Mass Effect 2

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3743 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,340 out of 3743
  2. Mixed: 161 out of 3743
  3. Negative: 242 out of 3743
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  1. benoski
    Mar 11, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bioware never fail to impress me, for this game was REALLY game of the year of 2010, great characters, good gameplay mechanics and truly an epic story. Mass Effect 2 was truly a gem on my shelf and to this day remains to be one of the best games ever made in 2010. I like the way how the decisions you make in ME1 affect ME2 and how characters react to you. For example, if you killed off the council in ME1 the other races except for the human race and the your squad members will dislike you and react to your decision. The mining game is quite unnecessary but at least we get SOME reward for it like the resources we need for useful and important upgrades. The game may be a third person shooter-RPG hybrid but the weapons in this game are terrificly balanced as no weapon is powerful or weaker then each other. It's a bit of a shame you can't actually fly the Normandy but the ship is so designed and massive that you can scratch this flaw out and deal with it. The graphics are some of THE best I have seen in a video game and the cutscenes in which you can interact in are so beautiful especially the cinematic ones. The soundtrack is probably one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard of in my life. My personal favourite is "Suicide Mission", one of the best tracks I have ever heard. If you don't have ME1, you don't need to buy it, as ME2 fills you in on what has happened during the tutorial. Plus if you completed ME1 you can import your Shepard into ME2 which is a welcome feature. The DLC is also worth the money, I mean you will want to empty your pockets for the DLC in ME2. You have the SR-1 Normandy crash site, Zaeed and Kasumi as squadmates, new weapons and armor, Overlord, Lair of the Shadow Broker and the upcoming ME2-ME3 bridge gap DLC "Arrival". Oh and if you buy a new copy of ME2 you get a code for the Cerberus Network which gives you some armor and weapons, the SR-1 Normandy crash site and Zaeed. If you buy a used copy on the game, prepare to give in 1200 Microsoft points. The voice acting is also very good quality in Mass Effect 2, and the tone, pitch and overall, the lines, make good voice acting for Mass Effect 2. (Unlike Sonic 06, the voice acting was bad in that). Mass Effect 2 is overall one of the best video games to every come out of BioWare and with Mass Effect 3 coming out later this year, the series is set for a phenomenal conclusion to be remembered in years. If you don't have it now, buy it, or I will punch you in the face like I did to Khalisah Al-Jilani, a reporter in the game, but not a major character at all, but still, if you don't buy this and BAM!… Expand
  2. oboehobo
    Mar 9, 2011
    10
    I have to say that this game took me by surprise. I was expecting to enjoy it, but not as much as I did. The world (while linear) is expansive and great in variety. If you are brave enough to go and scan all the planets in the galaxy, you will find many mini-missions. Some of those lead into their own little plot giving Mass Effect's mythology a greater breadth. There are also the expanseI have to say that this game took me by surprise. I was expecting to enjoy it, but not as much as I did. The world (while linear) is expansive and great in variety. If you are brave enough to go and scan all the planets in the galaxy, you will find many mini-missions. Some of those lead into their own little plot giving Mass Effect's mythology a greater breadth. There are also the expanse of normal side-quest you can access by talking to people and exploring different places. I did about 75% of everything you could do on one playthrough and it took me around 35 hours. That is a pretty good length for am Action RPG. This game did have its flaws though. I might have given this a ten, but that is only because these flaws are very minor, and may only be here because I am nitpicking. If you want an epic story, this game does it in a strange way. There are many short stories played throughout the game as you meet new characters, but the story is only an epic tale once you complete the game. If you were expecting a "lone hero sent to save the universe" type of story, you may be slightly disappointed. The game is a great bridge that sets up the continuing Mass Effect story-line, but the game's story itself is slightly lack-luster. But remember that this is only my opinion, and you should play the game to decide for yourself.
    So...the elephant in the room: Combat. I find this form of combat to be refreshing and much, much better than the first Mass Effect's. I understand that there are some gamers out there who crave a hardcore RPG that requires an insane amount of strategy and multitasking. If your one of those gamers, you will not enjoy ME2. It's combat is fast paced, shoot-em up action, with lots of enemies and sweet effects. Think of it as Star-Trek meets Gears of War. I personally enjoyed much more than the clunky combat from ME1. But, like I said, if you want hardcore RPG combat, this isn't for you. On to conversation. If you like talking, you'll love this game. I'd say more than half of the game is conversing with other characters. If you are like me, and you explore all the options in each conversation, you will open up a lot of interesting dialogue. Morality choices are also very common in this game. They can range from something as innocent as should I turn in or let someone go to who gets to live and die. These situations can be difficult to make a decision if you become connected to your party members. This is one of the reasons I loved this game so much. Bioware has actually gotten me, an average gamer, to care about video-game characters. That is not an easy task.
