

@Wong
***SEMI-SPOILER ALERT!!!!***
...I'm trying to remember since it was a while back, but I'm pretty sure you have a choice after figuring out how to get your ship back under your control. At that point, if you keep playing the side quests, it's almost as though you aren't playing the main story line (sort of a plot hole...if you know what I'm talking about). So, you DO make the decision to stop doing the side quests and finish the main story arc.

If you didn't realize this when you were playing, you weren't paying attention...maybe trying to get your freak on with "Blue". :D

Arttemis @ Feb 9th 2008 8:07PM

"having not played it, I cannot make definative statements but from what I gather from hearing complaints in the game, you get to a point and you can never go back. Most JRPGs warn of this issue by naming the final area something like "Final Rest" or confirming you want to progress."
There's a point in Mass Effect exactly like this, and it's pretty clear.

Also, the amount of time needed to reach the "meat" of the game (and by that, I mean after the initial 2 quests required before you can explore) can move pretty quickly if you skip the optional quests in the Citadel. This can easily be done in under an hour.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Feb 10th 2008 3:07AM

I deleted some of my saves because the game won't let you save anymore after a while if you don't!

This is just bad design by BioWare. It's not inexecusably bad, but it is bad. If I have a save anywhere past the point where I get my ship, I should be able to branch from that to try the DLC, instead of having to hope I have an older save or having to go two hours on a new game to do it.

I don't have my hopes up anyway, this DLC will likely be like the side missions in the original game, which were pretty damn weak.

But hey, I won't be finding out for a while, as my 360 coffin finally arrived and Monday it'll be on the way to Texas (like the two I had before it) for repair.

Arttemis @ Feb 9th 2008 7:55PM

It's not like you have to create a new character from scratch and start at level 1. Each character which whom you complete the game has a "Career" that you can choose from at the New Game menu, and this includes your skills and all your and your teammate's weapons.

I'll probably be beating this expansion several more times with different characters just to see the alignment options that they made available in the DLC. This'll be helpful in that I can use it as a chance to work at completing the skill-related achievements still waiting for me.

altodarknight @ Feb 9th 2008 9:10PM

Bioware did the same thing KOTOR, and the DLC sucked. It is a ridiculous idea that content be released for a game that has an ending so long after the originals release that most people would have reached that ending. Oblivion is different because there a many stories and the world is limitlessly persistent, so no ending as suck.

I was so invested in my Shepard, his choices and the results of those choices that having to start again will dilute that somewhat. This isn't the case for some people I know, some play it through multiple times. But I like the idea of my actions spreading across the events of 3 games, and those actions being definite. Having to play through again just to play another planet lessens how definite my actions are which flows on make the on going story less compelling.

Obviously to the story, this DLC is irrelivant, which disappoints me because the story was the best part of the game. Other DLC packs are planned with similar content. What I would like is instead of all of these mini planet DLCs of around 1.5 hours, I would rather a maybe 5 hours story bridge between the 1st and second games, either starting after the ending events of the first, or even playing as a different character at anytime to introduce some new universe and story plots points. Thats just me though, what do you think?

Arttemis @ Feb 9th 2008 9:32PM

I would guess that the Batarian's are going to be a big part of the sequel, so this DLC will have relevance. Furthermore, I think this will be just like the 5 main story arcs of the game.

As far as how you choose your alignment, I found to be much more concerned over the outcome when I actually decided the outcomes for myself, instead of predestining myself to 3 factions... After my first playthrough, then I gave in and went Paragon/Renegade.
I really think you're missing out if you play this game the first time and already have your outcomes predetermined by specified locations on a conversation wheel. Do yourself a favor and actually weight the options, they're supposed to be moral dilemmas.

altodarknight @ Feb 9th 2008 10:58PM

I didn't choose my alignment, just followed my conscience, which is why I was so invested in the outcomes. My point isn't that it is annoying to repeat what you've done before, rather that being asked the same questions again removes the moral weight behind the choices, and draws you out of the experience a bit.

Also, if any of the information in the DLC effects the greater story, i.e. in the second or third game, it's a bit like adding in a chapter to a book so that sequels make sense. If it is anything but a self contained plot then that is just poor story telling. If you want to add to the story, tell it from the perspective of another character or after the events of the finished story, otherwise yours messing with the player's ownership of the character's actions.

Demaar @ Feb 9th 2008 8:54PM

What the hell? Why are people surprised by this? Did they actually expect Bioware to screw with the story and drop the DLC in at the credits or something? Or did they expect you to play the DLC with a brand new character, making it incredibly easy and dull?

