Mass Effect 2 Cheats & Codes (PS3)

It's here. Just over two years after BioWare's original space-RPG epic hit the Xbox 360, its much-anticipated sequel has finally arrived. A much darker, more serious affair than the first title, Mass Effect 2 is a western-RPG with so many paths through the game, you'll need a walkthrough just to comprehend it all. And that's where we come in. Our gigantic walkthrough is rounded out by a robust basics section, coverage on all side quests, and even the game's entire codex, for all of you nerds out there.

Unlockable: Bonus Experience, Resources, Paragon and Renegade Points

Start a new game in Mass Effect 2 using a profile from Mass Effect (1) and you'll get the following bonuses:

• Experience Points (an amount based on your previous level, basically you'll start at Level 2)
• Resources (can be used for weapon and armor upgrades)
• Paragon and Renegade Points (if you have the MAXIMUM amount of either Paragon or Renegade points from Mass Effect you'll get a bonus number in of the same points in ME2)

Here is a specific list of bonuses based previously earned Achievements and Levels gained in Mass Effect:

• Import a profile with the Rich Achievement - 100,000 Credits
• Import a Level 60 character - 10,000 of each Resource, 4,000 Experience Points (Start as a Level 5), 50,000 Credits
• Import a Level 50 character - 2,000 Experience Points, 30,000 Credits, 5,000 of each Resource

Unlockable: New Game + Bonuses

Mass Effect 2 features a New Game + feature which allows you to play the game a second time with certain items and stats you accumulated in your first game.

• You get to choose your Loyalty Bonus Skill from the start.
• Your retain Skill Points but can redistribute them.
• Your level and XP carry over; the max level (level cap) is 30.
• Your Renegade/Paragon points are reset to neutral.
• You keep your weapons and armor, but not the upgrades.

Unlockable: Alternate Costumes/Colors

Complete a Loyalty mission for a party member to unlock alternate color schemes for that character.

Hint: Romancing the Yeoman

If you chat it up with Yeoman Kelly Chambers often and choose to be kind to her you can instigate an "unusual" romantic encounter. You'll eventually be able to invite her to dinner. Additionally, you cannot let Kelly die in the final mission (choose a loyal escort for the crew in the final scene). After you beat the game, talk to Kelly and you'll receive an email from her. Go to your quarters and you'll be able to invite her up using your console. She'll appear and you'll be able to watch the evening's awkward events unwind. She's no Yeoman Rand, but she'll do.

Hint: Bonus Paragon or Renegade Interruption Points

During conversations, you may spot a RIGHT or LEFT TRIGGER appear in the top left portion of the screen. If you hit LEFT TRIGGER when the "wings" logo appears you'll get Paragon points. If you hit RIGHT TRIGGER when the "star" appears you'll get Renegade points. You've got to act fast to get the points!

Hint: Finding Element Zero

Below is a list of the planets where you can mine the ultra-rare Element Zero. The systems for each Zero-laden planet are listed below, followed by the star and planet names.

Calestone Rift

• Aysur, Arvuna - Moderate
• Balor, Calestone - Moderate

Crescent Nebula

• Lusam, Tarith - Rich
• Zelene, Helyme - Moderate

Eagle Nebula

• Amun, Anthur - Rich
• Amun, Sekhmet - Moderate
• Relic, Preying Mouth - Rich

Far Rim

• Dholen, Gotha - Moderate

Hades Nexus

• Hekate, Asteria - Poor
• Hekate, Bothros - Poor
• Pamyat, Dobrovolski - Moderate
• Sheol, Gel Hinnom - Moderate

Hawking Eta

• Schwarzschild, Etamis - Rich

Hourglass Nebula

• Faryar, Daratar - Rich
• Osun, Erinle - Rich
• Ploitari, Thegan - Moderate

Krogan DMZ

• Nith, Mantun - Moderate

Minos Wasteland

• Caestus, Invictus - Moderate

Nubian Expanse

• Kalabasha, Yamm - Moderate

Omega

• Batalla, Nearog - Moderate
• Batalla, Thunawanuro - Rich

The Phoenix Massing

• Salahiel, Ekuna - Moderate

Pylos Nebula

• Dirada, Siano - Moderate
• Satent, Boro - Rich
• Raisaris - Rich

Rosetta Nebula

• Alpha Draconis, 2175 Aeia - Moderate
• Enoch, Joab - Rich
• Enoch, Laban - Moderate
• Enoch, Mizraim - Rich

