Mass Effect 2 literally starts off with a bang. This lays the foundation and impressively keeps the action packed momentum going throughout the game. The opening scene also provides justification for restarting Shepard from level 1 in a manner you would least expect.

As Mass Effect 2 presents a great story and one that is better experienced first hand rather than reading it on a review, I have not discussed the plot. As we have come to expect from BioWare games, the story is top notch and is delivered at just the right pace.

Taking Care of Business:

As soon as players take control of Shepard, players will realize the astonishing improvements in controls. The controls, shooting mechanics and the cover system are of the standards we have come to expect from the best of shooters.

That being said, the regular weapons are overshadowed by the special moves such as biotic charges, lifting enemies or throwing shockwaves. These powers become all the more fun when combined with the powers of your teammates. From lifting multiple enemies towards and electrocuting them to freezing enemies and shattering them with your biotic charge, the potential for synergies are vast.

If your enemies aren’t helpless flying around and stuff isn’t being blown up then odds are that you aren’t playing the game right. People will tend to choose the Soldier class because that is what they are familiar with. I strongly recommend choosing one of the four other classes because quite frankly we have all experienced the Soldier class in regular shooters. The game is relatively easy on the ‘normal’ difficulty setting. However there are three difficulties above ‘normal’ that should provide challenge for the experienced gamers.

I really loved was how it all comes down to the last mission. If you do not spend time to properly prepare for the final mission by means of upgrading the ship, performing armory upgrades, or getting your crew completely dedicated by means of loyalty quests then odds are that not all your companions will survive. Although players are still limited to taking two companions out at a time, each crew member plays a role in the last mission. In addition there are certain decisions the player will have to make in assigning tasks to the right people. For all these reasons there is a lasting ‘grand’ feeling to the game.

Companions and Dialogue:

From all of the BioWare games I have played, I find the team at Mass Effect 2 to be the best by a margin. This is mainly because as Shepard, players will be out to recruit the best the galaxy has to offer. Each of the characters has a bad-ass vibe to them. In addition to their powers, their personality and back story make them all unique. This was the first BioWare game that made me want to tag along with all of my companions.

Each character has a loyalty quest, which upon completion unlocks a special move. Although optional, each of these missions is well designed and provides a great back story for the characters. Better yet these are unlocked after you have reached a certain point in the game eliminating the need to engage in extensive dialogue to access them.

Another great addition to the game is the spontaneous paragon and renegade responses that are available during specific set pieces. This adds a greater dynamic to the game. Both sets of responses are available unconditional on a player’s paragon or renegade meter. The renegade responses in particular are a lot of fun to do as they involve someone getting hurt.

Ultimately it is the large number of  power synergies, five different classes for the player and a strong team of companions that will persuade people to play through this game multiple times

Other:

There are no more different armor types. In addition when you pick up or research a particular weapon, they become available to everyone that can use it. Not only does this eliminate a cumbersome process of spending time to min-max armor or managing inventory but it also allows the game to maintain a certain sense of momentum. As an Action-RPG, the game is much better for it.

The graphics in Mass Effect 2 are crisper and overall exceed that of its predecessor. The lighting effects especially are superb. The atmosphere is well complemented with a strong music score.

The Mako missions have been eliminated. However these have been replaced by a very mundane scan and mine resource system. Fortunately these don’t take long. Out of my excellent 31 hour experience on a single play through, mining represented a mere hour.  

Final word: 

When the credits rolled the first time around I had thought it was over too quickly. It was not until I looked at the saved game file that I realized I had spent 30 hours on the game and that they had gone at a brisk pace.

Thorough significant improving its combat system and overall gameplay and production tweaks Mass Effect 2 is a far superior product compared to its highly acclaimed predecessor. Not only is Mass Effect 2 a strong contender for this year’s game of the year award, but it is also one of the best games I have played this generation.

Genre: Action-RPG 

Platform: PC, Xbox 360 (Reviewed on Xbox 360) 

Developed by: BioWare

Published by: Electronic Arts