You've heard the statements by now - "Mass Effect 2 is amazing! GOTY 2010" - but do you know why the internet is raving over the sequel to Bioware's epic space opera? No, it's not graphics or the fact that much of what made the first game a RPG is [nearly] gone. The answer and more, is a click away. Find out, after the break.
What’s Hot?
• Importing characters; this simple idea has revolutionized how I want my sequels to be made. You'll never know how much of a relationship you have with a character, until you've imported him/her along on a second adventure.
• No more 2 minute elevator rides.
• Bioware; these guys have set a new standard for sequels. Nearly everything about Mass Effect 2 is more refined and polished than the first; from level design and combat to controls and UI (user interface).
What’s NOT?
• Nothing. Nearly everything in Mass Effect 2 is perfect when referenced to the first game. 2 months ago, Mass Effect was considered one of the Xbox360’s milestone titles. This sequel completely strips the first game of that milestone label. That says a lot.
I’ve never been so emotionally invested in a game’s plot or characters, until I played Mass Effect 2. I would have NEVER guessed a statement like that would rest in my review for ME2, ever. In all honesty, I wasn’t a huge fan of the first and hadn’t anticipated the sequel much, if at all. But that all changed, in the minutes that passed, once the camera panned to Jeff Shepard for the first time in a year. It all came back to me in a flash of game memories; memories that had me smiling at the presence of my previous game character. Jeff Shepard’s story, looking back at it now, was really great. And it was only just the beginning. What was just a tale about a rebel soldier standing up to, and later sacrificing, the Council for what he believed was right, is now just a quest in the life of a space-knight. The next chapter of this epic story is about a sacrificing icon. A soldier who’s every word, opinion, and action is determined by you. Your every decision will write the fable of his future; a future of broken hearts and dead bodies.
I could have spent most of my word count on this review like nearly every other blog site has, and told the internet how improved the combat is, streamlined and focused the equipment mechanics are, how much more beautiful and polished the visuals look, and that they do not need to fear poor driving mechanics in a Mako because there is none. But that’s not what makes me truly love the experience I’m having playing what is probably the best sequel to a game ever. The fiction and the nuance of its second chapter pull you through its minutes like a Time’s Best Seller. Mass Effect’s dialogue wheel mechanic stands as my favorite method of in-game conversation ever, and is by far the best you’ll see to date in a video game. Every surprise that comes from watching this story unfold is as good as sitting down with some popcorn and a great flick. Bioware has shaped what the term RPG means. It's not about how much loot can be carried, how high a level can be grinded, or spending hours on end crunching numbers to determine characters stats. Although RPG fanatics - which I would consider myself to be - will flame me for that comment, I can no longer stand by that state of opinion. Role-playing games are about, well playing the role of a character. And while you may feel like you have played the role of characters before Mass Effect 2, you will quickly realize you've been fooled all along. For the record I still love everything about what we traditionally consider an RPG. I now know that it is not a necessity to making a role-playing game great.
This reviews for anyone who hasn’t played a Mass Effect game. It’s for gamers who aren’t the biggest sci-fi fans and need a game like ME2 to un-click whatever it is in your brain that never really had you in interest. It’s me standing at a pedestal preaching; “this series should not be missed”. If this is your first time considering a sci-fi action title, I recommend playing Mass Effect before ME2; that play-through will only make the sequel better. The time and investment spent in decision making and creating the character that is your Shepard, will have you feeling like J.K Rowling and Harry Potter. This trilogy is yours to script, so why would you miss out on your chance to write The Empire Strikes Back?
- Jeffrey d
