Mass Effect 2

 PC
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5738 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5,081 out of 5738
  2. Mixed: 426 out of 5738
  3. Negative: 231 out of 5738
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  1. DonC.
    Jan 30, 2010
    7
    It's a good game that i can't get into. maybe it's me. or maybe it's the clunky combat system. controls and movement are not as refined as uncharted 2. maybe it's the graphics. yeah, excellent facial models but a lot of jaggies and bland textures everywhere else (even on 16x AA). or maybe it's the mini-game, good thing they are optional, and the sometimesIt's a good game that i can't get into. maybe it's me. or maybe it's the clunky combat system. controls and movement are not as refined as uncharted 2. maybe it's the graphics. yeah, excellent facial models but a lot of jaggies and bland textures everywhere else (even on 16x AA). or maybe it's the mini-game, good thing they are optional, and the sometimes funny AI (both friendly and enemy). the best feature of ME2 are story, voice-acting, and atmosphere. all in all, no way this game is a 10 or maybe it's just me.… Expand
  2. JMDubya
    Mar 10, 2012
    5
    Mass Effect 2 is the definition of hit-and-miss. Story-telling is great while the story itself was barely satisfactory. Fighting the various Geth incarnations was thrilling, where swatting the husks on the Collector's ship was frustrating. That mission is at best a fly swatting simulator, at worst, the laziest level design I've ever seen. If you want Sci-Fi story, watch Fire Fly. Grab ME2Mass Effect 2 is the definition of hit-and-miss. Story-telling is great while the story itself was barely satisfactory. Fighting the various Geth incarnations was thrilling, where swatting the husks on the Collector's ship was frustrating. That mission is at best a fly swatting simulator, at worst, the laziest level design I've ever seen. If you want Sci-Fi story, watch Fire Fly. Grab ME2 if it's in the bargain bin.… Expand
  3. CommissarPetitt
    May 23, 2013
    6
    The RPG elements have been removed almost entirely of this game and makes this game only a third person shooter. The story in the game is full of as many plot holes as a cardboard box after you took a tommy gun to it, and the characters, although good, have no purpose of being there for the most part. if you want a nice TPS this game is for you, otherwise just find something else you willThe RPG elements have been removed almost entirely of this game and makes this game only a third person shooter. The story in the game is full of as many plot holes as a cardboard box after you took a tommy gun to it, and the characters, although good, have no purpose of being there for the most part. if you want a nice TPS this game is for you, otherwise just find something else you will thank yourself latter. There is no connection to the main plot and the events that transpire are pointless. How this game is considered one of the best ever is beyond me but for a TPS it is passable. Overall a 6/10 a above average game that can only be recommended to some shooter lovers of games like Gears of War.… Expand
  4. Meshelle
    Feb 5, 2010
    7
    I came into Mass Effect 2 with high expectations after totally LOVING the original. Bioware, unfortunately, took a few steps in the wrong direction for me. Story? Epic quality was still there from the old game. A wonderful ride and build up. Looking forward to ME3 and seeing how this all works out. Gameplay? Ehhhh...I have a few issues with it. The gun battles had far more the feel of I came into Mass Effect 2 with high expectations after totally LOVING the original. Bioware, unfortunately, took a few steps in the wrong direction for me. Story? Epic quality was still there from the old game. A wonderful ride and build up. Looking forward to ME3 and seeing how this all works out. Gameplay? Ehhhh...I have a few issues with it. The gun battles had far more the feel of other console shooters than what most would expect from other RPG type games...no health bar, no needing to heal your health, you just...healed if you found cover and stopped getting shot. It makes the battles easier, but...I'm not all about the easy. inventory. Whyyy did you do this Bioware? Looting and customization and the like are bread and butter! Without those, it's just another shooter where you're trying to keep your ammo up and money rolling in. I love looting, never knowing what you'll pick up next, how well it'll protect you, mod your guns/armor, or kill the enemy even better. Current 'inventory' system or lack thereof is a definite lose for me. Flying around the galaxy and scanning planets. C'mon!! This is tedious and boring! Shepard is the commander of the crew...Joker is the pilot of the ship. You should be able to say 'scan this planet' and they do it. You should be able to say 'go here' and it happens. You should not need to fly the ship and manually scan the planet with the equivalent of a metal detector. Fails on both of those issues. The Mako. I loved it. it was awesome! They completely