Among the first three Mass Effect games, Mass Effect 2 was generally regarded as the best. It had nearly everything-- a compelling story, dramatic world building, stellar voice acting, and one of the most successful gameplay overhauls in the history of gaming. So, when Mass Effect: Andromeda was released, fans simply can't help but compare the quality of the two games from the same developer.
Sadly, a lot of us Mass Effect fans can't help but feel disappointed with how Andromeda was handled. Apart from the abysmal face animations, Mass Effect: Andromeda had a less interesting protagonist, worse acting, and pervasive clunkiness. The worst part is that it had the best graphics and scope among all four Mass Effect games, meaning it made going back to older games a bit difficult.
However, you can always give the old games, particularly Mass Effect 2, a new coat of paint. Thanks to the PC gaming community, your Mass Effect 2 gameplay experience can improve drastically, that's something difficult to achieve for a 10-year-old game. Here are the mods you need in order to make it so.
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10 MASS EFFECT 2 CHEAT CONSOLE
First on the list is not exactly a graphical overhaul but a gameplay 'tweak.' Mass Effect 2 is a long game, after all, and you probably want a gameplay boost after several playthroughs. The Mass Effect 2 Cheat Console lets you do just that without the need for tedium.
The cheat mod or trainer lets you easily use popular cheats that make the gameplay a breeze such as Infinite Ammo, Godmode, adding levels and other statistical stuff which usually takes hours of gameplay to acquire. With the help of the Cheat Console, you can focus more on the story or the choices you make in-game.
9 NATURAL EYELASHES
It was mentioned before that Mass Effect 2 is a decade-old game, being released way back then is a perfect excuse for its robotic character models. However, you don't always have to endure such shortcomings thanks to the mod, Natural Eyelashes.
As the name indicates, the mod replaces Mass Effect 2's dated character models' eyelashes with more realistic and beautiful ones. This ought to make the characters look more modern by today's gaming standards especially since a significant portion of the game consists of dialog screens that zoom in on the characters' faces.
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8 MORE HAIR
One of the best things about Mass Effect games is the level of main character customization it allows players. In the original trilogy nonetheless, the game lets players make Commander Shepard into whoever they want. It's still an old game, however, and includes dated customization options. Hence, More Hair fixes that problem to a certain degree by adding more hairstyles.
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It is worth noting that these hairstyles are not exactly new as some non-player characters (NPC) in the game already have them. The mod simply makes them available for the players to choose in the character creation screen. Apparently, it also works on squadmates.
7 NO MINIGAMES
While Mass Effect 2 was interesting all throughout its 30-40 hours of gameplay, not all of that game time was necessary. There exist some tacked-on and needless minigames which somehow only manage to make a task such as probing planets more tedious. The No Minigames mod does away with that and lets you enjoy some of the minute undertakings of Mass Effect 2.
Once installed, the mod will let you automatically win any bypass or hacking minigame. Because after a few playthroughs of Mass Effect 2, they can get exhausting to repeat over and over again.
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6 SHORTER LOADINGS
Yet another quality of life mode which aims to save your time spent outside of the game world of Mass Effect 2.Shorter Loadings is what its name implies-- it reduces the loading time of the game's old engine. Additionally, the game will improve certain loading time differences between large and small in-game areas since the latter logically should take a shorter time to load.
Overall, this is something that both new and old Mass Effect 2 players should always have in their mod library. The best part is that it lets you keep the animations of the loading screen!
5 INTUITIVE CONTROLS MOD
Mass Effect 2 was quite a big leap from the first game in terms of combat gameplay. It adopted a more action-oriented approach instead of the less exciting tactical RPG combat. Of course, this was not without some minor control problems. The PC controls of Mass Effect 2 had a certain awkward jerk to them, especially when making your character walk or run.
RELATED: All Of Mass Effect 3's Endings Explained
Intuitive Controls remedies that by making the PC controls for the game more responsive. It also improves the accuracy of control inputs and allows for a safer way to control your characters especially during combat. No more accidental deaths.
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4 ME2RECALIBRATED
Developer Bioware and publisher EA have both already stopped providing further support for Mass Effect 2 long ago. Still, the game has some noticeable bugs that never got ironed out despite the numerous patches and updates.
That's where ME2Recalibrated comes in. The said mod fixes a few broken bugs and lore. However, what makes this mod a must-have for any Mass Effect fan is the restoration of cut content. Somehow, the mod author managed to retrieve some of the cut material the developers left out and place them back. You'd be missing out without this mod.
