Mass Effect 2 presses reset on Shepard's abilities

by David Hinkle on Jul 29th 2009 8:45PM

Things are getting crazy with this Mass Effect 2 video game from Bioware. First, we're led to believe Shepard is dead, then he (or she) is not. Then we find out all of our decisions in the first game will affect the sequel. Now, Computerworld (via The Escapist) informs us that the Shephard we know, love, and have spent so many hours grinding won't have all of his (or her) abilities in the second game. During an interview, producer Casey Hudson said, "There's something that's happening with the story that explains what happens with your abilities. It's something we can't go into detail about for obvious reasons."

It makes sense. If you're starting off an epic quest like the one we assume takes place in Mass Effect 2, it's not good design to have the player start as a jacked, unstoppable god of a man (or woman). It's not like this is Prototype or something ...

[Via The Escapist]

Source

Tags: bioware, commander-shepard, mass-effect, mass-effect-2, Microsoft, rpg, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (83)

I do wonder how the save game will be used in the game, because my original save got erased when I suffered a hard drive failure. :(

I hope they give those who had some previous experience with the game, but no save file, allow to experience some cool stuff in the sequel by some other means.

Maybe the game will scan your profile for achievements ( Like gears 2) and unlock some stuff for you that way.

I lke where your heads at on the Gears 2 stuff. I just want Wrex back. I heart Wrex

Yeah Wrex was great, my crew would not be complete without him, or my blue skinned muse. ;)

What do you mean "was"? He still IS great if you've got the gift of the silver tongue =p

Wrex. Shepard. Wrex. Sherpard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Fjc1hBwuE

Totally expected, would be ridiculous if it didn't reset.

yeah totaly, it would be harsh for people who didnt get the first one to have feck all skills and the folk who completed the first one to dance through it.
Also I reckon some accident (or purposent?) happened to shepard that made him lose some of his memory and forget some of his skills.

I thought that was the point of your save carrying over. Along with your decisions.

Not a problem. The best part of leveling up is getting new abilities. I just hope there's a lot more for each class this time around.

I dunno... Using game saves from prequels, having to 'level up' existing abilities...

Sounds kinda cliche JRPG to me...

har har..

JRPGs, when they do bring stats over, it's to add a few meh pieces of gear or bring the character stats over. ME2 is doing it to change the actual game depending on choices, which is something no jrpg's gonna do anytime soon.

Well, sure ME2 is going into new area!

Who do you think thought of the idea in the first place?

JRPG's

I think it's going to be nice to get a fresh start. I mean, Bioware probably doesn't want you to be invncible at the start of ME2 from all of the level-ups from ME1. Of would be kinda stupid.

While not to the extent that ME2 will use its prequel's save data, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix does unlock additional storyline with save data from a previous game.

So, it's untrue that a JRPG hasn't "change(d) the actual game depending on choices".

Pretty sure no game has gotten a "new" idea from a jrpg, seeing as they've been the same for 15 years or so.

I'm pretty sure it's hard to make up new ideas when you made the standard... But as I pointed out, ME2 is using ideas that aren't so new, as well.

I have no idea why you think that carrying over a character has anything to do with a jRPG. Hell, Baldur's Gate had it. In fact, most/all of Black Isle's games have done that, then Bioware continued the trend in Neverwinter Nights.

Finally some common sense. CRPGs are the real originators of these modern elements such as branching speech and choices affecting outcome. Not JRPGs.

In this new age of adventure games, no one mentioned Quest for Glory?!

CommunistRPG's?

I hope the reasoning isn't half assed: "I forgot"

You know that is exactly what it is.

My theory:
The attack on the Normandy that we've seen in the trailer happens first thing in the game. Shepard is *almost* killed in the attack, and hence looses all his abilities, and has to build himself back up. Dun dun dunnnnn!

I wonder if Fox News has anything to say about this.

Level up your blue alien lesbian sex skill tree all over again?

They will when it's discovered that the only reason you forget your abilities is due to a rare Asari STD.

Well I kinda saw this coming, it's probably all for the best.

Yeah this was expected, to me at least.

What I need to do is play through the first one again. I played through it so many times and with so many different characters that I won't be able to remember which guys I did what with.

makes sense, maybe bringing over your stats will be an option unlocked once you beat the game.

I think it'd be better if they completely reworked the stats/ability system. The first game was totally broken.. which is probably why it doesn't carry over. Hopefully it will for the third game though.

How was the stat system broken? I can understand people saying combat was broken or that inventory was broken, but I've never heard people say the stats were. Maybe I missed something...

I liked the ability system they used in ME, but I agree if you mean the interface. A skill tree would make more sense instead of the bar graph with "triangle = improved skill and circle = new ability."

By broken I mean you were totally over powered.

it's going to be a half-assed explanation just so people aren't wondering where all of their abilities are

I believe this is technically called "Pulling a Samus", where the main character of a game trips on their shoelace between games, causing all their gear and abilities to leap from their bindings and roll down the nearest drain.

i dont know what is so special about mass effect.... since everyone says that it is, I started to play it on my brother's 360. So i like the cut scenes graphics and that i get to choose what shepard says ( i usually choose the negative stuff :P)... I like to tell the cousil to shut up or to the ambassador lol it's just funny or to tell people that i dont have time to do they're missions...
I'm already in the last planet but the gameplay sucks! the fricking weapons overheat! we are hundreds of years in the future and i can only shoot 3 shots at the most with the sniper rifle and shot gun! and the damnn accuracy sucks in with the sniper rifle!..

I really like the story but ugh the gameplay sucks... the horrible texture pop ins and some redicously loading times makes the game suck a lil bit...

yeah it really sounds like you were trying to get the most out of it, too!

Sounds like you know your vidjagaymes.

Aren't you a ps3 fanboy? Yeah.....

@ Rodrigo
ME2 will have an ammo clip system instead of the overheat system. You'll still have unlimited ammo (except for "special" guns) but you will have to reload when the clip is out. Bioware is also going to be totally revamping the loading system and combat should feel more like an FPS in ME2. Hopefully you will give ME2 a try

They've also supposedly solved the texture issues.

Have you upgraded your weapons and abilities at all? A maxed-out assault rifle or shotgun can fire continuously without overheating (unless you use the crazy HE rounds) and the sniper rifle is rock-steady.

@hobocop

So... no rail guns?

:(

Sounds like you're trying to use weapons your character isn't trained in.

Little hint: If the weapon says (untrained) next to it, it may as well say (useless), or (unavailable)... and as such you'd be just as well off by throwing rocks at the enemies.

Play to your character's strengths.

Your lack of understand of a gameplay mechanism doesn't mean it sucks. Once you understand the 'system', it's quite enjoyable.

I got the first game about a month ago. Extroardinary game, but I hated the controls. The best part of the game was that it was really cinematic.

Note to self: Finish Mass Effect.

Why? You'll just lose all your abilities.

But not his choices.

Because I never finished it....

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Mass Effect 2 presses reset on Shepard's abilities

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