rpanons | Oh beautiful, for spacious posts

Oh beautiful, for spacious posts

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I'm looking into getting into the series, they've got a Trilogy pack that's a good price, but upon doing a little research, it doesn't have most of the DLC, which if you bought it all is a bit pricey. Is the DLC important or worth it? Has there been any word about some kind of megapack that has everything included?

Also, there were deluxe editions to download as well, are they worth it, or just extra stuff that doesn't really impact the games in the long run?

Every once and awhile the trilogy will go on sale for $20, which is when I picked it up last summer. I’ve only seen it go that cheap once since then, but it could be worth waiting. No idea if they’ll ever do a ‘megapack’, since a lot of the DLC is just pretty new outfits so you can play the Sims in space with guns. I don’t know anything about the deluxe versions, I just went with the simple trilogy. All DLC can be skipped, and what you miss you can watch on Youtube. That said, it does help flesh things out, and certain missions down the road will play out differently depending on what you did or didn’t do. I’m talking side missions, though, not the main plotline.

There are a lot of things that are free with the trilogy, which you can access so long as you have an EA account I believe. Personally I’d really only go for the extra mission/squadmate DLC. New outfits and new guns obviously don’t alter overall gameplay, but the characters and the things you do are more involved. There were a few that I wished I hadn’t wasted my money on, and the rest were fun and engaging enough to make up for it. I think my final bill was $80, which isn’t THAT terrible for three full games plus DLC.

I came out of the series with a new character to RP that's been loads of fun, and he was DLC. So I may be biased to getting some of it haha

Oh, thanks for the note on the price! It's currently $30 right now, but since the summer's right around the corner, I might wait and see. OH, thanks for that, too, I had no idea the DLC was mostly outfits and stuff, I probably wouldn't play around with those much at all. (Though, I'm considering playing it in character for one of the characters I RP, so if they've got something that looks like what they'd wear, I'd think about getting it, hah.)

Thanks, that's a good idea, now that I know that some of the DLC is just playing dress up, I'd definitely be more interested in just getting the mission/squadmate DLCs. Yeah, $80 total really isn't bad at all, I had seen something that said it was $90-$120 for DLC alone, so that's what had me side-eyeing it, especially since I haven't played it and don't know how well I'll like the series.

Very nice! It's always fun to get a new character out of things! I don't mind some DLC, just the first price I had heard for everything was pretty off putting.

I've been wanting to play a space adventure game for a while, so I'm strongly considering the series, I'm just a little lost on all the choices of what to buy, ha ha.

Also, I forgot to say, thank you so much for all the info, I appreciate it!

You are welcome! You could easily spend that much on DLC, but I cherrypicked. The most expensive ones are, of course, the extra missions. I also gave no fucks about spoilers and read up on the DLC details before purchasing. The wiki gives you a good rundown on them, and their price or if they're included: http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Downloadable_Content Skimming that list I only bought six of them, and that really hits the core of the 'important' stuff.

People will argue til they're red in the face over the ending(s), but overall I found it to be an awesome series. I hope you enjoy it if you decide to play!

Heh, of course, but at least they're worth it/actual story content. Oh, that's a good idea and thanks so very much for the link, I was wondering if there was a resource like that out there, it completely slipped my mind that there'd be a wiki for the series.

I've heard a lot more good about the series than bad, it seems pretty cool in general. Thanks!

And, thanks again, you've been really helpful!

I was poking around Amazon to see their prices for the trilogy and found that you can buy points for the DLC from there, I've got some Amazon gift certificates, so they could get used for that.

While I was looking around I found this review for BioWare points that cracked me up:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R136ZQHES7A1NZ/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00C7B0F2I&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=468642&store=videogames

To condense it down...

For ME2, the DLC you'd likely want is:

The Price of Revenge - gives you a squadmate
Stolen Memory - gives you a squadmate
Arrival - key to the storyline transition into 3
Lair of the Shadow Broker - sets up some plot

You're less likely to want:
Firewalker Pack - mission series, new vehicle with sucky mechanics, but decent storyline
One with a spoilery title that if you're skimming the list you're going to see anyway - has some good closure for something, but doesn't give anything big. Tell me if you'd like the name.

