Other things I've picked up:
- To get 1000/1000 gamerscore, you will have to complete the game three times. Additionally, you will have to have completed at least 75% of the available missions/assignments on each playthrough, so be prepared to set aside 85-90 hours if you're an achievement junkie.
- To get the 'Ally' achievements, you will also need to have the ally in question in your squad for at least 75% of the available missions and assigments. If you're not getting these achievements, it's because you are not completing enough assigments before finishing the game. The 'Asari Ally' achievement is particularly difficult because of this... you need to avoid doing any Citadel side quests until you've picked up Dr. Liara, or you will not have enough assignments before the game ends to pick up this achievement.
- Grenades are most useful for blowing up canisters, power couplings, and fuel tanks. The explosion from these are far deadlier when you hit them with a grenade than when you simply fire you weapon at them.
- The best armors in the game are Predator M X and Collosus X for humans and krogan, and Phantom armor for Turian. The Phantom armor is the same armor Saren wears throughout the game -- both it and the Predator M armors tend to be very rare.
- You can purchase Spectre grade weapons from the Normandy supplier or the the Turian in the basement of C-Sec if you've unlocked the 'Rich' achievement. The Spectre weapons have ratings just like other weapon lines (ie; VI, IX, X, etc.).
- Completing a sidequest on the Earth's moon will allow you to further customize your character class.
- If you're playing on the harder difficulties (Hardcore/Insanity), you'll find that the hardest part of the game is the period right after you've left the Citadel for the first time. If your need to build up your character right then, try choosing side missions that require the use of the Mako, as you can build up experience that way without dying so easily.
- If you're trying for the Level 50 or Level 60 achievements, kill enemies on foot instead of in the Mako -- you get more than twice the XP. A single Collosus downed on foot towards the end of the game will net nearly 2000 XP.
- Use the Mako's jump jets to hop over rockets or other projectiles.
- Using Master Lift on an enemy when there's no roof above them will often raise them high enough that you don't even have to bother shooting them while they're in the air -- the drop will kill them.
- Make sure you set your allies' powers usage on 'Active' instead of 'Defensive' or they won't be nearly as useful.
