Mass Effect 2 (Value Games) reviews

While not the most original title to grace the gaming world, ME2 delivers brilliantly on all fronts. What impressed me most was the impeccable detail given to this vast universe. The combat is near perfect and graphics faultless.

ME2 gives the player considerable control over their character, the plot progression and more importantly… the romance. With too many choices to make in a single play through, you'll definitely be back for more!

All I have to say is OMG if you loved the first one or are just a fan of RPG's in general then this is a must have. The presentation is fantastic 10/10. Game play is much smoother(less technical issues) and you get into the action a lot quicker. The best part is you can import your character from the first Mass Effect and you get bonuses + the decisions you made reflect on the story. The game is never the same each time you play.

Can not wait for the third game!!

ME2 is a detailed role playing game. It also happens to be the best plot driven over-the-shoulder shooter I've ever played. Imagine the combat gameplay of the old Dark Forces games from Lucasarts combined with the plot of Joss Wheedon's Firefly TV series (yes, it's that good – though not quite as funny), voice acting from the cast of Battlestar Galactica (and half of Hollywood), and the atmosphere of X3 Reunion and you have an idea of how this game will impress you.

This game is deeeep. Your crew members have believable back stories, relationships progress and your game choices actually matter. One wrong decision and the lives of people hang in the balance – people who you really come to know over the course of the game. At one point I realised that I'd made a terrible error of judgement, but the consequences were only made apparent several days later when I discovered that time actually passes in this game and it was far too late to do anything. I paid the price for the rest of the game and this will likely affect the story of ME3 also – but life goes on and there is often no “right” choice in ME2. It is also refreshingly long, with time to explore and build relationships with all and sundry along the way. The level designers managed to keep the player (and team) pointed in the right direction most of the time without giving you the feeling of being “walled in”. This is a lot more than can be said about most action games these days.

The best example of the over-the-shoulder RPG genre I've seen to date. Five stars.

An absolute gem of a game not to be missed. Immersive story-line with well developed characters and while a bit old now, stunning visuals that can be customised to suit most modern machines. Players are sure to develop a favourite character. This game is a must play if you are considering purchasing ME3 when it is released in November. Don't be fooled by the “Classic” tag on the game, nothing is left out, it just means the manual is on the disc rather than in hardcopy. Go for it.

This is one of those few games that gives you adrenaline rushes. Especially if a huge mech is slowly approaching while you hide behind cover with a shotgun with increnary ammo at the ready. The HUD is easy to use, the graphics are amazing, and it is so much smoother than ME1, not to mention the great plot. What gave it the final star was, (to those who were annoyed in ME1) There are no ELEVATORS!

This is the second copy of Mass Effect 2 I bought – the first was a Collectors Edition, and this second purchase shows just how much I enjoyed the game. Bioware has done a great job with Mass Effect 2, and I'm glad for their success in the third-person shooter genre. Note that I said third-person shooter (which I shall abbreviate to TPS for convienience) rather than role-playing game.

Onto the good things, now. The graphics look great, and run well on a reasonable system. I'm using a 1080p monitor, and I notice no choppiness with my HD5770 (roughly on par with the HD4870, if that helps). A small criticism: I noticed that tears look like blood. Atmosphere is amazing – the whole game is a whole lot darker and edgier than the last. This feel can get tiresome when you realise you can't see the corners of the room you're in because it's so atmospheric, though.

Sound is generally stellar, with the soundtrack being superb, and the voice acting being amazing, with the exception of the male Shepard, who talks in an incredibly deep monotone. I still stand in the lower level of Afterlife listening to the music, I enjoy it so much.

