Mass Effect 2 Reviews

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Written by BuckGB on January 29th, 2010

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only question at this time is: When do we get Mass Effect 3? This is one adventure I cannot wait to finish, one journey I need to see through to the end. Bioware have done it again, and if Dragon Age: Origins was a refinement of an old school RPG experience, then Mass Effect 2 points towards a future where genres merge to create an experience that transcends old genre boundaries. And as a fan of both the shooter and RPG genres I must say Bioware delivers in both areas.

The final mission itself holds a number of surprises that will most certainly sneak up on you. Everything that comes before it is intelligently penned. Returning lead writer Drew Karpyshyn deserves a shout-out for his convincing dialog and likable cast of characters. BioWare's commitment to exploring video games as an interactive storytelling medium merits praise, as well, and the latest batch of thought-provoking moral choices only solidifies the team's lead in the industry. However, Mass Effect 2 lacks the expert pacing that made its predecessor such a bullseye. One gets the feeling that the developers are reserving the biggest and most exciting plot developments for the final installment. I can only hope that's true. Combine the original's overwhelmingly epic space opera with this new installment's thoroughly fine-tuned gameplay, and Mass Effect 3 may very well be more amazing than any of us can imagine.

Making promises is far easier than actually following through on them but BioWare delivered and Mass Effect 2 is a tighter, better looking, better playing, more stable gaming experience than its predecessor. In addition to its improvements it adds onto an already well thought out universe with a stunning adventure that requires us to once again save humanity from a terrible otherworldly threat, all the while making tough decisions that impact the game world around us, as well as emotionally tying us, the gamers, to our on-screen avatar, Commander Shepard in a new and unique way. Mass Effect 2 can rightfully take its place amongst the other great games on the XBOX 360. Now, when can I get my hands on Mass Effect 3?

Overall, Mass Effect 2 is a game that delivers on all the promise shown by the original. Every aspect of the game has been looked at and improved on without forgetting the premise and the things that made the original a game to play over and over again. Anyone who enjoys entertainment should give Mass Effect 2 a chance, between the impressive and visceral shooter gameplay, impressive storytelling and fantastic cast the game has something for everyone.

The combat mechanics are nothing new, but they don't need to be. The game could have seen a majority of its minor glitches disappear with a delayed release, but the worst you'll see is your character getting stuck requiring you to reload your last save. The character animations, voice acting and expressions are much more varied this time. The A.I. has certainly seen some work and the unexplored planets have been greatly fleshed out (no more vehicles, thankfully). The final battles are much more affected by the manner in which you play, which provides a much higher replay value. Beyond the minor glitches and simplified play, it is evidence that Bioware is among those setting the bar of modern storytelling.

BioWare may have taken their time bringing Mass Effect 2 to market, but that effort laboured upon the game shows in each and every single moment. A videogame of the highest production values, Mass Effect 2 is suitably progressive as the sequel to one of the Xbox 360's most respected titles. Some may argue with the narrowing of the typical RPG elements and others may suggest that the branching dialogue trees have only slightly evolved beyond that seen in the first title, but as a whole Mass Effect 2 is an entirely absorbing production. Everything that a sequel should be, few players will leave Mass Effect 2 without the feeling that they have experienced something entirely unique, a videogame experienced that was wholly their own.

If you played and loved Mass Effect, picking this one up is a complete no-brainer. Fans of regular shooters however, may want to exercise more caution. If you don't care much for sci-fi or don't generally have the attention span for drama and just want to blow stuff up then your mileage may vary, but if you love a good yarn this game should touch you in all the right places. With terrific script-writing, exceptional voice-acting and yet more substance added to an already wondrous Universe, Mass Effect 2 is as good as interactive storytelling gets.

After a year of disappointing exclusives, the Xbox 360 comes out swinging with Mass Effect 2 in 2010. Make no mistake, this is one of the best games to grace the console in a long time, exclusive or otherwise, as Bioware has turned out a well-crafted game in nearly every way that matters. The storyline is powerful and very well written, and great care has been taken to make your choices and actions feel meaningful for reasons other than the potential morality points you'll earn. The graphics are outstanding, and the aural elements more so, as the game is a presentation masterpiece in nearly all respects. The gameplay has been tuned and streamlined into a game that is fun to play at almost all times, whether you're exploring cities or shooting your way through massive waves of enemy forces. There's a lot of depth packed into the game from the beginning, between the numerous meaningful choices to make and the multiple difficulty levels, and with the promise of more DLC and the ability to import your existing Commander Shepard into the game, there's plenty of reasons to play and replay the game a few times. The planetary scanning mission gets boring fast, some technical issues pop up here and there, and anyone who loved the Mako missions and the inventory customization may be a bit let down by their absence, but these complaints are frankly minor. Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games Bioware has ever made as well as one of the best games released for the 360, and I wouldn't be very surprised at all to see it recognized at the end of the year as one of the best games of 2010.

For role playing fans, this is the pinnacle of the genre, an all encompassing experience that is quite simply hinged on it's own grandiose and success, a must play title. For shooter/action fans, there might be a lot of waffle to wade through, but the merits of sticking with it outweigh any of the potential downfalls. Again, a must play game.

Mass Effect 2 is seminal in its genre. It is individually brilliant in every aspect of itself. The combat, the writing, voice acting, visuals, score and direction comes together to create an unmatchable experience, and we fear it will be a while before we see one of this quality and standard. It comes highly recommended from me.

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