Mission 1: Eden Prime

Normandy: Command Deck

*NOTE: If you want an early tip, choose the top options when given three
choices in the conversation responses. This will get you mucho Paragon points
by the time you land. The opposite will be true for Renegade and the bottom
options. Remember what kind of background you made for yourself and try to
reflect that too. I'm pretty sure there is a link there. Keep reading if you
have no clue what a Paragon and Renegade mean in this game.*

*NOTE: Just in case you are playing again, and why you are reading this is
curious, don't forget to use the X button in conversations, just don't press
it too much or you might select an option by accident. You usually don't need
to go into the investigations if you've heard them before. If this is your
first time you should not do this since you may skip a crucial topic in mid-
chat.*

During the conversation with Joker, choose the medium "you're overreacting"
just for the sake of it. Then "I heard".

Now you have control. X brings up your gun, but no need to do that now; B would
put the gun away. Just press start to bring up the mission computer screen. You
can read some items in the codex, of which there are primary and secondary
topics (primary will read to you, which is great). The journal tells you what
you need to do. The squad team lets you see your talents and level them up as
you progress.

This squad screen is important for many reasons. You can see the talents list
on the right, but on the left is something more important. You can see a blue
line with the word "Paragon" at the top, and then an orange line with the
word "Renegade" on the bottom. If you connect that with the Charm and the
Intimidate talents in the talent list, you will realize the way you respond in
conversations will either pull you to the light (paragon) or dark (renegade)
side. As you go through the conversations you can tell which responses are
nice and which ones are mean; top is nice, middle is neutral, and bottom is
mean.

But for now, just spend the three points you have as you wish. If you look
next to the listed talents you will see light blue squares and then the
remaining squares are darkened. You for now can only get two of anything but
the personality talents (charm and intimidate) which let you get three. You
should spend two on the soldier talent since you can't go wrong with health,
and then whatever else, probably the pistol.

Still in the mission computer, you can look at your equipment and then save
your game. You can also choose whatever options you like at any time, and you
even have a map. But that's pretty much it, so when you're done you can exit
this screen.

Back in control, go forward and talk with Pressly. Go ahead and ask him what
he was arguing about. Then what he means. Then choose investigate and then
the Turian Spectre. Then the rest is just you choosing how to continue the
conversation, or you can exit by saying goodbye. By choosing investigate you
can look into further information from Pressly. Into the stealth system block
you get another choice. Remember, how you choose to respond in chats will take
you down either the nice or mean road.

*NOTE: Press X during conversations to skip dialogue, mainly if you accidently
choose something you've already heard.*

After that, go forward and speak with both Jenkins and Chakwas; which is one
conversation between the two of them. Again, more choices and more finding out
what may be going on.

When done, go into the control room and speak with Nihlus, or talk. Remember
that the topics away from the rest (like three on one side and one on the
other) usually means that chat path is worth taking. Just keep talking and
after some more scenes you will be in action.

Eden Prime: Surface

*NOTE: Another early jump, spend your three talent point on your character on
the charm/intimidate talent, depending on what path you've chosen. It's best
now since the fighting is easy.*

When on the planet, turn around and approach the gas bags. At the swamp, go
around to the right side through the muck to find an upgrade kit with some
goodies. Don't forget that now you have two squadmates, so you can give them
some talent points.

Now walk up to the north path to learn how to use your weapons. The LB pulls
up your weapon select screen. The controls for firing are standard shooting,
RT fires and LT zooms. Fire in bursts if you are using the rifle, and feel
free to actually get closer.

Then move up for a scene in which you will lose a guy. Shoot the drones when
you get control and then go investigate your downed friend. Choose an option
and then move up the hill. Kill more bots and at the top will be another
upgrade kit on the ground.

*NOTE: You should level up too, so this time you should go with more health
or rifle, or armor, or whatever you like. I say choose one weapon and stick
with it. For rifles, you want better accuracy ASAP. Try to get Alenko up on
his decrypting and then electronics talents, may come in handy.*

Up into the tree area and send you dude ahead of you with the order. Kill the
bots down the way, but go left of the trees to find a medical kit on the
ground. Then move forward for a cutscene, then go meet up with Ashley. Help
her out and then talk.

