ME 1 has more RPG elements. longer missions (better side missions), more items more exploration and the conversations seem to have more effect. You can also gain more levels and there are more options in character skills and powers - it is not unending like the elderscrolls, so at some point you can't just level and level and level everything end seventually and you're only option is to complete the game.. However, there are fewer characters. ME 1 does have some problems - there is a permanent and apparently unpatchable graphics glitch with one character's face that essentially makes it low detail no matter what. exploration especially controlling the tank aren't great and (surprise) it's older, so it's not as pretty.

ME 2 is more a shooter than an RPG, there are few guns, but the differences are more noticeable. head shots matter, but there are fewer powers and they aren't nearly as useful -though they are easier to use. one downside is not everyone can use every weapon. if you want the best rifle in the game you have to pick the right class. The conversation and story telling seems more forced, but there is a bit more variety in what your character can do or say (it feels like it matters less....) Another thing to consider is exploration, while ME 2 does have it, it's done by spaceship, and it costs money, and mostly it only gets you resources. But without loot money is finite (essentially) so every time you explore you worry that you might not be able to afford a ship upgrade that might save the life a teammate, a dynamic that stifles one of the most important parts of being in space. This, in turn, pushes you toward the DLC (of which ME 1 has only 2 -the first good, and free, the second bad- me 2 has.... well, alot. they're pretty good, but it feels you're being nickeled and dime to get to play the whole game and all of it will cost about an extra $50, give or take)

For me, however, the biggest issue is story telling. ME 1, I feel, does a better job at telling a compelling story and instilling a sense of awe. It lets you know how big space is, it makes you fear the enemy and wonder at the marvels of aliens. ME 2 is pretty with more complexity, but it does a poorer job at making you care about characters, threats or the moral decisions you have to make (though overlord DLC is a awesome excpetion, so if you get ME-2 get that one. definitely).

In short, if you like the RPG elements, or if you want to invest in a good story get ME 1 (at least get it first). If you just want a space shooter with pretty graphics, get ME 2.

hoped that helped.

PS cheating in ME 1 is easier, in ME 2 it's neigh impossible. Also, you can't redistribute points for your character in ME 1 so if you want the same guy and the same class but different skill set you have to start all over. In ME 2 you can buy a skill reset in game (or even buy a new special skill)

The thing that people love or hate about ME2 is that it streamlined things a lot. In ME 1 you could find 50 versions of the same sniper rifle each doing slightly more damage the one before it. In ME2 there were only a few weapons of each type, so you could choose between a slow firing high damage sniper rifle and a more rapid firing low damage one. But instead of finding a +25 slow firing sniper rifle and having to swap out the +24 one from your inventory, you instead just found a new piece of technology that upgraded all of your sniple rifles. It resulted in about the same thing but with far less inventory management hell.

I personally liked ME2 much better because of the streamlining and because I didn't think they things that were taken out added much to the game. But obviously people who loved the things that were taken out hated it.

As the previous poster said though, both games do have a great story. I personally could not slog through all of ME1 to complete the story but I do sometimes regret that.

I liked them both about equally.  I hated the vehicle exploration in 1.  The mining in 2 was also a chore, but it wasn't horrible.

What I dislike about 1 was being a great soldier who (at first) could barely shoot.  I love that about video gaming.  They make you out to be a supersoldier who can't hit the side of a barn.  Whee.

The series is designed to be played in sequence. Your choices from ME1 will reflect in ME2 when you import your character,. If you skip ME1, it will assume you made certain choices, and you'll miss a lot of interesting stuff. So I recommend starting from the beginning

This was my experience as well.  The writing is good, but the gameplay was meh.  1 was a lot more RPGish, but the combat engine was pretty poor and the sections with the vehicle were so bad I stopped exploring planets altogether after the first couple.  2 had a MUCH better combat engine and a larger cast of party members, but everything else was severly dumbed down and they replaced the vehicle sections with the even worse probing mini-'game'.  Which you unfortunately cannot avoid since the only way to get the best ending (aka everyone lives) is to research the ship upgrades.  As already pointed out, 2 also suffered from severe ammo issues.  I played on one setting above normal, and pretty much had to cower and spam powers to win simply because I couldn't use my guns normally.

To its credit though, the final mission in ME2 was amazing.  Too bad it seems like the devs spent half their time making that one mission compared to the rest of the game.

If you're going to bother with the series, start with 1 since major decisions carrier over into 2.  If you start with 2, the game assumes you picked the asshole (or 'renegade' as ME likes to call it) choices the entire game.  Of course you also miss a large chunk of the story, which again is the whole point of the series.

If that's how you play the game i think you'll enjoy them both regardless of their flaws. Good luck and aim for the head (even though it doesn't matter in ME1)

I bought the game during the sale, I have my serial and receipt, but I can't download it, and it says it's temporarily unavailable now. What should I do?

Alright, I'll try that. Thanks man

I have to disagree, i've noticed that getting to level 60 gives you a significant advantage over 50 and completing the first DLC mission does give some awesome loot. Also, some of side missions have easter eggs or allow you to have a better understanding of things like "the shadow broker" before having it crammed down your gullet in ME 2. And at least a couple of them are designed around the back story you give your character. Of course if you're interested in game mechanics the thing to do is to play it again and again so i'm sure our esteemed friend will be able to decided the importance of those mission without our input.

Get 2 if you're more into the game play. The mechanics of it will keep you replaying it even after you eventually "beat" the game.

just a quick question if anyone can answer it:

How long does it usually take for a response from support? I'm on the end of Day 3 waiting for a response