Bioware is one of those video game developers that other companies strive to be like, creating entertainment experiences on the Xbox 360 that are unrivaled in terms of story, dialogue, and pure emotional investment. For that reason the Mass Effect trilogy is one of the most anticipated events in our industry and after three years of waiting Mass Effect 2 is finally ready to hit retail shelves. The first Mass Effect debuted back in 2007 and was easily one of the best western-made RPGs ever created; critics everywhere (me included) praised the game as doing something few titles had ever done before, even though it did have some technical deficiencies. Thankfully the 40+ hours I spent playing ME1 will not go wasted, as the sequel includes a feature that allows players to import their character – resulting in a number of story changes and gameplay bonuses. I tried to continue the same style of decision making from my Mass Effect 1 playthrough and in the end the two games flowed together (connected) very well. The opening scene of Mass Effect 2 sets up exactly what the entire 20+ (on an average play-through) hour campaign will be like: an epic adventure that is unparalleled by any other video game on the Xbox 360.
It takes everything you thought you knew about the Mass Effect universe and turns it on its head, just like an episode of your favorite sci-fi show. By the time I had finished my review period with Mass Effect 2 I knew one thing with 100% certainty, this was the best story-driven video game I have ever played and the first to connect with me on a truly emotional level. Anything and everything I found to complain about with the first Mass Effect has been fixed for the second, and middle game, of the planned trilogy. Being a middle child can be difficult as the developers must keep the story interesting without giving any sort of conclusion or “oh wow – that’s how it ends” moment. The story in ME2 continues to center around the Reapers from the first game but includes a couple new twists that fans won’t be expecting. In Mass Effect 2 Sheppard has a whole crew of characters to help him save the human race, some new and some old but altogether a great cast of unique beings. I don’t want to ruin anything, as this game includes one of the most well written stories of any video game created, but I will tell you that it succeeds on every level and has me more excited for the final Mass Effect game than I ever imagined I could be.
Mass Effect 2 does something that most video games can only dream of; it pulls the player in and forces them to emotionally invest in not only each and every character but also the entirety of the story. As you go through the game you will be forced to make minute and massive decisions that impact how the rest of the game will play-out. More than once I found myself questioning whether or not I made the right decision, and if I should restart a certain checkpoint just to see what a different one would result in. Bioware is known for great story telling, and the first Mass Effect had a great story; where Mass Effect 2 goes above and beyond is the gameplay. For example there is a completely new enemy this time around, the Collectors – but the Reapers also come into play in a big way. The development team decided to go for a much more action-influenced experience this time around, with a lot less exploring (although there is plenty of it there) and more team-based combat. Mass Effect 2 reminded me exactly what it was that I used to enjoy so much about playing video games, and for that I'll never be able to repay the developers at Bioware.
This feature review continues on the next page, please click below to reveal our final thoughts (and score) on Bioware's masterpiece, Mass Effect 2.
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