Mass Effect 2 Review

It has been over two years since the launch of the first Mass effect and the second you start to play Mass Effect 2, it’s evident that Bioware has put this time to good use. This game is head and shoulders above its predecessor in almost every aspect. BioWare has created an amazing title that not only bends the genre, but raises that bar. Mass Effect 2 is everything that long-time fans have been waiting for and Bioware have changed almost everything that was wrong with the last game. It’s a near perfect blend of role playing, non-stop shooting action, Oscar-worthy dialogue, jaw dropping visuals , and, among all else, pitch perfect storytelling.

The story follows Captain Shepherd on his continuing quest to rid the universe of the reapers and his main aim throughout this game is to recruit a squad to aid him in his assault on the reapers own turf. It would be an understatement to say that the new squad mates are a diverse bunch. From the sociopath in Suspect Zero to the religious drell (a new alien species introduced) assassin Thane, Mass Effect 2 is much more about character development than the original was. Each character has one side-quest geared towards their back-story. These missions are essential to gain their loyalty and, while you are at it, gain more experience. Having 11 teammates that differ from one another, it’s often difficult to choose who should go on the battlefield and who should stay on the base.

The newly improved graphics engine creates a game that shows the true power of the xbox 360. From pristine spaceships to derelict foreign planets, the variety of art styles is simple amazing.

The gameplay is broken into many different genres, from searching out characters in shady bars to nail biting gunfights against other worldly beings. In comparison to the first Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 has become a much more focused shooter experience. The cover system has been improved, the reloading mechanic is a welcome change from the annoying overheating system from the first game, and locational damage makes you actually care about aiming and accuracy. You also have to use different weapons and abilities against shields, biotic barriers, and armour, adding a tactical element which helps to keep the gunfights intense and interesting.

The same improvements have been made to the RPG side, moving the game away from tradition, while still making it feel more unique. It’s seen in simple ways, such as the improved morality system, and more complex ways, with the ability to interrupt conversations with quick decisions. Instead of working on a slider, Mass Effect 2′s morality system allows players to build up their character with both Renegade and Paragon points. It’s not a one or the other situation, and while consistently making choices in one direction will unlock additional dialogue choices, it’s not tied to any skills, so players are free to make the calls they want. The two directions, too, are different than they are in other games, with Renegade not really being “evil,” and Paragon not necessarily “good.” Instead, it’s about what attitude Shepard takes, and there are times when it’s perfectly reasonable to choose either option, without fear of the Commander unloading his gun on a room full of innocents.

Even the act of exploring the galaxy is better. In the original, most planets were vast plains of pretty much nothing and were boring, and the planets that weren’t had unimportant and uninteresting quests attached to them. This time around though, there are a greater variety of different missions that can be completed by leaving the main story on standby and going off the beaten path, each being a short, sweet, bite-sized chunk of story. Completing these little sub-stories will reward the player with new weapons, experience, and a number of other enhancements. To be honest, if it weren’t for the improvements made to the combat system, many of these missions wouldn’t really be all that interesting, but it’s so much fun, as a shooter this time round, that additional areas and planets to blow up bad guys are incentive enough to explore. It’s also good to know that completing each of these little missions is going to play a part in the narrative in the long run, as it all builds towards the end. And boy, what an end it is.

Mass Effect 2 is a captivating experience that begs to be played and replayed. Its phenomenal presentation is complimented beautifully by its enjoyable combat, deep character development, and epic narrative, and only minor faults appear in each of these areas. All I can say is that you must play this game; you’ll see just how good it is when you do!