Mass Effect 2 is an almost flawless experience. While almost everything about the game is an improvement over the original title, the emotional story, the unforgettable cast of characters, and the overall presentation are what earns Mass Effect 2 a solid Game of the Year nomination. To be quite honest, I'm not sure if any other game this year will be better than Mass Effect 2. Although that may be a bold statement, Mass Effect 2 sets the bar of quality quite high this year. Is there any game up to the task of dethroning this masterpiece? Let's find out.

Game Details			Loading Reality Scoring
Format	Xbox 360 (all Xbox 360 reviews)		Score Meaning: As close to perfect as a can be: an industry-influencing masterpiece. If a "final score," the game should be owned by everyone, ever.
Publisher	Electronic Arts
Developer	BioWare
Category	RPG		Presentation
ESRB	M		Gameplay
Online Players	0		Graphics
Offline Players	1		Sound
Price	59.99		Value Factor
Release Date	January 26, 2010		Final Score

Why did the 2010 Game of the Year come out so soon?

It has been far too long since the last time we commanded a crew, developed long-lasting relationships, made difficult choices, and saved the universe from a madman and his benefactors. It has been too long since we flung enemies around like frisbees with our biotic abilities as if it were Labor Day. For too long, Commander Shepard has been out of action, but the time has finally come for his return. That's right, kiddos. The long-awaited Mass Effect 2 is finally here to eat up our lives once again. However, does the sequel surpass its predecessor and improve upon its flaws, or does it fall short of true excellence? Find out in this review.

For those of you who have yet to play the original Mass Effect, allow me to bring you up to speed (If you still plan on playing the first game, skip ahead to avoid spoilers). Commander Shepard, a renowned human soldier in the Alliance Navy, was sent to the besieged human colony of Eden Prime to recover a Prothean beacon. Upon completion of this mission, Shepard can prove himself to the Council that he is ready to be the first human to join the Spectres, an elite force of soldiers who protect the universe and can be best described as "Navy SEALs in space". However, things go sour during the mission, and Saren, a turian Spectre, turns out to be the one behind the attack. After Shepard interacts with the beacon, he begins to get attacked by strange, violent visions. Meanwhile, the Council refuses to believe that Saren was behind the attack on Eden Prime. In retaliation, Shepard finds evidence to prove Saren's guilt and earns himself a spot in the Spectres and a mission to hunt down Saren. After a long adventure filled with twists, turns, and many difficult choices, Shepard finally learns that the Reapers, an ancient and powerful threat, are the ones behind everything and have only one goal: Exterminate all organic life. A difficult choice and several final battles later, Shepard defeats Saren and is doing everything in his power to stop the Reapers once and for all.

Not long after the aforementioned events, Mass Effect 2 begins, and without spoiling much, it's evident that the game really wastes no time getting intense. The opening cinematic alone is breathtaking and dramatic, and from there, the game's plot takes players on one helluva morality-twisting ride. For starters, Shepard isn't siding with the Alliance anymore. Instead, he's allying himself with the shady organization known as Cerberus that saved his life from certain destruction. While Cerberus certainly isn't the most trustworthy group out there, its illusive leader knows that desperate times call for desperate measures. And if stopping the many enemies that threaten our existence calls for letting certain others die, so be it.

Before I get too far into this review, I feel as if I must state something regarding the story. While Mass Effect 2's plot is nothing short of amazing, don't expect plot-twisters every two seconds. The story is pretty damn interesting in its own right, but as a sequel in the trilogy, it doesn't have the luxury of introducing the player to this new world that he's investing his time in. It also doesn't have the luxury of ending the saga that the player has grown to love. Instead, the job of Mass Effect 2's narrative is to keep players interested in the already awesome story of the first Mass Effect by properly expanding upon it, while being easy enough for new players to understand. The good news is that Mass Effect 2 does just that, and while the story may not be as surprising as its predecessor, the plot never ceases to amaze and leaves players pumped for Mass Effect 3.

What's really awesome about Mass Effect 2 is its show-stealing cast of characters. Shepard is required to recruit a team of mercenaries, nut jobs, and blood-thirsty a-holes if he wants to succeed in his dangerous mission to stop an unstoppable force. Some of the potential recruits are people who fight dirty for justice. Others kill because they need the cash. Others just follow orders. And some enjoy killing because that's all that they know. It's fair to say that Shepard's squad in Mass Effect 2 is arguably one of the most intriguing squads (parties, teams, whatever floats your boat in an RPG) that you'll ever meet in any role-playing game.

