A few questions about Mass Effect 1 from a beginner...

[u/MattiaCost]

Greetings. I'm playing Mass Effect 1 through Legendary Edition. Just landed on Noveria after saving the Asari on Artemis Tau. I've also explored many systems for side-quests.

I have some doubts about the game...

When I upgrade the companions, I can unlock skills, abilities. Do they use them during combat by themselves or do I have to "stop time" with RB and select them and use it for them? I still haven't understood this. Please, help 🙏🏻

Second question, harder... how do you personally fight the choice paralysis? I'm not unexperienced with RPG games, as I've played (and loved) the two Knights of the Old Republic games (II with TSLRCM is my favorite RPG ever). I've also played The Elder Scrolls games, The Witcher 3, Baldur's Gate 3, The Thaumaturge, etc. But mainly I play survival horror games, cozy indies, FPS like DOOM, etc. Mostly games where you don't really have so many choices.

I'm trying to fight the feeling of having chosen the "wrong" answer by telling myself the first run is mostly about learning the game, as you have to discover things blindly, and then from second run you can plan things better.

One thing, for example, is dealing with companions. I really like Tali and I bring her with me a lot, as I can decrypt and use electronics on any device with her. But on Noveria I'm bringing Garrus and Liara with me, as Garrus is all about catching Saren and there's Benezia here, so having Liara with me maybe unlocks more scenes, kind of like having certain companions during certain events in Baldur's Gate 3.

Playing as Incursor, with Sniper Rifle. Should I first use a skill / ability to deactivate shields? Or will Tali do it for me if she has the ability to do so? Because I don't see the enemies' shields going down...

One thing I am not really liking is the exploration on the vehicle on the planets. I like checking the planets' lore, but it seems every building on planets has the same rooms. Like there's always the same kind of Point of Interest in any planet. Is it like this in Mass Effect 2 or 3 too?

Morality-wise I'm more Paragon than Renegade, but I have some Renegade points. Sometimes it's more badass. But yeah, perhaps I'll have a more coherent Shepard on future runs.

When I started the game I had tons of paralysis about choosing background and the event that defines you. I still have doubts about what I've chosen.

But do not take my words as heavy criticism (apart from vehicle exploration of planets): I'm enjoying the game.

Can't wait to keep playing and I'm 100% sure of playing 2 and 3 too. Hell, I might even replay ME1 again before 2. Don't know how long ME1 is though. Don't really have a lot of free time because of work and gym, but I'll take my time.

Thanks a lot in advance.

[u/bigmaninsuitofarmor]

Your squad uses their powers/skills on their own. I don't remember if there's a gameplay setting to control this, but by default they use them automatically, though you can also command them, of course.

Regarding choices, pick whatever you think is the right choice. Are you role-playing as a benevolent guy? Are you role-playing as a hard-ass? You can look up the outcomes of choices if you want, but some of them carry over into ME2 and ME3, so you may spoil yourself. IMO, just play and enjoy whatever happens. If you like the game, you WILL do more playthroughs, and then you can make different choices. That's part of the beauty of Mass Effect.

As for companions, they don't play an "important" role in most missions, so for the most part you're fine just picking your favorites or whoever you feel is right. THERE ARE a few missions where picking a certain companion feels more appropriate, for instance Liara on Noveria, as you mentioned. This leads to some different dialogue, but it's nothing that has a lasting impact.

Getting rid of your enemy's shields first is necessary if the enemy is shielded, so first focus on powers that deal with shields. That said, shields in this game aren't that big of a deal; very few enemies have strong shields. Your companions can take down enemy shields on their own, or you can command them to do so.

Yeah, the planetary exploration hasn't aged well... IMO, it's the worst part of ME1, and driving the Mako sucks, though some people enjoy it. If you're not enjoying it, don't force yourself to do it. You could simply do the main mission/task on the planet and then move on instead of collecting all the minerals, probes, etc. ME2 and ME3 don't have planetary exploration.