    So overall, I found this game very enjoyable, and very well done. If you haven't checked this one out yet, save up and buy it. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  3. Weefz
    Mar 9, 2011
    9
    Great game that does a lot to fix the troublesome interface issues of the original Mass Effect. Incredible writing, wonderful voice acting from Jennifer Hale. Some of the add-on missions are truly moving (while others are just terrible) while the main game is is outstanding. Weapon choices do feel a little pointless and planet mining, while soothing, can get pretty dull. Thank heavens theyGreat game that does a lot to fix the troublesome interface issues of the original Mass Effect. Incredible writing, wonderful voice acting from Jennifer Hale. Some of the add-on missions are truly moving (while others are just terrible) while the main game is is outstanding. Weapon choices do feel a little pointless and planet mining, while soothing, can get pretty dull. Thank heavens they got rid of the elevator loading screens.… Expand
  4. thelawgiver
    Mar 9, 2011
    10
    This game will replace your life for a solid 40 hours. And that's if you can resist playing it again. And again. And again. Each character build is so unique, with its own strengths, weaknesses and challenges. The story is incredibly entertaining. The graphics are mind-blowing. The combat is incredibly rewarding, fun and well-paced. The level system is intuitive and thoughtful,This game will replace your life for a solid 40 hours. And that's if you can resist playing it again. And again. And again. Each character build is so unique, with its own strengths, weaknesses and challenges. The story is incredibly entertaining. The graphics are mind-blowing. The combat is incredibly rewarding, fun and well-paced. The level system is intuitive and thoughtful, eliminating the mere appearance of variety in favor of meaningful choices. The weapon/armor/equipment system is similarly straightforward, offering you the same benefits of upgraded weapons as you travel through the galaxy and gain more experience without the unwieldy and frustrating inventory interface that plagued ME1 (and Dragon Age: Origins). The controls flow seamlessly, and the combat and movement interfaces are intuitive and easy to use. There are only a couple very minor drawbacks: mining, which you need to do for upgrades, can be tedious (or it is insanely addictive, depending on who you ask); missions are too linear (but aren't we getting at least a little sick of all this Oblivion/Fallout/NWN2 open world nonsense, where you forget about the main storyline quests after the 4th random sidequest you stumble upon?); the main storyline isn't as compelling as ME1 (it's the second in a trilogy; it's necessarily transitional); the planet surface exploration is gone, and the paragon/renegade construct feels somewhat forced. But these are all very minor and often debatable criticisms of a truly fantastic and epic game. Everyone should play ME2.… Expand
  5. IF_Awesome
    Mar 7, 2011
    0
    You can stick a "W" in front of it but that doesn't make it an RPG. Mass Effect 2 is basically a glorified shooter that rips off elements from Japanese Visual Novels and Dating Sims, which these developers then mock. Mass Effect 2 also consists of some of the worst voice acting in any game ever and his really hard to take seriously due to bad voice actor choices. If this was a JRPGYou can stick a "W" in front of it but that doesn't make it an RPG. Mass Effect 2 is basically a glorified shooter that rips off elements from Japanese Visual Novels and Dating Sims, which these developers then mock. Mass Effect 2 also consists of some of the worst voice acting in any game ever and his really hard to take seriously due to bad voice actor choices. If this was a JRPG reviewers would be up in arms that, for example, when you leave your ship on a mission you can only take a few people with you, or point out how the plot basically just combines several different sci fi movie plots and is one big cliche. Apparently since it's a western game it's beyond these criticisms. This game is nothing special.… Expand
  6. HeyImBenMiles
    Mar 2, 2011
    10
    I really don't mean to overstate anything, but Mass Effect 2 may be the greatest single manifestation of entertainment in history. Oh, and the mining thing was fun too. Jokes.
  7. xLeTudex
    Mar 2, 2011
    10
    The best game ive ever played. The most enjoyable, interesting, emotional, rewarding game out there. Never in a game have the characters been so memorable, you actually care what happens to them. To be voted game of the year when it came out in January says it all. Well done Bioware.
  8. jaredmowens
    Feb 28, 2011
    10
    A game that can keep me interested for 6+ playthroughs hardly deserves a negative review. It isn't perfect, but if those are the standards expected nowadays, expect a lot of disappointment from absolutely everything. The combat is gripping and fresh. The decisions are cut and dry, but still engaging. 9.7
  9. IamTHEbeaN
    Feb 27, 2011
    9
    The game manages to improve the faults of its predecessor by adding game play mechanics and introducing the ability to import saved files form the first game.

