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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
A pinnacle of the Genre and Video Games in general....
By Andrey Dravinski
I generally tend to avoid waxing poetical on reviewing video games as I often have a tendency to let my blubbering enthusiasm cloud what I'm trying to get across when writing a review.That being said however, I can safely say that Mass Effect 2 has quite possibly one of the best, if not best production value and polish of any game I have played within the last 10 years. Everything from graphics, sound and voice acting, all the way down to the actual writing and little tidbits that flesh out all sections of the world show that Bioware was exceedingly thoughtful and fairly meticulous with developing a futuristic world upon which we strap on the boots of everyone's favorite Space Marine: Commander Shepard.Firstly, a bit of intro to the story, without going into Spoilers:The game picks up 2 years after the first game finishes. The Citadel is recovering from the massive attack that it suffered by Saren at the end of the game. The Citadel Council, in an effort to quell mounting rumours about the Reaper threat, officially claim that the attack was only the work of the Geth and a Rogue Spectre. Meanwhile several Human colonies and outposts just start vanishing altogether. The send Shepard to investigate what they believe is Geth involvement behind the attacks, when something goes horribly, horribly wrong...Story:Fantastic on all fronts, particularly if you take advantage of the Mass Effect 1 character import feature. You can definitely see how Bioware took great pains to take many of the choices, even the not-so-obvious ones, and transfer them to the new game. Choices you made in the first game can show up here! Everything from your Love interest, to how you talked down (or talked down to) Conrad Verner, can transfer over and creates a wonderfully rich experience that really shows the results of your actions from the first game. Writing is also top-notch, the writers definitely take a darker tone here with this installment, creating a much more harrowing and "desperate" situation for Commander Shepard and his crew. Each of your crewmates are very well fleshed out and you should definitely take the time to do their story quests to really get to know them better, you'll definitely appreciate it more later in the game. :)Controls:Controls have been tweaked a bit, particularly with regards to squad commands and some combat interaction. Overall controls have definitely been tightened up, but there are a few niggles. Namely, you can't toggle crouch anymore, no idea why that necessitated a change (Game is not balanced for lean a la IW Modern Warfare 2?) but you can only crouch if you're taking cover "sticky-style" like the gears of war series. Sprinting also feels a bit more stiff and robotic, but otherwise that is my only real complaint with the combat system. The Tactical Command Screen (Think Pause from Dragon Age Origins) returns and is nicely laid out at the bottom of the screen. Multiple menus collapse within one another, and they really make efficient use of screen real estate. The UI definite got a major design boost here, going for a "less is more" approach that works quite well.Combat:Ah yesh, my favorite part. Everything across the board got a nice graphical facelift and many abilities were streamlined and a definite "beefier" feel pervades the majority of the abilities and weapons. The inclusion of the "heavy weapons" systems also adds a nice degree of combat fun that I felt was sorely lacking from the first game (Honestly, the logistics of taking down a Geth Armature with an assualt rifle? No thanks...) Everything, even the pistols and the SMGs feel like the do a great deal of damage thanks to the new flash and sound effects they emit. Enemies also now react with targeted damage, so a headshot will actually mean something now (even on a Krogan! Le Gasp!) and they'll actually react to different hits in different ways. Tactically, the game has also gotten more complex.Gone are the days where you could spam singularity and Lift and casually full auto your assault rifle or pistol into the air like some perverted pigeon shoot. If an enemy is shielded, you can't use Biotics on it(!), if an enemy is heavily armored, you've got to wear down the armor before you can do special attacks on it(!). This definitely makes each fight more intenseThey did bring one change that sort of retcons the lore a bit regarding the weapons from Mass Effect 1. This or course, has to do with the introduction of "Thermal Clips". These are basically ejectable heatsinks that do away with the old "Overheat" mechanism that the first game used, and in doing so, does away with the whole "infinite" ammo thing as well. Now you have to police thermal clips from downed enemies or around the levels; if you don't have enough thermal clips, you can't fire, even if you have ammo. Thankfully they are fairly plentiful to make it not an issue.Update(02/03/10) - Having now beat the game already and I've had time to really digest the game fully, I've come to the conclusion that the thermal sink system could have been handled a bit better with regards to certain firefights.There are several times where, playing as a class that isn't a soldier, I've run out of ammo with one weapon and have been forced to switch to another less effective weapon simply because I could not police enough heatsinks from the downed enemies (I'd say on average 1/3 enemies actually drop thermal clips), or, there'd simply be more enemies than I had bullets period. (This is particularly apparant with classes that are heavily geared towards using sniper rifles. Most of the sniper rifles only have 10-13 bullets to shoot, and in many encounters, you're fighting against waves and waves