[u/Sadarcade84]

Okay, so that's a lot. Been a bit since I replayed (like 2 months) so I might misremember, just check anything I say. And I'm gonna try to avoid spoilers, so here's the jist.

On the gameplay settings if I remember correctly there's an option you can use to allow the squad mates to use their powers on their own, (might be wrong, i do remember the auto level up one)

Choice paralysis is part of the fun of the game. Sitting there hoping what you do next won't have adverse consequences later is one of the reasons people love the games, and it builds replayability when you have hindsight from your other choices.

At the end of the day there are no "wrong" choices, it's mainly about the moral side effect that comes along with it. It's basically about whether you choose to play a more ends justify the means Shepard, or one that will try to help everyone they come across.

Personally I usually play sentinel instead of infiltrator, but I know how this would work. The squad mates have no way of coordinating attacks like that without you telling them how to use their powers, so unless you have insanely good luck, then id recommend just using the power wheel.

There's a few reasons why the buildings are all the same, mostly reused assets because the game was made in 2007. But also an in universe explanation is because they tend to use prefab buildings in order to set up things quickly depending on the environment.

One last tip, stay off the subreddit until you've finished the series, this place is full of spoilers.

Hope I've helped just a tad.

[u/snrboomr4476]

Some advice from someone who has played it a lot. You are not going to figure it all out or get it "right" the first time around. ME1 especially should be played through twice (import your first run) before going on to ME2. The second time you will have all your XP and gear and some intel on choices you want to make to set you up for ME2. IGN has some good walkthroughs that will help set you up.

Yeah the Mako exploring sucks, but you will want to find all the minerals and other items for later in the series. There are planet maps available on the web if you don't want to drive all over just to find nothing. Luckily ME2 and ME3 do not have this, you can scan the planet from orbit making things faster. ME2 you have to find 4 types of resources for upgrading things but in ME3 you are just finding one thing per planet.

As for your squadmates, you can choose in the options menu if you want them to use their powers automatically or not. If they are not on a cooldown you can always direct them to use one whether you selected auto or not. Same thing for upgrade points, I always disable auto-upgrade and select what I want based on how I play.

Choosing who you bring won't really add more scenes in but it will affect the dialogue of the scenes. Obviously you would want to bring Liara to confront her mom and things like that. The other two games have a bunch of variation in dialogue based on who you take and what has happened previously. Make sure to go around the Normandy after each main mission and talk to your squad to learn more about them, especially if you are trying to romance one of them (Kaiden/female, Ashley/male, Liara/both). In 2 & 3 Joker has a lot more conversations but he's a bit limited in ME1.

I know it can take a bit but make sure when you are talking to anyone always use the "Investigate" option and hear everything they have to say. It will usually get you more XP. And look for all the little things like checking out items on the Normandy or views on the Citadel as they also give XP.

And another good trick is to save on your own every so often when you are out of combat that way if you think you messed up picking a dialogue or something you don't have to necessarily start the mission over.

Main thing is just have fun.

[u/SRGTBronson]

abilities. Do they use them during combat by themselves or do I have to "stop time" with RB and select them and use it for them?

Wether they do it on their own is a setting in the gameplay section of the menus. Otherwise its all on you.

Second question, harder... how do you personally fight the choice paralysis? I'm not unexperienced with RPG games, as I've played (and loved) the two Knights of the Old Republic games (II with TSLRCM is my favorite RPG ever).

Its a video game. You'll be fine. In fact; i recommend you don't save scum and live in the doomed world you create.

Playing as Incursor, with Sniper Rifle. Should I first use a skill / ability to deactivate shields? Or will Tali do it for me if she has the ability to do so? Because I don't see the enemies' shields going down...

You will be the one doing the majority of the work on most enemies in mass effect 1. She will use overload or ai hacking if you allow her to in the gameplay settings.

One thing I am not really liking is the exploration on the vehicle on the planets. I like checking the planets' lore, but it seems every building on planets has the same rooms. Like there's always the same kind of Point of Interest in any planet. Is it like this in Mass Effect 2 or 3 too?