    PROS: Firefights are vastly improved. Character and story progression is good. In game choices make an impact in story development. Different classes in game offer unique ways to play and manage to feel different. CONS: Minimal RPG    The game manages to improve the faults of its predecessor by adding game play mechanics and introducing the ability to import saved files form the first game.

    PROS: Firefights are vastly improved. Character and story progression is good. In game choices make an impact in story development.
    Different classes in game offer unique ways to play and manage to feel different.

    CONS: Minimal RPG aspects. Game feels more like a shooter than an RPG.    … Expand
  10. themoza
    Feb 26, 2011
    10
    I wish Bioware hadn't taken so much away, I wish ME 2 was less about shooting robots in the face, but then again its just a game and considering Bioware have really tried to evolve and push forward the franchise I applaud a brilliant game. Standards in storytelling have been improved, dialogue is more streamlined and combat has been tuned to something like Ghost Recon's standards. Even ifI wish Bioware hadn't taken so much away, I wish ME 2 was less about shooting robots in the face, but then again its just a game and considering Bioware have really tried to evolve and push forward the franchise I applaud a brilliant game. Standards in storytelling have been improved, dialogue is more streamlined and combat has been tuned to something like Ghost Recon's standards. Even if the game has been dumbed down to an action game with RPG elements, its still a cracking game.… Expand
  11. SuperJosh79
    Feb 26, 2011
    10
    Through replays and expansions I have put in over 100 hours into this game, and I'm eager to play more. I think this may be my favorite game of all time.
  12. BoTheMastaOfAll
    Feb 23, 2011
    10
    This game gets it right. Both Mass Effect 1 and 2 are remarkable, yet they are extremely different. I liked the simplicity the weapon system and how damage was more focused on upgrading your character rather than your weapon. Biotics are also much more fun this time around. I found it to be a good mix of rpg and shooter, just like the first one, just more tilted in the shooter directionThis game gets it right. Both Mass Effect 1 and 2 are remarkable, yet they are extremely different. I liked the simplicity the weapon system and how damage was more focused on upgrading your character rather than your weapon. Biotics are also much more fun this time around. I found it to be a good mix of rpg and shooter, just like the first one, just more tilted in the shooter direction this time around. Still takes about 30 hours to complete.… Expand
  13. Amcope
    Feb 17, 2011
    10
    Bioware has been on a roll with their RPGs. Mass Effect 2 has the story and gameplay to make most gamers nod their heads and say "This is what I play games for". The fact of the matter is, if you don't play this game you are missing out. It's intelligent and action packed. Need I say more?
  14. DaveMcAwesome
    Feb 16, 2011
    10
    The game was fantastic, and a great blend of action and RPG elements. Even without importin a save game from the first game, I was sucked into this one and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Starting a second playthrough, this time with an imported game to see some of the things I missed.
  15. Slay
    Feb 16, 2011
    10
    Absolutely one of the best games I have ever played. Great plot, amazing graphics, life like characters and the best dialogue system in gaming history. Only thing that left me a bit disappointed was the character development. It was too simple and lacked the choices
  16. Daggard
    Feb 12, 2011
    8
    For all that is done right (improved visuals, great backstorys of side characters, amazing voice talent) too much is paired back and streamlined from the original game. Almost all the of RPG elements are stripped back and simplified. Weapons and armour are limited in variety, as are upgrades to equipment. The shooter mechanics are tighted to the n-th degree, Gears of War the obviousFor all that is done right (improved visuals, great backstorys of side characters, amazing voice talent) too much is paired back and streamlined from the original game. Almost all the of RPG elements are stripped back and simplified. Weapons and armour are limited in variety, as are upgrades to equipment. The shooter mechanics are tighted to the n-th degree, Gears of War the obvious template for controls. But exploration is no longer a pillar for the gameplay. Loot is reduced to a handful of the same elements. The variety just isn't here any more. Thankfully the writing is still sharp, the dialogue improved and the characters are all interesting for the most part. I just wish Bioware would refrain from going to such extremes to make the game more accessible to non-rpg gamers...… Expand
  17. TheGreatGatsby
    Jan 22, 2011
    10
    Beautiful story, beautiful visuals, funny jokes, interesting characters, decent shooting, what's not to love? Great game, I've got to say. GOTY 2010.
  18. Shtiggy
    Jan 19, 2011
    6
    Limited range of movement and interaction on levels makes this very frustrating. I do like the dialogue options and gameplay is fun, other than what was previously mentioned. This leaves a lot to be desired and I think it is very overrated.
  19. Mummu
    Jan 17, 2011
    8
    Great game, with spectacular sound and graphics. Althought it don't grip as the first mass effect. History isn't so interested and deep and characters haven't a lot of of charisma.
  20. flamingRooster7
    Jan 15, 2011
    9
    Don't get me wrong this game is amazing in almost every way. It's just that it doesn't really feel like a RPG Sandbox game, because exploration is very limited. Maybe in ME3 they'll fix it.
  21. Faroon
    Jan 12, 2011
    10
    Game of the Year 2010. In a year that included Red Dead Redemption, Assassin's Creed:Brotherhood and Starcraft 2, that's some achievement. Story, characterisation, the fully realised, believable sci-fi world, and the vastly improved inventory system. The best game of the year, and one of the top 5 games of all time. The third game can't come soon enough.
  22. kenf1ott
    Jan 11, 2011
    10
    pure genius; all of it. especially the porting your character from ME 1 so you can see the continuation and effects of your choices from the first game. love all the DLC so far (one more DLC on the way by may I hear). the missions, the characters and dialogue and... it's really just a perfect game. graphics, sounds, cover system, weapons all perfect.

    I've played through 7 times and each    pure genius; all of it. especially the porting your character from ME 1 so you can see the continuation and effects of your choices from the first game. love all the DLC so far (one more DLC on the way by may I hear). the missions, the characters and dialogue and... it's really just a perfect game. graphics, sounds, cover system, weapons all perfect.

