Just Finished Mass Effect (No Spoilers)

[clevarias]

So I just finished the game, I am just curious to find out what other gamers final stats were at the end of the game. Mine are below.

Level 46
27hrs 9 minutes at final boss fight.

I am pretty sure I completed all of the bonus quests, found nearly all of the minerals and such.

[Sipster]

I just starting playing last night. It's a little overwhelming for me but interesting. I don't usually play these kind of games but it got such great reviews, I thought I'd try it. Too bad they didn't make it for the pc.

[der_jackal]

So I just finished the game, I am just curious to find out what other gamers final stats were at the end of the game. Mine are below.

Level 46
27hrs 9 minutes at final boss fight.

I am pretty sure I completed all of the bonus quests, found nearly all of the minerals and such.


You didn't. ;)

First pass, level 50 w/ 40+ hours of game play. I was 50 before going starting the final boss level.

[clevarias]

I dont know what I could have missed though, it seems I finished nearly all of them, Is there any that you are pretty sure I missed?

[der_jackal]

It's likely you did hit all the side quests, but there a few miniquests on the Citadel you may have missed.

Also you, get XP for quite a few conversation threads and looking in all the lockers, crates and such.

[clevarias]

It's likely you did hit all the side quests, but there a few miniquests on the Citadel you may have missed.

Also you, get XP for quite a few conversation threads and looking in all the lockers, crates and such.

I still say I pretty much did everything, I went back to the Citadel more than a few time to find more quests, maybe there were a few planets that had more things do do on them. I am pretty sure all the planets with a docking station were part of the main story line though.

[infiniti029]

I still say I pretty much did everything, I went back to the Citadel more than a few time to find more quests, maybe there were a few planets that had more things do do on them. I am pretty sure all the planets with a docking station were part of the main story line though.

We still say you didn't because you still missed stuff and did not finish at lvl50. Go to gamefaqs.com and look for the Mass Effect guide to find everything.

[Naldo]

I remember it only took me about 9hrs to beat it, not sure what level I was at the end. All the side quest I tired were super boring (either talk to this guy, then talk to that guy, then talk to the first guy again, or drive around a planet and tap some combination of AXBY every now and then), so I just gave up on doing them. I wish the main story was longer.

[Draax]

Future Edit : I will update with my stats when I can check my xbox.

First Run through: 45+?? hrs
Male Soldier neutral Level XX

Second Run through: XX hours
Female adept renegade level: XX

On your first run through aren't you limited to level 50? When I first completed the game I believe it unlocked levels 51-60 or some range like that.

[JohnleMVP]

Yeah on your first run you are limited to lvl 50.

I finished the game with level 50, but I'm going to run through it again to pick up the achievements I missed.

[Tzzird]

First run through was level 38 and 15 hours played. I should have taken my time but it was a rental (which is now 2 weeks late).

[Leon2ky]

One of my favorite things about this game is that if you say the right thing, your character will fucking deck some unsuspecting individuals.

[Iratus]

One of my favorite things about this game is that if you say the right thing, your character will fucking deck some unsuspecting individuals.

That was a comedy moment "I can sort him" *smack*

Currently level 36 and could finish game but want to try and make the 50 mark. The plot does seem a bit short, I know they're adding episodic content to it but 4 missions.... really.

I'd quite like it if I could see how much damage I'm doing too, the damage rating is nonsensical and so I have my Spectre pistol (Playing Vanguard) and that does good damage but my shotgun, with a way lower damage rating drops most people one shot (Master Barrier and Storm ftw)

[N3mi5is]

Just picked this up, the only mission i've finished it noveria so far and I'm a level 31 soldier.

This is by far the best single player game i've played on 360.

[Grentz]

You guys make me want to try this game, just got COD4 though and probably will be getting PGR4 as a christmas gift...dont really have the money for yet another XB Game :(

[Domingo]

I'm @ level 44 now and I've only completed Feros, Noveria, all of the Citadel mini-quests, and a few of the random quests. I haven't even started the Saren-based quests. One thing you should keep in mind is that some of the side quests are found in random places. Some you can get from finding objects on other planets, and some you can get from moving your cursor through the asteroid belts on the map screen. You can also get a boatload of misc. experience from surveying misc. planets and unknown objects. Are you opening every container, surveying all of the minerals, and going through all of the dialog options? Maybe I'm overthinking things, but I tend to gain a level with every other minor mission and I've still got about 10 active ones not including finding all of the random objects/ruins/medallions/etc.
Toss in the actual main quest and I bet I could theoretically hit 55-60 if it were unlocked.

Can anyone confirm/deny that level 60 is related to your character? My wife's cleared the game at least once and unlocked it...but is that only for her character or is it for every game on the system?

As for the game itself - having biotic/tech characters as part of the AI team is a CHORE. You either have to micro-manage everything they do or they just sit around and get shot. Because they have no weapon skills, they're pretty useless if you leave them alone, too.
I ended up just cranking up the decryption for Garrus (so I can open things) and just having an all-out weapons-based party with Ashley. I'm sure a tech/biotic is nice for your main character, but the AI for them blows.

