M35 Mako
From Mass Effect Wiki
- For Mako tactics and XP rewards, see Mako Guide .
With its turreted 155mm mass accelerator cannon and coaxially-mounted machine gun, the Mako can provide a fire team with weapon support as well as mobility. Since Alliance marines may be required to fight on any world in a variety of planetary environments, the Mako is environmentally sealed and powered by a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.
For deployment on low-gravity planetoids, it is equipped with micro-thrusters and a small element zero core, which can be used to increase mass and provide greater traction. While not large enough to nullify the vehicle's mass, the core can reduce it enough to be safely air-dropped (a manoeuvere normally requiring a minimum of 100m of open terrain). This allows frigates to deploy their shore parties while limiting the ship's exposure to defensive anti-aircraft artillery. When used in conjunction with thrusters, it also allows the Mako to extricate itself from difficult terrain.
The Mako's hull is covered with laser detection arrays, which forewarn the crew of enemy laser-guided ordnance. Ground-penetrating radar allows detection of anti-vehicle mines and other subsurface anomalies. These will be brought to the attention of the crew by the vehicle's micro-frame computer system.
[edit] Glitches and Bugs
- On Therum it is possible to take the Mako through the narrow gap in between the two rocks leading to mine shaft where you find Liara. Drive in to the gap, then from inside the gap drive up the left rock until you are completely on your side, wedged between both rocks. Slowly inch forward and use boosts to slide through the gap. The geth will not attack the Mako, and they die after only a couple of cannon shots. Do not try to boost up the walkway in the Mako, since this causes the Mako to disappear and you can not get out. Also saving and loading doesn't fix this; the only option is to load your last save. Since you can not return to the Normandy, and you can't Save/Load to fix it.
- It's possible to repair the Mako shields and hull damage by saving and then loading your game. Sometimes you need to save/load twice. So save/load to restore shields then do it again for hull repairs.
- When entering the Mako during combat, sometimes the Mako will rocket in the air erratically while acting as if it is colliding into random objects, while slowly taking damage every time it touches the ground, and you cannot control it anymore. There is generally no way to stop the Mako after this occurs except for returning to the Normandy or saving (where you will drop straight down upon reloading). It is unknown what sort of attacks causes this to occur.
- It is also possible to turn the Mako upside down, after which you will be unable to move it or exit it. This can be done attempting to climb objects.
[edit] Trivia
- The larger vehicles which are similar to the Mako, seen on several mission planets and uncharted worlds, are actually old M29 Grizzly units.
- Given its predecessor was nicknamed 'Grizzly', the Mako is likely named after the mako shark.
- The Mako seems to draw design cues from the 20th century Russian BTR-series of APCs, especially in the turret, body shape and side entry door areas (even though they aren't used in the game, they are visible.)
- As a nod to the sometimes outrageous ability of the Mako to climb cliffs, there is a 'Mako Mountain Climbing Team' t-shirt in BioWare's official store.
- The Mako can carry at least 4 people, as demonstrated during the Feros mission it is occupied by your squad and Lizbeth Baynham (who can be seen exiting the Mako when it is close to the ExoGeni hideout).
- You can purchase an RC Mako Avatar prop for 240 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live.[1]
