Mass Effect 2 could not have been more anticipated in the gaming world. The sequel to possibly the greatest western RPG is not something to be taken lightly. Mass Effect 2, plain and simple, is the best opener for 2010. Mass Effect made people want more of the same, and yet something different. It make dedicated players remain dedicated, and it made newcomers to the RPG genre a little less scared of the millions of titles available. BioWare is no newcomer to the RPG scene, and they showed their potential with Mass Effect. Have they truly delivered with Mass Effect 2, or have they left the franchise in the dust?
Paragon Acts
-Grandpa, tell us a story: The Mass Effect franchise, in my opinion, is one of the greatest sci-fi stories ever told, and Mass Effect 2 does NOT dissapoint. The story of an Alliance soldier by the name of Shepard in Mass Effect 1 was amazing, and it only gets better. Not to spoil the fun, but the way this game throws a completely new twist literally from the beginning of the game is something not many games can replicate. Top this with several other twists, amazing events and a fluid and comprehesible story, and you have one of the best stories in a video game EVER. Time and time again, BioWare proves that they are the best storytellers in video games. Mass Effect 2 only solidifies this.
-With all these friends, how could I be sad?: Like the first game, Mass Effect 2 introduces some very unique and interesting characters. Mass Effect 2 has the best cast I have ever seen in a video game. This is because each character is completely different, and adds a completely different layer to the game. You have an old and reliable friend who went through Hell with you. You have a fast-talking scientist who truly believes himself correct, even though he will kill if he needs to. You have a lifelong assassin, whose past is shrouded in mystery, but seems to carry a strict and almost humble code of honor and remorse. Each person is different, and each story is different, which makes the prospect of having to take these team members into Hell one of excitement and one of fear over the possibility of losing them. And as that feeling becomes evident, so does the fact that the characters also help build you as your own Shepard. Pretty cool.
-Make me over: One thing that this game did really well was to give you the ability, if you did play Mass Effect 1, to completely edit your character. The game doesn't force you to stick with the same look and the same class that you had in the first. Now, the reason this is cool is that your remodeling is actually central to the story. Without giving the story away, BioWare does a fantastic job at explaining how it is possible that your existing character could be completely different looking and have completely new abilities. It never feels cheap, and it fits in great.
-The Dark Knight factor: Mass Effect 2 is one of the few examples I can think of that displays a true sequel in every way. BioWare took some chances with Mass Effect 2. They revamped the entire system for the sequel, and needless to say, the game is quite different than it's predecessor in many ways. The fact that not only did this risk pay off extremely well, but that everything about this game is ten times better and preferable over its predecessor, indicates the real sequel Mass Effect 2 is. Most sequels build on what's been established, and while Mass Effect 2 does that with story and existing universe, it creates an entirely new gameplay experience years ahead of the original. Things every sequel should be.
-Throw me a mag: I was sceptical about Mass Effect 2's ammo system. Since the first game had unlimited ammo and weapons only overheated, revamping with an ammo system to me felt a little dangerous. Well, I'm proud to say I was wrong. The ammo system is such a blessing. Weapons feel like actual weapons, where I have to manage the amount of ammo I shoot. It makes me more cautious about how I shoot. It feels like an actual shooter, as it should. And once again, BioWare made sure to explain the change in no-ammo to ammo in the story, which is great.
-Weapon of choice: Just as the first did, the second game amazes me in it's deep and involved morality system. I was promised when I played Mass Effect 1 that every choice I made would affect the world in the sequel. This is a hard proposition, and most developers would probably not follow up on this. Mass Effect 2 is a promise fulfilled. Every choice I made, EVERY ONE, had some effect in this game. Even the little ones. People I saved rather than killed appeared out of nowhere, thanking me for saving them or hating me for not killing them. People I had relationships with had different views of me depending on my previous choices. The biggest of decisions caused repurcusions that affect lives in Mass Effect 2. The smallest of decisions seem to escalate to become bigger. By far, this is the greatest pun in all of gaming. This game creates such a "mass effect" with choices.