removed that element from the game...no new vehicle to drive around in and explore...just the shuttle to ferry you from the ship to the next shooting battle and back. Ammo - I have no issues with having ammo in the game. But it really doesn't make sense to implement that story-wise after Mass Effect, except for the heavy weapons. Yes, I know they're 'disposable heat sinks'...but that really doesn't make a lot of sense. Why go with a gun that could run out of things that let it shoot, when you could get a model two years older and shoot the night away? Also, the whole thing of 'everyone' using universally sized heatsinks is just...laughable. Different aliens developing different weapons...even if you say it all became sort of conglomerated together after they became spacefaring, how do you explain the more advanced or isolated alien spacefarers using 'the exact same thing'?? Minigames...great change from the previous hacking/bypassing mechanic. All good there. Overall, giving it a 7 for storyline, overall playability, and the fact it doesn't seem to have come out before it was ready like so many games seem to do nowadays. Lost points for some of the changes they've implemented and really hoping they don't continue down this change path for ME3.… Expand
  5. TimD
    Feb 6, 2010
    7
    This felt like just another console port. Most of my time with this game was spent in that tedious planet scanning mini-game trying to get an upgrade which was a total waste of time. A few of the mini-games did not even have mouse support for moving the cursor which was ridiculous (you had to use WASD to move it). The story was really good, but the decisions you made felt like they had no This felt like just another console port. Most of my time with this game was spent in that tedious planet scanning mini-game trying to get an upgrade which was a total waste of time. A few of the mini-games did not even have mouse support for moving the cursor which was ridiculous (you had to use WASD to move it). The story was really good, but the decisions you made felt like they had no impact on the outcome (You prevent your comrade from shooting a guy she is really pissed off at, some other chick immediately kills him). Replay value is extremely low and the game is short. If you absolutely have to play this game, don't do it on PC, play it on an Xbox.… Expand
  6. JustinR.
    Mar 4, 2010
    7
    I enjoyed the game, but I'm shocked at some of these 100 scores. Great graphics, sound, and voice acting. RPG elements downgraded...less skills per class, and seriously shortened skill trees that make you "save up" points in order to skill up, unlike the first ME where you can spend your points as soon as you get them. Planetrary Scanning for resources is about the worst mini-game I enjoyed the game, but I'm shocked at some of these 100 scores. Great graphics, sound, and voice acting. RPG elements downgraded...less skills per class, and seriously shortened skill trees that make you "save up" points in order to skill up, unlike the first ME where you can spend your points as soon as you get them. Planetrary Scanning for resources is about the worst mini-game I've played. Other mini-games (hacking, opening doors) are ok as they do not seriously hinder gameplay. The planetary scanning is almost there to make the game seem longer than it is.… Expand
  7. KillerJ
    Apr 15, 2010
    7
    Huge disappointment. Totaly idiotic story, which takes you nowhere in the end so you spend 30+ hours just to get to the same position you were in the beginning. Story which you have to follow by working for mass murderers and terrorists. Story, where 80% are loyality missions... No RPG just a really poor TPS, idiotic minigames, no armor for squadmate, only two weapons of each category and Huge disappointment. Totaly idiotic story, which takes you nowhere in the end so you spend 30+ hours just to get to the same position you were in the beginning. Story which you have to follow by working for mass murderers and terrorists. Story, where 80% are loyality missions... No RPG just a really poor TPS, idiotic minigames, no armor for squadmate, only two weapons of each category and the most "brilliant" innovation, the ammo system. This all ending with the most funny final boss I have seen in a decade. Sorry Bioware, but an overgrown Terminator may scare 5 years old kids, other people just have to laugh... ME2 is the biggest disappointment I have ever had in my 20 years of playing games. But this will teach me not to preorder games in the future and to to believe all that nonesce and hyped 10/10 reviews.… Expand
  8. acac
    Jan 29, 2010
    7
