Mass Effect Online

Mass Effect Online is the latest in a series of games from 984 Studios. While the game is Mass Effect 2 in first-person and online-capable, it also displays what a soldier would be seeing at the time and is also meant to be a fighting simulator.

Gameplay
Gameplay is similar to Mass Effect 2, but in first-person. Players start off with basic weapons in all categories and all six classes to choose from, each with their starting powers. They also start with 10,000 credits, and are then free to roam the marketplace and purchase weapons, upgrades, and armor before jumping into a multiplayer match.

Combat is similar to the fighting in Mass Effect 2 only rendered in first-person. The heads-up display will only contain three features: your crosshair, current ammo for your weapon, and the shield and health bars. Cover plays an important role as player characters are vulnerable and can die easily. Players are unable to see out of cover unless they aim out of cover. Aiming down the sights plays another role: some weapons will have fast-aim scopes, others will have iron sights. Still others will need to zoom in because of a lack of iron-sights.

Though shields/biotic barriers will regenerate, health will not regenerate and health restoration is possibly only by utilizing the Unity power (provided medi-gel is available for it). If the player dies, they can either sit up and fire their weapon (Heavy Pistols or Submachine Guns only unless propped up against a wall) or play dead until they bleed out or are finished off. Either way, though the kill will not be officially confirmed, the player can still die from a shot from any weapon or if they bleed out. Other players can revive the downed player using medi-gel free of charge to Unity (which means reviving a player does not expend medi-gel).

After a match, players will be rewarded for stylish kills, teamwork, and victory with credits and experience which go towards unlocking powers for each of the six characters the player controls as well as purchasing new equipment.

Player characters can also get "Hero points" which, once enough have been collected, allow them to play as an ME2 squadmate or a fully-upgraded Commander Shepard character with all powers. The former allows characters access to a power that they would not have had before: the latter allows them to experience a super-charged playstyle. As well, once the Hero points have been expended, players will spawn as their hero for the rest of the match. Victory will refund 50% of the points.

A mode called "Bare Bones" allows players to play with basic-level shields, health, and weapons, unaffected by anything.

Armor Customization
Just as in Mass Effect 2 players can customize their armor and appearance in MEO. It costs differing amounts of credits to purchase armor pieces. Full suits of armor are available as well.

Head Slot
Nothing - Your head is barren and visible. Offers no bonuses. Available from the start.

Alliance N7 Helmet - Increases health by 5%. Available from the start.

Alliance N7 Breather Helmet - Increases health by 5%. Available from the start.

Ariake Kuwashii Visor - Costs 2000 credits to purchase. Increases headshot damage by 10%.

TACC Death Mask - Costs 8000 credits to purchase. Increases match XP earned by 10%..

Umbra Visor - Costs 5000 credits to purchase. Increases power damage by 5%.

Recon Hood - Costs 5000 credits to purchase. Increases weapon damage by 5%.

Sentry Interface - Costs 5000 credits to purchase. Increases shields by 5%.

Archon Visor - Costs 5000 credits to purchase. Decreases power recharge by 5%.

Alliance Capacitor Helmet - Costs 8000 credits to purchase. Reduces shield recharge delay by 10%.

Kestrel Helmet - Costs 10,000 credits to purchase. Increases headshot damage by 5%, weapon damage by 3%, and shielding by 3%.

Chest Slot
Alliance N7 Chestplate - Increases power damage by 3%. Available from the start.

Kassa Aegis Vest - Costs 2000 credits to purchase. Increases health by 5%.

Armax Capacitor Chestplate - Costs 4000 credits to purchase. Reduces shield recharge delay by 10%.

Armax Shield Harness - Costs 8000 credits to purchase. Increases shields by 5%.

Kestrel Torso Sheath - Costs 10,000 credits to purchase. Increases melee damage by 10%, weapon damage by 5%, and shield strength by 3%.

Shoulder Slot
Alliance N7 Shoulder Greaves - Increases weapon damage by 3%. Available from the start.

Elanus Amplifier Plates - Costs 2000 credits to purchase. Increases power damage by 5%.

Rosenkov Asymmetrical Defense Layer - Costs 8000 credits to purchase. Increases health by 5%.

Sirta Strength Boost Pads - Costs 4000 credits to purchase. Increases melee damage by 25%.

Kestrel Shoulder Pieces - Costs 10,000 credits to purchase. Increases shielding by 8% and melee damage by 10%.

Arm Slot
N7 Gauntlets - Increases health by 3%. Available from the start.

Armax Heavy Damping Gauntlets - Costs 4000 credits to purchase. Increases shielding by 5%.

Elkoss Off-Hand Ammo Pack - Costs 2000 credits to purchase. Increases thermal clip capacity by 10%.

Aldrin Stabilizer Gauntlets - Costs 8000 credits to purchase. Increases weapon damage by 5%.

Kestrel Arm Sheathing - Costs 10,000 credits to purchase. Increases weapon damage by 3%, shielding by 3%, and melee damage by 10%.

Leg Slot
N7 Greaves - Increases shielding by 3%. Available from the start.

Sirta Stimulator Conduits - Costs 4000 credits to purchase. Increases sprint speed by 10%.

Sirta Life Support Webbing - Costs 8000 credits to purchase. Increases health by 10%.

Rachel & Beckmann Ordinance Packs - Costs 2000 credits to purchase. Increases power cell capacity by 10%.

Kestrel Power Pack - Costs 10,000 credits to purchase. Increases shields by 8% and power cell capacity by 5%.

Full Armor Suits
Blood Dragon Armor - Costs 10,000 credits to purchase. Increases power damage by 15% and shielding by 10%.

Cerberus Assault Armor - Costs 15,000 credits to purchase. Increases power cell capacity by 10%, shielding by 10%, and health by 10%.

Collector Armor - Costs 15,000 credits to purchase. Increases health/shield regeneration by 10%, sprint speed by 10%, and health by 10%.

Inferno Armor - Costs 15,000 credits to purchase. Increases match XP earned by 10%, power damage by 10%, and sprint speed by 10%.

Terminus Assault Armor - Costs 20,000 credits to purchase. Increases sprint speed by 10%, thermal clip/power cell capacity by 10%, and shield strength by 15%.

Kestrel Armor - Costs 50,000 credits to purchase. Increases melee damage by 30%, headshot damage by 5%, weapon damage by 11%, shielding by 25%, and power cell capacity by 5%. Can be purchased seperately or as a full suit and can be customized with standard armor.