--

For ME3 you'll likely want:

Extended Cut - FREE, adds some really crucial stuff to the end.
Citadel - a friend calls this a 'love letter to the fans' and I agree.
From Ashes - gives you a squadmate

What you may also want:

Leviathan - adds some story to flesh out the main plot
Omega - sidestory that's pretty fun

You don't need any of the ME1 DLC, and the rest that's not listed is weapons/armor look changes/maps for MP/etc.

Personally I'd also go for Overlord in ME2 as well as I think there's some great stuff in there (and has rewarding call backs in ME3).

Additionally - and lots of people probably won't agree - but I heartily recommend playing me3 through first WITHOUT either citadel or the expanded ending dlc. There's a lot of controversy on the ending as is, but I think the original ending has some truly excellent pacing that the extended end dlc ruins. Same for Citadel: it's really excellent and incredibly fun, but totally glorified fan fiction (in literally the best way possible) and kind of borks the pacing and tone of the back half of the game. Just keep a few periodic secondary saves you can reload.

Thanks for those notes as well and chiming in!

I was seriously considering just getting the trilogy as is and doing a first run through it without any DLC to see if I enjoy it. Then, if I did, I'd go ahead and start sinking money into the DLC. So, you've given me more to think about on that line, thanks!

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it!

I forgot Overlord was separate from Firewalker. That's the storyline I was talking about, OP.

I'm definitely going to disagree about Citadel and Extended Cut.

Extended Cut means you do not have to play multiplayer to get the best end. I don't know how OP feels about multiplayer, but this means that OP can play the game straight and not have to fuss around with it.

Citadel's pacing is a little strange, but I needed it at the moment it opened up. I'd done two specific priority missions back to back, and if I hadn't accidentally stumbled into Citadel, I don't know if I would have kept going. You can save most of the glorified fan fiction for close to the end of the game, but having the mission there as an option helps the first run of your game a great deal.

Oh, okay, thanks!

Ah, that's right! I had heard that multiplayer was required when the game first came out, but I had forgotten all about that. Hmmm, yeah, I'm unsure, too, I haven't played the multiplayer, so I don't know how I'd feel about it. But, I'd probably prefer just playing the game straight through. I know a lot of people who play the series, but I think they're on console, so I don't know if we could multiplayer even if we wanted to.

Thanks for the multiplayer and Citadel notes, you've given me a bit to think about in regards to gameplay!

ayrt

(Anonymous) - 2014-05-05 04:41 (UTC) - Expand

OP

(Anonymous) - 2014-05-05 22:00 (UTC) - Expand

Oh! Thanks for the specifics! Heh, in regards to the spoilery title, I probably saw it, but since I'm unfamiliar with the series, it went right over my head, I don't remember most of the DLC names, ha ha. Thanks for the note on that!

Ooh, that's good, thanks for the info on that!

Thanks again, I appreciate it!

To be fair, the new vehicle still controls better than the Mako.

A drunken rhino controls better than the Mako though so I'm not sure why I'm even commenting here.

it does, though my main issue that The Hammerhead is as sturdy as wet tissue. It can't take the hits like the Mako, in fact, letting a krogan sneeze on it will cause it to blow up.

Also why in god's name is the big, hulking vehicle called The Mako - The Mako is the fastest shark, while the Hammerheads are more lumbering, leisurely swimmers.

Fair enough- I never finished Firewalker for that exact reason, actually.

list anon

(Anonymous) - 2014-05-05 22:17 (UTC) - Expand

I got it a year ago for $40 and I haven't touched it yet. I'm bookmarking this thread for info on the DLCs though. I'll probably get a month of live just to get the DLCs.

ME1: Bring Down The Sky is pretty good, although I got it for free (it came with the greatest hits(?) version for Xbox 360.) Haven't played Pinnacle Station, so I don't have an opinion on that.

