I just picked up a PS3 copy of Mass Effect 2 and am wondering which class is the best choice for people new to the series. I've heard a lot of people just play the Soldier class but I've also heard others criticize that choice because it makes the game, I don't know, I guess maybe too much like a shooter or something. Not sure really. Vanguard is a mix of combat and biotics so that seems appealing but my question is- does picking one class make the game more difficult than any other? Is Vanguard a good mix? Does going as a Soldier class make it easier hence it's so popular? Just would like some feedback or info on which class you picked for your first run through the game. 

none of the classes are any harder than any of the other ones on the easier difficulties, really.

Adept and Engineer I think are the only ones I'd maybe ward off against new players. Infiltrators a good one because you can just hang back snipin' fools in slow-mo. 
 
Plus Sentinel is a great pick since on the lower difficulties it can make you virtually unkillable.

I went Soldier on the first and main Shepard. It just felt most suiting and I got the chance to test all weapons and find favorites for new playthroughs on the other classes.

Soldier

Vanguard's good, but I recommend Adept (pure biotic) or Infiltrator (sniper/cloaking) above it, the close range shotgun gameplay with the Vanguard just isn't my thing.
 
Stay clear of Engineer tho, I'm not even sure why that class is in :P

Adept

Use Adept. You don't need to worry about precise aiming with firearms since biotic powers can be used while paused on the tech wheel.

I'd say Soldier, you get all the weapons and you can still use your team mate's abilities.

Soldier, no question, he can use all weapons and is not very vulnerable, def not engineer or adept, they die easy and killing takes strategy (unless ur on super easy), sentinel is also one since he can't die. 

Easily Solder, if it's your first way through. More variety of guns that way, and you get some fun powers. 

I play as a Soldier, and easily beat the game without using any of the "talents".  If you just want to play the game as a shooter where you make plot decisions with a decent story, it's perfectly viable.

Vanguard was a blast my first run through. All depends on your preferred style of play, though.

Soldier is really the only one you need since you can just tell your partners to use biotics if you want to play that way.
 
It really depends on how you want to play. If your looking for easiest, sentinel or soldier is generally ideal first time through.

Adept is by far the funnest. Soldier makes the game just like any old third person shooter. Infiltrator adds a nice little flavoring of tech and stealth. Vanguard is all about being up close. I haven't played an Engineer or Sentinel yet though.

" Adept is by far the funnest. Soldier makes the game just like any old third person shooter. Infiltrator adds a nice little flavoring of tech and stealth. Vanguard is all about being up close. I haven't played an Engineer or Sentinel yet though. "

Soldier's probably the one that makes the game the easiest, but I think Vanguard makes the experience the most dynamic. The Vanguard's charge is not only a really cool looking attack, but it allows the action to keep moving at a steady clip, whereas the other classes are pretty much relegated to hiding behind cover until they've killed all the enemies in the area.  
 
I'd say Vanguard. 

All the classes are fun and do pretty well on normal difficulty.  I haven't played engineer much though.  I'd say Sentinel is a great first choice.  Great powers, pretty tough, good weapons.  If you go Vanguard get ready for a wild ride.  max the charge ability and your ammos.  The other biotic abilities work well in Normal mode but are much less useful on the harder difficulties.

First time go with Soldier, it's a good chance to test out all the weapons and get to grips with the combat system, then on later playthroughs you can decide what you liked doing as a Soldier and expand on it by picking a suitable class.

Vanguard is great fun to play as you basically turn yourself into a missile and smash enemies everywhere. However it makes the endgame+ stuff very difficult as enemies kill you so quickly and up close and personal is the last place you want to be. If you intend to play through on a harder difficulty then I would suggest soldier or adept.

"Infiltrators a good one because you can just hang back snipin' fools in slow-mo."

Go Vanguard and NEVER look back! WHOOSH! BLAM! NEXT!

Adept, Sentinel or Solider are the way to go.

" @Abyssfull said:

"Infiltrators a good one because you can just hang back snipin' fools in slow-mo."

Which Infiltrator power slows time? "

I played as Vanguard my first time through, and I kind of regret it at the beginning, because it's a rush-heavy class with Charge and close-range weapons.
 
I would recommend Soldier, because it's probably best well-rounded. It's easier to learn other biotic powers than get different ranges of weapons. For the most part, the kinds of weapons you get at the beginning of the game stays with you, although there is an exception. But you have a bit more choice in biotic powers. 
 
I regret my choice at the beginning because I wanted a longer range weapon that just shotguns and pistols, I would say it depends on how you want to play, but it kind of evens out at towards the end of the game.

I think the classes are fairly balanced. I managed to beat the game on hard on my 1st playthrough with vanguard with not many difficulties.
 
You're definetely not gonna have problems in the game just because of choosing a wrong class, I assure you.

" @Vaile said:

" @Abyssfull said:

"Infiltrators a good one because you can just hang back snipin' fools in slow-mo."

Which Infiltrator power slows time? "

It's not a power, exactly. Whenever an Infiltrator aims through their sniper scope, time slows down for a few seconds. "

I'd say Soldier because you get use of all guns and you can learn teammate powers to try other classes for another run through.
 
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Soldier is the most 'user friendly' class IMO but feel free to use whatever class you want. You can always tone down the difficulty setting if you're struggling too much.

Frankly there is no right or wrong. Go with what's appealing to you. I really have no problem with any class save that I find the Soldier class to be the most boring one. You really don't get a lot of variety with that class. Done a play through of it on lost it on the 15th hour mark because of boredom. It felt like Gears of War with dialogue trees. 

I used adept when I was going through my insanity run in Mass Effect 2. Singularity save my life on many occasions and I highly recommend it no matter the difficulty level. Soldier is also alright, although it doesn't have some of the same perks it had in Mass Effect 1. I hear sentinel is also a pretty useful class. The only one I would stay away from if playing on the higher difficulties is Vanguard, as you are only effective in combat when you're up close and personal with enemies. Playing like that on insanity will only bring you pain.

Probably soldier.

I've found that on the easy and normal difficulties, it doesn't matter. A friend of mine beat the game on normal playing a Vanguard and never using biotic charge. He didn't even know what it was. And he used an SMG, not the shotgun. He had no idea what he was doing, but in the end it didn't matter. So, go figure. The game is pretty forgiving at that level no matter what class you are and what weapons you choose.

I would say soldier and sentinel.  The soldier is able to drop fools quickly before they can flank you and their slow down ability is fun.  Sentinel lacks ranged weapons but makes up for it with its abilities and the sentinel-exclusive tech armour is one of the best abilities in the game.

Vanguard or Soldier

For a first timer, I'd go Soldier, if only because it's (arguably) the easiest class to play. On anything lower than Hardcore they all do fine but with Soldier you don't have to mess around with any other abilities besides Rush.
 
Personally though, I have the most fun playing as a Vanguard. On Hardcore and above, the learning curve on Vanguard is a little steep and you'll probably end up dying a few times if you recklessly Charge but I find it rather hard to go to the other classes type of gameplay after playing with my Vanguard for so long.
 
It also makes Shepard seem like a god, jumping around the field like that.

Soldiers are nice.

Just as everyone else has suggested the soldier class seems to be the easiest to play with especially in the higher difficulties.  I myself had a lot of fun playing as a Sentinel; when you play as a Soldier you'll have more weapons than you'll care to use.

 
INFILTRATOR IS THE WAY TO GO

 soldier FTW. 
 
 
but first I played 4 hours as vanguard but I was just telling my team when to use there biotics while I was just shooting stuff so I restarted as a soldier.
  
but dont play on normal.