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Edited on Wed Feb-03-10 01:06 AM by Hong Kong Cavalier
Meet the new crew. Not the same as the old crew.
I get it now. I actually get it now. While my cynicism and disappointment with Mass Effect were numerous (see previous review) now that I've had a chance to play through Mass Effect 2, I understand what Bioware is doing. Mass Effect is intended to be a trilogy of games, and with the release of Mass Effect 2, the picture has become clearer. While the gameplay styles are quite different between the two games, almost everything is very familiar to those who have played Mass Effect.
That's the keystone of enjoying this game. I will admit that ME2 is a fantastic game, I can see how the plots are woven together. How the stories are shaping up. How the choices you made in ME impact scenarios in ME2. And it's safe to assume that those choices I made in ME2 will ripple throughout to the final installment of this trilogy.
The ship looks the same, but this is a new trip.
Gameplay in Mass Effect 2 is considerably different than the first installment. While Mass Effect was considered to be an rpg-shooter 3rd person hybrid, ME2 is more on the action side than rpg. There are less powers to pick, and no skills whatsoever. No more worrying if you can't hack a wall safe or PDA without the skills. Each of those tasks is accomplished with mini-games that actually make sense for the tasks, but are simple and enjoyable. Much, much more enjoyable than the “Simon” style of “hacking” in the first game.
Weapon skills are limited to the class you pick, and while you are allowed to import a Mass Effect save game, you do get a chance to “re-boot” your character at the beginning and pick a new path. Don't like how your character's going in the game? Once you snag a researcher, and you will get one, you'll have the opportunity to re-do your character points if you wish.
Combat is much more dynamic and action-driven, but you can still pause the combat by holding down the SHIFT key and then sending out commands. Do this. Often. The AI for your squad is improved, as is the AI for your foes as well. And since people can't shoot through walls, you'll want to make sure you take cover all the time.
Hail! The gang's...mostly here.
I will admit that the diversity of characters in Mass Effect were some of the most enjoyable parts of the game. In Mass Effect 2, there's that. And much more. The team you assemble has nearly doubled in size, and so has the vast majority of supporting cast members. Bioware didn't skimp on the talent, either. Not only have Tricia Helfer and Michael Hogan from Battlestar Galactica joined the cast, but you'll also hear Claudia Black, Carrie-Anne Moss, Adam Baldwin (Firefly fans will get a kick out of that one), and yes, that is Martin Sheen as The Illusive Man.
Nearly all of the characters you encountered in the first game will return, but only a few of them will rejoin your team. And as is Bioware's tradition, the main character can become...involved with a number of members of your team. Strangely, in something of a backtrack from Dragon Age, the only romances one can engage in are heterosexual or lesbian romances, and while Bioware is who I would consider one of the more GLBT friendly companies in terms of tackling the subject, they've decided to shy away from more controversial scenes in Mass Effect 2.
Ooohhh...pass the popcorn. This one's getting good.
Not only has Bioware fleshed out the cast with about a hundred voice actors, but they've polished up the game as well. I originally played Mass Effect on the Xbox 360, but then tried it on the PC. The PC version was...buggy, to say the least. It tended to crash after 15-30 minutes of play, and while it ran smoothly, it was rather annoying to have to deal with. Especially during long missions.
Not so with Mass Effect 2. Bioware developed the PC and Xbox version simultaneously, and it shows. Everything runs smooth, the graphical details are sharper and even more refined than the first game, and the animation for the characters is...even more fluid.
Besides the highly enjoyable animations during the combat, the conversation pieces are quite cinematic this time around. I've always hated talking to people in Bioware's games, because it usually means watching characters stand around and talk to each other like they're in a low-budget soap opera. Not anymore. Characters pace, they gesture, they lean...they act. And that's not all: during conversations, it's vital to pay attention, because at times you can interrupt the flow of conversation with paragon or renegade actions; for example: during a cutscene when talking to someone at a computer console, you get the opportunity to interrupt them. If you do so, Shepard pulls his (or her) gun and shoots out a monitor.
Your journey will take you from the Citadel to the Krogan homeworld and even to the Quarians' moving Flotilla. The scenery is nothing short of magnificent, and the dynamic scenes in populated areas look...alive.
And in the end...
The finale of Mass Effect 2 all depends on how well you're prepared for the final mission. You can explore uncharted worlds, scan the surfaces for rare minerals, and send down probes to mine them. Research items you've acquired on your quests can use these resources to upgrade your ship, your weapons, your team, and yourself. The survivability of your squad...even yourself, at the end of the game depends not only on how much you've prepared, but who you pick for specific tasks.
Some characters are better than others at certain aspects of the game, and paying attention to their strengths and using the proper people at the right times will keep your team alive.
And yes, it is completely possible for everyone..and I mean everyone to die at the end of the game. Including you.
In summary, I cannot recommend this game any higher. Everything that I was annoyed with in Mass Effect is gone, and everything they added to Mass Effect 2 has made me an immense fan of the story. I can't wait to see how this all ends in Mass Effect 3.
See you around the galaxy.
Addendum: Be on the lookout for two very specific Easter Eggs. One's with Tali. The other...well...pay attention to what they're selling at a shop on the Asari planet of Illium. Fans of Minsc will know what to look for.
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