Rutheless, but gets the job done.
Mass Effect 2 – quite simply, is the best game I’ve ever played. Sure, there are still some rather annoying bugs, but pretty much all the crappy mechanics and gameplay from the first game have been changed and altered into one what has to be the most engagingly cinematic storyline and combat in the genre – if not the industry. Mass Effect 2 lets you carry over your save file from the first game, and in doing so makes the game so personal and unique that the it becomes this all engrossing and immersive experience.
Spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t finished the game don’t cry about me ruining it for you.
Sheppard from Mass Effect 1.
During my first play through of Mass Effect, I took the options and choices that I myself would have personally done. Sure, my Sheppard ended up being one renegade badass, destroyed the council and all that, but he killed Saren and got the job done, dammit. No quicksaving and reloading, if something happens story wise that I didn’t want – oh well, it’s staying on my save.
More machine than man.
Importing your character from ME1 is the greatest thing ever. Sheppard is the most personal video game character ever – aside from Mass Effect’s conversation tree (which is still the best and most cinematic way to display choices in a game), Bioware really has excelled at making Mass Effect 2 a complete continuation of the first game. In this regard, Mass Effect 2 stands so far above any other role playing game it’s almost silly.
Grunt is rather one dimensional, but he manages to be as intriguing as Wrex.
Sheppard is my character – a majority of the choices from the first game, good or bad, carry over to the second and there is an instantaneous reconnection with the character. It is difficult for me to play through the game again with another Sheppard, just because it’s so hard to identify with him – hearing Sheppard’s voice from someone else just doesn’t feel right to me. It’s like if all of Mark Hamil’s lines in Star Wars were dubbed over by Bruce Willis.
Flamable! Or inflamable - forget which; doesn't matter!
Mass Effect 2’s cast is pretty impressive – some party members like Miranda and Jacob are rather boring and pale in comparison to two of my favorite characters – Thane and Mordin. Mordin is a Salarian scientist who worked on the Krogan Genophage project. He talks fast and to the point, and he’s not afraid to take matters into his own hands in order to accomplish his goals. He’s a fascinating outside of his speech impediment, and I spent a large amount of time asking him questions and getting to know him better – not because I wanted to advance the story, but because I wanted to know more about him.
Thane is amazing.
Thane is dark and sophisticated, and one of the deadliest assassins in the galaxy. Every one of Thane’s lines made me feel as if they were meant to be coming from the pages of a comic. The framing of the camera, the dramatic music and pauses – Thane has such a depth to his character that he could star in his own movie and it would still be amazing. Everyone one of his conversations could be broken down to look like a comic book panel, and I find that impressive.
Martin Sheen steals the show when he's on screen.
Martin Sheen’s “Illusive Man” – pretty stupid name, but I thought he did a great job playing him. He maintains an aura of mystery and intrigue, and hopefully he’ll return in Mass Effect 3.
The animations in this game are absolutely top notch - the best you'll see.
There is so much Mass Effect 2 does right – and hardly anything that it does wrong. Of course, after a couple more playthroughs I’ll probably be able to nitpick all the problems it has – mostly bugs. Regardless of how good the combat is or how improved the side missions are, or how much Bioware streamlined the experience, Mass Effect 2 is the most cinematic game I have ever played, and if you haven’t played it or the first one you’re really missing out on one of the best space operas ever told.
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