    To put the rating in perspective. Star Control 2 9/10 ME1 8/10 ME2 7/10 GTA Vice City 9/10 Another World 9/10 I think it has taken a turn from "action-adventure with light rpg elements" to "action-novel with light adventure elements". I'd like to still say it's a 8/10 but it doesn't feel as engaging as ME1, the art/lighting direction/atmosphere (sounds,music) seems weaker. To put the rating in perspective. Star Control 2 9/10 ME1 8/10 ME2 7/10 GTA Vice City 9/10 Another World 9/10 I think it has taken a turn from "action-adventure with light rpg elements" to "action-novel with light adventure elements". I'd like to still say it's a 8/10 but it doesn't feel as engaging as ME1, the art/lighting direction/atmosphere (sounds,music) seems weaker. I installed ME1 at the same time to do some comparison and ME2 on-planet locations or the stations aren't quite as compelling. The battles have improved and I like that I could start on the most difficult setting immediately as the first game was rather easy except for couple boss fights, ME2 with Insanity the difficulty is just right. Where in ME1 there was too much easy money and drops of weapons, here atleast with the Insanity setting I feel compelled to get tech upgrades. The down side to this is the new planet scanning minigame, which is ridiculous. First, the scan speed is relative to mouse sensitivity and second it's just completely boring. Star Control 2 did everything* better (*where comparisons can be applied, mainly the exploration/scanning and non-linear feeling story).… Expand
  9. ScottG
    Jan 31, 2010
    7
    It's a decent game, but not really a roleplaying game. Most of the traditional elements of RPGs, like exploration, character development, and loot have been "streamlined" out of the game. What's left is a very pretty third-person shooter with a good story. In sum, great for shooter fans, but RPG fans might want to think twice.
  10. D.S.
    Feb 1, 2010
    7
    I don't feel the need to repeat what has said by millions of gamers and reviewers, so I'll just cut to the chase, which explains why I gave this game an 7 rather than the 10 that I gave ME1. As I have played 100% PC and only PC games in all my life, I am able to smell "CONSOLE ORIENTED GAME" from ten miles away. This game is so rank of CONSOLE that PC gamers will need to plug I don't feel the need to repeat what has said by millions of gamers and reviewers, so I'll just cut to the chase, which explains why I gave this game an 7 rather than the 10 that I gave ME1. As I have played 100% PC and only PC games in all my life, I am able to smell "CONSOLE ORIENTED GAME" from ten miles away. This game is so rank of CONSOLE that PC gamers will need to plug their noses with cement to avoid the that vile substance of CONSOLE from creeping up their nose and leading to the explosion in to tiny gooey bits of one's poor head. EVERYTHING about this game has console caked all over it like a raging infestation, from the uber-clunkazoid controls and the lack of any engaging or all-too-useful RPG elements, to the lack of any challenge whatsoever (on any difficulty). In short, if youre looking for an RPG with interesting, fluid gameplay and a satisfying array of RPG elements, you might want to avoid. Otherwise, if you're looking for a general run-of the mill shooter with a nice blockbuster story, pick it up, you wont be disappointed.… Expand
  11. LarryL
    Feb 19, 2010
    7
    All in all it is a bad shooter with role playing elements. The AI is bad, both friend and foe. Fighting is easy; just stay in cover and wait to shoot, regardless of the difficulty level...BUT the story is good, and the NPC:s are interesting. Space exploring quite boring, just point and click your ass off, but every planet has a detailed inscription and they make sense. Kinda. But to say All in all it is a bad shooter with role playing elements. The AI is bad, both friend and foe. Fighting is easy; just stay in cover and wait to shoot, regardless of the difficulty level...BUT the story is good, and the NPC:s are interesting. Space exploring quite boring, just point and click your ass off, but every planet has a detailed inscription and they make sense. Kinda. But to say it's a best game ever made...hope not. It's not even a game at times, just an interactive movie.… Expand
  12. SteveM
    Feb 26, 2010
    7
    It's an okay game, but nowhere near as good as ME1. The shooter mechanics are better this time around, but the story and RPG elements are stripped down. Character progression and customization is pretty much none-existant. The writing is pretty terrible. They used a different writer for ME2 and it was pretty obvious. While the characters are good and the dialogue is excellent, the It's an okay game, but nowhere near as good as ME1. The shooter mechanics are better this time around, but the story and RPG elements are stripped down. Character progression and customization is pretty much none-existant. The writing is pretty terrible. They used a different writer for ME2 and it was pretty obvious. While the characters are good and the dialogue is excellent, the storyline is garbage and I probably won't bother playing through ME2 again anytime soon.… Expand
  13. ChrisR
    Feb 9, 2010
    7
