The Charge
Assemble your team.
Opening Statement
The first Mass Effect blasted onto the Xbox scene and revolutionized many elements of the action/RPG experience, from its brilliantly-realized new IP, the revolutionary dialogue wheel and the pants-drenchingly fantastic graphics. Bioware’s anticipated follow-up is here and it is so, so much better.
Facts of the Case
Mass Effect 2 brings back Commander John Shepard: Space Bad-Ass, whose recent misadventures with the diabolical, genocidal Reapers led to big explosions and traumatic bodily harm. Cerberus, the radical pro-human group, led by the enigmatic Illusive Man (voiced splendidly by Martin Sheen), brought Shepard in to face off with the newest foes: the Collectors, a bug-like species that’s been wiping out colonies across the galaxy and kidnapping humans for Lord knows what malevolent purpose.
But before he leaps in the jaws of surefire pain and horror, Shepard must put together his squad, an eclectic group of aliens and humans from all corners of space who will offer him much-needed skills and talents or, at the very least, give the bad guys another target to shoot at.
The Evidence
There are games. And then there is Mass Effect 2.
Bioware’s sequel is stunning on every level, and represents both a significant improvement over its predecessor and a new standard for what kind of interaction and storytelling is capable in a video game. Yes, I know this sounds like your typical message board fanboy hype/drivel, but I have to say, this game absolutely put me in the fetal position with its awesomeness.
I had almost completed the first Mass Effect, but drifted away in part because of the touchy combat mechanics and the godforsaken driving sequences. Both of these annoyances have been cleared up. The combat is much sharper and is actually fun as a full-fledged, cover-based third person shooter. When the firefights came, I welcomed them, especially the culminating battles, which were aided by an increase in difficulty, some great music and added emotional weight to the outcomes.
Shepard as multiple weapons at his disposal, from a handgun to a mini-nuke (and other assorted heavy weapons). These are upgradable and the selection is expandable and ammo is never an issue. So blast away, and if you get bored with shredding Blue Sun mercs with inferno ammo (note: you won’t), you can always slap them around with your biotic, Force-like powers. In typical RPG fashion you can improve powers and skills (both passive and active) with gains in experience and mission completion. The refreshing aspect to this character progression is you won’t feel like you’re grinding to upgrade.
Missions are fun and interesting. It’s rare that a RPG holds my attention enough to see me gallivanting around the game world doing side quests, but I was fully into it here. I knew there was going to be some bodacious shooting action to be had, a slice of cool dialogue to partake in and perhaps a tech or weapon upgrade lurking in a wall safe somewhere.
The main story is the bread and butter of Mass Effect 2 and, thankfully, it delivers. The Collectors are imposing villains, the mysterious Harbinger—who’s connected to the Reapers—turns up during firefights with the Collectors and talks enough trash to get you amped about killing him and his minions, and the shiftiness of Cerberus and the Illusive Man are pervasive question marks.
But what really grabbed me was the building of my team. On the surface, it might seem that planet-hopping to recruit characters could become a tiresome experience, but it was the exact opposite. Each squad member had a cool, action-packed story to fight through, as well as an equally interesting “loyalty” mission. As I was plowing through these missions I actually began to care about these fake polygons. Legion the Geth synthetic, Thane the assassin, Grunt the tank, Jack the insane biotic—I was genuinely concerned about these guys, and Bioware knew that I would, so that when the shiznit hit the fan and my teammates were put in danger as a direct result of my decision-making, bother, that stung!
I don’t recall another game that got me as emotionally invested in its story and characters as this one, and, for me, that is Mass Effect 2’s greatest achievement. Set aside its graphics (stunning, by the way), voice-acting (perfect), sound (is the soundtrack for sale somewhere?) and gameplay, all of which are top-shelf, just the fact that I legitimately cared about what happened to the characters represents a profound evolutionary step in the landscape of video games.
Closing Statement
Here’s all I have to say: I spent hours strip-mining planets so I could gain enough space minerals to upgrade the medical bay in my ship so I can have surgery on my aface that would eliminate the scarring that comes along with making “Renegade” decisions. Is it too early to decree a Game of the Year?
The Verdict
Platform: Xbox 360/PC (360 version reviewed)
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: EA
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Rated: M (17+) for Mature.
“Yes, I know this sounds like your typical message board fanboy hype/drivel”
It does, and it is Im afraid.
Its mainly because of things like this too:
“The main story is the bread and butter of Mass Effect 2 and, thankfully, it delivers.”
Now Ive played this game, and I know for a fact that the main story isnt the bread and butter of Mass Effect 2, the shooter combat is. The “main story” and “side stories” for that matter have little impact outside of being reason to shuffle you from one shooting gallery to the next. Its a common phrase I see when this game is being discussed, “shooting gallery”, and yet biased, gushing reviewers never seem to pick up on it.
Secondly, does it deliver? Well I guess you like spoonfed action with minor sprinklings of story dotted throughout that really advance nothing, effect nothing, and serve only to try and preserve some kind of “cinematic” feel.
If like me you were hoping not only for an in depth plot that in the focus of the game, but also one that carries on where Mass Effect 1 left off, youll be disappointed. The game does nothing but come full circle to where Mass Effect 1 left off.
There is only one thing I describe ME2 as: lazy. It feels as if Bioware just said “we want to save alll the good stuff for ME3 and not make it hard on ourselves by getting things too complicated, so lets just focus on this action this time around”.
Too much of this game is spent moving from one obviously placed piece of cover to the next picking off waves of enemies. Thats fine if you want to play Mass Effect for the same reasons you want to play Gears of War, but I dont. I want to play it for the reasons I was sold on back when this “trilogy” started, and it wasnt for Gears of War combat.
Id personally rate Mass Effect 2 a 6/10, for no other reason that while they showed a lack of ambition and imagination, at least what little they did concentrate on was polished (visuals, shooter combat gameplay, framerate etc.). Shame polish is all surface and nothing underneath though, something they might like to remember if they are planning an epic finale that is about more than just brainless shooter combat.