ME2: The mission/squadmate DLC (Kasumi, Shadow Broker, Arrival, and Overlord) are definitely worth it. The rest (other than the free things- Zaeed and the Crash Site are still free, right?) is pretty much cosmetic.

ME3: I haven't been able to get the DLC myself, (except From Ashes, which came with it since I got the collector's edition...), but Citadel looks fantastic and the new squadmate in From Ashes is great. Also, it's free but anyway get the Extended Cut. You want the Extended Cut.

Thanks for the info! From what I can tell, the trilogy pack that I'm looking at has all the ME1 DLC, but little to none of the DLC for ME2 and ME3.

And thanks for the notes on the DLC, I'm still trying to decide what to do, all the story DLC stuff sounds really neat, but in total it's around $81, I have the money, it's just an awful lot to shell out for something I'm not sure I'll like (which, there's a good chance I'll love it, since the series sounds awesome, I'm just a little hesitant to sink that much money in at once).

Hmm. In that case, I'd get Lair of the Shadow Broker and Arrival because they're the most plot-relevant (they set up certain things so you're not going "wtf when did that happen" when you start ME3.) Also Lair of the Shadow Broker is just really good.
Kasumi's mission is entertaining and she's one of my favorite characters, but you have a ton of squadmates in ME2 even without the DLC; and while Overlord is good, it doesn't have as much plot impact (though you get a call-back in ME3 that's pretty satisfying.)

As for ME3, like I said, the only DLC I have is From Ashes. I like the squadmate, but if it's still $10 like it was when the game came out, I can see where you might want to hold off for now.

I feel like this is a good time to mention that ME1 is pretty different from the other two gameplay-wise, by the way. The combat's not quite as polished, there's a lot more RPG elements (inventory management...) and of course there's the infamous Mako. It's the story/characters that really carry that one.

Thanks for that info, that's really good to know! I had heard that some of the DLC was plot relevant, but I wasn't sure on which ones. It's nice to be able to narrow it down to what's the most essential.

Hmm, I think it's still $10, I heard that the points/DLC don't really go on sale, which is a shame.

Oh, okay, thanks for that note! For all that I've seen and heard about the series, I'm completely clueless on the gameplay. Though, I have heard about the dreaded Mako, which should be very interesting, since I'm not great at even decent video
game vehicles, ha ha.

Thanks for all the information, I appreciate it!

There's really no reason to buy all the DLC right out the gate! I didn't start adding on until halfway through ME2, because by that point I was hooked. If you wind up not liking it, at least you're only out $20 or so by that point.

Everything else anons have recommended for DLC I agree with, but I'd also add Omega for ME3 if you enjoy the series. I just had oodles of fun with it and the temporary squadmates. The six I went with (not counting freebies) were Stolen Memories, Lair of the Shadow Broker, From Ashes, Omega, Leviathan and Citadel. From Ashes is absolutely worth every penny

I don't even know how many anons have chimed in, but hopefully we haven't confused you!

Oh, that's good, thanks! It sounds like it'd be really cool to play the series with all the DLC attached, but it's just so much at once.

Okay, thanks for the input! Glad to know that some of those are really awesome!

Hee hee, thanks, I'm not too confused, it's a lot to take in, but there's no rush on it. (I've got some other games I probably should play first anyway, heh.) I'm thankful for everyone's input and advice, it's really been helpful!

Also, I'm a member of a couple of sites where I can earn points to turn in for Amazon gift certificates, so I'm thinking about doing that and getting enough for all the best DLC, so if I don't like it, I'm just out the time it took to get them. I'm also hoping maybe there'll be a sale or a complete set come out if it takes a while, so I don't mind waiting a bit, though I'm pretty excited about jumping into the series.

Revenge (Zaeed) and the other are free with some editions of the game. Not with others. And you do have to make sure you download them, even as free content. They came free with mine, but I didn't have them my first go-through because I didn't realize I was lacking them.

The best thing about Pinnacle Station is after you slog through the missions you get an apartment to go hang out in like in ME3, although much more basic. It's mostly just good for some extra stuff, but I thought it was cute. Nowhere near as nice as the Citadel apartment, though.

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