Part 1 of  the Mass Effect 2 review can be found in a previous post here.

Mass Effect 2 Ashley

Ashley Williams Mass Effect 2 - She is a human soldier and a member of Commander Shepard’s squad. Mass Effect 2 Original Review Continues below.

Tweaks And Enhancements

While nothing integral to the design has been changed, the number of upgrades in Mass Effect 2 makes it seem like a distinct title on its own. The interface has mostly been reworked and camera positioning has become more shooter-oriented. A unique feature of this installment is the ability to import save- files from Mass Effect — dynamically structuring the story in accordance with actions performed in the initial adventure.

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Mass Effect 2 also deploys improved combat tactics. A new cover-system, upgradeable weapons and biotic powers give you the edge over your enemy during tense shootouts. This doesn’t mean that taking down the galaxy’s worst enemy will be a piece of cake; the improved enemy Al employs enhanced powers, tactics and strategies to bring Shepard’s team down. In most cases, enemy units are often protected by shields, armour or barriers, which require special powers to break through.

The game’s dialogue system is just as important as the combat mechanics. Upgrades in the game now require mineral resources that can be procured during missions or scoured by visiting different planets and scanning them, which at times, reveals more side missions.

Sounds and Visuals

The cinematic experience of the game is a major jump from its previous iteration. Though at times, environments and objects may appear to have some odd effects, on the whole, the title boasts more polished visuals. Facial animation, in particular, has been done extremely well, with even the weirdest-looking aliens exhibiting vivid expressions.

The attention to detail can be witnessed in the improved environments, excellent sound effects quality and intricate voice-over work. The voice acting is performed by an extremely talented, star-studded cast and a stellar space-opera soundtrack further complements the game. Each character’s voice carries a distinct tone and style, lending greater realism to them.

Mass Effect rating

Mass Effect 2 is nothing short of a stunning title. The combat system has been refined to be more adaptable, the cinematic and audio work is absolutely mesmerizing, and the world it builds its lore upon is gigantic and immersive. Rest assured, you will gladly trade in hours of your life for the experience that this game provides.

Related info:

• Mass Effect 2 Wiki
• Mass Effect 2 Wikipedia

Mass Effect 2 Review

Creating an epic saga is not everybody’s forte, but BioWare lives up to its reputation and comes up with an astounding universe that is as massive as it is enjoyable. Mass Effect 2, the new installment of the legendary Mass Effect, carries on the remarkable storyline and solid gameplay of the original title. With its various tweaks and additions, Mass Effect 2 not only maintains the standard of its predecessor, it delivers significant technical and presentational improvements over the first.

Mass Effect 2 Plot

The tantalizing and intricate storyline of Mass Effect 2 is full of unexpected twists and turns. Set in the year 2183, during a routine patrol, Commander Shepard’s ship is attacked by an unknown force that coerces all crew members to make for the escape pods. Shepard manages to evacuate as many crew members as possible, before going down with the ship.

The story then progresses as Shepard is resurrected — quite possibly as a completely different person — by the extremist pro-human organization, Cerberus. This organization, devoted to human survival, employs Shepard’s help to fight the Collectors, a race of elusive aliens responsible for the abduction of several human colonies.

A shady and potentially dangerous organization, Cerberus manages to coax Shepard into helping it by providing him with financial support, anonymity, a brand new ship and strategic freedom. Shepard is then assigned to recruit a new team to take on the galaxy’s newest threat.

Mass Effect 2 Gameplay

The game builds heavily upon the remarkable storytelling that BioWare is famous for. Players are plunged deep into an intricate world with ample missions and side quests. While you are free to pursue these optional quests in any order, the game periodically assigns you imperative, compulsory missions to keep the flow smooth. The omnipresent threat of Collectors and the pace of activities make Mass Effect 2 a great narrative, right up to the final mission.

Although the missions can be brief, the game keeps you on your toes by encouraging players to strengthen their squad via upgradeable weapons and powers. This time around, crew members have a wide variety of abilities and are supposed to be employed for appropriate situations. Once again, the player has to make choices based on the context of 4 the situation and can choose to play the champion or the antihero, with a new interrupt system during certain events.

Conversing and collaborating with your team during breaks is very important in order to have them open up to you and give you quests of their own. These quests, when completed, make the members more loyal, grant the team special powers and upgrades, and may even change the outcome of the story.

Continue to Mass Effect review part 2.