In case that previous statement sounded a little biased, once you fully play through Mass Effect 2, it will be very hard to deny that Shepard's team is anything but intriguing. Unlike certain other role-playing games that feature a cast of likable and irritating characters, the squad in Mass Effect 2 is very balanced in personality, and there wasn't a single character in my crew whom I hated from the beginning to the end. I'll admit that I thought Miranda was a total bitch when I first met her. She was too nosy and seemed to think of herself as the most skilled bad ass in the entire universe; but when I spent some time talking to her, she wasn't really that bad of a person. She was a person too, after all. That's what will really keep gamers talking about for a long time to come: personal relationships in a game that mirror reality.

Actually, relationships in Mass Effect 2 are the game's driving force. While the core gameplay is nothing short of amazing, players will be drawn into spending literal hours with Shepard's crew. In the first Mass Effect, you could have a deep conversation with the crew and other non-playable characters, but that deep conversation system has only gotten deeper, more realistic, and more mature. Since Shepard's crew is so intriguing, it's only natural that players will be drawn into talking with these people, learning about them, and even flirting with them. Some characters will crack jokes, yet others will be entirely serious and hardly crack a smile. Does that not remind you of the real world? Mass Effect 2 undoubtedly captures realism to the fullest extent in more ways than one.

Of course, the attention can't be completely focused on Shepard's crew. Other non-playable characters most definitely deserve an applause for their grand performances. The Illusive Man, played by Martin Sheen, captivates players with his mysterious presence. Aria, the Asari bad ass who runs the Omega station, is an a-hole, but she's so awesome that not even Shepard can touch her (Not to be taken literally, hopefuls). The cast of great characters doesn't end there, but if I continue to list these characters, I may end up writing several extra paragraphs. That fact alone should be enough evidence that BioWare no doubt did a damn good job with its complete cast of characters, and those characters wouldn't be the same without the talented voice actors who give these characters life.

Generally speaking, the voice actors who give Mass Effect 2's characters life are at the top of their game. With the exception of a certain main villain who continuously repeats his annoying lines during certain combat segments, each of the voice actors does an amazing job with his respective character. In addition to the top-notch voice acting, the music is also outstanding. Every theme is masterfully orchestrated, and at times, the music is good enough to be featured in a blockbuster film. It's so good that I've been tempted to buy the game's official soundtrack. The interesting part about that statement is that before Mass Effect 2, I have never really been tempted to dish out money on a soundtrack for any video game.

It goes without saying that the amazing cast of characters is no doubt complimented by the game's very realistic graphics. Facial details in a character's face are convincing, and emotions are properly portrayed in the tiniest of details. Perhaps the characters don't look as good as, say, Uncharted 2's characters, but the sheer depth of quality is undeniable. Faces aren't the only graphically impressive aspects in Mass Effect 2. BioWare also put a ton of work into making every environment - from the scope of outer space to the bar on the Omega station to every base that players will visit - look as good as possible. I had a hard time trying to find an environment that looked ugly. But while the graphics are jaw-dropping, no one will be paying attention to pretty objects when they're trying to survive during combat.

Mass Effect 2's combat system is fast, furious, and very accessible for new players. There is a wider emphasis on survival this time around. Players will be forced to take cover very often, and guns now need bullets to fire. More often than not the combat will feel more like Gears of War than Mass Effect. If that sounds as if the combat has dramatically changed, that is because it has. However, I tell you that these changes are for the best. In the original Mass Effect, I could simply raise my character's level to 60, grab a powerful shotgun, and blast my way through everything. Hell, I wouldn't even care about what team combination I had, since I could handle everything by myself. However, I'm quite certain that even when I max out my character's level to 30 (The level cap has lowered since experience points are earned through completing missions, not killing enemies), I won't be a god on the battlefield. I'll still need to depend on my team and our strategy if I want to make it out alive.

The AI on both sides also seems to have been dramatically improved as well. Enemies will stop at nothing to kill you, even if you're taking cover. I am also pleased to say that friendly AI is actually smart in Mass Effect 2. They won't get stuck on walls, and from my experience, I noticed that my squad mates actually try to survive during combat. Squad mates will use their abilities wisely, and it's quite enjoyable to combine the effects of multiple powers. As I mentioned before, team work plays a major role in Mass Effect 2, so if you plan on succeeding, play smart and work with your squad.