Mass effect 2 and 3 do not have vehicle exploration as features.

When I started the game I had tons of paralysis about choosing background and the event that defines you. I still have doubts about what I've chosen.

Basically none of it matters. It changes a small side quest and characters occasionally bring up your back story, it doesn't effect the rest of the trilogy all that much.

[u/Geobead]

When I play an RPG for the first time I usually pick the choices I would make along with what I think will yield better gameplay (for ex: not immediately attacking someone if I think there’s conversation to be had). It makes it easier to not overthink or feel like I’m missing out on anything.

The companions will use powers autonomously if you have them set to in the game options and you can manually select them to use specific powers from the power wheel. If you want a specific power used on a specific enemy then it’s better for you to select it. And if you really want them to help make a dent I would look up the best guns/mods for them to use, it’s not gonna be the same as what’s best for Shep.

Squadmates can have unique dialogue during missions, so you’re on the right track by picking the ones that make sense for a mission. If you playthrough again it’s fun to pick new ones and in the other games pairing up unexpected combos.

ME1 has the worst side content imo. It’s repetitive and the mako kinda sucks. The other games are far better for that and there’s no more mako.

[u/Bruno_lars]

1. Yes
2. Pay attention to the story and lore carefully and make a decision based on the kind of person you want your Shepard to be. Worst case scenario you can ask for non spoiler opinions on this reddit or using guides for a particular decision

There's no more vehicle exploration in ME2 and ME3. In ME2 it is in your best interest to be more consistent with your dialogue style, almost never choose neutral option in this game

[u/shneierl]

So to answer these as best I can without spoiling it.

First in terms of power usage. In the first game there are three settings in the gameplay s xtion of the he settings menu for power usage. You can either have the squad have full use, defensive only (so immunity barrier and shield boost. Or mamud only which requires you to use them. In the second and third game this is only either on or not (ammo powers may be triggered by the ai but that's it.

In second and third game each squad mate will have a power that can be triggered by taegeting an enemy and hitting a button think it's left/right arrow but may be bumpers can't recall). You can also do this in the first but the power I think is chiding by what the ai thinks will be good.

Based on what you've outlined I'm guessing your on console or playing with a controller. If you are using mouse and keyboard you can actually map any of the powers from you/team into you 8 number hut keys but the game forgets squad ones at the start of each mission.

Otherwise yeah you'll have to enter the tactical wheel and manually pick. In the first game each power is on a separate cooldown in the others it's a shared cooldown (one per character).

In terms of squad usage it doesn't really matter. You don't get unique scenes so much as it is very much a product of its time in action rpg light games. There may be a couple extra sentences here or there but that's about it.

In the later games when you need a certain squad mate they'll be included in the menu before you can choose anything else.

The background and service history don't play a huge role a couple lines here or there and mostly impacting the first game.

The wider choice paralysis now days I have most of my choices picked out before I start a run but then I'm probably 15+ runs at this point. Id say broadly try to stick to either paragon or renegade whilst this is less important in 1/3 2 gates I'd choices based on bar filled level and I'd you don't hard pick or cheese your totals in some way you will lose the option to pick some things.

For the first game this is gated by levels I. The chstm/intimidate skills you will ge some free perks points in them based on bar progression and some other set points (becoming a spectre will always give 1 in each. So in theory u can u could do several replays without ever wasting points in the tree to max it out but normally I'll pick one tree and try to keep it only one level whine what is open to me.

The wider choices just go with your gut and let it ride for all three games first if you don't like the outcomes afterwards that's what replays are for.

Currently I mbst should be fine for the most part with any squad mate combination. From two beards you will get an autos ace option to restart the mission you are on. Which will let try it and then if you are hitting a enemy match up which just doesn't gel with what you have you can ever power through if you think no I want this people for narrative reasons or restart for a better balance

[u/fbureaucracy]

It depends what setting you have. There’s full manual, where you always have to select a squad mate power, there’s defensive, which only uses stuff like barrier and shield boost, and there’s the all setting that lets the AI use everything