[beanman101283]

As for the game itself - having biotic/tech characters as part of the AI team is a CHORE. You either have to micro-manage everything they do or they just sit around and get shot. Because they have no weapon skills, they're pretty useless if you leave them alone, too.
I ended up just cranking up the decryption for Garrus (so I can open things) and just having an all-out weapons-based party with Ashley. I'm sure a tech/biotic is nice for your main character, but the AI for them blows.

Did you have the option set so that your team used all their biotic powers? The default setting is to use defense powers only. I set it to active and my squad took care of themselves.

[Defective]

My first run through I didn't do all the side missions and I reached level 41. My second run through with another character I ended up at 51 and somewhere close to 40 hours. I'm taking a break from the now from the game but still want to finish it at the highest difficulty.

[Domingo]

Did you have the option set so that your team used all their biotic powers? The default setting is to use defense powers only. I set it to active and my squad took care of themselves.

Hmmmm...maybe I don't. That might explain a lot if I don't :) Where's that setting located at?

[beanman101283]

Hmmmm...maybe I don't. That might explain a lot if I don't :) Where's that setting located at?

When playing outside of combat (In your ship or just walking around; basically, there should be no enemies around) hit Start, then choose Options and then select Gameplay. I forget the exact name of it, but there's an option in there for it for your squad's biotic usage. Set it to Active.

After that, save and exit the Options screen, and THEN save your game. The options won't stick until you save your game. I don't know why, it's retarded that way.

[der_jackal]

IMaybe I'm overthinking things, but I tend to gain a level with every other minor mission and I've still got about 10 active ones not including finding all of the random objects/ruins/medallions/etc.
Toss in the actual main quest and I bet I could theoretically hit 55-60 if it were unlocked.

Doubt it, I did everything save one quest, and tipped 50 just prior to landing on the final planet for the main quest. There's probaby only 2-3 more levels at most between that and end game, but it's moot AFAIK.


Can anyone confirm/deny that level 60 is related to your character? My wife's cleared the game at least once and unlocked it...but is that only for her character or is it for every game on the system?


It's per character IIRC. She unlocked the ability to start another play through with that same character which then starts at level 50.

[Defective]

It's per character IIRC. She unlocked the ability to start another play through with that same character which then starts at level 50.

No, the level limit for the game is raised for all characters. Each achievement in the game has a global effect on all the characters you make. Go to the Achievement section of the Mass Effect menu and check out what they do.

My 2nd character was at 51 by the end of the game.

If you restart the game with a character, they are at the same level with the same equipment. In fact, they even get the equipment of the other characters put back in inventory with the mods they had installed on them.

[der_jackal]

No, the level limit for the game is raised for all characters. Each achievement in the game has a global effect on all the characters you make. Go to the Achievement section of the Mass Effect menu and check out what they do.

My 2nd character was at 51 by the end of the game.


Just did, thanks for the heads up!


If you restart the game with a character, they are at the same level with the same equipment. In fact, they even get the equipment of the other characters put back in inventory with the mods they had installed on them.

That I knew...I'm 57 with my char on the 2nd play through right now. :)

[Visable-assassin]

was a lvl 50 Infiltrator at like 49 hours.

all i was using was pistols...and a little bit of sniper rifles.
pistol is spectre grade with the level X or XI frictionless materials, and incendiary rounds (the 15 points for 5 or 6 seconds...WTF ever it was) and something else I think. those incendiary rounds make short work of fuckin anything!

[Domingo]

Granted I haven't fought any of the end bosses, but I've been tearing everything up with the shotgun and "Carnage." I'm a Vanguard upgraded into a Shock Trooper. I typically just Carnage/Adrenaline Boost/Repeat. Early in the game the shotgun sucks, but now I find it to be pretty damned good. I have it equipped with High Caliber Barrel (III's the best I could find), the one that Improves your accuracy by 25%, and Polonium Rounds VII. I've got the Spectre grade version...which I've had for a while. I bought it and 2 other Spectre weapons after finishing the first major quest, which for me was Noveria. I just grab everything I see and end up selling everything that isn't currently equipped. Right now I've pretty much got more money than I'll ever need so I'm hoping I'll encounter some more shops later in the game. Everyone's got Spectre-grade primary weapons, and I gave the Biotic characters Spectre pistols just for the hell of it.

[Tetrahedron]

Granted I haven't fought any of the end bosses, but I've been tearing everything up with the shotgun and "Carnage." I'm a Vanguard upgraded into a Shock Trooper. I typically just Carnage/Adrenaline Boost/Repeat. Early in the game the shotgun sucks, but now I find it to be pretty damned good. I have it equipped with High Caliber Barrel (III's the best I could find), the one that Improves your accuracy by 25%, and Polonium Rounds VII. I've got the Spectre grade version...which I've had for a while. I bought it and 2 other Spectre weapons after finishing the first major quest, which for me was Noveria. I just grab everything I see and end up selling everything that isn't currently equipped. Right now I've pretty much got more money than I'll ever need so I'm hoping I'll encounter some more shops later in the game. Everyone's got Spectre-grade primary weapons, and I gave the Biotic characters Spectre pistols just for the hell of it.

yeah money is easy to come buy in the game, I just finished my first run at lvl 49 a vanguard too, had like some 5 million dollars/credits at the end game.