At it's core, Mass Effect 2 is a shooter, not an RPG. It has no inventory system, few side-quests, a poor main quest, and its level design leaves much to be desired. In terms of the main quest, the main objective is to collect squad members in order to attempt a ‘suicide mission’. That's pretty much what the box says. What it doesn't say is why the hell you're going after these particular people. You don't stumble across squad members, like in the original Mass Effect, or Dragon Age: Origins; you do missions to recruit them, which generally involve fighting lots of mercenaries for almost no reason whatsoever, while having nothing to do with the main plot at all. I wouldn't mind the missions so much if they actually varied in anything other than scenery, though. Level design is poor, predictable to the extreme, to the extent that when you see cover ahead, you know you're about to be attacked. Unlike the ‘main plot rule’, this applies to every single mission you do. No exceptions.

The scientist's mission is the only exception to this ‘main plot rule’, which has a small mention of the main antagonists, who have apparently instigated the trouble you need to trouble-shoot. Even this is not followed up, leaving you to continue with your ‘cookie-cutter’ missions. I know there was the recession and all, but the lack of good side missions really get on my nerves.

What all my complaints come down to is this: there is no continuity. There is no reason why Shepard needed to be brought back from the dead. Anyone could have done what she did in Mass Effect 2. Shepard isn't so uber that she's the most powerful fighter in the universe. Missions don't lead onto each other, and there are no deviations from the plot layed out ingame after the compusory tutorial mission. We see brief cameos from people in the original – enough for Bioware to claim that it's a sequel, but no more.

I seem to have a love-hate relationship with Mass Effect 2 – on one hand, I truly enjoy the universe Bioware has created, and the few RPG elements left, but the shortcomings are major: Incredibly linear level design, poor plot, and most importantly: no continuity, both in terms of the series and the game itself. Because of all these, I cannot give this more than a 7/10 rating.

I get a bad taste in my mouth every time I play. What truly saddens me is that it could've been so much better. Instead, it is a game of missed opportunities.

Well, I had been eagerly anticipating this game since I heard about it. Having finished ME 3 times and thoroughly enjoying it, I wanted to do it again but the story was well known to me by now.

So after getting my hands on this, I convinced myself I would still catch up on the TV programs I hadn't watched and only play this half the time. I should've known better!!

The opening scene pulls you into the story straight away, wondering how the heck they are going to explain/sort what has happened. And I have to say that it's done extremely well – you sci-fi buffs will love it.

The gameplay has been refined and even reshaped in some areas – in my opinion, an improvement. A great array of weapons and upgradeable options should satisfy most players, as well as ship modifications which add to the feel of being in total control of the game. YOUR ship, you do things YOUR way.

As you build your team, along the way they request your help with personal matters – as you'd think, helping your team can only benefit you in the long run, and adds to the sense of loyalty. Whether you choose to be a nice guy, or a bad-ass is again up to you, and the developers have added in a nice touch of ‘instant’ good or bad reactions to given situations – which makes the game feel very real and almost like this is all taking place somewhere in the universe, in actuality.

You can't land on, and explore planets any longer to the same degree as in ME, but there are still some that you have to go to for missions. These are a lot of fun, and as usual have their own rewards.

Graphics and gameplay are really impressive, and extremely lifelike. Let your mind go wild with some of the locations you visit, it's easy to do.

I'm not finished it yet, but I'm sure it won't be long at the rate I'm playing it. And knowing that there is a ME3 in the works (mentioned in the ME2) is very exciting too.

One of the best games I have ever played – BioWare are definitely one of my favorite developers, and their style suits the genre I thoroughly enjoy playing.

BUY IT !!!

When I first heard of ME2 I was skeptical at first because I didn't know whether it would live up to the previous games high standards, with its infamous elevators, but when I first installed it and imported my old paragon from the previous game I was hooked, I could barely put the game down and take a break. The story is compelling and carries well, when it starts picking up pace near the end you just cant stop. I don't want to spoil anything for anybody but at the end I was so stoked at the happenings that I immediately started another play through to see if i could do it better All in all I give this game a 5/5. A must play.

