Mass Effect 2 Prologue Guide: How to Complete “Save Joker
This page from a Mass Effect 2 wiki guide is focused on the Prologue mission, “Save Joker,” aboard the SSV Normandy SR-1. It lays out how to get through every combat sequence, where to locate collectibles during the opening stretch, and which dialogue selections to make so your Shepard’s personality and story direction stay on track.
If you’re hunting for something specific, you can skip straight to the key parts of the mission flow: the Prelude, the route to the Cockpit, and what to do next once the opening segment is over.
Prelude
As the opening cinematic starts, a woman named Miranda is shown speaking with a shadowy figure on the deck of a space station that orbits a star. The station’s lighting runs with both blue and red tones, adding to the atmosphere. Miranda brings up the Geth assault from the end of the first Mass Effect, and the danger facing Shepard. The two agree—amid the tension—that the best chance for humanity’s survival is to keep Shepard alive.
The scene then cuts to Commander Shepard’s ship, the SSV Normandy SR-1, now three months after the first game ends. For the moment, things are stable. The Normandy drifts through space as it tries to track down any remaining Geth, identify what’s left, isolate it, and then destroy it. At the same time, the crew is quietly hunting for clues about the Reapers.
That fragile calm doesn’t last. A strange vessel appears behind the Normandy. Even though the Normandy’s stealth systems thermally obscure it from most ships, it becomes clear to Joker that this is not a Geth craft. He also realizes the enemy can pinpoint the Normandy’s position. Before long, the ship opens fire, and the Normandy is seconds away from being completely destroyed.
Down in the Crew Deck, Shepard is setting up the distress beacon when a squad mate arrives. By default, this squad mate is Liara. However, if you romanced Kaidan or Ashley in the first Mass Effect and they survived through the end of that game, then imported that profile into Mass Effect 2, the meeting here will be with the surviving romance option instead.
This becomes your first encounter with the Dialogue Wheel. It’s how you shape what Shepard says, which in turn affects the conversation’s tone and pacing. Some choices award Morality Points, but you don’t need to worry about that right now. The main thing to remember is that options shown in the lower-right tend to come off more impatient and sharper than the alternatives.
After you send your squad mate away, the mission transitions into actual gameplay.
Go to the Cockpit
Once you finally gain control of Shepard, you’re immediately surrounded by casualties, fires, and other hazards. This is a good moment to get comfortable with the controls: adjust sensitivity, flip camera behavior if you prefer inverted settings, and tweak anything else needed so the game feels right. Then you’ll need to head down the straightforward route ahead. The goal is to reach the CIC deck above, where the cockpit is located. Start by going to the back of the Crew Deck, then take the stairs upward.
At the top, you’re greeted by the eerie quiet of zero gravity. Alchera is visible through a massive opening in the hull, giving you a stark, atmospheric view as you move. You can’t head to the Galaxy Map or enter the Comm Room—your only path is to continue forward, moving through the floating chairs until you reach Joker.
When Shepard arrives beside Joker, he’s still focused on the ship’s systems, working at his consoles to keep the Normandy from meeting total failure. Shepard argues that no matter what Joker tries, the ship is beyond saving. Dying with her, Shepard says, won’t accomplish anything meaningful. Joker—reluctantly—accepts the logic. Shepard then helps him up toward an escape pod. Joker’s legs are affected by Vrolik’s Syndrome, also known as brittle bone disease.
Then the unknown ship returns for another attack, striking in a way that knocks Shepard away from the escape pod. Shepard can barely keep hold of themselves, and only barely manages to shut Joker’s pod doors before being thrown by the force of the impact. From there, Shepard is slammed into a pillar and launched into space as the Normandy explodes. Shepard then falls through Alchera’s atmosphere—only to have their air tube burst, starting suffocation during atmospheric entry. With both the fall and the loss of breathable air, Shepard dies.
What Next?
With Shepard gone at high altitude, the question becomes: what do you do now? The guide points you toward up to two main tasks.
- Genesis DLC — Included with the Legendary Edition. This digital comic lets you view and make selections based on the first game’s events. The guide recommends visiting its page for more details.
- Profile Setup — This option lets you customize Shepard’s class and appearance. If you’re starting Mass Effect 2, it also gives you the chance to choose Shepard’s service history and psychological profile.
Because the walkthrough was originally written around a particular Shepard profile—one that many players likely won’t match—the guide says it will adjust things so the information works for Shepards across different classes, histories, and genders.
If you want more help beyond this prologue, the page also suggests looking at additional sections and guides, including: Legendary Edition Changes, How-To Guides, Key Choices and Consequences, Romance Options, the Walkthrough, and Side Quests.
Up Next: Prologue – Awakening
Top Guide Sections
- Legendary Edition Changes
- Basics
- Tips and Tricks
- How-To Guides