    First off, I want to say I'm not a hater or a lover of this game. Reviews of this game have been astoundingly good but honestly I didn't find it to be anything special or groundbreaking. ME2 continues Bioware's legacy of great RPG games with a deep, intriguing storyline as always. However, it doesn't flow as well as past Bioware games. The one word that pops into my First off, I want to say I'm not a hater or a lover of this game. Reviews of this game have been astoundingly good but honestly I didn't find it to be anything special or groundbreaking. ME2 continues Bioware's legacy of great RPG games with a deep, intriguing storyline as always. However, it doesn't flow as well as past Bioware games. The one word that pops into my head while playing this game is "formulaic" because every level is designed the same. Every planet you go to, it's "find some person" or "kill this dude", which results in you having to do some trivial task. The task usually is just "survive from point a to point b." As you travel, it's one hallway leading to an open area...guess what it's an ambush..another hallway, hallway, open area again, elevator, repeat it all again. I don't really know how to describe it but it just feels super repetitive. Yeah each "mission" has a story that goes with it but in terms of gameplay/level design it's all identical. On the bright side though, I loved the fact that there are 10 members in your party (11 with DLC) and each is very well developed. Gun selection is surprisingly diverse for an RPG...close to 25-30 weapons in all. Oh and unfortunately for PC gamers, the UI has been overhauled and is more friendly for consoles so yeah. Mass Effect 3 is in production but the ending of ME2 is really lame...it's like ME3 is really ME2 part 2. ME2 didn't have an ending really like ME1 did. I know my thoughts have been a little scattered throughout this but hopefully my review sheds some light on the strengths and weaknesses of this game. If you take anything out of this review, take this advice: don't expect anything groundbreaking or you'll be disappointed. It's definitely a fun game but a 94/100...really?… Expand
  14. RobC
    Mar 3, 2010
    7
    Awesome graphics, images and voice talent...but only decent game play...it's just that it's very 'you have to go here and do this' to continue through the game. Additionally there is no real freedom of movement, you cannot jump over things or climb to different locations unless it is coded into the game. It's just too limited, maybe I'm spoiled by MMOs, the Awesome graphics, images and voice talent...but only decent game play...it's just that it's very 'you have to go here and do this' to continue through the game. Additionally there is no real freedom of movement, you cannot jump over things or climb to different locations unless it is coded into the game. It's just too limited, maybe I'm spoiled by MMOs, the Elder Scroll series or even the Baldar's Gate 2 but you cannot leave the coded area of play which basically gives you one option to get to the end. Brilliant to look at yet lacking in several ways...I'm really surprised to see so many '100' scores on the official critics page.… Expand
  15. Ben
    Jan 29, 2010
    7
    Its cool but when you play it A LOT it gets so boring you hardly have any guns but yes i know great graphic but miner glitches need to be fixed and also the catacters,Some of the level are awsome and difficulty is awsome so a give it a thumbs up and player out there you should get it and all and all its Thrilling and Fun i Give at least a 6.5-7
  16. ChrisW
    Feb 15, 2010
    7
    Mass Effect 2 was a really good game, but it was too linear. In that game, you were basically told what to do every step of the way and the discoveries made on the important missions didn't really carry as much weight as the did in ME1. In ME1, you really didn't know what to expect, but in ME2, you knew what you were up against every time. I also dislike the leveling system. But Mass Effect 2 was a really good game, but it was too linear. In that game, you were basically told what to do every step of the way and the discoveries made on the important missions didn't really carry as much weight as the did in ME1. In ME1, you really didn't know what to expect, but in ME2, you knew what you were up against every time. I also dislike the leveling system. But overall graphics and gameplay is really good.… Expand
  17. frax_bigos
    Mar 28, 2011
    7
    Too many differences between the first and second chapter of this title may disorient some Mass Effect's fans. The game is drastically action-oriented and it should be classified as an action-rpg.
    The game experience is fun and immersive. It has many strengths, but also some weaknesses that puts it still away from being a true masterpiece. Pros:
    -Great storyline: worthy of Star Wars    Too many differences between the first and second chapter of this title may disorient some Mass Effect's fans. The game is drastically action-oriented and it should be classified as an action-rpg.
    The game experience is fun and immersive. It has many strengths, but also some weaknesses that puts it still away from being a true masterpiece. Pros:
    -Great storyline: worthy of Star Wars series
    -Detailed background history
    -Great character psychological profiles
    -Fluid and intensive action
    -Immersive scenarios
    -Good sound-tracks
    -Many hours of game