Grab the updgrad kit and the crate item nearby. Now is a good time to go
into the computer and change things as you see. Should have talent points to
assign too.

*NOTE: As you collect ammo upgrades and other things, you just go to the
equipment screen and press X on the weapon to add the upgrades.*

When you move down the path you learn about cover. If you've played Gears of
War you know how this works, but you have to be in combat mode (gun drawn)
to use it. Click the LS to crouch. Move forward to the dig site. Start fighting
with the Geth, using the storm move by holding down A if you want. Storm to
cover, shoot the guy on the right around the center area, then finish off the
survivors. Go into the dig site when the fight is over for a scene, then grab
the crate items as you go up the path at the back.

*NOTE: Trust me, master the squad controls (essentially just the UP and DOWN
buttons) and know how to use cover and crouching like in Gears of War, this
game may feel like a good ol' fashion shoot'em up. If you're a soldier.*

After the cutscene of the zombie things, just start firing at the first one.
Stand back if it is standing after you get its help down, it will emit an
electric burst. Then finish off the other two Husks. There is an upgrade kit
behind where the spires held up the Husks.

*NOTE: Don't forget that you have both grenades (BACK button) and you can use
powers (LB). To use grenades, toss one, notice the blinking BACK button near
your stats menu, and then press BACK again to detonate.*

Go to the door for a decryption. You only have one shot at this or you will
have to reload, so save now just in case. When you enter the minigame you will
need to match the button highlighted for the time it's lit up. Do the three
buttons and you get to meet the doctors, who seem pretty out of it. You can
investigate further to learn more. Grab the items in the other room and don't
forget to give weapons to your teammates, and remember to keep an eye on
their health.

*NOTE: The upcoming battle is a good time to test the Overkill power (LB)
if you got it; to kill the three Husks quicker.*

Then go down the path for a scene, followed by a ship, and then a fight in
the next area. Take the high ground to watch out for the Husks who are the real
dangers in this fight. Heal your team after and then go to the locked door on
the right. Save before decryption and then take your shot. Speak with the
dudes that come out. At the end you can grab a pistol from Cole, either take
it nice or meanly. Inside the room is a locker, but you probably don't have the
talent to get it.

*NOTE: If you did spend three talent points on charm/intimidate, you will get
a chance to reap the benefits (it's just a random small item).*

*NOTE: During decryptions, don't let the repeating of the same button get you.
If you press a button and it's still lit the press it again.*

After that, go up the path and to the right to investigate Nihlus on the
platform. Talk with the lazy bastard and then move forward to fight two more
Geth around the corner. After they are gone you may get shot at from an unknown
source. Look on your minimap to see red dots nearby. They are below you and
if you get to the top corner of the ramp you can barely shoot them down below.
Get down there and get on the train. Equip one guy on your team with a sniper
rifle and hopefully that is enough.

*NOTE: For Powell, you can continue any charm/intimidate chatter you started
with Cole, and it results in more Paragon/Intimidate points and another free
do-hicky. I won't mention all of these, so it's extremely important you start
investing talents points into one of those talents.*

Start shooting at the enemies down the way and you will notice one big guy
charging toward you. Take cover, then kill him quickly and deal with the other
enemies far down the way. I suggest letting one of your allies use a sniper
rifle, or you could but it's hard to aim; you could always storm forward and
blast away if you like. Either way, kill them and get all the way down to
the train controls and use them to move on.

Eden Prime: Spaceport

Step off the train and disarm the first charge. Then go up the ramp and start
fighting with the many enemies around the walkways. Use the rifle for the
far away targets, and then switch to something like the Stinger you grabbed
from those "farmers" for closer combat. Once all are gone, go around and disarm
the charge in the corner. Then take the left walkway for the other two. All
four charges are in this area, so the five minutes was just a timer to kill the
bad guys. So long as you have a minute left you should have time for the
charges.

Go into the next area and kill the two husks and the two troopers. There is a
locker to the left. Then across both bridges will be items, but don't forget
to save if you just don't feel right about the decryption. Don't forget to
add weapons and upgrade talents. When ready, go grab a crate by the beacon and
then investigate the beacon.