    I've played through 7 times and each was a different experience in how I approached the interactions and missions. yes it's that deep of a game!

    own it!    … Expand
  23. myles7701
    Jan 10, 2011
    10
    I've been a Bioware fan since Dragon Age, and this game is definitely a credit to the developer! Mass Effect 2 is absolutely awesome! I can't tell you how many times I've sat down to play for an hour and all of the sudden the entire day is gone!
  24. mikey42782
    Jan 2, 2011
    8
    Mass Effect 2 is an engrossing an addictive game, but i really feel that they took away some of the best elements to it. The story line is gripping, the characters are awesome, weapons etc. But what happened to customization? What i loved about the first one, was not only the plethora of weapons, armor, omni tools and the like, but the customization you could put into them. ForMass Effect 2 is an engrossing an addictive game, but i really feel that they took away some of the best elements to it. The story line is gripping, the characters are awesome, weapons etc. But what happened to customization? What i loved about the first one, was not only the plethora of weapons, armor, omni tools and the like, but the customization you could put into them. For example, a lancer assault rifle, with a damage of 120 could be upgraded to with a combat sensor, kinetic stabalizer , and several different types of ammunition. Every weapon, and each armor at least has 1 or 2 sometimes 3 upgrade slots. I mean granted, there was only a set amount of items you can carry(150 i believe) but thats what was a lot of fun for me in the first one. Now each character, gets to pick an ammo type and have that active on your weapon. The thermal clip is another thing i didn't like in the second one. Call me crazy, but i love unlimited ammo lol. In the first one, there was a lot more points and a lot more attributes to help level up your character, when you leveled up sometimes and most of the time, in the middle of combat. In the second one, you level up at the end of each mission. Those are my cons, i wish they would have kept some of those things. But the rest of the game is solid. From the story line, to the upgrades to the Normandy, to doing endorsements in the citadel.
    And to be completely fair, i fear change, so my review may not be the best on the spot, but if it helps you make a choice in getting it, i am glad i could help.    … Expand
  25. nightly_tugboat
    Jan 1, 2011
    10
    Just here to reiterate on what everyone else has already said. This game is **** bomb as **** And my review must be 150 character long so this is meant to waste space. Appologies.
  26. Dannyboy
    Dec 31, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect 1 was groundbreaking. It took games like Jade Empire and Star Wars KOTOR and those other style fantasy huge RPG's and shifted them to next gen nicely. Beautiful design, amazing created universe that would make George Lucas proud, lovely graphics and some of the best gameplay in a game i've experienced. Obviously, it was a tough act to follow but they managed it with aplomb.Mass Effect 1 was groundbreaking. It took games like Jade Empire and Star Wars KOTOR and those other style fantasy huge RPG's and shifted them to next gen nicely. Beautiful design, amazing created universe that would make George Lucas proud, lovely graphics and some of the best gameplay in a game i've experienced. Obviously, it was a tough act to follow but they managed it with aplomb. Firstly, you notice the game picks up from the first one, quite literally, whatever choices you make in the first one affect the game you are playng in the second one. The characters are even more diverse and the idea that you have to assemble the rag tag bunch and upgrade their department is a great idea. Everything you do culminates to the ending and, without spoiling anything, is a classic ending. Altough i must say you will want to upgrade and interact with your friends in this game to make sure they can come back from the suicide mission. The graphics are just as good and the design of the worlds are just as unique and diverse. The voice acting is also good. Seth Green in particular reprising his role from the first movie as the light hearted pilot Joker. All in all, its a classic and the fact that its part of a trilogy makes it all the more epic. Along with Star Wars KOTOR, the Mass Effect series will go down as the most definitive games of the decade.… Expand
  27. Timcld87
    Dec 18, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect 2 is by far one of the best games out. The storyline is superb and the graphics are superb also. The way you can choose all the different dialogues and actions. You can be a paragon or renegade. This game is just top of the line. And also I banged Miranda
  28. Deadsarow
    Nov 27, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games ever made, putting you into an action packed narrative, filled with memorable characters and genuine feelings. Perfect length, amazing aesthetics, and a universe you will not want to leave. Cannot wait for the next installment.
  29. Deturis
    Nov 25, 2010
    10
    To put it simple - best action-rpg hybrid I ever played, my favorite game so far.
    BioWare created great universe with well writen characters, story and action - amazing job BW!
    Can't wait for Mass Effect 3!
  30. claychastain
    Nov 25, 2010
    10
    Absolutely, hands down, the most intense, engaging, and thoughtful role-playing action game ever made. Everything about this is polished and interesting, and I find myself picking up and playing it all over again several times, even though I know what every choice and option there is to take. It's a great game, and it's one that I will never forget playing. For people who love a complexAbsolutely, hands down, the most intense, engaging, and thoughtful role-playing action game ever made. Everything about this is polished and interesting, and I find myself picking up and playing it all over again several times, even though I know what every choice and option there is to take. It's a great game, and it's one that I will never forget playing. For people who love a complex story, it's amazing. And, the DLC adds quite a bit to an already expansive game. Get this. Now.… Expand
  31. thebigbusser
    Nov 24, 2010
    10
    They took everything I loved about Mass Effect, and improved it endlessly for the second installment. I don't care what anyone else says, this game was perfection, I can't wait for Mass Effect 3!
  32. Thom
    Nov 24, 2010
    10
    The gameplay is less RPG and more 3rd person shooter, but they retained the RPG story elements, which is what made the original Mass Effect Great anyway. This is my game of the year. Though I hope they 3rd one removes the element mining, which was monotonous.
  33. Super-Evil-DOOM
    Nov 21, 2010
    10
    There comes a rare time every once in a while where a video game hits the market, and it transcends the industry. Be it a huge impact, an unforgettable memory, or an intense experience like nothing before. For one reason or another, there is always something noticeably more special than everything else. This does not happen very often, but on the day Mass Effect 2 released, it did.