    Cons:
    -Too easy, even the most difficult levels of play
    -Some graphical glitches in the dialogues
    -Really poor and boring exploration feature
    -Few and anonymous sub-quests

    Love it or hate it... two thumbs up for me!    … Expand
  18. HighwayUK
    Sep 5, 2011
    7
    Expands the story very well, although heavily spoilt by amount of DLCs that you have to buy to make the game even halfway decent in length. Paid DLCs is a ripoff no matter how it's marketed, the game is VERY short even with them all.
  19. fastblood
    Mar 6, 2012
    5
    Though expanding the universe and bringing in more colorful characters, the overall story falls flat on its face when it comes to wrapping the game up. The cheapness and lack of interest from the team during the final moments is almost palpable. There is a decent amount of character customization, but far less when compared to the previous installment. Exploring the different planets is aThough expanding the universe and bringing in more colorful characters, the overall story falls flat on its face when it comes to wrapping the game up. The cheapness and lack of interest from the team during the final moments is almost palpable. There is a decent amount of character customization, but far less when compared to the previous installment. Exploring the different planets is a fun affair, but lacks solidness.

    Also, the fact that the game is bogged down by countless DLC snippets of storyline leaves a bad taste in this gamer's mouth. I am all for more content, but the majority of it felt as though it were being ripped out from the main game on the disc. The days when video games were video games, instead of constant sources of income for companies that already have billions of dollars are long, long gone.    … Expand
  20. grazr
    Sep 13, 2012
    5
    The game is good and a must play for ME fans, but the move from non-ammo count firearms to ammo seems almost nonsensical as it completely changes how one sees the unique futuristic weapons. Scrounging for ammo is one of the least enjoyable aspects of shooters. Game was kinda ruined by the constant purposeful delaying of the final mission and the environment (galaxy) seemed so much moreThe game is good and a must play for ME fans, but the move from non-ammo count firearms to ammo seems almost nonsensical as it completely changes how one sees the unique futuristic weapons. Scrounging for ammo is one of the least enjoyable aspects of shooters. Game was kinda ruined by the constant purposeful delaying of the final mission and the environment (galaxy) seemed so much more claustrophobic for some reason. Due to the above issues the game feels more of a grind than the first.… Expand
  21. Kalfear
    May 18, 2013
    5
    In short to keep with game play ability length. Mass Effect 2 is a Action third person shooter first and foremost.
    ANYONE thinking ME2 would continue on the deep and compelling Universe and story lines set up in Mass effect will be greatly disappointed. Even the save game transfers from ME are mostly meaningless as all the carry over choices (with exception of 1 but ill not ruin that    In short to keep with game play ability length. Mass Effect 2 is a Action third person shooter first and foremost.
    ANYONE thinking ME2 would continue on the deep and compelling Universe and story lines set up in Mass effect will be greatly disappointed. Even the save game transfers from ME are mostly meaningless as all the carry over choices (with exception of 1 but ill not ruin that here) are minimalized and finished off with NO future adventure or interaction (beyond a short conversation here and there).

    In short the Open World Storyline design of Mass Effect is removed and replaced with a singular Linear Third Person Shooter design.

    now none of that is terrible (well other then short length of game, thats unforgivable), if thats what you went in expecting. Sadly EA marketted this game as the spiritual and RPG expansion of the first to up box sales at release. Typical EA.

    Mass Effect 2 is a Sci Fi third person shooter. Its has semi interesting characters and you even get to decide who you romance (WOOT, from choosing if a alien speices lives or dies in ME1 to who you get a black screen with in ME2).