Shadow Sea

• Iera, Prospect - Poor

The Shrike Abyssal

• Urla Rast, Talis Fia - Moderate
• Xe Cha, Tosal Nym - Rich
• Xe Cha, Zada Ban - Rich

Sigurd's Cradle

• Decoris, Sanctum - Moderate
• Skepsis, Watson - Rich

Titan Nebula

• Haskins, Capek - Moderate

Valhallan Threshold

• Micah, Farlas - Moderate
• Micah, Israfel - Moderate
• Micah, Kakabel - Moderate
• Paz, Garvug - Rich

Correction by carlton baker

Hint: Slightly Faster Planet Scanning

Need to speed up scanning? Putting the scanner all the way to the right or left, and rotating the planet the same way speeds it up a lot.

The planet actually spins quite a bit faster that way. Quite simply push both sticks in the same direction. I start at the top of the planet, and "peel" it like an electric apple peeler. It's much faster than before.

Hint: Geth Pulse Rifle

Note: The Geth Pulse Rifle can only be found on Hardcore or Insanity difficulty. During the recruitment mission for Tali, look for the rifle in the same room you find Tali. It will be sitting on the ground next to a destroyed geth.

Note: You can switch to Hardcore or Insanity difficulty right before commencing this mission to get the rare weapon. Change it back after getting the weapon.

Additions by Icarus Aloft

Hint: Anomalies Anonymous

You can find anomalies when scanning the following planets (listed as Cluster, System, Planet below). Anomaly = Side Quest!

• Caleston Rift, Solveig, Sinmara
• Caleston Rift, Talava, Taitus
• Crescent Nebula, Lusarn, Tarith
• Crescent Nebula, Zelene, Helyme
• Eagle Nebula, Amun, Neith
• Eagle Nebula, Strabo, Jarrahe Station
• Hades Nexus, Sheol, Gei Hin
• HourGlass Nebula, Faryar, Daratar
• HourGlass Nebula, Ploitari, Zanethu
• Minos Wasteland, Fortis, Aequitas
• Omega Nebula, Ariniarkan, MSV Strontium Mule
• Omega Nebula, Fathar, Lorek
• Pylos Nebula, Dirada, Canalus
• Pylos Nebula, Nariph, MSV Broken Arrow
• Rosetta Nebula, Enoch, Joab
• The Shrike Nebula, Xe Cha, Zada Ban
• Sigurd's Cradle, Decoris, Sanctum
• Sigurd's Cradle, Skepsis, Franklin
• Titan Nebula, Haskins, Capek

Easter Egg: Probing Uranus

Head to the Local Cluster and scan Uranus. The first two probes you launch will result in "unusual" statements from EDI.

Easter Egg: Legion Does the Intergalactic Shuffle

Approach Legion in his quarters and highlight him but do not talk to him. He'll do "The Robot," the traditional dance of his ancestors.

Easter Egg: Respectable Quarian Names

When asking Zaal'Koris about his funny name/ship name the "Qwib Qwib" (on the Quarian fleet vessel), the real joke hits when he mentions desiring a more respectable ship name like "Defrahnz" or "Iktomi." These two names would have yielded the following Quarian names: Zaal'Koris vas Defrahnz (vas deferens) and Zaal'Koris vas Iktomi (vasectomy).

Easter Egg: Legion's Gamer Stats

At the end of 'The Lair of the Shadow Broker' downloadable content for Mass Effect 2, you'll find a terminal with all your teammates' dossiers on it. Including information only the shadow broker could get his hands on. You will find upon reading Legion's dossier that our favorite Geth happens to be quite the gamer. You can read a list of games he downloaded and even his scores and rankings on the leaderboards. There's even a bit where he is kicked for hacking some game, but he challenges the ban, and is let back onto the servers. I found this read to be worth a chuckle.