-Omaha Beach: The second Normandy is such a highlight of this game. First off, whoever pollishes the Normandy SR-2 does a hell of a job. The ship is so shiny. Seriously though, this ship feels like a real and antive spaceship. There are so many improvements, and so many welcome additions. Of note is the AI named EDI, voiced by Tricia Helfer. It's a great addition to the ship, and it really makes the ship as an upgrade that much more evident. The Normandy has also gotten rid of something: the incredible slow elevator. Thank God. That elevator was mind-crippling.
-Let me be myself: Mass Effect 1 did a great job with giving you customization options. Mass Effect 2 does it so much more and better. Armor now consists of parts, and each part can be customized and switched to fit your combat type. Color, pattern, and material can all be edited to the full extent to make your Shepard really yours. Another cool addition is that of upgrades. Several upgrades can be researched to upgrade yourself, your teammates, and even your ship. And the cool thing is that these upgrades are very important to the story, especially ship upgrades. And by important I mean life or death. If that isn't real customization I don't know what is.
Renegade Acts
-Arbiter?: One of the few flaws of this game is that it ditches one of the great characters of the first game: Captain Anderson. The Captain was a central character in the first game, and is barely included in the second. Depending on whether you picked Anderson for the Council or not, his role in the game could potentially be even less. It is sad to see that a great character is not included or relevant in the sequel. Although it is understandable why he isn't relevant in the story, it is still sad. Here's hoping Anderson gets a bigger role in Mass Effect 3.
-Jump around: A somewhat sad side affect of the longer story in Mass Effect 2 is that side quests are very much minimalized. Although I don't think the number of side quests are less, they are much harder to find and there is much less incentive to do them. This may be because many optional missions, such as the N7 and loyalty missions, don't really feel like side quests, but optional main quest missions. Although this is good, it does put the side-quester in a box.
-Za...za...whatever the hell his name is: Zaeed Messani is a terrible character. Now, he did come out of day one DLC, so it can't be blamed that he is that bad. But he just seems to have no emotion or anything that would make a player emotionally invest in him like all the other characters. Oh yeah, and the fact that he is a complete asshole doesn't help either. Normally I wouldn't complain about an asshole character in a game, but this guy is so annoying and stupid and useless that he feels like a real-life asshole. Again, BioWare explains this well, as he is just a gun for hire, rather than all your other members who are there for emotional reasons.
-Chicken scratch: There is one area where Mass Effect 2 doesn't improve: subtitles. The original game had the bad problem of unreadable text when played on a standard definition television. Mass Effect 2 does not fix this. Now, I personally don't have this problem as I play on an HD TV. But the fact that millions of people have standard TV's and they can't read the text ruins the experience for them. Could this be a sign that companies want you to buy a new TV? Maybe. But until then, I hope you can hear dialogue well if you are playing on a standard TV.
-What happened while I was gone?: One of the great places in Mass Effect 1 was the Citadel. It was the biggest, coolest, and most friendly place in the galaxy in the first game. The Citadel doesn't feel this way at all in the sequel. In fact, it's been downsized quite a bit. Where it had a full upper ward, lower ward, presidium, c-sec, and citadel tower, Mass Effect 2 has only about 3 continuous zones. Although Zakera Ward is interesting and full of cool things, It doesn't have the scope that you learned to know and love from the first. By far the most dissapointing of the Citadel is the presidium, which used to be a gigantic plaza, but is now a room where you can see the plaza, but not walk in it. These things could be because of the new setting and context of the game, but it's still a little bit of a shock to see the Citadel in a new way.
Thing You May have Missed
-The salarian scientist you recruit named Mordin Solus has some very interesting coversation topics. One of the best is when you find out he once did musical theatre. Upon more investigation, you figure out he performed Gilbert and Sullivan. He even goes to sing some of the chorus. "I am the perfect model of a scientist salarian..."
Final Comments
Don't pass your days of life without playing this blessed game. Mass Effect 2 is such a marvel in the industry of video games. BioWare has crafted a masterpiece in every way in this game. I can try my hardest not to exaggerate what this game is or how I really loved it. But the more I try the more resistance is futile. Mass Effect 2 succeeds in every way, whether that be story, gameplay, community, lore, or anything else imaginable. Games like these only come once in a while, and they seem to come at the most oppurtune moments. Mass Effect 2 is one of these games. One work of advice, though: although this game is extraordinary, it is only amazing with the context of playing the first game. These games are meant to be played as a series. Realizing your choices will bleed into new games is a great experience, unlike any other. Is is too soon to nominate a game for Game of the Year? Because this one is most definitely a STRONG contender.