    In the end, If you like the Mass Effect Universe and like shooters, you will like this game
    Just dont go into it thinking your getting the next installment of the original Mass Effect RPG. That franchise stopped production after #1    … Expand
  22. WyattTheAwesome
    May 30, 2013
    5
    Mass Effect went from being a wonderful, epic RPG that was very unique, to a poor cover based shooter. I don't hate cover based shooters, but Mass Effect 2 did a terrible job with it. The enemies are predictable and do the same damning thing every time that it just becomes boring! I can't recommend this game, but it doesn't mean it was bad. Just very disappointing if you played the original.
  23. Osmium
    Jul 30, 2013
    7
    By far the best part of the series. Mass Effect 2 offers great RPG gameplay within a very well-designed world, tense atmosphere, interesting characters, and some choices and decisions that really matter (at least to some extent). Half of the game is exploring, talking to people, making decisions. I have to admit that I never really very much liked the other half: The actual gameplay isBy far the best part of the series. Mass Effect 2 offers great RPG gameplay within a very well-designed world, tense atmosphere, interesting characters, and some choices and decisions that really matter (at least to some extent). Half of the game is exploring, talking to people, making decisions. I have to admit that I never really very much liked the other half: The actual gameplay is rather dull, but for a third person cover shooter, it does provide a decent gameplay experience. It's a bit disappointing that this is actually the part of the series with the RPG elements dumbed down the most (a lot more in ME1, a bit more in ME3), but still a very good game with excellent storyline.… Expand
  24. CoreGamer1408
    Dec 19, 2018
    7
    More polished than the first game, but more dumbed down combat, inventory, exploration than the first game. Replacing the fun real time land exploration in a buggy with a crappy space probe mini game on board the command ship just hell and no. Story felt weaker and just a filler until they could release the next game.
  25. Sirius
    Sep 29, 2011
    7
    Mass Effect 2 is a game based on races and universal proportions. It is a Third-Person Shooter with RPG elements and levelling system, seem similar to Bethaseda's Fallout 3 and Gears of War. It is developed by Bioware and Produced by EA.

    To start off with the advantages to this game brings is it's newly improved user-friendly GUI than the one previously used in Mass Effect 1 letting    Mass Effect 2 is a game based on races and universal proportions. It is a Third-Person Shooter with RPG elements and levelling system, seem similar to Bethaseda's Fallout 3 and Gears of War. It is developed by Bioware and Produced by EA.

    To start off with the advantages to this game brings is it's newly improved user-friendly GUI than the one previously used in Mass Effect 1 letting players decide their custom characters and their 'powerups' that they may use. but reductions in custom armour might disappoint fans. Bioware has introduced many optimizations, making performance better. Visuals are on a high standard, giving low-poly models a high-resol look. Gameplay is frantic and fast yet feels less of a challenge than that of Mass Effect 1, it fails to become more strategic and more Gears of War-esque fighting. Landscapes are lush and surreal giving the player or user that xenophobic feel. Artificial intelligence is realistic if a little untactical, if any player hides it does not move if it has superior damage it simply stays put on any difficulty.

    Mass Effect introduces innovative quasi-Fallout dialogue choices, giving the user to become more of a "Paragon" or "Renegade" soldier, deciding the overall afflictions decided in the running franchise. Characters have interesting backstories and plots but yet feel somewhat impersonal to the player, disrupting their curiosity to know more about the fictional characters, leaving the interaction a little dry during cutscenes, leaving players to read about them using 'Codex'.