    Mass    There comes a rare time every once in a while where a video game hits the market, and it transcends the industry. Be it a huge impact, an unforgettable memory, or an intense experience like nothing before. For one reason or another, there is always something noticeably more special than everything else. This does not happen very often, but on the day Mass Effect 2 released, it did.

    Mass Effect 2 expands on the original formula of creating your character, gathering a squad, and having the universe at your hands. Literally everything that unfolds after is your choice, it is on your shoulders, and there are consequences. Normally games like KOTOR or Jade Empire (which utilize this choice of response system) are very clearly defined between good and bad. There is no shade of grey, there is just right and wrong. The beauty in Mass Effect is that there really is no right or wrong choice, it is simply the player's choice. This feature, making it feel as though it was an interactive movie playing out rather than a game, makes for one of the most unique and deep role playing experiences gaming has to offer.

    The original Mass Effect was considered an awesome game, though it had it's share of problems holding it back. Texture pop-ups, loading times, bland side quests, and rather mediocre gameplay all kept it from being what it truly could have achieved. It was not a bad game by any means, but it was clear that more work was needed. What BioWare has done since the period of Mass Effect 1's release and Mass Effect 2, is fix, or rather, completely get rid of all previous problems.

    The texture pop-ups? There are none. In my 40 plus hours of playing, there has not been a single issue with the graphics appearing properly. Loading times? Long elevators? How about five second load screens and no elevators at all? The side quests have been elevated to the scale where they are cinematic and made just as important as the story in presentation. There is no Mako to explore worlds, making these simplifications give the game a much more fluid and polished feel.

    The best improvement by far, is the gameplay. No longer being a bland, non-challenging system where you have cover but never use it, Mass Effect 2 relies on cover the way Gears of War does. You can rarely run out in the open and try to play this like the first game without proper armor, defensive powers, and precaution. No longer can you pile up every overpowered power in your arsenal on enemies to dispose of them in seconds. They have made it balanced and smooth. The guns all feel different, the classes all feel VERY different, and the restrictions to which class can use which guns/powers is very well done. You could barely tell the difference between classes in the original, but in the sequel, you would have to be blind not to.

    One thing that was awkward about such a dialogue, story-telling game in the first Mass Effect was the character expressions. The voice acting was superb (and is even better now), but the feel of immersion and belief was sometimes lost with the faces of character models being utterly inexpressive. Someone would raise their voice and their face would look like they just ate a rotten apple, it made no sense. Luckily this was all greatly remedied in the second game and there is no loss of feeling in these scenes. The camera was even made more cinematic in comparison to the static camera in the first game, which gives it a much improved cinematic scope.

    Furthermore, the character development itself has improved greatly. BioWare did a good job with the cast of the first game, but in the second, not only is the main squad more endearing, but even the NPCs come off very entertaining and interesting. I found myself applauding the backstory of each character, and I even enjoyed the logical development of characters from the first game greatly.

    Speaking of developing from the first game. Mass Effect 2 is really something else. Players can import a completed save game from the original (which means you HAVE to play both otherwise your gamer pass is revoked) and all their choices from the original carry into the second game. This is no exaggeration. EVERYTHING, every little thing you may have wondered the consequence or benefit of carries through. Playing Mass Effect 2 without importing a character or without having played the first one just isn't the same experience.

    It's the little things, the realism of the universe itself that BioWare has put together which makes Mass Effect 2 a nearly perfect game and easily one of the best games ever made and the 2010 Game of the Year. The gameplay, graphics, story, atmosphere, soundtrack, voice acting, everything about this game is absolutely amazing. Missing out on this is missing out on a great part of gaming history.    … Expand
  34. alfieboi13
    Nov 20, 2010
    10
    Human colonies have started disappearing around the edges of space. Suspicious that the Reapers - the ancient machines - are behind the attacks, Shepard joins up with Cerberus and its mysterious leader, The Illusive Man (voiced by Martin Sheen), to investigate.....

    The sequel's events kick off a few months after the original title's conclusion, taking into account all the choices you    Human colonies have started disappearing around the edges of space. Suspicious that the Reapers - the ancient machines - are behind the attacks, Shepard joins up with Cerberus and its mysterious leader, The Illusive Man (voiced by Martin Sheen), to investigate.....

    The sequel's events kick off a few months after the original title's conclusion, taking into account all the choices you made and people you killed and spared in the original game (if you've kept hold of your Mass Effect 1 save at least), with The Normandy under attack by an unknown attacker. Without spoiling anything, Mass Effect 2 has one of the most memorable openings to a game ever.

    Mass Effect 2 makes its amazing original look really simple. Whether you're eavesdropping on a pair of Krogans in The (New) Citadel, mining planets for resources from space, or outfitting your private quarters with a fish tank and a space hamster, almost every area in the game is improved upon and impressively presented. It really does feel as if BioWare compiled a big checklist of the first game's bad points, and scratched them off one by one. Rubbish vehicle sections, overwhelming inventory management and, yes, elevator load times have all been thrown in the bin. The result is a more balanced and approachable game - arguably BioWare's best to date.

