Mass Effect 2 succeeds as both RPG, first-person shooter
Justin Petersen
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Focus
Set in space, 200 years in the future, Mass Effect 2 features a highly multiethnic cast; out of a dozen unique recruitable characters, only a third are human.
As with most BioWare titles, Mass Effect 2's main attraction is the beautifully sculpted universe that the player is left to explore. Unlike most role-playing games, Mass Effect 2 does not require that you speak to every non-player character to ensure advancement of the plot. Exploring large portions of the game is entirely optional, but you certainly won't want to miss it when the opportunity presents itself, if only for the immersive storytelling that accompanies even the most menial of errands. Your squad members each have a backstory that you can explore by talking with them, and in doing so sometimes discover the chance to write the next chapter. Even characters that one might ordinarily consider mundane and faceless, like shopkeepers and bartenders, have their own story to tell. The voice acting, even when it comes to nameless NPCs, is top notch. The game's cut-scenes aren't visually disappointing either: the camera does an excellent job of focusing on the action rather than remaining fixed and stationary.
As a sequel, Mass Effect 2 rewards players who played the first game by allowing them to import their old save file, which affects some character stats, and the impacts of some events from the first game do carry over. Most of the cast of the first game return in one form or another (sometimes as non-player characters), and they are sometimes introduced abruptly, which may make things a bit confusing for those who didn't play the first game. However, apart from a few awkward introductions, new players shouldn't find themselves out of place in Mass Effect 2.
Be the first to comment on this story