    Mass Effect 2's minigames, while novelty in their own right, give the player larger abilities by extracting minerals for different planets, somewhat supporting the lack of customization mentioned before, the armour cannot not be changed but can be coloured to suit the players taste. Overall, I'd would rate this game a 7, it is not as good as it's predecessor ME1 but definitely improves and elminates niggles that would otherwise, frankly, irritate the player. It's lasting appeal is little though, giving the player little reason to play it again on a harder level. Difficulty is sustained well but not enough for extraordinarily hardened players such as myself.    … Expand
  26. Duderoth
    Feb 24, 2012
    5
    I'm sorry I just don't get it. I don't understand how anybody could like this game better than ME1. I guess the visual style was sleeker? People thought the controls and fighting mechanics were better? Here's what I've come to realize. Mass Effect was a great RPG, with some action/3PS (3rd person shooter?) elements mixed in. Mass Effect 2, was an action game at heart, with someI'm sorry I just don't get it. I don't understand how anybody could like this game better than ME1. I guess the visual style was sleeker? People thought the controls and fighting mechanics were better? Here's what I've come to realize. Mass Effect was a great RPG, with some action/3PS (3rd person shooter?) elements mixed in. Mass Effect 2, was an action game at heart, with some pretty shoddy RPG elements. Gone are the multiple tiers and classes of armor, with corresponding types and tiers of upgrades. Gone is any tactical setup of your squad for combat. Just spam all of the abilities you can at the enemy. Gone is a much more detailed and better implemented leveling point system. And gone is planetary exploring, which I think would have been cooler if they fleshed it out instead of getting rid of it entirely. People say the combat in ME2 was better. Not to me. I read all the codex. What they had implemented in 1 made sense with the lore. Didn't like overheating? Too bad, get a *better weapon* or *better upgrades*. Jesus it's called customizability. That's what an RPG is all about. There were some *really* cool things they implemented in 2, however. So here is the good part of the review. Just the plain fact that you could actually continue a character on from 1 was amazing to me. However, I thought ME2's characters were better than 1's anyway, so I'm glad you got to work with an almost entirely new cast. (Although they kept my favorite Quarian :D.) Planet scanning was also way better than that side quest to find minerals from ME1, and I appreciated that you could actually integrate resources you find into your ship and customizing your character. Although once again, I would appreciate more options. Finally, there were things I thought were better and worse about the story. I really liked the loyalty missions, but I think it would have been better to have a central questline instead of making the loyalty missions the central component of the game. The problem here was that the story lacked focus, as there was literally no plot up until the end when you finally did the suicide mission (which was awesome!!!) ME1, by comparison, had an extremely focused central questline, but lacked in detailing the side characters perhaps a little bit more. So that's pretty much it for this review. Overall, I think what really got to me was that they took what was supposed to be an RPG series and kinda did away with all that. I didn't appreciate that very much. But since I am all about story, I will say that Mass Effect continues to have a strong story and character design, just perhaps not at the same time. I am still looking forward to ME3.… Expand
  27. ChadW
    Feb 13, 2010
    7
    While technically the game is superior to the first game a lot of the spark was lost in the sequel. It has much improved combat, the voice and digital acting is great and the attention to character development is much appreciated. However the complete lack of acknowledgment of the previous games decisions and the removal of some of the previous games most important characters takes away a While technically the game is superior to the first game a lot of the spark was lost in the sequel. It has much improved combat, the voice and digital acting is great and the attention to character development is much appreciated. However the complete lack of acknowledgment of the previous games decisions and the removal of some of the previous games most important characters takes away a lot of the emotional attachment fans of the first game may be expecting to find.… Expand
  28. hit925
    Nov 22, 2011
    7
    This game was definately good but I didn't see as much in it as many others. It looks great and the voice acting I think is top-notch. However, while at first it seems really good, the shooting becomes a bit monotonous later on (cover, shoot, cover, shoot. I know shooting is always like that but still....). In addition, you have to gain necessary upgrades by scanning which is just sheerThis game was definately good but I didn't see as much in it as many others. It looks great and the voice acting I think is top-notch. However, while at first it seems really good, the shooting becomes a bit monotonous later on (cover, shoot, cover, shoot. I know shooting is always like that but still....). In addition, you have to gain necessary upgrades by scanning which is just sheer boredom and the game seems like such a chore at times to do side-missions for no particular reason and if you don't do them then that character of your team dies. Nowhere near a bad game, it's very enjoyable in parts, just not as great as I was expecting.… Expand
  29. Herbis
    May 9, 2013
    5
    One word to describe this game would be: betrayal.
    In order to round up a greater audience for the game, they made the game as similar to any other game out there, mainly Halo.
    RPG elements-removed, no-ammo-removed, planet exploration removed. Mass Effect 1 wasn't a pure open world game, but hey, compared to Mass Effect 2 you could call it just as open as GTAs. I mean Mass Effect 2 is    One word to describe this game would be: betrayal.
    In order to round up a greater audience for the game, they made the game as similar to any other game out there, mainly Halo.
    RPG elements-removed, no-ammo-removed, planet exploration removed.
    Mass Effect 1 wasn't a pure open world game, but hey, compared to Mass Effect 2 you could call it just as open as GTAs. I mean Mass Effect 2 is so linear, so that a monkey with a controller could complete this game on easy (you'd have to teach him to shoot and collect ammo if you'd want him to beat harder difficulties).
    Don't get me wrong, the story is great and all, but the gameplay is awful at this point. The second time I played it I used mods to make it feel more like the first game.
    Another annoyingly stupid thing is the DLCs. There are too many of them. Ok, maybe that's not the biggest problem point. They are to expensive for what they are. You wont get more than 2 hours of gameplay with each of them, but they sure cost like if they were at least 10 hours of gameplay. And the fact that the characters got released one by one after release, you had to replay the game over and over again, if you wanted to have the full experience with each of them. It's just frustrating, if you want to know every little bit of the story, which is the best part of the game.
    Essentially, this game was a big disappointment for me, and didn't feel like a Mass Effect game, at least gameplay wise. The removal of all the best stuff from Mass Effect 1, was the worst part for me, that really hurt the franchise in my eyes.    … Expand
  30. marc5477
    Jan 11, 2015
    5
    Its not an RPG. Its an action adventure like Zelda minus fun puzzles but with a complex story. Its not bad as an action adventure game but unfortunately they bore me to tears. The big problem is that I have played so many games that no story has felt even remotely original since KotOR. Since then, that story has been redone a few dozen times (Atlus I am looking at you lol). Since storiesIts not an RPG. Its an action adventure like Zelda minus fun puzzles but with a complex story. Its not bad as an action adventure game but unfortunately they bore me to tears. The big problem is that I have played so many games that no story has felt even remotely original since KotOR. Since then, that story has been redone a few dozen times (Atlus I am looking at you lol). Since stories are no longer original, I depend on RPG elements to give me something to enjoy. Without them, I get bored quickly. Even Mass Effect 1 felt like RPG lite to me but it was still good.

