Mass Effect 2

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I had a lot of problems getting here to write this review. It wasn't that I needed to focus how to justify a ten out of ten score, TheGo's first ever, on a game that still has a few flaws in its design and programming otherwise. And it wasn't how to construct the article itself; where to begin on such an in-depth game that has just about every element in it polished to a mirror-shine without spoiling it for those that have yet to play it? No, the problem I had with starting this review is that I never wanted to stop playing Mass Effect 2, analyzing each character the way the game had to offer, take on the next mission and see what the antagonists had in store, get further in the mystery of Cerberus and figure out if they were really on my side or not, see if I could survive the Suicide Mission, or to see what little Easter Egg was lying in store for the next settlement I found.

Mass Effect 2 is a gaming masterpiece. It is not only a title that does well enough to stand on its own, but when coupled with the first Mass Effect, brings a genuine Space Opera's second act into absolute fruition. This is more than just a game where you just shoot aliens and save the galaxy, it's an experience meant to be cherished.

In order to really enjoy what the game has to offer, it pays to try out the first Mass Effect for one play-through. Sure, there are a lot of technical issues and nit-picky features of the first game that get cleaned up for the sequel, but it's still an enjoyable title that has a huge impact on how you play Mass Effect 2. You can import your character from the first game into the second, and this not only includes his face and a slight stat boost, but every decision you made in the first game as well. Did you let the Council die in the fight against Sovereign? Choose to save one teammate over another? Beat up that creepy thief? You'll constantly be reminded of these decisions and how they panned out over time. You're not just playing Mass Effect 2's story, you're continuing the first Mass Effect as well. Sure, the game gives you the option to skip this and make up choices to reflect the actions of the first game, but actually playing through the first game is an experience in itself. This is something that has never been done so well before.

Gameplay-wise, there are sure to be some disagreements as to whether or not they improve over the first title, but they are satisfactory in their own merit. There is a higher emphasis on cover this time around, but the game is always happy to oblige. Controlling each teammate's individual actions is just as easy as ever, only now you can direct them to take cover in a specific spot rather than have them blindly follow you like in the first game. Instead of using guns with infinite ammo that simply overheat when used too much, your weapons now use what are called "thermal clips," or essentially ammo packs. It is somewhat aggravating at first that you are sometimes forced to switch out your favorite weapon for one you're not comfortable using, but at least this time your class is not forced into weapon proficiency. Each class comes with three weapons that can be used with equal skill, so you're not forced to carry a shotgun if you're an Infiltrator.

Customization also takes a hit, but at least it doesn't get in the way of the perfect storytelling and good gameplay. You team levels up differently in Mass Effect 2, being given experience points only after completing missions or small tasks rather than by grinding out bad guys. Skills now only have four levels to go up, but each level takes a respective amount of Points to unlock (1 for Level 1, 2 for Level 2, etc.), so spending points must be done wisely. Upon reaching Level 4, you get the choice to evolve that skill, giving it one of two possible enhancements. Biotics and Techs, basically the magic in this world, return and also offer limiting development, but at the same time are all extremely useful in combat. Deploying a combat drone in the middle on an incoming swarm, or throwing a thermal grenade to take out three people at once, is essential to giving you the upper hand.

Weapon and armor customization is all but gone, but luckily Bioware still has something for that niche of players. Instead of outfitting each teammate with specific armor and weapons and choosing all sorts of ammo and enhancements to go with them, weapons are bought, and armor can be enhanced using mined resources. This is great, because controlling the first Mass Effect's inventory system was a pain at best. You will be spending a significant amount of time mining for resources on uninhabited planets, playing a minigame that involves moving a radar-like cursor over an area and scanning for materials. It does seem like a waste at first, but hitting the jackpot on a resource-rich planet is absolutely satisfying, especially when the game says that you earned enough to get that upgrade you were looking for. You can also upgrade the new Normandy with a better scanner for these minigames, or enhance its weapons and armor for the later missions of the game.

To get the most out of each of your squadmates, you have to earn their loyalty. This usually involves character-specific missions, which not only give you incentive to level up and earn more material, but opens up new dimensions to the characters you're involved with. You learn more about them, bond with them in their struggles, and share victory when you changed them for the better. Earning their loyalty unlocks a special power, and with some investment, allows you to learn it as well. The diversity of these missions never get boring, either. Garrus' mission plays out like a "Buddy Cop" film, whereas Thane's mission plays out with a stealth element in mind. There are also missions with espionage, trickery, sabotage, and tying loose ends with each character. Sure, it's an easy way to squeeze out about a hundred Gamerscore and some new skills, but it's also a rewarding experience to interact with the game in this way.

Interaction and emotion get played with a lot in this game. Mass Effect 2 is a lot like Bioshock--one of those rare games that were not only fun to play and have a lot of backbone to its presentation, but also in the sense that it makes you feel for the characters. Creating an emotional bond in this game is not unlike feeling for a strongly-written character in a novel, or watching in horror as a long-time and well-liked character from a TV series gets killed off in a heroic fashion. But Mass Effect 2 doesn't do this with only one or two characters like it did the first time, it does it with dozens of main and minor characters. Each of these characters have so many dimensions to them, and don't fall on weak character building schemes to get by.

In the end, you'll find a title that you don't want to put down, that you want to finish in one sitting even though you should've gone to sleep three hours ago. Considering that Bioware continues to up the ante as the game goes on without having to sacrifice anything in the process, for an enduring 40-hour epic, is simply outstanding. Sure, there are a few graphical glitches that could cause you to stand on the ceiling or the sound could get cut out for a moment or two, and hardcore fans of the first Mass Effect might be cringing at some of the combat changes, but the end product's positives outweigh the tiny negatives by a huge advantage. There's action, strategy, resource manage, and the best storytelling that gaming has to offer. It doesn't matter if you're into RPGs, or Action games, or any other kind of games really. Mass Effect 2 is, without a doubt, something that everybody should enjoy, and already a strong case for 2010's Game of the Year.