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Looking forward to him/her then!

And I must also say that I've still to do any loyalty mission. I figured: first, I'll recruit everyone; then, I'll do every loyalty mission; then, I'll do the random assignments and then I'll go on with the main plot. But if this last member appears at a shocking moment, perhaps it's time I move on to the loyalty missions already, so...

... the rank may still change

AndreaDraco wrote:Looking forward to him/her then!

And I must also say that I've still to do any loyalty mission. I figured: first, I'll recruit everyone; then, I'll do every loyalty mission; then, I'll do the random assignments and then I'll go on with the main plot. But if this last member appears at a shocking moment, perhaps it's time I move on to the loyalty missions already, so...

... the rank may still change

Yes, without saying much - the last member won't be made available to certain things happen. You won't get a mission to go get them...

I have to say that, after twenty hours or so, Mass Effect 2 is becoming a little... boring. I mean: the game is great and epic and emotional and adventurous, and the whole saga is certainly one of the best out there when it comes to cinematic grandeur or immersive atmosphere, but there's something in this game... something that bothers me. A little, yes. But still.

Where the heck is the story?

I know. I know. I'm being ridiculous on purpose. What I mean is, it seems to me that the vast majority of the game is spent recruiting team members and doing their personal missions, but - unlike Mass Effect 1 - the grand scheme of things is a bit lacking. Perhaps I've yet to see it and, by the end of the game, I'll change my mind, but - after twenty hours - the only revelation relevant to the over-arching story is that the Collectors are actually the Protheans re-programmed by the Reapers. Nothing new or substantial is said about galactic politics, Reapers' motivations or such

I'd still say that Mass Effect 2 is way, way better than the first one, but I really hope to see something substantion by the end of the game.

Where are you at in ME2?

AndreaDraco wrote:Act 2. I've done the loyalty missions for Miranda, Garrus, Tali, Zaeed, Jacob, Samara and Thane. After the loyalty missions for Jack, Grunt and Mordin, I'll head to the Reaper IFF, the final piece I was told I'd need to jump through the Omega 4 relay

After you do the jump - I think the game gets pretty exciting. That's where you're going to have to make all kinds of choices that are classic with ME1.

I still prefer Dragon Age over Mass Effect. I honestly think - to date - Dragon Age is one of the solid games I have ever played (and right up my alley for tastes). Mass Effect is amazing - without a doubt - especially how fleshed out they make that universe feel. But Dragon Age still has a little something extra.

Each game has their plus though.

Dragon Age - I love the party banter as you're walking around. It really makes the characters feel alive that they talk and interact with ONE another based on their personalities - not just when YOU talk to them.

Mass Effect 2 - The loyalty missions are really awesome, and would have been great if Dragon Age had something similar somehow.

I agree that Dragon Age is the better game. And I agree that the loyalty missions are a great idea, even if their quality greatly vary. For example, I found Tali's one stunning, powerful, emotional, upsetting - awesome, really. On the other hand, Jacob's one was a bit silly and way too much similar to Heart of Darkness.

AndreaDraco wrote:I agree that Dragon Age is the better game. And I agree that the loyalty missions are a great idea, even if their quality greatly vary. For example, I found Tali's one stunning, powerful, emotional, upsetting - awesome, really. On the other hand, Jacob's one was a bit silly and way too much similar to Heart of Darkness.

There is no doubt that Tali's is probably one of the greatest loyalty missions. Although Miranda's is very touching also... I actually liked Jacob's loyalty mission... because I liked the idea of what was happening there... I just wish that some of the mission involved going on that ship that was hanging on the balance...

After his loyalty mission, Mordin Solus is now one of my favorite characters!

Even if the mission wasn't as good as Tali's, it gave me (and Shepard) some good food for thought, since the genophage and the motivations behind it are really complex, and shaded. No clear-cut good/bad choice there, and I like it

AndreaDraco wrote:After his loyalty mission, Mordin Solus is now one of my favorite characters!

Even if the mission wasn't as good as Tali's, it gave me (and Shepard) some good food for thought, since the genophage and the motivations behind it are really complex, and shaded. No clear-cut good/bad choice there, and I like it

It's definitely a complex one.

Curious - where are your standings when it comes to the Genophage? Was it the right thing to do?

Well, since we're talking about a lore element already revealed in Mass Effect, I guess it's pretty safe to talk about it without spoiler, so that maybe even the others can chime in and tell their opinions.

The Genophage. It's a really tough question. Of course, such a weapon is morally questionable. Better yet, if looked from a strictly ethical perspective, it's just downright wrong with no redeeming possibilities. As one of the (very, very minor) characters in ME2 puts it, it is a cultural genocide, even if not a physical one, and I strongly believe that it's possibly worse. As a person, in real life (yeah, I know: I'm talking sci-fi here ), I'd strongly oppose anything with even a slight resemblance to such a horror and the very thought of being able to destroy a population with this subtle and yet lethal method sincerely creeps me out. It's wrong, and abusive.

Still, if I try to put myself into Shepard's shoes and think like an in-game persona, I can see why the Genophage was planned. While I still find it morally despicable - and I roleplayed Shepard accordingly -, I can see why the Krogan's uprising could have easily resulted in the destruction of the entire galaxy. Was couldn't solve the situation (Krogans were too many and too strong), and even the Turians couldn't stop their fleet. Entire worlds were succumbing to their restless fury and entire colonies were annihilated. Something ought to be done.

Was the Genophage the best answer? I highly doubt that, and if a cure were possible, I'd like my personal Shepard to anything in his power to find and apply it. However, the Genophage at least stopped the war right away, saving countless worlds, colonies, settlements and so on. Only the Krogans paid the price, true, but, on the contrary, if they weren't stopped, the entire galaxy could have paid it. Perhaps it was inevitable.

Now, though, a solution must be found and the Krogans must be helped into a sort of Renaissance era, an Age of Enlightenment, perhaps, something that can help us dominating their supremacy instinct and finding other (peaceful) ways to integrate with the rest of the universe. When this cultural enhancement has been achieved, the other species must done everything in their power to solve the Genophage problem, maybe devising some other containing method (arms embargos, for example; or some sort of taxation).

I'm trying to sluggishly complete the side quests so that I can then finish the main one and be done with Mass Effect 2

AndreaDraco wrote:I'm trying to sluggishly complete the side quests so that I can then finish the main one and be done with Mass Effect 2

The excitement really picks up once you begin the final quest...

Apparently Tali's mask removal (assuming you choose her as a romantic interest) has become an Internet meme of sorts.