How to Beat the Eden Prime Level of Mass Effect

Mass Effect is a first-of-its-kind game, a hybrid between shooters and old-school RPG's. As a result, a game like this can take some getting used to, but it's well worth it when you do. The first area of Mass Effect is intended to be the easiest, but due to the steep learning curve of the combat system, it can actually end up being one of the hardest. The enemies you will fight are weak, but so are you. It will take a good bit of skill and smarts to get through Eden Prime successfully.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Xbox 360
• Mass Effect

The Normandy

1. Walk around the Normandy after the opening movie ends. This is a good time to get a feel for the controls, find out how your character moves, get a feel for the dialogue system and generally familiarize yourself with the game.

2. 
    

   Talk with the soldier next to the galaxy map (a large hologram of a galaxy; you literally can't miss it). This is the first opportunity to begin developing the disposition of your character. You'll find out that Jenkins is going with you on the upcoming mission to Eden Prime.

3. Head through the back door and talk to the alien there. Captain Anderson will soon join you and send you off to Eden Prime.

Insertion

4. Before you do anything else, go into the main menu and assign talent points to the Talents of your two squadmates. You will have already done this on your main character when creating him.

5. Head across the waterway on the right to find an upgrade kit.

6. 
    

   Head back to the main path. You will soon be attacked by flying drones. Make for a nearby rock and press the right analog stick in to go into cover. You can either fire blindly with the right trigger or press the left trigger to pop out and aim. Blind fire will take longer, but use it to take out a drone or two to make aiming easier. Then pop out and target the rest.

7. Investigate the nearby body to develop your character's disposition.

8. Keep moving along the path. Take out the drones that attack the lone soldier in white armor. Most of them will concentrate on her, so pop out and aim carefully to take them out.

9. Talk with the soldier to have her join you on your mission. Be sure to assign her talent points to Talents in the main menu before moving on.

10. Continue on the path, facing enemies as they come. When you are attacked by the zombie-like husks, don't bother with cover. They don't use guns. Just hit them as hard as you can while backing up--they have a strong close-range attack.

11. 
     

    Hack the door of the trailer-like structure (the first structure after fighting the husks) for some major character-disposition development, especially if playing as a renegade. During the ensuing conversation, select "investigate," then "assistant." Then just do what any good bad-ass would do. Investigate the surrounding area for item containers.

The beacon

12. Continue up the path. You will witness a short movie and the take-off of a large ship.

13. When next you are attacked by the Geth, take cover and take them out. Be patient, hit the closest enemies first and any enemies that try to charge you, and the fight will be over soon. There will be a nearby structure, like the one you hacked into before. Hack into this one too. You will find a group of farmers inside. A friendly conversation will result in a new pistol for you; an antagonistic one will result in more renegade points. Either way, the group will reveal the existence of another man who can provide you with more weapons.

14. Go to the nearby port to find Nihlus' corpse. Investigate it.

15. Head to the back of the port (near the boxes) to find a hiding smuggler. Being friendly won't gain you anything, but being antagonistic will yield you five grenades, a valuable bounty. Neither branch will result in any character-disposition points, so don't worry if you're playing as a paragon.

16. You will soon come locate a tram. You will have to eliminate enemies along a narrow path to get there. Get in cover, fire blindly when three or four enemies are returning fire and pop out when some of them stop. Concentrate on close enemies and those that attempt to rush you.

17. Take the tram to the beacon location.

18. 
     

    Disable the bomb once you get off the tram. You will learn there are three more bombs you have to disable in a limited amount of time. The bomb locations are marked on your radar--the hardest part is getting through the Geth forces in time to disarm all of them.

19. 
     

    Don't attempt to take them out across the gap separating you from the bombs. Head to the bridge on the far end of the platform, but instead of crossing, take up cover behind a nearby crate. The Geth will stupidly try to cross, making them sitting ducks as they cross the bridge. This is a great place to whip out your assault riffle for the first time, as the enemy is bunched together at medium range. Use blind fire and the entire group will be down in seconds, with no risk to you. Take them out, get across the bridge and take out the rest of the Geth. You have more time than you think--all the bombs are on the platform you are now on, and it only takes about 10 seconds to disarm one. Take out the few remaining enemies and disarm the bomb.

20. Head into the next area and take out the last enemies from the protected entrance ramp. A movie will end the level.

Tips & Warnings

• Speak to everybody you come across. In a game like Mass Effect, the dialogue and story lines are a major part of the game. Some characters will offer interesting stories or humorous dialogue, others can provide weapons and items, others offer opportunities to develop the disposition of your own character, and still others will offer information about the game universe or your current mission. Fail to interact with characters and you will be missing out on a huge portion of the game.
• In general, the friendly dialogue branches are located at the top of the dialogue wheel, while the dark branches are located at the bottom. There are exceptions, but use this rule if trying to develop your character into a renegade or a paragon.
• The pistol is the best option for combat at this stage of the game. Your shotgun won't be accurate, ditto for your sniper riffle, and your assault riffle will allow enemies to get close enough to return fire. You have precious little health at this stage of the game, which means the longer the range at which you can engage your enemies, the better chance you will have to survive.
• Not all conversations will result in tangible benefits like items or disposition points. But you'll never know which do if you don't talk to anybody.
• Watch the gauge in the bottom corner of the screen when in combat. The red bars represent your health, while the tick marks represent your shield. As you take damage, the tick mark will fade. Once it is out completely, you will begin taking health damage. Your shield will regenerate--your health will not. When your shield is down, find cover and stay there until it comes back online. Use blind fire to keep enemy forces at bay while it does.