How do you describe a game that has an almost limitless amount of story arcs? You don’t. Well, I could, but that would ruin the experience for you, and with Mass Effect 2 that is something you do not do. Even if you did tell someone the plot, chances are that they would not even experience half the things you did.
Carrying on where you left off with your original Mass Effect character is a unique experience; possibly creating the one true sequel in gaming. Now I know this is a big claim, but it really is special. In most sequels you are continuing the story laid in place by the game designers, but now you are continuing your own story. Think about that. Every decision you made in the original game is carried across into this one, with even more big decisions awaiting you throughout.
Very few developers have managed to lay down such huge moral decisions like BioWare have. You have the paragon and renegade options that were laid in place in the original. Although now BioWare have added a new way of making decisions: during cut-scenes an option will flash up on the screen, pressing the corresponding button will trigger an action, either renegade or paragon. This adds a new dynamic edge to the moral system, forcing you to think quickly.
A lot of the moral decisions come from your squad, or more so their stories. Throughout the game you have to recruit squad members and gain their trust, in doing so you become emotionally attached to them, caring about them more, or maybe even hating them more. The choice is yours. I have never played a game that has moved me like Mass Effect 2. You have to play it honestly, ignoring possible achievements, to really get the most out of the game.
Throughout your recruiting drive you will get to see many different environments, every one stunning in their own way – from alien filled utopia’s, to barren wastelands and alien vessels. The one that stands out, however, is Omega. Filled with neon signs and pumping music, it’s like something from Blade Runner. I found myself lost, slowly walking around, looking at every detail, every pixel. Although some elements of the exploration are linear – or more so than the first game – it creates a more condensed and organised experience. If you just take the time to look around then you will see how big the levels are, sure, you can’t walk around them yourself, but you can feel them.
Of course it’s not all walking around and talking, there is combat as well, and it has improved from the original. To my surprise, BioWare have taken out the inventory system, now favouring a much simpler upgrade system. This may put off some hardcore RPG fans but it honestly makes things much smoother. The original system was a mess, making you spend far too much time sorting through fifteen ammo variations rather than just getting tucked into the action.
Combat now feels meatier, with the guns and biotic powers feeling heavier and offering more of a satisfying hit. The cover system is much the same but works well, creating some memorable drawn out fire-fights. Once you have become familiar with the combat, it becomes a really organic experience; popping out to Overdrive the enemies shield, then using your squads powers to finish them off.
I really can’t go on enough about the sound and graphics of this game. I know it’s a little strange to hype over them in modern gaming, now that every game should look as good as its competition, but BioWare have done such a great job. The level of polish draws you in and makes it so immersive; turning minutes into hours and days into nights.
A lot of these hour-sized-minutes will be spent doing what every good space captain does best, exploring uncharted space. Like the original, you can go to every planet you can see, however in this game you do not have to drive around a bland, grey sphere in an uncontrollable Mako. You scan the planets, looking for either anomalies – side missions – or minerals. When you find a good source of the minerals you fire a probe and collect the rewards. You need them to purchase upgrades for your weapons, armour, ship, everything really. It does sound very mundane, but it can get really addictive.
When you’ve drained all the planets of their resources and recruited all your team mates, then it’s time to get through the story, and it is a good one. Good, but it does feel like it’s setting up for the next game, something that does not bother me in the slightest as it does this beautifully, creating another dramatic finale filled with explosive moments that will have you punching the air in triumph. I managed to finish the game, and the majority of the side missions, in thirty hours. At no point during this did I rush anything, I gave the game the time it deserves.
The Mass Effect series is slowly turning out to be one of the best, and possibly my favourite story in video games. It all comes back to the personal aspect. This series is intended to be played through once, with the same character, as a cumulative experience. It should not be played through multiple times with different characters, just to see what happens (as tempting as it is). That, in my opinion, takes so much from the experience. Wait until you have finished your story, then go start again, from the beginning, and see what you can do different. But that is just my thoughts, and whether you agree or not, you have to play this game, it’s simply marvellous.
VideogameUK verdict: 10/10