    The game is fully deservant of it's reputation as "The Avatar of video games except it's better written better!" and has earned countless perfect scores in the process! This is not only Bioware's greatest game, it's not even only the game of the year but it might be the greatest game of the decade!    … Expand
  35. Ravenous
    Nov 19, 2010
    0
    Ever hear the expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Well, with Mass Effects 2, Bioware really fixed it. For starters, the main plot is nowhere near as well-written or cleverly developed across the gameplay experience as it was in ME1. The voice-acting is good, and the dialogue is good, but he main story arc is far too sparsely delivered, and the final boss fight is pure and utterEver hear the expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Well, with Mass Effects 2, Bioware really fixed it. For starters, the main plot is nowhere near as well-written or cleverly developed across the gameplay experience as it was in ME1. The voice-acting is good, and the dialogue is good, but he main story arc is far too sparsely delivered, and the final boss fight is pure and utter lameness. To add insult to injury, Bioware completely butchered the talent/power system, giving the tougher enemies special defenses that can only be taken down with a few key powers. This means that you are constantly using the same few powers over, and over, and OVER, and it is nothing like the wonderfully diverse and enjoyable talent/power system from ME1. This fact alone makes giving this game a good rating utterly impossible. In addition, Bioware decided to HEAVILY restrict the character customization options in ME2, for what reason I have no idea. They completely eliminated your ability to customize your teammates' armor/appearance, making it feel like they're barely your characters at all. They restrict the main character's armor choices to an insane degree, completely gutting ME1's L/M/H armor types and leaving the player with just a few bulky armors to choose from (and that's only if you buy all the DLC's), all of which look ridiculous. They oversimplified the skill/stat system to the point of stupidity, making leveling-up seem almost completely irrelevant. They removed entirely the ability to explore remote worlds with the vehicle, and instead replaced it with a horrendously boring mini-game with which to "mine" worlds for necessary resources. Lastly, because of all the restrictions Bioware decided to impose on the player in ME2, this game has ZERO replay value. Once you've done it, you never want to do it again. Basically, Mass Effect 2 is like Mass Effect 1, only with a LOT less stuff. Being a die-hard Bioware fan, this game was one of my biggest video game disappointments of all-time.… Expand
  36. TheCriticCritic
    Nov 13, 2010
    10
    Beautiful game. Far superior to the first one, which felt clunky and at sometimes boring, but still a good game. This is GOTY material and should be treated as such. It has amazing and developed characters (for the most part... Samara...), and may prove challenging depending on your difficulty level. It's great and expansive. Must buy.
  37. MassEffectfFan
    Nov 11, 2010
    10
    This, yes this game is obvious the "Game Of The Year"

    Mass Effect was a great game, played it for over a hundred hours and yet Mass Effect 2 made it even better. What was broken is not, what we wanted we got. A epic story and great acting and most important hours of fun! (10,0)

