When I first played Mass Effect 3, I had no idea exactly how much history and information was built into the franchise. I learned so much, experienced so many things in Mass Effect 1 and 2, that now, going into Mass Effect 3, I'm a little disappointed that I know mostly what to expect.
My experience with Mass Effect 3 began with me having no idea what happened before it, and having had no impact on the story line. Given how complex the first two are with regard to the decisions you're allowed to make, I'm really excited to start 3 again to see how it begins. I have to wonder what kinds of decisions I would have had to make in 1 and 2 in order for three to start the way it does when you haven't played either, because I cannot see the game starting that way given my current history. It just wouldn't add up.
That said, I decided to give the Collector ship over to the Illusive Man at the end. Probably not the very best thing I could have done, I suppose, but like I say, when I played 3 the first time, I do not think he had the ship. I'm sort of interested in seeing what changes now. I'm hoping it just adds more adversity to my job.
I also re-wrote the heretic Geth with the virus in two, so now I don't know how they'll handle the Geth in 3. Should be interesting. Perhaps Tali won't dive off the cliff in 3 now...
Going into 2, I did not have Ashley Williams as a love interest option, because I purposely sent her to her death in 1, cause I found her annoying and not as attractive as Liara. I also figure, I can always play the series again (and look forward to!) and do things differently. I kind of wonder how Ashley and Miranda would get along... Or Jack for that matter.
I accidentally sort of lead Tali on, in 2. When the subject of sharing a suit environment with her came up, it caught me off guard. I don't like hurting people in real life, so I didn't want to say no thanks... So I took the option that said "Maybe Later" or something like that... He ended up saying "AS much as I'd like to, right now is not the time"... Unfortunately she took that to mean like, "Maybe tomorrow", cause when I went to talk to her later, she was all "I'm not sharing you." and I was hoping to be able to say something like "Yeah, I'm choosing Miranda", but instead all I got for options was "Don't make me choose" and "I want only you."
I didn't plan on getting involved with anyone when I started 2, as I'd killed off Ashley, and had a relationship with Liara in 1. Then I found out you could romance Kelly in 2 and it would have no bearing on 3... So why not, right? Kind of a disappointment, that was. No cut scenes really, just the two of them showing back up on the bridge, and her saying "I haven't stayed up that late since college"... For all we know, they could have played Dungeons and Dragons all night...
Now, I'd played 2 most of the way though before, and didn't have enough paragon or renegade when Jack and Miranda got into it, to tell them to both knock it off... Miranda was out of line in my opinion, so I told her to stfu. She wouldn't talk to me again after that, and that made me angry cause she basically pouted the rest of the game. So I started over. There will be no tantrums on my ship, unless I'm throwing them!
I can't wait to see what all my decisions come back to me as in 3... And then, I think I'll start everything over again as a female, and go renegade.
I don't think I'll ever get sick of this series!