3 ENB OR RESHADE WITH MASS EFFECT 2
One of the easiest ways you can update the aging graphics of Mass Effect 2 is with ENB. It's a third party lighting and particle overhaul available for countless games. Of course, Mass Effect2 needs a graphical overhaul it like an old man needs his walkers.
This ENB preset tends to saturate the game engine's colors more and make it look more modern. Think of it as an Instagram filter for your game, but better as it also adds some much-appreciated effects like better depth-of-field and ambient occlusion. It also doesn't do much damage much performance-wise.
Mass Effect 2 Best Submachine Gun Review
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2 ME2 GRAPHIC TWEAKS
For some people, an ENB might not do the job well enough. It's personal preference, but ENB's added effects and color temperature changes can be disruptive or distracting for players. If you do want a more in-depth way to change Mass Effect 2's lighting, then these Graphic Tweaks might suit your need better than an ENB.
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You can use it to improve the lighting, shadow, and atmosphere of the game all at once or pick one to improve exclusively. The changes are quite noticeable and will certainly give Mass Effect 2 a more updated sheen.
List Of Submachine Guns
1 A LOT OF TEXTURES (ALOT) FOR ME2
You can change the lighting and colors of Mass Effect 2 all you like, however, the textures will always remind you of its grizzled game engine. Therefore, changing the game's textures to better suit higher resolution monitors and graphics cards is a welcome improvement.
A Lot of Textures or ALOT for short does that with flying colors for Mass Effect 2. In fact, the difference is night and day and this mod is something any self-respecting Mass Effect 2 player should have. This is Commander Shepard's favorite mod in the Citadel.
NEXT: BioWare Promises They're Not Done Making Mass Effect Games
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Mass Effect 2
SMGs possess a bonus to damage against shields and biotic barriers, but are weak against armor.
All player classes except soldiers start the game able to use SMGs. The following squadmates also utilize submachine guns: Miranda, Mordin, Samara/Morinth, Thane, Kasumi, Liara, and Dr. Amanda Kenson.
Submachine Gun Models
Below is a list of Submachine Gun models and their base stats:
M-4 Shuriken
- Manufacturer: Elkoss Combine
- Base Damage: 20.5
- Damage Multipliers (Armor / Barriers / Shields): x1.0 / x1.5 / x1.5
- Ammo capacity: 24 / 240
- Acquisition: Default starting weapon.
M-9 Tempest
- Manufacturer: Elanus Risk Control Services
- Base Damage: 14
- Damage Multipliers (Armor / Barriers / Shields): x1.0 / x1.5 / x1.5
- Ammo capacity: 50 / 450
- Acquisition: Dossier: Tali
M-12 Locust
- Manufacturer: Kassa Fabrication
- Base Damage: 25
- Damage Multipliers (Armor / Barriers / Shields): x1.25 / x1.25 / x1.25
- Ammo capacity: 20 / 240
- Acquisition: Kasumi: Stealing Memory
Upgrades
- See also: Upgrade Guide, section on SMG upgrades, Research
- SMG Shield Piercing (Phasic Jacketing)
- Provides +50% SMG damage against shields and biotic barriers.
- SMG Extra Rounds (Heat Sink Capacity)
- Adds +50% more SMG rounds.
- Submachine Gun Damage 1 - 6 (Microfield Pulsar)
- Squad bonus +10% submachine gun damage.
Mass Effect 3
Submachine guns are good choices for power-dependent classes. These lightweight weapons can deal out high rates of fire at the cost of low accuracy and stopping power. As a rule, Submachine guns are weak weapons but they have some extremely good mods - notably the Ultralight Materials offering a 90% weight discount makes them a superb backup weapon, whereas with the right DLC a character who focusses primarily on powers can combine the Power Magnifier and the High Velocity Barrel to have a very effective gun against targets like Brutes, a damage bonus for powers, and a recharge bonus of 200%. The following squadmates utilize submachine guns: Aria, EDI, and Liara.
Submachine Gun Models
Below is a list of the types of submachine guns in Mass Effect 3 and their base stats. Note that WCFDA stands for weight, capacity, fire rate, damage, and accuracy. The relevant values for those statistics are presented in that order.
