This past summer, we learned that Mass Effect 2 players could import save files from the previous entry in the franchise, bringing all of the decisions made in the first game into the sequel. But are decisions capable of decimating hordes of insidious, robotic invaders? No, boosted stats and abilities are -- and according to a recent forum post from BioWare Community Coordinator Chris Priestly, players who import their saves will get access to these as well.
Of course, you won't be able to play as your super-high-level Shepard when you import -- however, the higher your character's level was when you finished Mass Effect, the better bonuses your Mass Effect 2 Shepard will receive. Some of the bonuses mentioned include extra money or crafting resources when you start the game. In addition, though BioWare has said that the game won't have a "New Game Plus" option, Priestly says that multiple playthroughs with the same Shepard will be possible.
Reader Comments (66)
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 2:39AM (Unverified) said
If you had said 'most studios', I would agree. But BioWare is different. They've always been different, and it's why they're now THE premier RPG developer. (Square-Enix is a close second).
Look at their past titles, in particular KotOR. A shit-ton of choices is not a problem for them.
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Look at their past titles, in particular KotOR. A shit-ton of choices is not a problem for them.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 3:34AM GuardianLegend said
I'm in the same boat as Kenny. I don't have my save game anymore, but even if I did, I wouldn't even remember what decisions I made in the original game, especially since I played through the game two times at least, and ESPECIALLY because the first game was TWO YEARS AGO.
But, I can see this being a cool feature if a Mass Effect trilogy box set is released at some point. Although considering the third game would be 4 years ahead in technology than part one, and possibly on a different generation console... it might be hard for gamers to boot up the first game.
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But, I can see this being a cool feature if a Mass Effect trilogy box set is released at some point. Although considering the third game would be 4 years ahead in technology than part one, and possibly on a different generation console... it might be hard for gamers to boot up the first game.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 1:01PM kenny goo said
@ Granger
Wow. Congrats on being one of the most condescending responses to a comment I've seen in a very long time. Do you always try and come off like a complete ass hole when you talk, or does that just come naturally? There's something to be said for quality in linearity. I was under the assumption that it was pretty easy to understand what I meant, since I wasn't picking out cryptic lines from a Lao Tzu book on philosophy, but I'll break it down for you anyway:
Sometimes in games, when the developers create one path for you, and focus on that one path, that one path turns out to be very, very quality. You can say all you want about Modern Warfare and Uncharted, but these two games are some of the kings of linearity, and both have gotten a lot of critical acclaim for their use of action movie style progression through the incorporation of linearity.
Does Mass Effect have to be the next Modern Warfare? No. Does Mass Effect have to be linear? No. All I'm saying is that sometimes when you use a linear approach, it's easy to make something more quality. Get the stick out of your ass and learn to read.
@ Darth Bradwart
Aside from Dragon Age, which just took a ten year old formula for RPGs and tried to squeeze in some stuff they did with Mass Effect, Bioware is the shit. I won't argue that for a second. The problem is that if you continue to increase the amount of choice you have in a game this long, you can't make ever decision relevant and you can't make every path quality. If you somehow tried, you'd have a 5 year, $150 million development cycle.
There's a reason why Heavy Rain is going to be a relatively short game, it's so they can focus and make sure every little winding path is quality. ME2 doesn't have that luxury. They *need* to be a 20 hour game with another 20 hours in side quests otherwise the fans (myself include) throw a shit fit. All and all I felt ME1 struck a good balance. There were some irrelevant decisions you made, but they were fun, so it wasn't an issue. And there were some relevant ones but they didn't drastically change the face of the game for the worst.
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Wow. Congrats on being one of the most condescending responses to a comment I've seen in a very long time. Do you always try and come off like a complete ass hole when you talk, or does that just come naturally? There's something to be said for quality in linearity. I was under the assumption that it was pretty easy to understand what I meant, since I wasn't picking out cryptic lines from a Lao Tzu book on philosophy, but I'll break it down for you anyway:
Sometimes in games, when the developers create one path for you, and focus on that one path, that one path turns out to be very, very quality. You can say all you want about Modern Warfare and Uncharted, but these two games are some of the kings of linearity, and both have gotten a lot of critical acclaim for their use of action movie style progression through the incorporation of linearity.
