[quote name='Mr Durand Pierre']How is the replay value in this game? I'm about 5 hours into this game and I'm not sure what to make of it as 4.5 of those hours were all walking around talking to people. So far the plot is interesting and the little combat I've experienced is fun, and I'm curious how the combat would play out with a different class (right now I'm a Vangaurd), but at the same time I'd hate to spend several hours talking to people hearing all the things I heard on my first playthrough again. So can you skip most of that with little penalty (as I know talking gives you exp points)? And without giving too much away, how much do your decisions impact the game? Do they just change the outcomes of conversations or are there whole levels/missions/major plot points that change due to your decisions? I mean is it a game where you can basically do everything in one go, or is replaying it like a completely different experience?[/quote]
I am replaying it now, and I can say that the combat is much different depending on your class. I also played a vanguard at first and am now playing as a engineer. The story can be changed some what depending on your decisions, but the game is still relatively linear. There are specific parts in the game that will always happen, and are not dependent on what you say, but then there are parts where what you do changes what happens. The story will be the same through the game, but slight changes can happen depending on what you do, but nothing that will change the conclusion of the game. After saying that, it is fun to see how conversations play out when choosing other opinions ie...Renegade vs. Paragon.
I am going to give the game 2 playthroughs, and then when DLC comes out will give it another go. You will also have to have more then one playthrough if you want to get all the achievements.