Paragon Acts
-Grandpa, tell us a story: The Mass Effect franchise, in my opinion, is one of the greatest sci-fi stories ever told, and Mass Effect 2 does NOT dissapoint. The story of an Alliance soldier by the name of Shepard in Mass Effect 1 was amazing, and it only gets better. Not to spoil the fun, but the way this game throws a completely new twist literally from the beginning of the game is something not many games can replicate. Top this with several other twists, amazing events and a fluid and comprehesible story, and you have one of the best stories in a video game EVER. Time and time again, BioWare proves that they are the best storytellers in video games. Mass Effect 2 only solidifies this.
-With all these friends, how could I be sad?: Like the first game, Mass Effect 2 introduces some very unique and interesting characters. Mass Effect 2 has the best cast I have ever seen in a video game. This is because each character is completely different, and adds a completely different layer to the game. You have an old and reliable friend who went through Hell with you. You have a fast-talking scientist who truly believes himself correct, even though he will kill if he needs to. You have a lifelong assassin, whose past is shrouded in mystery, but seems to carry a strict and almost humble code of honor and remorse. Each person is different, and each story is different, which makes the prospect of having to take these team members into Hell one of excitement and one of fear over the possibility of losing them. And as that feeling becomes evident, so does the fact that the characters also help build you as your own Shepard. Pretty cool.
-Make me over: One thing that this game did really well was to give you the ability, if you did play Mass Effect 1, to completely edit your character. The game doesn't force you to stick with the same look and the same class that you had in the first. Now, the reason this is cool is that your remodeling is actually central to the story. Without giving the story away, BioWare does a fantastic job at explaining how it is possible that your existing character could be completely different looking and have completely new abilities. It never feels cheap, and it fits in great.
-The Dark Knight factor: Mass Effect 2 is one of the few examples I can think of that displays a true sequel in every way. BioWare took some chances with Mass Effect 2. They revamped the entire system for the sequel, and needless to say, the game is quite different than it's predecessor in many ways. The fact that not only did this risk pay off extremely well, but that everything about this game is ten times better and preferable over its predecessor, indicates the real sequel Mass Effect 2 is. Most sequels build on what's been established, and while Mass Effect 2 does that with story and existing universe, it creates an entirely new gameplay experience years ahead of the original. Things every sequel should be.
-Throw me a mag: I was sceptical about Mass Effect 2's ammo system. Since the first game had unlimited ammo and weapons only overheated, revamping with an ammo system to me felt a little dangerous. Well, I'm proud to say I was wrong. The ammo system is such a blessing. Weapons feel like actual weapons, where I have to manage the amount of ammo I shoot. It makes me more cautious about how I shoot. It feels like an actual shooter, as it should. And once again, BioWare made sure to explain the change in no-ammo to ammo in the story, which is great.
-Weapon of choice: Just as the first did, the second game amazes me in it's deep and involved morality system. I was promised when I played Mass Effect 1 that every choice I made would affect the world in the sequel. This is a hard proposition, and most developers would probably not follow up on this. Mass Effect 2 is a promise fulfilled. Every choice I made, EVERY ONE, had some effect in this game. Even the little ones. People I saved rather than killed appeared out of nowhere, thanking me for saving them or hating me for not killing them. People I had relationships with had different views of me depending on my previous choices. The biggest of decisions caused repurcusions that affect lives in Mass Effect 2. The smallest of decisions seem to escalate to become bigger. By far, this is the greatest pun in all of gaming. This game creates such a "mass effect" with choices.
-Omaha Beach: The second Normandy is such a highlight of this game. First off, whoever pollishes the Normandy SR-2 does a hell of a job. The ship is so shiny. Seriously though, this ship feels like a real and antive spaceship. There are so many improvements, and so many welcome additions. Of note is the AI named EDI, voiced by Tricia Helfer. It's a great addition to the ship, and it really makes the ship as an upgrade that much more evident. The Normandy has also gotten rid of something: the incredible slow elevator. Thank God. That elevator was mind-crippling.