Seriously, what the hell did people expect?

Swifty @ Feb 9th 2008 8:53PM

What the hell. If a Bioshock DLC added new plasmids, would you retards be complaining that the DLC sucks because you have no access to a Gatherer's Garden in the first hour of the game?

Anticrawl @ Feb 9th 2008 10:59PM

Considering you can have as many different characters as you want this is hardly an issue. Not only that but you can play through again with the exact same character and all your stuff from the previous campaign rolls over making everything incredibly easier. Anyone complaining has never played the game or obviously is an idiot.

altodarknight @ Feb 9th 2008 11:13PM

The issue is about story integrity, not about the hassle of replaying the game. Anyone who can't see that is the issue here is obviously an IDIOT.

Anticrawl @ Feb 9th 2008 11:33PM

Bah whatever dude, it isn't a big deal. The game doesn't take a great deal of time to beat so long as you don't listen to all of the dialoge. I could probably run through once, get to level 39 with perfect paragon or renegade and have the ending of my choice in a day or two of easy playing.

Anticrawl @ Feb 9th 2008 11:35PM

I see what you have a problem with but it is truely a non-issue for those of us who aren't whiny douchebags. No offense to the whiny douchebag community of course, I meant you know harm.

Anticrawl @ Feb 9th 2008 11:37PM

*now that is. Also if anyone is compulsive enough to go through and erase each save from a previous career has bigger issues than not having the proper save to play this DLC on your career of choice.

Anticrawl @ Feb 9th 2008 11:54PM

Hrm, one last thing before I'm off to enjoy the wonderful land of videogames.

I noticed this, "the hassle of replaying the game," from your post. From this I gather that what we have here is simply your run of the mill pessimist just itching to reach out and find the negative in something and share his/her happy thoughts with the rest of us. Well Mr. Half-empty Glass I'm gonna enjoy this "expansion" in all its aspects, including the joy of replaying the game again to get the best feel for the content and to experience the wonder that is Mass Effect for yet another time.

altodarknight @ Feb 10th 2008 1:39AM

Yours just a little piece of work aren't you...

You even intentionally quoted me out of context:

"the hassle of replaying the game", but just happened the leave out the "not about" that preceded.

Also, all of your arguments are arguing against a point no one is making. The issue is NOT ABOUT replaying the game being a chore, but rather having to replay the game ruining the integrity of the story, especially for something thats really wasn't as important enough for the story to make the final cut.

Tell me how it doesn't ruin the integrity of the story for the majority of people who have finished the game...

Anticrawl @ Feb 10th 2008 4:13AM

Regardless of how you used the quote in context it is still a pretty pessimistic statement. I won't get into any further though, you're dragging me down with all your negativity.

Deck @ Feb 10th 2008 12:41AM

To all you complaining: what the hell?

Its a NEW PLANET. Thus meaning you need to FLY there with your SHIP! Obviously you will need to be in a point in the game where you HAVE your SHIP!

altodarknight @ Feb 10th 2008 1:43AM

Again that's not the point, we (or at least I) would like DLC that would take place after the end of the story or maybe something from a different character's perspective. It's not so much the logistics of the DLC, rather the actual content.

You wouldn't add a chapter to a book after its been released would you?

Draken Stark @ Feb 10th 2008 2:46AM

When you've read a book a few times, it's always good to see something more/new to the story you've almost memorised by the tenth read.

altodarknight @ Feb 10th 2008 4:00AM

The difference though, is that not only will most people not read a book more than once or twice, there are parts of yourself in the characters and story events, and replaying that can change that.

Also, most fans of great literature would cry foul if a chapter was added to a book. Add a chapter to any book of the lord of the rings books and see what their fans think. Think about the reaction too the changes made to the star wars films, fans that saw the films before the additions hated it, those that saw the new versions as their first viewing of the films liked them. Similar thing here. Just because there is interactivity doesn't mean the story doesn't deserve as much respect, in fact, I would argue it deserves more.

Also what Ian says below is right, playing this DLC seems forced, not essential to the story and simply a reason to put DLC on the back of the cover. Personally I would rather no DLC than this type.

pwkalt1 @ Feb 10th 2008 10:33AM

Then don't think of it as adding a chapter to a book. Think of it as a companion novel which takes place during the timeframe of the original book.

There, problem solved.

