In Mass Effect 2, players are cast as Commander Shepard – humanity’s foremost soldier on the intergalactic stage. After one of the most dramatic openings seen in a game, Shepard is recruited by the secretive paramilitary group Cerberus to investigate the disappearance of human colonies across the galaxy. To confront the unknown menace, Shepard is tasked with assembling a team of deadly operatives. Mass Effect 2’s narrative is as much about the characters as it is the over-arching threat to humanity. The central plot is delivered skilfully, gradually building the pace to an epic final showdown. Nonetheless, the process of recruiting characters to your cause and gaining their loyalty is perhaps the best part of the story.
Mass Effect 2’s cast of supporting characters is standout, each with their own unique personality and stories. The development of Shepard’s crew over the course of the game creates an intriguing and relatable experience. Players accompany their team on individual side-missions that not only flesh out the characters, but also touch on issues such as family and morality. Mass Effect 2 engages you on a level rarely seen in video games, with countless poignant and genuinely funny moments. Without doubt, you will be hard-pressed to find a more compelling game than Mass Effect 2. The PS3 version of Mass Effect 2 also includes the mesmerising downloadable chapter Lair of the Shadow Broker, which almost rivals the main story in narrative quality.
Shepard’s enemies meet a fiery end.
Perhaps the greatest flaw with the PS3 version of Mass Effect 2 is the inability to establish the series’ proper context. With Microsoft holding the publishing rights to the first Mass Effect (hence why it well never be released on PS3), BioWare has instead created an interactive comic to bring players up to speed. The comic compensates somewhat, with a 20 minute rundown of events in the original Mass Effect. The comic includes excellent artwork, but just isn’t a wholly effective in conveying the Mass Effect back-story. Furthermore, the inability to import your Shepard means the PS3 version is far from the definitive version of the game. Nonetheless, BioWare has done their best with what is available, and new players are gradually eased into the game, albeit with a lack of context.
Mass Effect 2 is a perfect hybrid of role-playing and action. On one side, players craft the progress of the story. After creating your own male or female version of Commander Shepard with extensive customisation options, you are thrown into a choose-your-own-adventure experience in which every scenario can be approached differently. In a nutshell, Shepard runs the show – you can be righteous or wicked in the vast conversation system and the choices you make during missions. The Mass Effect galaxy is vast, filled with countless characters to interact with and worlds to visit. The story progresses as you see fit, with companion missions and side-quests driving the central investigation into human abductions. Decisions made over the course of the game affect the entire story and relationships you form with supporting cast. The plethora of options available to players makes for a highly personalised role-playing experience. Play your cards right, and a romantic liaison may even be on offer.
Players are also responsible for customising their class of character, weapons, armour and even the Normandy, Shepard’s flagship and base of operations. Some customisation elements are limited in comparison to other titles, and though hardcore RPG gamers may lament the lack of options, it makes for a greatly streamlined experience. The first Mass Effect was notorious for inventory management, but the sequel’s barebones approach saves becoming bogging down and instead advances you straight to the action. Several mini-games are also present throughout the game - hacking makes for a quick distraction, and mining planets is less frustrating than previous iterations thanks to a quickened interface.
Not even Shepard can escape the zombie scourge.
The action elements of Mass Effect 2 resemble Gears of War and Uncharted. The third-person cover-based gameplay is highly polished and includes the ability to direct your squad around the battlefield. The class of character selected at the start of the game influences the style of play. For example, soldiers have the greatest arsenal of weapons and can go in all guns blazing. Alternatively, you may choose to be more strategic with tech skills – which, for instance, can strip an enemy of shields – or biotic abilities, that give you Force-like powers such as levitating foes off the ground. These skills, as well as your companions, can be upgraded as you advance levels, making for highly devastating and tactical encounters. With a robust interface for directing the flow of battle, combat is always smooth and engaging, and versatile enemies and bosses ensure the game seldom becomes repetitive.
Mass Effect 2 is a beautifully designed game, with an unrivalled attention to detail. BioWare have expertly created a sprawling galaxy begging to be explored. Each location you frequent is different from the last, from the seedy slums of a criminal space station to the beautiful architecture and inviting atmosphere of the galaxy’s political hub. Between missions, the Normandy serves as delightful home for Shepard and his crew, with a functional galaxy map for navigating the stars.
For every dollar invested, Mass Effect 2 offers countless hours of entertainment. Unlike titles such as Red Dead Redemption, the game is not unnecessarily elongated. Including the bundled downloadable content, Mass Effect 2 can easily take over forty hours to complete, not to mention the vast replay value owing to the number of different character classes and countless story deviations. The only segments to lament in the game are the initial install, which takes over thirty minutes, and the epic loading times. Save files becoming corrupted, for which BioWare is quickly developing a patch, have also been widely reported.
Mass Effect 2 shapes up just as well on PS3 as it did on Xbox 360.
The PS3 version of Mass Effect 2 is built on an updated graphics engine, but visually, it is mostly indistinguishable from its Xbox 360 counterpart. Nonetheless, even with assets that are over a year old, Mass Effect 2 on PS3 is still one of the best-looking console titles on the market. This version benefits from more detailed textures, making characters and environments appear livelier. However, the frame rate can slow on occasion, and the lighting is off in a few sections. These, however, and only slight blemishes, and are never enough to hinder the overall experience.
Sound remains one of the strongest elements of the Mass Effect series, with the composers creating an immersive and cinematic soundtrack. The music always seems to communicates the correct pace and themes at a given moment. Action sequences are frequently punctuated by resounding orchestral pieces, while memorable soundtracks help create more intimate moments. Sound effects are wonderfully created, and first-class voice acting expertly conveys the sentiments of your fellow characters.
Mass Effect 2 on PlayStation 3 is a brilliantly crafted package, with production values equal to the Xbox 360 version and excellent value courtesy of the included DLC. Technical blemishes and context issues are but minor flaws, with the game conveying an engrossing narrative and featuring some of the most memorable and engaging characters. The polished third-person gameplay, outstanding voice-work and stellar visuals add to the refined role-playing experience, with an entire galaxy of content waiting to be discovered. Mass Effect 2 exemplifies the importance of story in video games, and is obligatory playing for all.
You kidding? The combat in the first is more RPG than the 2nd. The comic is good, but it doesn't do the full story of ME1 justice. You really do need to play the first game to truly experience the story.
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