of enemies that frequently exceed that amount).All in all, I'd wish the thermal clips were a bit more plentiful, or give us the opportunity to say, "take the risk" and keep firing the gun without heatsinks and have it have an increasing chance to overheat and go "boom" on us if we're really desperate. Small potatoes all in all, but it definitely came up enough times to warrant a mention.Atmosphere, Extra Bits, and Fish! Oh My!Bioware definitely made a concerted effort to really flesh out the world and worlds you travel in. The sidequest planets that were so dull in the first now have also received a complete overhaul and now contain detailed and engaging missions of varying lengths. Many tie back into the central storyline, so taking the time to do them is worth your while.Update (2/3/10) - I have to say they really did a fantastic job fleshing out the worlds where you traipse about in, however they still feel a bit....compartmentalized...I suppose. For example, The wide open expanse of the Citadel for the first game is replaced with just a few shop districts and the human embassy and...that's it...while it did kind of add to the tedium in some parts during the first game, being able to run around and explore was a nice feature that I feel is a bit missing in this iteration of the series.You can now customize your default armor with new colors/designs and even upgrade it too! They definitely did away with the old inventory and weapons system in almost its entirety. Now it focuses more on finding a few new models of weapons and gear and doing upgrades directly to the armor system itself.You can upgrade specific sections of the armor similar to how many fantasy RPGS operate so this is definitely a welcome change here. Ammo upgrades that once were coming out of my ears late game in ME1, have more or less been relegated to skill upgrades rather than items and can be swapped in the Tactical Command screen with but a mouseclick.Update(2/3/10) - This perhaps I am most torn on my feelings regarding these changes. On one hand, I really did hate the inventory system from the first game. Once you got spectre gear, everything else was literally vendor trash aside from a few omni tools, amps, and ammo mods. After each mission, I'd literally have to spend 10-20 minutes digging through my inventory omni-gelling/vendoring each item one at a time to clear things out.Now however, there literally is NO inventory system to speak of. You get about 2-3 weapons in each category (heavies I've gotten up to 7), and "items" are more resigned to purchaseable upgrades, for your weapons "systems", the ships "systems", and your armor "systems" (though admittedly, there are a few scattered armor plates you can purchase from shops, far less than I would have liked.) I guess it's going from one extreme of having a cumbersome bloated inventory system to other that extreme of having virtually none at all is what makes it so jarring, I would have preferred a bit more variety in the weapons and more weapon stats to appeal to the tech junkie in me.Other small things like taking care of your own fishtank in your private quarters (for the truly OCD at heart heh), to tracking how your teammates feel about you all contribute to creating a truly immersive experience that Bioware should be commended for.Collector's Edition GoodiesSo yeah, the collector edition, is it worth the extra 10 clams?Overall I'd say yes. You get an extra special armor and gun, the making of DVD, a nice little artbook (don't open it for the love of god until you get much later into the game, it's spoilertastic), and the Dark Horse Comic that was released about Liara T'soni Part 1. Overall the items themselves are kinda meh, but for only [...] bucks more I consider it a good deal.So! for the TL:DR folks at home, here's a summary:Pros:-Exceptionally Written, Bioware has raised the bar as far as what an engaging sci-fi storyline should be.-Well developed characters. You actually WANT to find out more about them, rather than just doing it for another shiney...-Stunning graphics. Considering they're using the exact same engine as the first, the improvents are quite impressive.-Very smooth and streamlined inventory management and armor/weapon customization-Deep engaging game, you'll easily get 30+ hours out of this game, especially on your first playthrough-I love the connections they made between this game and the first. The character Import feature should be featured on any sequel typed RPG released in the future, it makes your world so much more convincing and enjoyable.Cons:-Collector's Edition is a bit meh in content. Yeah it's only [...] bucks more, but I was hoping I could get the soundtrack or some extra out-of-game item rather than more DLC, but that's just small potatoes in my book.-Movement and combat interaction is a bit clunkier than the first mainly due to combining and streamlining several abilities. This is probably more a case of me trying to get used to the system after playing Mass Effect 1 so recently.-DLC management, especially for launch was pretty haphazard. There were so many different codes and several of them didn't work for several hours (Cerberus Card, I'm looking at YOU).Once again, a spectacular game in nearly every respect. Aside from tiny little niggling complaints, this is Video Game Perfection right here.Update (2/3/10) - Once again, in spite of all the additional niggles I found issue with in playing the game to it's conclusion, I still think it's a masterpiece in nearly every respect. The tension the game exudes on you, particularly when you get closer to the final mission is something that I haven't had in a long time (even F.E.A.R didn't have this much overall tension just more of the BOO! shock value in it). Bioware should be commended for a quality product that they have put out, and I can't wait for Mass Effect 3.