This game is moving more towards a third person shooter than an RPG. But its all good, they've heavily improved the combat sequences, and whilst this game is character driven than plot driven, its a good game. With all the promises of DLC in the future, this one should keep you entertained till ME3 comes out.

Pretty good game, amazing price and nice to have it quickly thanks to Mighty Ape's fast delivery.

Great game at a great price … installation from DVD was painful though and I ended up downloading a no-cd crack as this game requires the DVD to be in the drive while playing … so old school. I wish this had a steam or even Origin key so it can be downloaded and played easily.

I try not to buy into massive hype behind video games, but I do not regret buying Mass Effect 2. After seeing it on a great sale here, I decided to cash in and check it out. A week later I bought the other two Mass Effect games.

RPG up there with the best

My first exposure to the Mass Effect series. It was good. I then played Mass Effect 1. It was good. now they have Mass Effect 3.

My advice, start at Mass Effect 1, because if you have never played it you are quite possibly in for a treat. Assuming you are the right demographic.

A great game that improves upon its predecessor; this is one to have if only for its part in Com. Sheppard's sto­ryline but also for its gameplay.

Really good cinematics throughout the games, and it's fun that you get to make decisions throughout the game. But the character customization doesn't seem to be deep, otherwise i'll give it a 5 star!

This is another example of a bioware classic.Great gameplay,great story and looks awesome.Buy it.

Great little or should I say big game … Great game play and graphics … Can't wait for Mass Effect 3

Warning to all, read the technical specs carefully! Where it states ‘video card not supported’ it means ‘extremely unlikely to work.’ I have spent hours searching the internet for why it crashes on start-up. It almost always boils down to the graphics card.

Better than ME1 but loyal to the concept. Really worth importing your ME1 save files to continue your old character. Totally noob friendly though if you want to start with this game.

The combat is really fun, lots of choice, lots of replay value. New tech weapons.

No roaming planetside in the 4×4 though :( also lots of cutscenes but thankfully they are short.

Picked this up on sale and have to say it is quite enjoyable. One of those games to tick off the must play list at some point. Graphically still looks good and some of the cut scenes are really captivating. However… I've still not been able to get any service from the EA online component which leads to an error message every time I try to load a game. Also after palying for about 5–6 hours I'm struggling to find the motivation to pick it up again. Still worth picking up if cheap!

Excellent game!!! My second favourite game ever!! Halflife 2 is still first, but only just.

Great story combined with FPS

With an engaging story, likeable characters, and an epic plot, Mass Effect is a must-play for FPS players, RPG lovers, and story buffs. The game isn't light on your computer, and you've got to have a decent PC to avoid the longer load times, but the visuals are well worth it. Even on the best systems, the load times are heavy, and were my biggest gripe with the game.

The game is most enjoyable if you've finished the first Mass Effect, and still have your save files – Getting them working might require some online research, and if you've lost your old files there are places online where you can find save files with characters that made the same choices you did. The game is a little confusing for those new to the franchise, but the codex is great for filling any gaps in your knowledge – If you don't mind wading through a library of information.

The combat is definitely the shining star of this game's planetary system, and every character choice you make impacts heavily on the combat – You'll find yourself eager to play through a second and third time, using different allies and improving different skills. The hacking and mining minigames pale in comparison, and often feel like an unnecessary time sink, but after a few attempts you'll find yourself blazing through them without thinking.

With many hours in the core story, enough varied side missions to keep you entertained, and a pile of replay value, Mass Effect is an excellent title.

Good game, many levels, good graphics. Little bit buggy (can get stuck in mid-air with nowhere to go), but frequent “check points” so not a big problem. Relationships with the crew you recruit depend upon which choices you make, so would be worth going back through again and seeing what changes.

Very impressed with this game so far. It takes everything that was good about the first game and improves on all the not so great stuff. The graphics are very clean and its easy to slip into the atmosphere of the game and feel you are in a living breathing world. If you have a save game from the original game you can import your character and most of the major plot decisions you made will be carried over. This makes me incredibly excited to see how Mass effect 3 turns out.

