Mass Effect 2 Launch Reviews, Wave Six
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The stripped down shootering hurts the game most in terms of character development. Obviously a lot of thought went into backstories for the characters. But each character's gameplay is determined by a couple of skills and a couple of gun types. And that's it. I didn't care much who tagged along with me for a mission, because a stripped-down shooter leads to stripped down characters.
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I've done the classes in Bully, the conversations in Oblivion, the guitar solos in Brutal Legend, the dancing in Sid Meier's Pirates, the Pipe Dream hacks in BioShock, and every minigame in every single Ratchet & Clank game. I have never seen minigames as sorely out of place as the three minigames in Mass Effect 2. The two types of hacking are bad enough, but then you get to the planetary scanning. Ye gods, what tedium! I hoped I would be delivered when I finally bought tech to speed up the cursor speed for scanning. No such luck. Slightly sped up tedium is still tedium.
Moving on, the first review is at Gameplanet with a score of 9.0/10:
Mass Effect 2 is a great improvement over the first game, which is impressive considering the first game is arguably one of the greatest games of this generation. It was good to be back in this universe and while I look forward to another play-through to see how my choices can work out differently; what I really cannot wait for is Mass Effect 3 to see how this is all going to turn out. The Mass Effect series has become the crown jewel of the modern RPG genre and is an experience that every gamer (or anyone who can appreciate a fantastic Sci-fi adventure) should have.
The second is at The Game Reviews with a score of 9/10:
When looked at as an overall package, Mass Effect 2 is a game that simply shouldn't be missed. This sequel not only pushes the series to a whole new level, but also moves the entire action/RPG genre forward like no other. It's an amazing example of a developer listening to fan feedback and giving people exactly what they want, and I shudder to think of the possibilities for what is yet to come.
The third is at Wired with a score of 9/10:
You also gain an emotional connection to the characters, which pays off in spades during the game's climax. Everything comes to a head when you and your team finally take the fight to the aliens. The encounter is a doozy, one that can whittle your crew down to nothing. Few game finales feel this big, this portentous. And that's all due to how deeply the game involves you in its branching, twisting story.
In Mass Effect 2, you're not just pulling the trigger, you're spinning the yarn.
The fourth is at Tech-Gaming with a perfect score of "A":
What separates a masterpiece from a more ordinary creation? Some have mentioned the indelible impression that a masterful work can evoke; that ability to penetrate a person's psyche long after the initial encounter. Mass Effect 2's well-crafted world is just such a creation. Undoubtedly, the title will inspire fan fiction, moral debates, and discussions of the game's minutia, recreating a Star Wars-like zeitgeist. I'll be pleasantly surprised if 2010 rewards us with more gratifying gaming experience.
The fifth is at PCGamesHardware with a score of 1.55 out of... something?:
But it doesn't reach the high class of the first part since it gets a raw deal and the connections to the dramatic events of the predecessor are only halfhearted. Nevertheless the new game delivers good and fast action (the enhanced combat system helps a lot) as well as an impressive sound backdrop. You also have to make several morally difficult decisions. Importing the data from the first part is a nice idea, but the '˜big' decisions you may have made don't affect the story of Mass Effect 2 a lot though. The new class system isn't perfect either since many classes can't use the cool new weapons. Another point for high-level criticism: The new upgrade system is too sketchy and the three mini games are boring.
The sixth is at Gaming Today with a score of 9.5/10:
In short, Mass Effect currently sits atop the heap of games released this year, and it sets the bar extremely high. Those that come after will have their work cut out for them to reach its perch.
The seventh is at NZGamer with a score of 8.9/10:
Bioware has produced an RPG hybrid that gels really well with its setting and series. Hardcore fans of Mass Effect or even the RPG genre will not be disappointed. But going beyond that, reviewing this title was hard. Not because it's a bad game - it's not. It's a very, very good one. But because it's not a amazing one. It's that attention to detail that is Mass Effect 2's Achilles' heel. After a while the combat sequences (the necessary vehicle for the game's narrative), become less enjoyable, and that's a problem. It's not a fatal one by any stretch of the imagination, but it does highlight the title's largest flaw. There's just so much to do, and it's all presented with magisterial aplomb, but it comes at the expense of the bigger picture, and at the expense of some sorely needed innovation in the RPG genre.
The eighth is at WhatIfGaming with no score:
Mass Effect 2 provides a gritty action adventure game that redefines the genre yet again by refining the same formula used in the already incredible Mass Effect 1. With a greater combat system, better enemy A.I., increased tactical customizations with power talents and armor, and an even more memorable dialogue system that creates dynamic pacing, Mass Effect 2 delivers an insatiable experience for anyone with a thirst for interstellar travel and saving the galaxy. Gear up Commander Shepard: mankind and the universe need you.
The ninth is at GameZone with a score of 9.5/10:
Mass Effect 2 is everything what people have wanted for the past two-and-a-half years and more. If Mass Effect 2 is truly the equivalent of The Empire Strikes Back, let's hope Mass Effect 3 doesn't translate into Return of the Jedi.
And the tenth is at MSNBC with a perfect score of 10/10.