    That said, let me point out that there is some good here for an adventure game. Voice acting was fine, graphics look good, combat was fun (relatively speaking from my perspective) and there is a lot of content. The bad news is that without heavy RPG elements it felt like a FPS MMO (hollow). Characters didnt really have a lot of "character." Quests... well we have seen them all so nothing new here. Areas were too static and nothing from ME1 seemed to change anything important in ME2. I felt especially bored and dreaded going to the citadel. Other areas are linear which was nice for me because I didnt want to linger out of boredom.

    Overall, its a good game. It is highly overrated but sales numbers speak louder than words.

    ME1 (new IP) - 3.6m (on only PC and XBOX)
    ME2 (riding ME1 reputation) - 5.2m (on PC, PS3 & XBOX)
    ME3 (riding ME2 reputation) - 5.3m (almost no change)

    Clearly, by looking at the above. The franchise became stagnant as of ME2. If there is an ME4 I would expect sales to drop.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2010
3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
4
#4 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 55
  3. Negative: 0 out of 55
  1. Vandal
    96
    Mass Effect 2 resumes with pride the path opened by the first game. This sequel is a lesson of how things should be made.
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  2. AtomicGamer
    96
    Mass Effect 2 delivers a story that's deeper than what many novelists are capable of, and its action is better than what most Hollywood directors are creating nowadays. It's an addictive, engrossing experience that many gamers will replay over and over while they hold their breath waiting for the third game.
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  3. PC Games
    88
    A brilliant mix of shooter and role-playing, filled with great characters, excellent design, lots of action and clever dialogue. It's a shame though that Bioware did not improve the inventory and skill system of the first game, but actually reduced it even more. I really wished there were more customization options, more ways to develop and gear up my characters. But all these are merely small points of criticism, since there is so much to feel and experience in this game. Mass Effect 2 is a thrilling, emotional ride and ultimately every bit as good as its predecessor.
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