If you played the first Mass Effect then this is a must purchase and even if you haven't it is still highly recommended.

The main hook for me is the many decisions you make that can affect the game and whether to be paragon (good) or renegade (bad). All the decisions add up and will have an impact on the storyline and ending.

basically, bioware took mass effect 1, fixed all problems and added a whole lot of new stuff. Very really crashes, alot of new really unique missions, as well as plot carry overs from ME1. Very different, expect a little ME1, with a whole lotta new. Strongly recommend.

I will be very brief,

The game had a very griping story line that will keep you interested to know more and see how it will end. Graphics are not the best you can get now days, but good enough. Game play similar to Crysis, but much more evolved and allow you to control two team members to change drastically the encounters outcome. The tutorial/tips system is very helpful and not intrusive. Your relationship with team mates can be altered depending on what choices you make in the conversations, which effect their performance and abilities. I recommend this game to those who enjoy first-shooters with a lot more extras.

I have SC2 and ME2. Too me they're both great games with good story lines but ME2 just delivers everything better! From the flow of the story to actual gameplay. Easily on of the best games i've ever played!

Easy peasy review – looks great, plays great. Story decent as a stand-alone game, good enough even if you haven't played the first of the series however I did get the feeling I would have been more immersed in the universe had I played through the first Mass Effect.

Very very pretty.

This game is fantastic. The story is ddictive and if you played the first it continues on very well.

I would recommend that people actually buy both and play through the entire experience

One of my top games of all time

Mass Effect 2 is a FANTASTIC game. It took everything from Mass Effect 1 and made it better. The gameplay, the graphics, the story – all were improved from the first game. Bioware are the masters at story telling and Mass Effect 2 certainly doesn't disappoint. Every decision you made in ME1 flows through to ME2, those decisions can come back to haunt you or congratulate you depending on what decision you made. It's a highly addictive game and I was able to get 40 hours of gameplay from my first play through and with Might Ape's awesome price for this game it's a pure gold purchase!

The story becomes more personal and in depth as you play through this epic space-faring game. Intense firefights and tricky decision making litter the game

After finishing the first Mass Effect a couple of times I was hanging out for this one! Once I had imported my character from the prequel I cracked straight into ME2.

The game is an absolute blast to play, it starts epically and hardly ever slows down. The games visuals are superb and I never had any frame rate drops or other technical problems. The conversation system is very similar to the prequels and has an added element where you can interrupt people as their talking with some really cool outcomes.

The game plays out like a block buster movie and once you start it is very hard to put down, I had many late nighters because of this. Even if you dont usually play this type of game I assure you that you'll like it a lot.

More games should be made to this high standard, can't wait for the next one.

Excellent game, they fixed all the stupid game play issues in Mass Effect 1, like no ammo, useless AI, poor interaction with objects. ME2 is far superior in graphics and gameplay. It's only failing is the strange direction they took the storyline.

A brilliant game! The voice acting and conversation system is superb.

Some claim that it has lost some RPG elements but I think they are just not understanding that RPG's are evolving from the old “spend 2 points in agility to equip that sword” style. The point of RPGs is that you have a character that you can shape yourself and Bioware have allowed you to do this with many options and with more depth than any other game in ME2. Your conversations and interactions with other characters and your actions towards them truly do govern your ability to survive or die (permanently) during the final stages of the game.

Some people say that the story doesn't make sense and that there is no reason for bringing shepard back or recruiting his squad etc. These people either didn't graduate from kindergarten or just didn't pay any real attention to the storyline whatsoever. ME2 does deviate slightly from the main repear storyline a bit and concentrates on a different species called collectors who are thought to be interacting with the reapers. There is also great continuity in that you see the results of your actions in the first game. On Ilium alone you see the results of your actions on the colony worlds noveria and feros in ME1.