Mass Effect vs Mass Effect 2

I have never played a Mass Effect game, and I just bought both. I'm probably not gonna start them for a while cause I have some games to finish up first, but I was wondering, which of them is better? I see ME2 got better reviews, but some of my friends who are very hardcore about RPG games say that Mass Effect 1 is better and that ME2 was more streamlined to become more accessible to a wider audience. They say ME1 is more RPG while ME2 is more action and shooting.

Mass Effect was more of a RPG than the second, and for me the better game. More weapons, armor, abilities, etc, etc. However, the second was a more polished game (framerate, glitches, graphics, etc). Both were excellent games, but with Mass Effect, since the saves transfer and such, you should really play them in order.

Mass Effect is a better RPG by far. Mass Effect 2 is more combat oriented to suit a wider audience like a previous poster said. ME2 is more of a TPS/RPG hybrid than a real RPG like the first.

Mass Effect was way better RPG game than Mass Effect 2. I really don't like the tendency that BioWare are showing - great first installment and mediocre second one (both ME and Dragon Age series).

Mass Effect was the better game.

In for answer. I really disliked dragon age origins, the main characters looked silly (my fault I know) And had no personality. Combat was good though, strategic and challenging. But I just got bored and couldn't even finish it. DA2, different story. LOVED IT. Easily my favourite RPG/Pc game to date (minus TF2) I've never replayed a game before, dragon age 2 was my first :p.

Now I hated Mass effect was extremely slow and I just gave up about 30% in. So i'm wondering if i'll like ME2 (no thread hiijack..okay maybe abit) Is it more action packed and faster than the orginial?

ME1 has the better story, but ME2 wins overall in every other aspect. Both are incredible.

ME2 is a dumbed down, rehashed, more polished version of ME. The only plus ME2 had, was the Inventory, but even that was scaled waaaaaaaaaaaaaay down. It is a fantastic game though, in its own right.