Two years after BioWare unleashed Mass Effect comes the second part of the planned trilogy, Mass Effect 2. Widely regarded as the best RPG developers in the business BioWare have shown they are still top of the pack. They have greatly improved on Mass Effect, every facet of the game has been enhanced, tweaked and refined while the weakest parts have been discarded or replaced. The very tedious elevator rides, the abysmal vehicle sections, the weapon specialisation all gone. Another casualty is the inventory system. This has been replaced with weapon lockers and mission load outs for your elite team which you pick before you set out. Released through Electronic Arts, Mass Effect 2 is available on Xbox 360 and PC DVD.

Story Effect – The Mass Effect universe is set 200 years into the future and the sequel takes place only a few short years after Mass Effect. Human colonies on the edge of space have begun to be destroyed by an unknown force. The Reapers are the prime suspect and you as Commander Yukiko Shepard are tasked by Cerberus into an investigation. One of the best features of Mass Effect 2 is the choices you can make and the consequences that transpire from each decision made. These choices consist of choices via the impressive conversation system and also choices in your actions; will you rescue someone at personal cost and risk or leave them to their fate? Will you punish a criminal or let them go free? Will you push someone out of harms way? Will you scare and innocent? Every decision has affects on your characters personality and how they are perceived. If you have still got your save game from the original then decisions you took there will carry on into this game. Much of Mass Effect 2 Collectors Edition revolves around recruiting new members to your squad to help combat the menace of the Reapers. Each of these new recruits will need a problem solved for them before they join you on your quest. This is another improvement on the original Mass Effect, in it your squad was assembled right from the start. The pace of the game is very good and the missions are well made and unique, you do not get the sense that you are doing the same thing over and over. The wonderful cut scenes and cinematics on display combined with the story really give you a sense of involvement.

BioWare has refined the skills and special abilities too. Weapon specialisation has been removed and the amount of weaponry and armour at your disposal is also lessened. Some might not like this fact but it helps the game focus and you spend less time picking through the items and more time playing the actual game. In the original your weapons had unlimited ammunition and you gained skill points to use on each weapon, thusly most players would concentrate on one or two weapons and put achieved skill points into making the weapons better and they would ignore the other weapon choices, which made them a bit pointless. In Mass Effect 2 you will need to make use of all the weapons at some point, some situations will require the use of a certain weapon. No longer do you have unlimited ammunition, each gun has an ammo count so when you run out with one gun you will need to change over to something else that has ammo. You will be able to stock up on ammo from fallen adversaries, a similar method to the First Person Shooter genre. Your health is regenerative, much like recent FPS games, and you will need to spend time hidden in cover for it to regenerate. This addition combined with the new ammunition system makes the battles more intense and the repetitiveness of the original game is now a thing of the past. Unlike the original where there would be a check against your weapon skill and other stats every time you fired your gun when you aim and fire at an enemy you will hit them, if you’re a good enough shot. Your weaponry and armour can be upgraded by exploring planets for resources, this is achieved via your space sip, the SSV Normandy SR-2, which you have control over and allows you to scan uncharted worlds.

Mass Effect 2 features amazingly detailed worlds filled with life. Amazing original creatures and characters; all complete with a full back story and a purpose of being. This is also true of your elite squad; each one that you hire has an in-depth back story and purpose. They converse with each other just as the populations of the worlds do, they discuss problems and they talk about you and your actions. The worlds feel like they are truly alive and you will become engrossed in this highly interactive universe.

Since the 1990’s BioWare have been at the forefront of the RPG genre. All the major RPG titles over the past decade and a half have been made by BioWare, Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, Planescape Torment, Neverwinters Night, Dragon Age and more. Their history in this genre shows through and they have vastly improved over the original Mass Effect and have produced a stunning piece of work. This is defiantly one for your collection and it leaves us wanting more, hopefully Mass Effect 3 won’t be too far away.

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Tags: console games, Mass Effect 2 Multi Platform, Mass Effect 2 Multiplatform, Mass Effect 2 PC PVD, Mass Effect 2 Reapers, Mass Effect 2 Review, Mass Effect 2 Shepard, Mass Effect 2 Xbox 360, pc games, Video Games, xbox games

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