Blood Pack Punisher
- Manufacturer: Blood Pack
- Base WCFDA: 30 / 70 / 65 / 25 / 20
- Fire Mode: Automatic
- Default ammo: 40 / 320
- Acquisition: Firefight Pack (single-player), Mass Effect 3: Reckoning (multiplayer)
Collector SMG
- Manufacturer: Collector
- Base WCFDA: 33 / 100 / 80 / 22 / 30
- Fire Mode: Automatic
- Default ammo: 30 / ∞
- Acquisition: Retaliation
Geth Plasma SMG
- Manufacturer: Geth Armory
- Base WCFDA: 18 / 80 / 80 / 10 / 60
- Fire Mode: Automatic
- Default ammo: 100 / 600
- Acquisition: Resurgence Pack (multiplayer), Firefight Pack (single-player)
M-4 Shuriken
- Manufacturer: Elkoss Combine
- Base WCFDA: 18 / 70 / 80 / 12 / 10
- Fire Mode: Six-round burst
- Default ammo: 36 / 324
- Acquisition: Priority: Mars
M-9 Tempest
- Manufacturer: Elanus Risk Control Services
- Base WCFDA: 18 / 72 / 70 / 12 / 30
- Fire Mode: Automatic
- Default ammo: 50 / 350
- Acquisition: Tuchanka: Turian Platoon or Kassa Fabrication
M-12 Locust
- Manufacturer: Kassa Fabrication
- Base WCFDA: 23 / 58 / 58 / 15 / 63
- Fire Mode: Automatic
- Default ammo: 20 / 240
- Acquisition: Priority: Horizon or Kassa Fabrication
M-25 Hornet
- Manufacturer: Cerberus
- Base WCFDA: 33 / 38 / 90 / 18 / 23
- Fire Mode: Three-round burst
- Default ammo: 24 / 144
- Acquisition: Priority: The Citadel II or Batarian State Arms
N7 Hurricane
- Manufacturer: Systems Alliance
- Base WCFDA: 30 / 60 / 100 / 22 / 15
- Fire Mode: Automatic
- Default ammo: 40 / 240
- Acquisition: N7 Collector's Edition Pack or multiplayer
Weapon Modifications
- See also: Weapon Mods, Equipment Guide, section on Submachine Guns
- SMG Ultralight Materials I - V
- Superior lightweight alloys replace weapon parts, making weapon less obtrusive and easier to handle.
- SMG Magazine Upgrade I - V
- Increases magazine capacity, allowing more shots before reload.
- SMG High-Caliber Barrel I - V
- Allows wider projectiles, causing more trauma on impact. Ballistically optimized to retain penetrative power.
- SMG Heat Sink I - V
- Increases heat conductivity of thermal clip receiver. Negates heat generated by some shots.
- SMG Scope I - V
- Simple 2x optical scope enhances stability while zoomed. Increases accuracy while moving and taking damage.
- SMG High-Velocity Barrel I - V(Requires Leviathan for single-player and Earth for multiplayer.)
- Superior kinetic coils increase shot penetration.
- SMG Recoil System I - V(Requires Leviathan for single-player and Earth for multiplayer.)
- Increase weapon mass for a split second per shot by using expert timing-VI to reduce weapon kick and improve aim.
See Also
The M-12 Locust is a submachine gun in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect 2
M-12 Locust
General Stats
Type
Location
Accuracy
Recoil
Fire Mode
Fire Rate
Ammo Per Clip
Damage & Bonus Multipliers
Base
Armor
Shields
Barrier
Spare Ammo Capacity
Default
Both
Pickup Amount (Min - Max)
Description
The Kassa Fabrications Model 12 Locust is a compact submachine gun developed for the Alliance but now favored by gang enforcers and hitmen. Featuring a complex recoil-reducing mechanism and high-grade autotargeting software, the Locust delivers longer-range, more accurate fire than others in its class.
Acquisition
The M-12 Locust can be found during Kasumi's loyalty mission in Donovan Hock's vault on the table with the graybox. If the weapon is not picked up, it will be awarded at the end of the mission. Kasumi refers to it as 'the gun that killed two presidents.'
Squad Use
This weapon can be used by Miranda, Mordin, Samara/Morinth, Thane, Kasumi, Liara and Dr. Amanda Kenson.
Player Notes
Important Notes
- Although it has a lower clip capacity, fire rate and slightly weaker damage output compared to the M-9 Tempest, the Locust makes up for these deficiencies by being more accurate at longer ranges and having virtually no muzzle climb.
- Like the M-22 Eviscerator, the Locust sacrifices some of its penetration power against shields and barriers to add extra damage against armor, making it a more balanced SMG than the Tempest.
- For the same reason as the Tempest, it upgrades the M-4 Shuriken.
- Because squadmates operate better with the Tempest than the Locust, it is recommended that you keep the Locust for Shepard while equipping the Tempest on squadmates.