-Let me be myself: Mass Effect 1 did a great job with giving you customization options. Mass Effect 2 does it so much more and better. Armor now consists of parts, and each part can be customized and switched to fit your combat type. Color, pattern, and material can all be edited to the full extent to make your Shepard really yours. Another cool addition is that of upgrades. Several upgrades can be researched to upgrade yourself, your teammates, and even your ship. And the cool thing is that these upgrades are very important to the story, especially ship upgrades. And by important I mean life or death. If that isn't real customization I don't know what is.
Renegade Acts
-Arbiter?: One of the few flaws of this game is that it ditches one of the great characters of the first game: Captain Anderson. The Captain was a central character in the first game, and is barely included in the second. Depending on whether you picked Anderson for the Council or not, his role in the game could potentially be even less. It is sad to see that a great character is not included or relevant in the sequel. Although it is understandable why he isn't relevant in the story, it is still sad. Here's hoping Anderson gets a bigger role in Mass Effect 3.
-Jump around: A somewhat sad side affect of the longer story in Mass Effect 2 is that side quests are very much minimalized. Although I don't think the number of side quests are less, they are much harder to find and there is much less incentive to do them. This may be because many optional missions, such as the N7 and loyalty missions, don't really feel like side quests, but optional main quest missions. Although this is good, it does put the side-quester in a box.
-Za...za...whatever the hell his name is: Zaeed Messani is a terrible character. Now, he did come out of day one DLC, so it can't be blamed that he is that bad. But he just seems to have no emotion or anything that would make a player emotionally invest in him like all the other characters. Oh yeah, and the fact that he is a complete asshole doesn't help either. Normally I wouldn't complain about an asshole character in a game, but this guy is so annoying and stupid and useless that he feels like a real-life asshole. Again, BioWare explains this well, as he is just a gun for hire, rather than all your other members who are there for emotional reasons.
-Chicken scratch: There is one area where Mass Effect 2 doesn't improve: subtitles. The original game had the bad problem of unreadable text when played on a standard definition television. Mass Effect 2 does not fix this. Now, I personally don't have this problem as I play on an HD TV. But the fact that millions of people have standard TV's and they can't read the text ruins the experience for them. Could this be a sign that companies want you to buy a new TV? Maybe. But until then, I hope you can hear dialogue well if you are playing on a standard TV.
-What happened while I was gone?: One of the great places in Mass Effect 1 was the Citadel. It was the biggest, coolest, and most friendly place in the galaxy in the first game. The Citadel doesn't feel this way at all in the sequel. In fact, it's been downsized quite a bit. Where it had a full upper ward, lower ward, presidium, c-sec, and citadel tower, Mass Effect 2 has only about 3 continuous zones. Although Zakera Ward is interesting and full of cool things, It doesn't have the scope that you learned to know and love from the first. By far the most dissapointing of the Citadel is the presidium, which used to be a gigantic plaza, but is now a room where you can see the plaza, but not walk in it. These things could be because of the new setting and context of the game, but it's still a little bit of a shock to see the Citadel in a new way.
Thing You May have Missed
-The salarian scientist you recruit named Mordin Solus has some very interesting coversation topics. One of the best is when you find out he once did musical theatre. Upon more investigation, you figure out he performed Gilbert and Sullivan. He even goes to sing some of the chorus. "I am the perfect model of a scientist salarian..."
Final Comments
Don't pass your days of life without playing this blessed game. Mass Effect 2 is such a marvel in the industry of video games. BioWare has crafted a masterpiece in every way in this game. I can try my hardest not to exaggerate what this game is or how I really loved it. But the more I try the more resistance is futile. Mass Effect 2 succeeds in every way, whether that be story, gameplay, community, lore, or anything else imaginable. Games like these only come once in a while, and they seem to come at the most oppurtune moments. Mass Effect 2 is one of these games. One work of advice, though: although this game is extraordinary, it is only amazing with the context of playing the first game. These games are meant to be played as a series. Realizing your choices will bleed into new games is a great experience, unlike any other. Is is too soon to nominate a game for Game of the Year? Because this one is most definitely a STRONG contender.
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