Does Mass Effect have to be the next Modern Warfare? No. Does Mass Effect have to be linear? No. All I'm saying is that sometimes when you use a linear approach, it's easy to make something more quality. Get the stick out of your ass and learn to read.
@ Darth Bradwart
Aside from Dragon Age, which just took a ten year old formula for RPGs and tried to squeeze in some stuff they did with Mass Effect, Bioware is the shit. I won't argue that for a second. The problem is that if you continue to increase the amount of choice you have in a game this long, you can't make ever decision relevant and you can't make every path quality. If you somehow tried, you'd have a 5 year, $150 million development cycle.
There's a reason why Heavy Rain is going to be a relatively short game, it's so they can focus and make sure every little winding path is quality. ME2 doesn't have that luxury. They *need* to be a 20 hour game with another 20 hours in side quests otherwise the fans (myself include) throw a shit fit. All and all I felt ME1 struck a good balance. There were some irrelevant decisions you made, but they were fun, so it wasn't an issue. And there were some relevant ones but they didn't drastically change the face of the game for the worst.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 1:10AM jhoff80 said
Anyone know if it's only able to import completed games? I never got all the way through the first one, but until the tedium of visiting a planet, finding random base that looks like every other base, killing everyone, and returning set in, it was a fun game, so I'll probably want to try the sequel.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 1:12AM captcarl said
Well, looks like I better get to work making my Shepard on PC match my Shepard on Xbox...three playthroughs in a month gogogo!
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 1:16AM MonkeyRoach said
dam i just got dragon age for pc yesterday and i havn't finshed my mass effect 1 on pc yet for a save file.Wat Do?
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 2:49AM (Unverified) said
Yes, if you killed a character in ME1, that factors into ME2.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 3:36AM GuardianLegend said
Most likely the characters you killed off / did not kill off in ME1 will have a VERY minor impact on the events of ME2. Probably Joker and the other crewmembers of the Normandy might make a few insignificant references to some old characters, but that's all, I bet.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 6:49AM (Unverified) said
The importing feature is great and I look foward to it. As someone else said you have the option to do it, if you like. You don't have to.
How awesome would it be if an NPC in the game comes up to you and remembers something you did. Or is angry at you for an action you mad in ME1.
The only problem is many people forget the minor choices they made in ME1. Which is why I believe BioWare will only recall he major decisions you made.
And the same story will hold true for ME3 to end the trilogy.
How awesome would it be if an NPC in the game comes up to you and remembers something you did. Or is angry at you for an action you mad in ME1.
The only problem is many people forget the minor choices they made in ME1. Which is why I believe BioWare will only recall he major decisions you made.
And the same story will hold true for ME3 to end the trilogy.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 2:18PM (Unverified) said
Remember your fan? They hinted at him specifically in regards to remembering how you behaved. I imagine that if you were a dick, the shit hits the fan, and if you were nice, he stalks you and tries to wear your skin as a Shepherd suit.
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Posted: Dec 27th 2009 10:52AM Aerothorn said
Of course, they announced the whole save game continue thing well after I had deleted mine. Bummer.
Posted: Dec 27th 2009 11:45AM boden11 said
I'm currently playing through the Quest for Glory series (skipping the 2nd because of the ridiculous city map) again and am about 1/2 way through the 4th one. Seeing stuff like this brings a smile to my face as I believe this was THE FIRST game to offer importing saves.
Posted: Dec 29th 2009 1:12PM Axcalibur said
Looking forward to the bonus's. I wonder who would play this game without playing the first one? So, really, everyone should be getting a bonus. You'd miss out on so much story without playing the first one.
Anyone know if we'll be able to go through the character creation process again while still getting access to the save game bonus from the first game? I assume that we will be able to, because I would assume Bioware has touched up the graphics for this sequel, and it'll force us to recreate our character (which I don't mind, I wasn't too happy with the way my first character looked).
Anyone know if we'll be able to go through the character creation process again while still getting access to the save game bonus from the first game? I assume that we will be able to, because I would assume Bioware has touched up the graphics for this sequel, and it'll force us to recreate our character (which I don't mind, I wasn't too happy with the way my first character looked).
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