    Fight for the lost!
  38. DeVr33z
    Nov 7, 2010
    9
    Mass Effect 2 is even better than the original. Just about every problem that people had with the first one has been fixed in this sequel. The combat is smoother and more fun, the dialogue has been made even better (yes, that's possible) and the side quests are no longer repetitive sequences of driving around an empty planet in your tank. The only thing that makes this game not deserve aMass Effect 2 is even better than the original. Just about every problem that people had with the first one has been fixed in this sequel. The combat is smoother and more fun, the dialogue has been made even better (yes, that's possible) and the side quests are no longer repetitive sequences of driving around an empty planet in your tank. The only thing that makes this game not deserve a 10 is some pacing issues early on in the game, but that's a minor complaint. Otherwise, Mass Effect 2 definitely deserves its 96 metascore.… Expand
  39. Rodrigo_31
    Nov 4, 2010
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mass Effect 2 is exactly what I was hopping to find in the sequel. The story doesn't turn deeper than the previous one, but the thing here is to make you advance towards the evil, and to do that you need a "special crew". But picking up the original Mass Effect savegame to create a new one on Mass Effect 2 based in the choices we made in the first game was a huge step for the gaming world, and these choice are all in the ME2 for you to take advantage of it, you'll surely be tested with the choices you made, and I don't even have to mention the great changes like better graphics, less repetitive places to search, gameplay improvoment... As a sci-fi-fan like me, Mass Effect 2 only missed on thing to be a perfect game! A co-op online/offline mode would make just great and would be no doubt that Mass Effect 2 would win with no efforts the AIAS game of the year prize, even with all these good games that 2010 brought to us.… Expand
  40. JDB4RDR
    Nov 2, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect 2 is a definite competitor for game of the year and if it won it I wouldn't be overly surprised. There is only one game that is standing in its way and that is the mighty Red Dead Redemption. This game is quite possibly better than Gears of War, as the combat is very similar but the cover system could use a little work to be considered Gears of War good. The story is possiblyMass Effect 2 is a definite competitor for game of the year and if it won it I wouldn't be overly surprised. There is only one game that is standing in its way and that is the mighty Red Dead Redemption. This game is quite possibly better than Gears of War, as the combat is very similar but the cover system could use a little work to be considered Gears of War good. The story is possibly the best feature about the game as it is a compelling space opera, with a great script and a beautifully detailed world to explore. If you are even remotely interested in the Sci-fi genre then this is an absolute must, although maybe not every ones cup of tea as the game can sometimes drag on a bit between missions. Without spoiling anything lets just say this has one of the most epic endings that a video game could have, rivaling the masterful Red Dead Redemption. This is a very personal game as you can control nearly everything your characters says and does, but what is most impressive is how the other characters react in such a way that truly makes you feel what you say makes a difference. There are also choices to make like who to defend if an argument brakes out between fellow crew members and it is up to you how you deal with the situation (choosing sides or being mutual). Beware this can have a huge effect on how the final sequence plans out which is why this game is so impressive and unique to most of the other games out there. You can be nice or you can be nasty in your reactions to your characters which you talk to. This gain you positive or negative reactions. So if your still reading this you must be some what interested in the game so why not just pop out and get it, it can be picked up fairly cheap these days.… Expand
  41. Raikiri
    Nov 1, 2010
    10
    Well, it's odd to say the least to see people here give this game a grade of less than 8. The whole thing, production values, script, planning.. it all deserves a 10, this game rocks. "Feels outdated?" ,"angry spaceshooter?" If you haven't played this game yet, you really should.
  42. SameDifference
    Oct 23, 2010
    9
    I really enjoyed this RPG game. I have replayed it a few times and took different "paths" by choosing different characters and options. The planet mining was kind of boring, but it wasn't too bad... LOL The story line was usually decent. The characters were OK, a few personality oddities kind of took away from the game, but it was still a great game to play. I think it is the best game II really enjoyed this RPG game. I have replayed it a few times and took different "paths" by choosing different characters and options. The planet mining was kind of boring, but it wasn't too bad... LOL The story line was usually decent. The characters were OK, a few personality oddities kind of took away from the game, but it was still a great game to play. I think it is the best game I have played from E.A. I hope they keep this kind of work up.… Expand
  43. ColbyJL
    Oct 23, 2010
    10
    AMAZING. This is the best game i have ever played. It has the best story, the best characters, and probably the best graphics out of all the games i have ever played.
  44. Beardo
    Oct 17, 2010
    10
    My favorite game of all time. Period. I absolutely loved it. It is the most well made game I've ever played, and so enjoyable that I went back and played the entire thing again. The DLC is worthwhile, as well.
  45. jrrlaw
    Oct 17, 2010
    9
    Mass Effect 2 takes place in an outstanding universe. Characters are well developed and their conflicts make you submerge in their history. The story is SUPERB (better than many movies), graphics are excellent, and gameplay is great (not entirely fluid). The only drawback is the slow paced resource mining. If loading times are a problem, just install BOTH discs on your hard drive. It willMass Effect 2 takes place in an outstanding universe. Characters are well developed and their conflicts make you submerge in their history. The story is SUPERB (better than many movies), graphics are excellent, and gameplay is great (not entirely fluid). The only drawback is the slow paced resource mining. If loading times are a problem, just install BOTH discs on your hard drive. It will not eliminate the waiting, but it will sure reduce it. Also, with all the variety of the main character's classes, you'll be playing this game more than twice. This game totally stands up to Bioware's excellent reputation. Every XBOX gamer should have this game in their collection.… Expand
  46. Matt23WG
    Oct 15, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect 2 is one of the best Action RPG's of this generation. Some people argue that the first was better, because of the lack of the RPG elements that were used in the first game. I can understand their need for these factors, as some people want a game that requires a lot of strategy. Yes, Mass Effect 2 isn't as strategic as the first, but that doesn't mean to say that's made theMass Effect 2 is one of the best Action RPG's of this generation. Some people argue that the first was better, because of the lack of the RPG elements that were used in the first game. I can understand their need for these factors, as some people want a game that requires a lot of strategy. Yes, Mass Effect 2 isn't as strategic as the first, but that doesn't mean to say that's made the game worse in any way. Actually, it exceeded far beyond my expectation. Especially the Universal Acclaim score of 96. The official critics are very accurate with their scores for this game. The graphics have been drastically improved, as well of the overall gameplay (new, and updated engine), with an amazing cast of voice charactors. Also (it's hard for this next part not to sound repetative) the world BioWare created is such a believable world, it makes you feel like you're playing an interactive version of the original Star Wars trilogy. When i finished Mass Effect 2 i was so damn impressed i needed to spread the word of how amazing this game is. Trust me, this isn't one you'll want to miss. And just for a side note; everyone who prefers the first game, it would be a great decision for you to ignore those factors that you loved about the first game that you wanted in the second game, and just play Mass Effect 2 again to experience how it was ment to be experienced. As an action adventure title, with great story-telling and plot. Then you will see why everyone loves it so much. Havn't you been confused of why everyone but you loved this game so much. Please do play the game again though, or you will be missing out.… Expand
  47. emdem55
    Oct 14, 2010
    10
    This game is the perfect balance of streamlined rpg and third person shooter action, and story elements. If you liked the hardcore rpg aspects of ME1, you may be disapointed, but If all the info in the firt game was daunting to you, then you'll love this game. Also, listing the all of improvments made to the other aspects of the game would take longer than an elevator ride at the citadel.
  48. baaj
    Oct 8, 2010
    4
    Too much EA, not enough Bioware. Disappointing, as Mass Effect 1, just needed a few tweaks to make it one of the best titles ever. It had the action/RPG balance. The story had an epic quality, the really distinctive soundtrack.. Dark is fine, in fact it can be great. But the writers of ME2 seem to think that adding edginess can compensate for weak storytelling.

