Played on:
Windows
Quite a bit has changed in the realm of role-playing games since BioWare released Mass Effect more than two years ago, but many will agree that this first attempt at a new sci-fi franchise has stood the test of time. The combat didn't hold up to the standards set by action games, and many found fault in the empty-feeling worlds that were just a little off the beaten path of the game's main plot. These complaints didn't discourage BioWare from reworking all of that for the sequel, though - it just made them try harder.
Not only are we offered a more powerful story with a tighter narrative and some genuine emotion, but there's also some fantastic action to enjoy, too. The fusion of the two genres wasn't just about creating an action game with a few inconsequential RPG tidbits thrown in, nor is it an RPG with some awkward real-time shooting. This is two games in one, a full-blown shooter and a deep, interesting RPG simultaneously.
The Story So Far
The events in Mass Effect 2 revolve partially around some of your choices from the first game, but don't worry - if you never got through it or simply don't have a save game to import, you're fine because Bioware fills in the gaps nicely. The Reapers are still out there somewhere, threatening to invade and destroy all sentient life in the galaxy, but there's a new threat that's causing the populations of human colonies to suddenly vanish and Commander Shepard has been "recruited" to deal with it.
While some of the choices Mass Effect players could make have been forced upon them - no matter what you may have chosen, the Council is now dead and humans run the show - there are still many other choices from the first game that have small impacts here. You are not at all required to import a save game from the first in order to enjoy this, but those who do will see a slightly different, and sometimes more interesting, galaxy to save.
The Crew
So while Mass Effect 2 is a direct sequel to the first game, the amazing and powerful introduction sets the stage but also serves to start Shepard out fresh: after a rebirth of sorts, you'll be level 1 again to start, and can create a new face and even choose a different character class from what you had the first time around. Most of your old friends from the first game will make an appearance eventually, and you'll be fighting alongside a couple of them, too. The rest are entirely new, though: along with a couple of new human Cerberus operatives named Miranda and Jacob, there's a resourceful and surprisingly spiritual assassin called Thane, a badass Krogan warrior by the name of Grunt, a very angry and tormented ex-con called Subject Zero, a powerful and mysterious Asari biotic named Samara, and more. In all, there are ten companions this time (eleven if you include the free day-one DLC), all of whom are interesting and unique, with great backstories and a powerful array of abilities.
You can play as both male and female versions of Commander Shepard again, and while I've always preferred the female version's voice work by Jennifer Hale, both still do an even better job here than they did in the first game. There's also some Hollywood talent going into other roles: screen legend Martin Sheen, Carrie Ann Moss (The Matrix), Michael Dorn (Star Trek TNG), Adam Baldwin (Firefly), and Michael Hogan and Tricia Helfer (both from Battlestar Galactica) all play interesting and solid characters, while Keith David and Seth Green reprise their roles of Anderson and Joker. What I think you'll find, though, is that the best work happens through the NPC companions, most of whom aren't voiced by big-name celebrities. They bring a level of commitment to the Mass Effect universe that makes them some of the most believable and interesting characters BioWare's ever created.
Things Go Boom
BioWare listened carefully to the issues many gamers had with Mass Effect's combination of action and RPG, so they've started over in order to make the sequel feel like a no-compromises shooter that still has all of the core RPG elements you crave. You can now quickly hop over a low wall without having to walk around it, make use of a much more responsive and sensible cover system, dish out headshots and locational damage on enemies (and they'll react appropriately, depending on where you hit them), and you now will actually be reloading your guns instead of waiting for them to cool down. Yep, you now have to reload your guns with replaceable heatsinks, and while I'm not sure I really agree with the decision to take out the original overheat system completely, it still works fine in combat and will challenge you to use all of your guns and special abilities to stay alive.
There's also an arsenal of heavy weapons with limited ammo, exclusive abilities for each of the six playable classes, a regenerating health system that doesn't force you to wait for medi-gel cooldowns, a solid list of upgrades for both Shepard and the squadmates, a unified cooldown for abilities, better AI for both friends and enemies, and guns that work great from the moment you pick them up - not just after you spend skill points on them. What all this adds up to is a much better combat experience that doesn't take away from the rest of the game. But be warned that you have to enjoy role-playing as much as you do action if you're going to get into Mass Effect 2, because for every room full of enemies to shoot, you'll also find an equal number of characters to talk to, planets to explore, and non-violent solutions to Shepard's problems.