[Domingo]

Just as a heads up - Level 50 should be able to be achieved prior to even starting the Saren quest. I finished Feros and Noveria as well as all of the side quests. My character leveled up to 49 on the last side quest and I haven't landed on Virmire yet.
There are still plenty of deposits of rocks out there and I didn't get the max XP for all of the conversational items. I'm thinking that if you do everything "perfectly" you can be at level 50 prior to beginning Virmire.

[Defective]

yeah money is easy to come buy in the game, I just finished my first run at lvl 49 a vanguard too, had like some 5 million dollars/credits at the end game.

My last playthrough (with a fresh character) I maxed the meter. The game will not roll over to 10 millon, it stops at 9,999,999. I started turning stuff into Omni-gel just because I wasn't getting anything by selling it. I think my last playthrough I'm just going to use Omnigel for stuff because I sure won't need the money.

[Domingo]

Yeah, I've had $9,999,999 for a while now. I've also started just turning it into Omnigel. I used to sell it, but since it's giving me nothing...there's no longer a reason to. That's one of the times where the game's horrid inventory system really comes into play. It's a pain to figure out what to keep and what not to, especially when you can't see what your team has individually without having them part of the party or memorizing what they have on.
It's even more frustrating when they still randomly give out III and IV items...and it's more trouble to NOT pick them up than to pick them up. Sometimes I'll just equip everyone with the best stuff I have, upgrade it a little, and then just sell everything that's left.
I'd say that the early combat (when your characters suck) and the inventory system are really the only huge holes in the game.

[greyt_Autumn]

Woohoo! I"m at level2.


I just started and bought this before Christmas. Playing too much Uncharted.

[erwos]

It's even more frustrating when they still randomly give out III and IV items...and it's more trouble to NOT pick them up than to pick them up. Sometimes I'll just equip everyone with the best stuff I have, upgrade it a little, and then just sell everything that's left.
That's what I do, and it's why an "auto-equip" button would solve 99% of the inventory issues. That, and _stacking_.

[Domingo]

Auto-equip, stacking, and some way to track the equipment of the characters not currently with you. Considering that the best shop in the game (the ship's supplier) leaves you completely alone, you're stuck running back and forth to lockers or writing down equipment for your characters. The whole thing seems like an afterthought. Considering how polished the game usually it, there are clearly parts that the devs just quickly finished. The lack of universal teleportation, quick travel, non-battle running, and sloooooow elevators that you can't skip reinforce that.

[der_jackal]

.... and sloooooow elevators that you can't skip reinforce that.

Would you rather stare at more loading screens? That's what the elevators cover FWIW so I'm okay w/ the lifts being there.

[CooLWoLF]

I just finished the game but it only took 12 hours.... I was under the impression the game was much longer? Are there really THAT MANY side quests? I see some people it takes 30+ hours to beat the game. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story! Can't wait for the next one. Now if I could just get a 360 that doesn't RRoD on me....

[Itchyeyes]

Would you rather stare at more loading screens? That's what the elevators cover FWIW so I'm okay w/ the lifts being there.
Agreed. Bioware games have always had long loading screens. I actually thought it was a pretty innovative way to hide them. I think a lot of people griping about the elevators just haven't played their previous games, like KOTOR, and don't realize that the elevators are actually a good thing in comparison.

[Defective]

I just finished the game but it only took 12 hours.... I was under the impression the game was much longer? Are there really THAT MANY side quests? I see some people it takes 30+ hours to beat the game. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story! Can't wait for the next one. Now if I could just get a 360 that doesn't RRoD on me....

If you ignore the side quests, it's not that long of a game as far as RPGs go. With the side quests, it gets alot longer.

[Domingo]

I think the issue with the elevators being a cover for load screens is that they don't send you exactly where you want to go. If I have to bother to wait around for my guy to go in a gigantic elevator for 30 seconds at a time...it should warp me to the exact spot I want. The much easier option would be once you visit something, you no longer have a pointless ship or series of elevators that you have to traverse. You should instead have a screen full of thumbnails that send you where you want to be, no wandering around super-slowly needed. Kind of like the way Morrowind handled loading. Once you visit something once - you can warp there.
Going from the citadel to your ship and then having to go to a planet (load), land (load), rover (load) etc. - there are 5-6 steps that shouldn't need to load. You should be able to skip them, hence no need for elevators or 5-6 load screens in a row.

[pothb]

yea... but elevators aren't stupid though. I like it better than a load screen, teh characters chat and they have news some times.


Great game though, i hoped it was more fluid but its great as is. There are a few that I dislike though, like dialogue have same lines if you go towards renegade or not most of the times. Side quests are pretty repetitive level wise.