Do you need to play Mass Effect 1 in order to understand Mass Effect 2?

Going to buy a game today, and was thinking about Mass Effect 2. But then it hit me, do you need to play Mass Effect 1 in order to understand the second game?Do you need to play Mass Effect 1 in order to understand Mass Effect 2?
You don't NEED to play 1 to understand 2.

The second one gives enough back story and a little recap, so you'll understand it after a fashion.

I feel, however, that to get the most out of the experience, definitely get number 1 first.

You get a better appreciation of the characters and your situation, and it just boosts the experience overall.

So, in short, get 2 if you want, but I highly suggest getting 1 first, as the story is so much better when you know the full thing
Yes. Mass Effect 2 is the second in, what is supposed to be, a trilogy, thus being a continuation of the first game. Mass Effect, being an RPG rather than your run of the mill shooter, has a more defined and in depth story, and playing the prior installment will definitely help you to better understand the second one. So yes, pick up and play the first Mass Effect before playing the second.Do you need to play Mass Effect 1 in order to understand Mass Effect 2?
Mass Effect 1 has a better plot than ME2 and it would be a shame if you start playing Mass Effect 2 and only get a two sentence summary. BioWare games come with plot twists and my advice would be to play the first game so you don't ruin it for yourself. It's also more fun to start ME2 with an ME1 file.
There's no reason to not get ME1.

It's old and cheap now.



Really, the only thing about ME1 that I don't like now is the low texture resolutions. They're more detailed in ME2. It's weird looking at some of the alien characters in ME1 after seeing them in all their textured glory in ME2.



Other than that, not much difference. ME1 is more run and gun and ME2 is more cover-based shooter.Do you need to play Mass Effect 1 in order to understand Mass Effect 2?
You can import your character from Mass Effect 1 to ME 2. It makes the game better. But no, you don't have to.



Here is a good resource for both games and I think they also talk about your question.
yes yes yes do not play Mass Effect 2 with out playing Mass Effect 1 the second game will make no sense if you do not play Mass Effect 1first