Deck @ Feb 10th 2008 1:57PM

It seems that we just have a different view of what we think the actual DLC was supposed to be. It seems like you (and Ian below) believe that it should and would have been main plot DLC that maybe wasn't really long, but added to the overall large, main arc of the story. Which would have been great but I just don't understand where you got that idea as to what the DLC was going to be.

I knew there was going to be DLC, but I knew it wouldn't be part of the main story. First of all, to do that would take way too much effort for $5 of DLC. Second, they want to save any additions to the actual main storyline for Mass Effect 2. In all actuality, this is actually more than I thought it was going to be. As it does have its own little side story, that perhaps may be slightly different than all the rest. For $5 of DLC added to a wonderful game, I think that is great.

Like I said above, I think it really just comes down to the differences of belief regarding what the DLC should be and how it is presented.

altodarknight @ Feb 10th 2008 9:19PM

It's not that I expected it to anything, but I hoped it to be story focused. I was left with such a bad taste in my mouth after KOTORs DLC and hoped that they wouldn't make the same mistake. They are. Having to replay the game isn't the hassel, the game was fun, but having to replay it when the story is based around personal moral questions does ruin the experience of the story for me.

@pwkalt1
It can't be a separate novel, because you have to read through the first bits to access it. If you could launch it as a separate career then it would be a concurrent novel, but you have to play through the first few chapters to get to this new planet. They have actually inserted this in the middle.

Ultimately if they left the story where you could still go through the galaxy map, then this kind of DLC would be alright, but since you have to play it before the end and after the beginning, its messing with those who have already played through the game.

Ian O'Rourke @ Feb 10th 2008 3:41AM

Hmmm, for me it's not about having to work to get the ship or, it's the position it puts the DLC in.

As was originally sold, the idea was we would have Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3. Each would be like a grand movie like the episodes in Star Wars. The first Mass Effect game lives up to this admirably.

The DLC were sold as like continuation of the content between episodes. Therefore, in my mind I thought I would be able to play the DLC as mini-episodes, sort of self-packaged, that I can play in a continuation fashion post-credits of Mass Effect. As that's the point, they are mini-episodes that take place between Mass Effect 1 and 2.

This makes me feel more like it's content added to a game I've already played.

Yes, I still get to play it, but it feels more forced, a bit odd, and things would have felt more powerful if it truely felt like an 'extra chunk of story' taking place post-Mass Effect but pre-Mass Effect 2.

Demaar @ Feb 10th 2008 5:09AM

Well the thing is, the Batarians had left Citadel space long before the game started. I'd say this stuff IS set after the end of the game with the Batarians taking advantage of how weak everyone is from dealing with Saren. That's my theory, anyway.

Batzarro @ Feb 10th 2008 10:08AM

Thank, you, multiple saves!

Shiba @ Feb 10th 2008 11:38AM

meh I'm out. Sold my copy awhile ago.

I understand why everyone likes it, and how its a big achievement in gaming and all, but I had three big problems with it. First off, there was just way too much dialog, this coming from a film student who watches movies consisting of nothing but dialog, it was making the game boring, There was way too much filler, tons of talking that had nothing to do with anything, just added to give more depth, and I also just don't have the time to play a game with this much depth right now. Third thing is, it was way too glitchy, unplayably glitchy in my opinion. I had to re-do the first damn mission for example 7 goddamn times times because of glitches. I don't know if my copy was defective or what, but I would keep dying for no reason with a full health bar, forcing me to do the entire mission over again. This can only happen so many times before it becomes extremley frustrating and enough is enough.

jetenginejesus @ Feb 11th 2008 4:14PM

Have fun paying extra money to play through something that should have been included in the "original" game, retards. And have fun paying even more money in a few months time for more of the same.
Hey, BW, why didn't you, oh I don't know, maybe INCLUDE THIS IN THE ACTUAL GAME, instead of giving us a flood of identical planets to "explore" and a variations of the same f***ing 4 generic buildings to shoot boring generic palette-swapped enemies in?
Oh, right right right. Because of all the idiots out these who will happily part with their money for content that should have been part of the game in the first place.
This (any any ME DLC that follows) can't possibly have any bearing on the story. Altodarknight is right; you can't add a chapter(s) into the middle of a story that's already been written.
Instead of adding side missions, why not make the DLC interesting weapons/armor/upgrades? Am I the only one who got tired of the endless stream of Kinetic Coil X's and crappy weapons that were hilariously weaker than the Spectre Weapons I'd purchased on my FIRST playthrough?