New Game Plus Explained
Embarking on a New Game Plus (NG+) in Mass Effect 3 allows you to carry over progress from a completed playthrough, offering a fresh experience with retained character progression and certain advantages. It's an excellent way to revisit the story, explore different choices, and tackle higher difficulties with a more powerful Shepard.
When you start a New Game Plus, several key elements from your previous save are preserved:
- Character Level and Abilities: Your Shepard's level, skill points, and unlocked powers will carry over. This means you'll start the new game with a significantly more powerful character than a fresh playthrough.
- War Assets: While the specific number of War Assets might be adjusted or reset depending on the game's implementation, your overall readiness and the potential for high scores are maintained.
- Reputation and Renown: Certain achievements and reputation markers from your previous playthrough may be retained.
- Gear and Equipment: Some of the weapons and armor you acquired may carry over, though often with limitations or resets to prevent an overwhelming advantage.
However, certain aspects of the game will reset:
- Story Progression: You will start the game from the beginning, reliving the narrative.
- Mission Progress: All main story and side missions will need to be replayed.
- Squadmates: While your character's abilities are retained, your squadmates will be recruited again as per the story progression.
- Resources: Ammo, medi-gel, and other consumable resources will be reset.
The primary benefit of New Game Plus is the ability to experiment with different choices and dialogue options without the pressure of starting from scratch. You can pursue different romances, make different factional decisions, and see how these changes affect the outcome of the story and the galaxy's readiness.
Furthermore, NG+ is often the best way to achieve the highest difficulty settings, such as Insanity. With your character already leveled and equipped with powerful abilities, the daunting challenge of Insanity becomes more manageable, allowing you to fully appreciate the game's combat mechanics.
Starting a New Game Plus:
- Complete the main story of Mass Effect 3.
- After the credits roll, you will be given the option to start a New Game Plus.
- Select this option and choose your desired difficulty.
- Your progress will be loaded, and you can begin your second playthrough.
New Game Plus offers a rewarding way to extend the life of Mass Effect 3, providing a familiar yet fresh experience that allows for deeper exploration of its rich narrative and challenging gameplay.