You've only got three days to kick his arse, UK readers.

Fact: you’ll enjoy Mass Effect 2 a lot more if you’ve played Mass Effect 1. Going by early reviews, at least. Reportedly, the brawniest of the game’s strong points is its carrying-over of plot dynamics and characters, filling in the picture between the destruction of the Sovereign and Shepard’s reanimation at the hands of shadowy pro-human organisation Cerberus. New allies (and new enemies) are doing the rounds, but you’ll also reunite with former comrades and adversaries, now scattered across the galaxy, visit familiar locales and find answers to some of the original’s pressing questions.

I don’t know about you, reader, but I don’t intend to start this sequel – perhaps Bioware’s best title to date, and a definite GOTY candidate – on the back foot. LevelSkip’s most advanced survey probes have been trawling the ether, scooping up choice Mass Effect haxploits (”Mass Exploits”?) to hasten your progress to the end credits, and thus to a thoroughly well-informed first playthrough of Mass Effect 2.

Don’t read on if you’re a goody two-shoes, or you’re happy to enjoy Mass Effect’s charms at leisure. Do read on if you’re anxious for a glimpse of Miranda Lawson’s underwear.

1 – Print your own credits (infinite cash)

This lucrative work-around is a bit laborious. First, complete the Citadel side-mission involving Dr Michel and her blackmailer. As thanks, she’ll give you a store discount. Avail yourself of it, selling her all your expensive gear. Then trot over to the merchant Expat in the Wards, buy all your gear back at a lower price, return to Michel and sell it again. Rinse, repeat, recline on a bed of cash.

2 – Instant White Knight/Lord of Evil (infinite Paragon or Renegade points)

When you get to the part of the game where Lorik Quinn is deliberating whether testify against Anoleis, it’s possible to chat your way up the morality ladder. Simply approach Lorik once, convince him to testify via fair means or foul, then walk away, walk back, ask him something unrelated, then pick “answer another question” and steer the conversation back to the case. Each time you get him to testify, you’ll bag another 25 Renegade or Paragon points.

3 – From greenhorn to veteran (infinite experience)

In a hurry to bump up your level? Simply chat with Liara the Consort for around a thousand EXP (depending on your progress up to that point), then reload your save and chat to her again. Before long Shepard will be swimming in skill points.

4 – All the armour you can eat (wear any gear irrespective of class)

The most complicated slice of Mass Effect code-trickery of all, but worth doing if only to see fragile pretty-boy Kaiden style some Krogan heavy armor. So here we go: fire up the equipment screen and pick the character you want to equip. Count the pieces of armor from the bottom of the inventory up to the desired item (inclusive). Make a note of the number. Then press X to go to the upgrades screen, and – very quickly – hold Y and press A in succession. If performed correctly, you’ll hear the salvage sound and be prompted to reduce the armor to Omni-gel. Hit B to back out.

You’ll be returned to the upgrades screen, which should now contain duplicated data. Count up from the bottom by the same number of places as before. Now press A to equip the upgrade you’ve lighted upon. Voila, the character should be wearing the “unequippable” armour. Tricky one to get right, this, but persevere.

All these tips apply to the Xbox 360 version – PC users may reap different results. Hope you enjoy Mass Effect 2.

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3. Cheat Sheet: Issue #1 First of our regular code overloads....

Walking tall with the aid of a cheat or two.

Hola, bonjour and welcome to the inaugural issue of Cheat Sheet, in which we lump together a bunch of codes and exploits from recent or upcoming games for your breathless perusal. In this episode: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony, Borderlands, Modern Warfare 2, Uncharted 2 and Tekken 6. Go crazy with gratitude and relief.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony (Xbox 360) – vehicle cheat

Any time you’re outside, break out your cell phone and insert the following phone numbers to unlock the vehicles below.

Annihilator (Helicopter) – (359)-555-0100
Cognoscenti (Car) – (227)-555-0142
Comet (Car) – (227)-555-0175
FIB Buffalo (Car) – (227)-555-0100
Jetmax (Boat) – (938)-555-0100
NRG-900 (Motorcycle) – (625)-555-0100
Sanchez (Car) – (625)-555-0150
Super GT (Car) – (227)-555-0168
Turismo (Car) – (227)-555-0147

(Big ups to IGN user James Gutierrez)

Tekken 6 (PS3) – weapon cheat

All male characters can use the Sledgehammer and all the female characters can use the Naginata by pressing BACK + LEFT PUNCH + LEFT KICK + RIGHT KICK. Other weapons and special items can be used as well, but the commands to use them vary.

(Hearty back-claps to IGN user BloodyDollFace)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) – unlockable Killstreak

Chalk up 25 kills to get the Tactical Nuke, which obliterates everybody. Sorted.

(Not sure who first discovered this beauty.)

Borderlands (PS3, Xbox 360) – saved game/experience exploit

In the first scene, when you’re getting the tour with the scrap robot, follow him all the way through to the small campsite with the car up on the lift next to the burning tires. Collect all the loot (guns, money) along the way and kill all of the guys. Once everyone is dead simply pause the game and go to exit. It will save your character (level & loot) and start you at the very beginning upon loading your game. You can repeat this as many times as you’d like!

(Tender hugs for IGN user Ray Chambers)

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) – tweak/difficulty exploit

1. Start a game on a difficulty you haven’t finished and go all the way until you have a real gun.
2. Go to in-game option and set the difficulty to one that you have the tweaks unlocked with.
3. Enable your tweaks.
4. “Save and quit”
5. Go to main menu option and set the difficulty back to the one you originally choose.
6. “Continue” the game.
7. Enjoy.

(Grateful kisses to GameFAQs user Flame060)

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