Now, the next thing that I'm about to say may disappoint some gamers. Remember the awful inventory system in Mass Effect? Yes, it was the epitome of awfulness and one of the only major flaws that plagued the first game. I'm happy to say that it is gone for good. Not a trace of the original inventory system remains. However, its removal comes with a cost. Although you can still purchase new armor, you can not purchase new weapons. For the most part, if you want better weapons and better armor, you will need to find or purchase upgrade schematics to upgrade your armor and your weapons. Then, you need enough minerals (Gained by scanning planets) to finally upgrade the things that you want in the research lab of the new Normandy. It is at times a troublesome process, but I personally prefer going through this hassle since it keeps everything organized. However, not everyone will agree, and some may feel as if BioWare stripped Mass Effect 2 of its role-playing aspects in this regard.

Planetary exploration has also received a few good changes. Instead of landing on barren planets that vary only in color and weather, players can only land on planets that relate to missions and assignments. The good part about this is that the Mako from the first Mass Effect has been decommissioned, meaning that all exploration will take place on foot in straight-forward environments. Another good aspect about planetary exploration is that all explorable planets look unique. That's right. Wandering around an empty, barren planet consisting of blue mountains is a thing of the past. All of the other non-explorable planets exist to be scanned and harvested for minerals, which are used to upgrade armor and weapons.

"Is Mass Effect 2 worth checking out even if I have never played the first game?"

That's a question that several people have asked me. Well, is it? My answer is a solid, confident "yes". Mass Effect 2 is an almost flawless experience, but it's a much more enjoyable game if you have played through the original title. The reason is because every single decision that was made in the first game will see results (or consequences) in this game if the player chooses to import his Mass Effect character into Mass Effect 2. It was quite an awesome experience to meet old faces that I would not have normally recognized if I had not played through Mass Effect. If you're new to the Mass Effect series, my advice is to go back and play the first game before diving into the sequel if you want to get the most out of Mass Effect 2. Trust me. You'll thank me later.

Overall, Mass Effect 2 is one of the greatest sequels to any game that has ever been released. Everything - from the improved combat system to the story to the graphics - is on the borderline of perfection. Sure, the game isn't perfect, and there were some things that would have been better if done differently (Load screens should be shorter; romance relationships aren't as interesting as they were in the first game). However, most of the simple and small complaints that some people may have about this game are easily overlooked. Simply put, I just can't deny the sheer awesomeness of this game. Even after the credits roll, you will come back to play again and again. Spend your $60 with confidence, my friends; you won't get an amazing experience like this for a very long time.

5 / 5

Written by :

Axe Argonian

 

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Xillegal ToastX

Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 02 2010 16:19:00 I have a question when it says that he has 12 years gaming in the reviewer profile, does that mean he is twelve years old?

#14858

Necrovex

Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 02 2010 16:40:59 Illegal, 12 years of gaming mean that is the amount of time he has gamed. For example, I have 16 years worth of gaming under my belt, yet I'm 19.

#14859

Maneatingcow23

Re:Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 02 2010 17:47:20 Is there a guide to what the LR icons underneath the Game Details section mean? Editor's Choice I can figure out well enough, but what about One More Time and Plot-a-lot? Does One More Time mean this is a sequel, or that you want to play it again? Does Plot-a-lot mean that this is an RPG or just that it has a lot of story? A definitions guide would be useful, if there was one.

#14860

cakeytaste

Re:Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 02 2010 18:59:54 LR Review Scale & Awards BAAM

#14861

CrAzYbRoS

Re:Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 02 2010 19:51:57 Necrovex wrote: Illegal, 12 years of gaming mean that is the amount of time he has gamed. For example, I have 16 years worth of gaming under my belt, yet I'm 19. What the heck do you remember playing at 3-years-old? Pssshhh...

#14863

Maneatingcow23

Re:Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 02 2010 20:21:51 I remember playing Atari at my cousins' around that age (which would mean that I've spent roughly 25 years gaming. Ouch.)

#14864

toowicked4u

Re:Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 03 2010 20:21:03 does Candyland count? ...cuz if so, I've got y'all beat!

#14866

Ethan

Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 06 2010 02:42:20 To tell the truth, I never liked Mass Effect 1 that much. The inventory system was terrible, and the combat was very sluggish. However I bought Mass Effect 2, hoping it would be better, and you want to know what? It was the best 60$ I spent in a long time.

#14904

MCout

Game Review: Mass Effect 2 Feb 23 2010 12:17:14 I still have to play the first game... then i'll play this one for sure.

#15152