The topic of save game transfers is a hot one when it comes to Mass Effect 2. Though BioWare have vaguely elaborated on what's being carried over from Shepard's encounter with the Geth, they've been quite cagey on how exactly it will work, how players will initiate it, and what it will do. How you approach ME2 will have deep, far-reaching consequences that can affect not only the overall storyline, but whether or not your character will actually survive the game -- and thus live to see the finale -- at all. Consider this a holiday treat, because (some of) your questions have been answered. On the BioWare forums this week, the developer finally divulges the sought-after information regarding importing your hard-earned Mass Effect 1 profile, what benefits it will grant you, and more.
- The Player chooses which character to bring in. Bringing in more than one character is possible, this will create a second or additional profile(s), just like in ME1. ... There is a limit of 11 end-of-game saves that can be imported into ME2. This means that if the player was to complete ME1 12 times, regardless of the number of unique playthroughs used, the 12th save will not be available for import, but saves 1 through 11 will be available.
It's also re-confirmed that this requires the use of the gamer profile utilized in ME1, and that all data associated with the save and profile must be on an Xbox 360 HDD, not a Memory Unit. But just impacting your story and choices isn't all that's at stake here. An imported character will take advantage of gameplay bonuses not found if you start ME2 fresh.
"If you finished ME1 as a high level character you will receive greater bonuses than those who finished at lower levels. Ex: if you finished ME1 as a level 35 character, you will receive a bonus, but if you finished ME1 as a level 50 character, your bonus will be larger. ... some of these bonuses include a monetary boost at the start of the game, or additional research resources for use at the Normandy’s Tech Lab. Another perk is if you finished the game as a Paragon or Renegade, part of your alignment will carry over making it easier to access certain dialogue options."
Lastly, a feature once confirmed to be missing -- the New Game + option -- is back in action. "If players start a New Game + after beating the game they will be able to re-use the same character import file they did for their first playthrough. Yes New Game + is making a return to Mass Effect 2! ... If you want to do a quick check and make sure you are good to go, load up Mass Effect 1 and see if the New Game + option appears. That will let you know your save game is ready for Mass Effect 2."
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