Do i need to have played Mass effect 1 and 2 to play 3?

[Earl-Hickey]

now, i HAVE played 1 and 2 but i sold them and my old xbox a while back, recently bought a new one and got ME3 thrown in, im wondering, do i really need to buy the other two, blast through them real quick and then import the save, or is it not worth bothering?

[bojangles1987]

It's not worth bothering at the moment. You miss out on a lot, but nothing changes at the end if you actually did import a character. That may change later.

[Big BRICKS]

Not really, because Mass Effect 3 just makes everything irrelevant

[Bushbaby]

I haven't played 3 yet, I only started the franchise in march,(to my shame). But IMO beating 1 & having the things from part 1 have relevance in 2 was exciting. Because I'm sure that I can beat all 3, turn around & play the game & make all opposite decisions & have the universe shape different. I'm not saying that it will make part 3 end any different. I'm saying it adds dept to an already deep universe.

[elgranluchadore]

yeah man u definitely need to beat the 2 prequels first, if there is one franchise u have to play from the beggining is this one because all your actions have consequences in the next 2 plus theyre great games
also the game doesnt do a very good job of explaining everything to the new players