Review | Mass Effect 2
Format: Xbox360/PC | Genre: RPG | Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: BioWare | Release date: 29/01/10 | RRP: £34.99 – £45.99
When you do earn their trust, they will fight for you without question and to the best of their abilities, making your odds of survival much higher. It’s these personal missions of each character that really enhance the connection you will create with them. It’s also how you, as Shepard, interact with them that will change the story in all kinds of ways. Remember theParagon/Renegade system of Mass Effect? Remember how the Renegade choices were mostly a tad on the restrained side? Well, now you can be properly ruthless – murderous, even. Renegade players will have so much fun with this, trust me.
In addition to the dialogue options, there are now opportunities to change the outcome of scenes on the fly by pressing the left or right trigger when a corresponding icon flashes up, which refers to either a Paragon or Renegade action. Don’t touch anything, though, and the scene will pan out as normal. It’s yet another way to influence the story, and a brilliantly simple addition to the game. You end up feeling like you’re directing and starring in your own sci-fi epic.
MAX EFFECT
As much as I love playing games, it’s rare for one to get to me emotionally. Now, with Mass Effect 2, I have experienced the same feeling from a game as I would after seeing a cinematic masterpiece, or reading an outstanding book. And the potency of these feelings is enhanced because of the first game, as if you choose to continue your character, your past decisions will have profound effect in this sequel. This is why you absolutely have to have played the first game to get the most out of Mass Effect 2. If you haven’t played Mass Effect yet, you are strongly advised you to go and buy it, play it, love it and then continue your epic journey here.
Problems? I can offer you two. Load times can be a bit long. The other thing? Well, the other thing is that my entire collection of videogames suddenly seems inferior by comparison.
I’d like to say so much more about this game, but it wouldn’t be right. You are far better off going into Mass Effect 2 knowing nothing at all, exploring the galaxy and experiencing everything for yourself. There are so many delightful surprises here that I couldn’t bear to spoil them. There are tragic consequences and difficult decisions that you have to live with, but that’s the beauty of roleplaying; that’s its richness. These choices should be yours alone, without influence from reviewers like me. Mass Effect 2 is about continuing that personal journey you started in Mass Effect, and moulding it in your own way.
There is mastery at work here that only a development team at the very top of its game can achieve. BioWare have raised the bar so high for Mass Effect 2 that it’s going to take something incredible to top it. This is not just a game. It’s a stunning, cinematic tour-de-force of a sci-fi epic, and I love it. By J.D. Richardson
10/10
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10 out of 10? The battles better be much better than the first time around then…..
I haven’t played the full version of this yet, but from my time with a preview build back in October, the combat did seem markedly improved.
Its not that much different to be honest. But then you see, I didn’t see anything wrong with the combat the first time around.
Its definitely louder though.
It also lets you choose Hard difficulty from the beginning without you having to complete the game on Normal first. Great for those of us who are as tough as Krogans.
Like you JD I loved the original Mass Effect and couldn’t wait for the next one to come along and Mass Effect 2 is fantastic is every way. I 100% agree with the 10/10 review, it’s truly a great game.
I disagree, the combat is completely changed, and most definitely for the better. The two straightforward ammo types definitely narrow things down in terms of the ideal choice in different situations, not to mention combat is now smoother due to the auto-upgrade system, better cover controls (though rockets annoyingly push Shepherd back out of cover) and generally smoother information receipt through new health bars and the armour system.
That said, JD, good review – I’d love to see a long rambly post on your blog about it, as it seems like you’ve tons more to say as a fan :).
Christos, I really do have so much more to say on Mass Effect 2, so much more! I will do a blog post!
No PS3 release? :-(
Nope :(
This is why I prefer the Microsoft exclusives to be honest.
Just about everything in this ME outing was better, and I can see why it gets a 10. For me, though, it was a 9 – still amazing, and one of my favourite games of all time, but I disagree about the story slightly. The new cast of characters was great, and I liked the missions to help flesh them out, but honestly? I don’t consider that to be story, just exposition. The main plot this time was an intriguing concept that never quite hit… ahem… critical mass, and it was over all too quickly. Plus the ending was unexpected, but not all of it in a good way. It felt a bit rushed (not the game, just the story), and I wanted more.
To clarify, I did actually state that the story was ‘a simple one’. Its the individual character stories that give it depth because I consider all those part of the story of Mass Effect 2.
No, I absolutely understand your point – “Dirty Dozen, only in space” and all that – and I completely agree with both why you scored it 10 and why it appealed to you. It’s that, for me, I wanted more forward momentum with the story. That is my only real gripe about the game. But that’s my own personal take, and I don’t disagree with the score from what you’ve written.
Good review.
Mass Effect 2 is hardly a better game than ME1, in fact it’s not even close. It has a partly stupid story, horrid menus, no loot, nerfed level up system, stupid ass thermal clips, no mako, piece of crap planet tool, making the player control other caracters than shepard, the list goes on… I don’t understand how this game could harvest so many good reviews when it’s such a let down to the mass effect universe and the original game.