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.