So my brother purchased and beat Mass Effect 1 and 2 some time ago. He traded in Mass Effect 1 but held on to 2.  I've been hearing so many good things about the game and the GB Game of the Year podcasts really got me excited to try it out. I've never played Mass Effect 1 and don't really have the time to play it. However I did watch this 5 minute IGN summary of the game to start off. Is this good enough or should I still go back and play the first one or read a wiki page before starting two? 
   
  

Play it. You will regret it if you don't. 
 
Also you're going to regret watching this video.

Biggest bummer is that a lot of the decisions will be made for you going into 2 and 3 if you skip ME1.  If you have a PS3 I might go so far as to suggest that you wait until Jan 18 to buy that version since you'll be given a choice over how all the critical decisions from ME1 play out.

" Play it. You will regret it if you don't.  Also you're going to regret watching this video. "

Play Mass Effect!

" Biggest bummer is that a lot of the decisions will be made for you going into 2 and 3 if you skip ME1.  If you have a PS3 I might go so far as to suggest that you wait until Jan 18 to buy that version since you'll be given a choice over how all the critical decisions from ME1 play out. "

ME1 has a far better story than ME2, so definitely play it. 
 
Or if you don't have time just play it for a couple hours, just enough to do a couple laps around The Presidium to meet all the aliens.

Okay guys you convinced me. I'm going to go to Ebgames tonight and buy Mass Effect 1 used.

Mass Effect 1 wasn't fun for me until about halfway through. It has a better main story than 2, but the side stuff and character stories in 2 is much better.

I texted my brother and asked him if he had it, turns out he still did sitting in an old blockbuster's case. My Friday night just got better. I'll start playing Mass Effect 1 tonight. Thanks guys!

Yeah, Mass Effect 1 owns, but I don't think you would want to play it if you started off with Mass Effect 2.

Enjoy your disc grenades. Ugh.

I also agree, sure there weren't as many side missions or missions, however I really liked the story of mass effect.

Good to see someone has been convinced to play ME1 before 2. I've seen a lot of times where people have just dismissed ME1 as something new players wouldn't want to experience, it's like they don't remember how fucking awesome ME1 was for most people.

" Yeah, Mass Effect 1 owns, but I don't think you would want to play it if you started off with Mass Effect 2. "