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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Click here to view the embedded video.

Just been watching Trumpf’s latest Modern Warfare 2 blowout on Youtube, embedded above. In it, the goodly pro and close chum SeaNanners talk us through a Search and Destroy match over Xbox Live on the Favela map.

The vid’s a little under eight minutes long. Too long? Here’s our scalding hot digest: never take the same route twice, think before you shoot and double back a lot.

Over and out.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

More Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 goodness for you. Fond of aerial juggles? You might want to give this move a shot. In essence: lop somebody’s foot off, then knock ‘em skyward and press forward and triangle together. Time the kick right, and you’ll bend it like Beckham. Sort of.

Why would you want to do this? Bragging rights, basically. It works on the Xbox 360 original too.

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Halo-jumping: officially the campest thing you can do while holding a gun.

Oh Don’t Stop Trying? Owl Dysentry Stifles Trust? Old Dogs Shoot True? Who knows (Wikipedia, that’s who), but here are some Achievements to divert you while you scratch your head.

All Ears (30) Find 15 Audio Logs, alone or with another ODST.
Audiophile (75) Find all Audio Logs, alone or with another ODST.
Be Like Marty (10) In Firefight, finish a full round without killing a single enemy.
Boom, Headshot (5) Get 10 automag headshot kills in any level.
Both Tubes (5) Get 10 Rocket kills on Kizingo Boulevard.
Campaign Complete: Heroic (100) Complete the Campaign on Heroic difficulty.
Campaign Complete: Legendary (100) Complete the Campaign on Legendary to unlock a new Firefight character.
Campaign Complete: Normal (100) Complete the Campaign on Normal difficulty.
Coastal Highway (50) Complete Coastal Highway on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary to unlock a new Firefight mission.
Dark Times (5) Kill 5 enemies while using VISR mode.
Data Hive (50) Complete Data Hive on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary to unlock a new Firefight mission.
Dome Inspector (5) Get 15 headshot kills on NMPD HQ.
Ewww, Sticky (5) Get 5 sticky grenade kills in any level.
Firefight: Alpha Site (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Alpha Site.
Firefight: Chasm Ten (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Chasm Ten.
Firefight: Crater (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Crater.
Firefight: Last Exit (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Last Exit.
Firefight: Lost Platoon (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Lost Platoon.
Firefight: Rally Point (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Rally Point.
Firefight: Security Zone (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Security Zone.
Firefight: Windward (10) Score over 200,000 points in Firefight on Windward.
Good Samaritan (20) Do not kill any engineers at night in New Mombasa, alone or with another ODST.
Gumshoe (10) Find the 3rd clue unraveling the mystery, alone or with another ODST.
Headcase (5) Finish any level with at least one Skull activated.
Heal Up (5) Find the first Medical Kiosk and heal yourself.
I Like Fire (5) Kill 10 enemies with the Flamethrower on Data Hive.
Junior Detective (10) Find the first clue unraveling the mystery.
Kikowani Station (30) Complete Kikowani Station on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
Kizingo Boulevard (30) Complete Kizingo Blvd. on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary to unlock a new Firefight character.
Laser Blaster (5) Get 10 Spartan Laser kills on ONI Alpha Site.
Listener (5) Find the first Audio Log.
My Clothes! (5) Plasma Pistol Overcharge and quickly kill 10 Brutes.
Naughty Naughty (5)    Kill 10 engineers at night in New Mombasa, alone or with another ODST.
NMPD HQ (30) Complete NMPD HQ on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary to unlock a new Firefight character.
ONI Alpha Site (30) Complete ONI Alpha Site on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary to unlock a new Firefight mission.
Pink and Deadly (5) Get 10 Needler supercombine kills on any covenant.
Stunning! (5) Stun a vehicle with an overcharged plasma pistol and quickly kill the driver.
Super Sleuth (10) Find the final clue unraveling the mystery, alone or with another ODST.
Tayari Plaza (30) Complete Tayari Plaza on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary to unlock a new Firefight character.
Tourist (5) Access and download the city map to your VISR.
Trading Down (5) Trade weapons with a fellow character.
Tuned In (15)    Find 3 Audio Logs, alone or with another ODST.
Uplift Reserve (30) Complete Uplift Reserve on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary to unlock a new Firefight character.
Vidmaster Challenge: Classic (25) Finish any level solo on Legendary, on LIVE, with no shots fired or grenades thrown.
Vidmaster Challenge: De’ja` Vu (25) Complete Highway on 4-player Legendary LIVE co-op, with Iron, and no ‘Hog or Scorpion.
Vidmaster Challenge: Endure (25) In Firefight, on any mission, pass the 4th Set on 4-player Heroic LIVE co-op.
Wraith Killer (5) Kill all Wraiths in Uplift Reserve.

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Love is all you need, but some more screens wouldn't hurt.

We can’t get enough of The Beatles. That’s a filthy lie, actually. But we can certainly take a few more wodges of photos and artwork (thanks EA).

Try entering the following code at the start screen, then pop over to the “Photos” section in Story Mode.

Blue, Yellow, Red, Red, Red, Blue, Blue, Blue, Yellow, Red

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Don't scratch the paint!

Bronze Collector (15) Earn 15 Bronze Badges
Bronze Earner (5) Earn 5 Bronze Badges
Bronze Hunter (10) Earn 10 Bronze Badges
Bronze Master (20) Earn 20 Bronze Badges
Chance of a Lifetime (100) Reach Tier 3
Driving Amateur (25) Reach Driver Level 5
Driving Hero (50) Reach Driver Level 40
Driving Legend (50) Reach Driver Level 50
Driving Pro (50) Reach Driver Level 20
Driving Rookie (10) Reach Driver Level 2
Driving Semi-Pro (50) Reach Driver Level 10
Driving Veteran (50) Reach Driver Level 30
Epic Collector (20) Earn 15 Epic Badges
Epic Earner (10) Earn 5 Epic Badges
Epic Hunter (15) Earn 10 Epic Badges
Epic Master (25) Earn 20 Epic Badges
Gold Collector (20) Earn 15 Gold Badges
Gold Earner (5) Earn 5 Gold Badges
Gold Hunter (10) Earn 10 Gold Badges
Gold Master (25) Earn 20 Gold Badges
NFS Live World Champion (150) Win the NFS Live World Championship
One Small Step (25) Win your first event
Road to Success (100) Reach Tier 2
Silver Collector (15) Earn 15 Silver Badges
Silver Earner (5) Earn 5 Silver Badges
Silver Hunter (10) Earn 10 Silver Badges
Silver Master (20) Earn 20 Silver Badges
The Final Countdown (100) Reach Tier 4
Trial By Fire (10) Complete the NFS Live Pre-Race Event

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