- Note: The Locust is not carried over from one imported game to the next. This is easily circumvented due to its acquisition mission being readily available.
Class Specific Notes
- For Engineers, Adepts or Sentinels, Assault Rifle advanced training is no longer a 'must have' - DPS wise, the Locust exceeds the M-8 Avenger, Geth Pulse Rifle, and Collector Assault Rifle. The M-15 Vindicator and the M-96 Mattock have higher DPS but much lower magazine capacity.
- For Infiltrators, this makes Assault Rifle advanced training a wasted investment, since the Locust exceeds rapid-fire assault rifles as described, and as the use of a sniper rifle outclasses the Vindicator and the M-96 Mattock at range.
Mass Effect 3
Trivia
- The Locust makes considerably less noise and has a much smaller muzzle flash than other SMGs. This may be because it is meant to be a suppressed weapon, which fits in with its in-game description as a weapon favored by hitmen and assassins.
- Despite a vertical fore-grip being integrated into the design of the Locust, there is no animation for any character in Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3 utilizing this specific feature of the weapon. Because of this, any character wielding the Locust grips it as if he or she is holding a heavy pistol or any of the other submachine guns.
Mass Effect 2 Downloadable Content | |
---|---|
Promotional | Blood Dragon Armor • Collectors' Weapon and Armor • Inferno Armor M-29 Incisor Sniper Rifle • Terminus Weapon and Armor |
Cerberus Network | Zaeed - The Price of Revenge • Normandy Crash Site Cerberus Weapon and Armor • Arc Projector • Firewalker Pack |
Missions | Kasumi - Stolen Memory • Overlord • Lair of the Shadow Broker • Arrival |
Additional Content | Alternate Appearance Packs • Equalizer Pack • Aegis Pack • Firepower Pack Mass Effect: Genesis • Recon Operations Pack • N7 Complete Arsenal Bundle |
Mass Effect 2 Weapons | |
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Heavy Pistols | M-3 Predator • M-6 Carnifex • M-5 Phalanx |
Submachine Guns | M-4 Shuriken • M-9 Tempest • M-12 Locust |
Shotguns | M-23 Katana • M-27 Scimitar • M-300 Claymore • M-22 Eviscerator • Geth Plasma Shotgun |
Assault Rifles | M-8 Avenger • M-15 Vindicator • Geth Pulse Rifle • M-76 Revenant • Collector Assault Rifle • M-96 Mattock |
Sniper Rifles | M-92 Mantis • M-97 Viper • M-98 Widow • M-29 Incisor |
Heavy Weapons | M-100 Grenade Launcher • ML-77 Missile Launcher • M-622 Avalanche • M-920 Cain • Collector Particle Beam • M-490 Blackstorm • M-451 Firestorm • Arc Projector |
Mass Effect 3 Weapons | |
---|---|
Heavy Pistols | M-3 Predator • M-5 Phalanx • M-6 Carnifex • M-11 Suppressor • M-77 Paladin • M-358 Talon • Acolyte • Arc Pistol • Executioner Pistol • N7 Eagle • Scorpion |
Submachine Guns | M-4 Shuriken • M-9 Tempest • M-12 Locust • M-25 Hornet • Blood Pack Punisher Collector SMG • Geth Plasma SMG • N7 Hurricane |
Shotguns | M-11 Wraith • M-22 Eviscerator • M-23 Katana • M-27 Scimitar • M-300 Claymore • AT-12 Raider • Disciple • Geth Plasma Shotgun • Graal Spike Thrower • N7 Crusader • N7 Piranha • Reegar Carbine • Venom Shotgun |
Assault Rifles | M-7 Lancer • M-8 Avenger • M-15 Vindicator • M-37 Falcon • M-55 Argus • M-76 Revenant • M-96 Mattock • M-99 Saber • Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle • Cerberus Harrier • Chakram Launcher • Collector Rifle • Geth Pulse Rifle • Geth Spitfire • N7 Typhoon • N7 Valkyrie • Particle Rifle • Phaeston • Striker Assault Rifle |
Sniper Rifles | M-13 Raptor • M-29 Incisor • M-90 Indra • M-92 Mantis • M-97 Viper • M-98 Widow • Black Widow • Collector Sniper Rifle • Javelin • Kishock Harpoon Gun • Krysae Sniper Rifle • N7 Valiant |
Heavy Weapons | M-451 Firestorm • M-560 Hydra • M-597 Ladon • M-920 Cain • Cobra Missile Launcher • Geth Combat Software • Geth Spitfire • Reaper Blackstar • Sync Laser |