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
AN EXPERIENCE JUST SHORT OF A HOLODECK!
By NeuroSplicer
Now THIS is what I call immersion!In the past, Bioware has shown a tendency to surpass itself whenever developing a sequel (remember how much better Baldur's Gate II was compared to I - and the original Baldur's Gate was already excellent). Well, compared to this second installment, the original Mass Effect now seems like a typical space-RPG/Shooter.Having played the original game will not only help you better insert yourself into Commander Shepard's boots (you can actually import your original character form the first game - choices and all) - but also appreciate the improvements more.The story is darker and (without spoiling it) the choices harder to live with. Combat has been streamlined, with tactical decisions (using cover, taking the high ground) now being more important, without the game loosing its shooter character though.Both the visuals and the sounds are exquisite. Not only are the graphics really impressive (and I am running WinXP so that is DirecX-9 mind you) and the sounds dramatic but the voice acting and dialogue integration should be taught in game-design seminars.In this second installment there is no actual inventory to speak of (more on this later), loading times are shorter and better concealed (remember those endless elevator rides? Now forget about them), and accessing your special abilities menu has been simplified.In a true BIOWARE tradition, the available companions all come with their own special abilities and personal stories to explore.The selection of armor and guns has been reduced. There are about 15-20 guns to choose from and very limited loot. The guns I do not mind. Personally, I'd rather have a small number of well designed and fun to use guns at my disposal than a myriad of guns that in the end make no real difference (ahem...BORDERLANDS?).Having said that, I missed the thrill of looting and upgrading my equipment (not to mention having a real inventory). I mean, that is a great part of the fun in any cRPG! I am not holding my breath but maybe one of the upcoming DLCs could take care of that?And if I am to open the improvements-request file, how about speeding up those minigames in the next patch?Finally, you also get a personal apartment aboard Normandy (an excellent idea introduced in FALLOUT-3) which you can equip with various ornaments and personal items (from fish for your aquarium to a...space-hamster - I call mine Boo).As for the DRM scheme used, the game does contain SecuROM but (similar to DRAGON AGE and FALLOUT-3) it only uses a disk-check. MASS EFFECT 2 neither requires any online activation nor does it limit the numbers of its installations. It is not the best solution possible but it is a compromise I can live with. If you still find this objectionable, you can now make an informed decision.This COLLECTOR's EDITION includes a Mass Effect Redemption No.1 comic book, an exclusive in-game weapon and armor, a Cerberus Network card granting access to bonus content, an Art-Book and a DVD on the behind-the-scenes/making-of the game. Is it worth the extra charge? Well, that is a personal choice I guess.All in all, I found MASS EFFECT II to be a beautiful RolePlaying Movie of a game, an immersive cinematic-action shooter with limited loot and more story than equipment choices. In other words, MASS EFFECT 2 may not be a pure cRPG or a cRPS experience (Dragon Age: Origins and Fallout 3 still rule those segments) but nevertheless it is an experience well worth its admission price.Go for the light-sensors Boo! Go for the light-sensors!!(no, I am not explaining that...)HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
A must get title!
By Carfax
Although I bought the game from Gamestop rather than Amazon because I wanted the Terminus armor/Black Storm gun, I felt compelled to write a review on Amazon, as I usually do my online shopping here.This game is absolutely incredible! The story sucks you in like a black hole, and hours can pass by without you noticing it!The gameplay in ME2 is FAR superior to the original game, with a greater emphasis on real time combat, but without sacrificing the great story elements that made the original a classic.Graphics are noticeably improved as well, with more detailed textures and better lighting and shadow effects.The only complaints I have are minor, such as not being able to toggle your helmet, and the game not having AA as an option..Overall though, this game is absolutely incredible and I highly recommend it..
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As a Gamer
Four Wasted Hours
