Mass Effect 2 Launch Reviews, Wave Five
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The first is at MTV Multiplayer with no score:
When you get right down to it, we're still in January and "Mass Effect 2" is easy game of the year material. Plenty more will come along as the months wear on of course, but this is an exceptional sequel, building on the strengths of its predecessor and nearly eradicating the weaknesses of the same. The biggest success however is how BioWare effectively offers a fresh, new approach to a long-since-established genre. By emphasizing the RP and stripping away some of the G, they leave players with a fast, tightly-written space adventure that holds you in its grip for 30 or more hours without ever letting go.
The second is at Edge with a score of 9/10:
Ultimately, Mass Effect 2's greatest strength is in tying its disparate pieces together, binding the gunplay and conversation systems into something that meshes, while creating an action-RPG that knows stats should be there, but that they should never get in the way of a good headshot. The result is a game that's grown into its obvious potential. With the first instalment, BioWare built a universe of words a deeply convincing multicultural sprawl you could read about without ever quite getting to touch. Here, you're inside it from the start and the view is often dazzling.
The third is at Cheat Code Central with a score of 4.9/5:
A lot more could be said about this game, but all you really need to know is that Mass Effect 2 is one of the best current-gen gaming experiences around. It's one of those era- and genre-defining titles that core gamers will reflect upon and reminisce about with nostalgic fondness in the future. I commend the development team at BioWare for all the hard work that went into making this title not only shine but feel both familiar and completely fresh at the same time. Great show; I can't wait for the third installment!
The fourth is at Xbox Live Nation with a perfect score of 10/10:
But in the end, what's the verdict of the game? Well when you think about the game as a whole, it's easily classified as an instant classic; Game of the year contender and Best Xbox 360 game of 2010.
The fifth is at Gamervision with a score of 9.75/10:
Mass Effect 2 is easily one of the best games of the generation, blowing away its predecessor in just about every way, and removing the "flawed" attachment to the "masterpiece" title. It is, at its core, an RPG experience, though the changes to the combat engine definitely make it play more like a traditional third-person shooter at times, and that isn't at all a bad thing. The universe created in the original Mass Effect has been nearly perfected this time around, further propelling the series ahead of the pack, and setting a bar for interactive storytelling that will likely not be matched for years to come.
The sixth is at The Escapist with no score:
Mass Effect 2 manages to straddle the line between RPG and shooter with surprisingly satisfying dexterity, maintaining a fast pace without ever sacrificing its dedication to characters or story. It stumbles at times, but the brilliance of the overall experience isn't diminished by its flaws. BioWare has done an impressive job of making the threat not just to your crew, but to humanity itself feel very real - you can thank the top notch writing and outstanding voice acting for that. The decisions you make have real consequences and weight. This is not a game you blow through in an afternoon, but one you savor, ponder, and carefully consider. The fact that you get to do those things while shooting the crap out of aliens is just a delicious bonus.
The seventh is at TVG with a score of 9/10:
By making choice, dialogue and characters the key ingredients, Mass Effect 2 delivers an experience in which the player feels directly at the core - more so than any other game we can think of. It effortlessly expands the scope of the original, creating a universe which is deeply engrossing and a plot that you can't help feeling part of. The only drawback is we've got a few more years to wait before seeing the consequences.
The eighth is at Common Sense Media with a perfect score of 5/5:
Mass Effect 2 is very, very good. More so than the first game, third-person combat plays a huge role, with many character classes to choose from (including a brute soldier, tech specialist, or stealthy infiltrator), multiple futuristic weapons and powers to choose from (all of which are upgradeable), and different ways to fight based on your preference (real-time combat or pause the action to make weapon/power selections or assign squad commands). The enemy artificial intelligence (A.I.) is smart, quick and ready to peg you off as soon as you break cover.
The ninth is at Den of Geek! with a perfect score of 5/5:
Still, as was the case with the first game, you can quickly acclimatise to the combat quirks and when you do then the game opens up and reveals what it is: an immensely entertaining and utterly enthralling epic-RPG of inestimable depth and (mass) effect.
And the tenth is at ZTGameDomain with a perfect score of 10/10:
I could probably go on for pages about how great Mass Effect 2 really is, but long story short, if you even remotely enjoy a good narrative, this game is a must buy. Fans of the original are in for a treat as everything that was wrong with the last game has been fixed. Mass Effect 2 truly is the definitive entry in the series, and quite possibly the best BioWare game to be released thus far. The only regret I have now is that I will likely have to wait another three years to continue my journey as Commander Shepard, but thankfully I have this version to play over and over again, something I have not done with a game in a very long time.