    Granted, combat was a    Too much EA, not enough Bioware. Disappointing, as Mass Effect 1, just needed a few tweaks to make it one of the best titles ever. It had the action/RPG balance. The story had an epic quality, the really distinctive soundtrack.. Dark is fine, in fact it can be great. But the writers of ME2 seem to think that adding edginess can compensate for weak storytelling.

    Granted, combat was a little clunky was in the first game, but the rest of the game was so tight that it didn't matter. An there were some great elements within that made it a unique experience (like overheating weapons, etc). Combat, in ME2, is certainly smoother. But the whole package comes across like a weak, more-of-the-same FPS underpinned by shallow RPG elements.

    I'm amazed this game's sky high reviews - obviously people love it. I haven't been this disappointed by a sequel since Prince of Persia 2.    … Expand
  49. BrenLeahey
    Oct 7, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect had issues. (Can anyone say Mako?) Mass Effect 2 puts all of Mass Effect"s faults into a hat, sprinkles magical pixie dust, and out jumps a sexy, seemingly genetically engineered marvel of epicness. The characters are epic, the graphics and consistent framerate doubly so. The story is more action oriented with a polished combat system similar to GoW's. People complain thatMass Effect had issues. (Can anyone say Mako?) Mass Effect 2 puts all of Mass Effect"s faults into a hat, sprinkles magical pixie dust, and out jumps a sexy, seemingly genetically engineered marvel of epicness. The characters are epic, the graphics and consistent framerate doubly so. The story is more action oriented with a polished combat system similar to GoW's. People complain that there is no variation in the classes. They obviously didn't use an engineer after their soldier. This game gets a 10/10 for graphics, story, gameplay, and badassery*. *G4 probably has a copyright on badassery.… Expand
  50. Forza182
    Oct 2, 2010
    10
    Ignore the fanboys. Ignore the haters. If for some reason you don't own this amazing game, please download the demo and see for yourself how perfect it is.
  51. Cranger71
    Sep 29, 2010
    9
    Brilliant sequel to what was one of my favourite games. Was worried about the loss of RPG elements, but never missed them; and the increased production values, mechanics more then made up for the loss. The last mission has to be one of my most memorable gaming moments for a long time, can't wait for the sequal to finish off the trilogy.
  52. Rubenvdb
    Sep 28, 2010
    5
    I've had very mixed feelings about this game, but ultimately I came to the conclusion that this game is disappointing in so many ways that I can't give it a high score. This game has a lot of positives but the negatives overshadow them unfortunately. The graphics for example: The art style is not bad, the game runs better than the first Mass Effect and the game can look really good atI've had very mixed feelings about this game, but ultimately I came to the conclusion that this game is disappointing in so many ways that I can't give it a high score. This game has a lot of positives but the negatives overshadow them unfortunately. The graphics for example: The art style is not bad, the game runs better than the first Mass Effect and the game can look really good at times. However, the inconsistency hurts the overall experience as the game can look pretty poor and have bad textures. The soundtrack has some good tracks, but overall I think it sounds too much like something you'd hear in a cheesy Hollywood movie. The gameplay, while the combat is better than the one in the original ME and is more epic in scope, is also lacking. The RPG elements in this game are poorly done and are almost non-existent. The game is also fairly linear most of the time and there is too much emphasis on the shooting, which makes it feel like a corridor shooter at times. The story is lackluster, the characters are really good IMO, I liked them a lot despite the fact that most of their loyalty missions were daddy issues. However, the main plot is bland, feels like filler and is almost non-existent. Mass Effect 2's plot can easily be summarized like this: Stop the collectors with a team of badasses. That's it, it doesn't go any deeper than that and that is truly a shame. To sum it up: It's not a bad game at all, I had my fun. But I can't say it's a good one either. It's mediocre and I'm not used to this kind of quality from Bioware. Hopefully Mass Effect 3 will be better.… Expand
  53. Treima
    Sep 23, 2010
    10
    Pound for pound, one of the finest games ever conceived, a rival to Metal Gear Solid 4 and Sonic 3 for greatest sequel in the history of video games, and a hell of a ride from start to finish.
  54. Jecht_342
    Sep 19, 2010
    9
    This a great game and much better than the first. The plot is amazing, which is to be expected from BioWare, but the gameplay is also really good. The only flaw is a few control issues. Sometimes trying to get into cover leads you to jump out of cover, and the lack of a lock on button is problematic, but these flaws are over shadowed by a generally good combat system.
  55. PANZERSCHHRECK
    Sep 12, 2010
    9
    Perfect ?... No, not really,no game deserve a 10 : for example, the level design is still very poor (1 corridor, 1 or 2 room, no really choices), and combat can be very boring after 10 hours of play...

    But damn... what a good game in every other domains !!!
  56. FlaMinGTaCo
    Sep 5, 2010
    10
    after thoroughly enjoying the original mass effect i was really looking forward to this the original was brilliantly written the shooting aspects were good, however not perfect though.I was incredibly pleased to find that the incredibly detailed narrative had returned in its full glory and the shooting had been vastly improved as well as using your biotic/tech abilities.If there had to beafter thoroughly enjoying the original mass effect i was really looking forward to this the original was brilliantly written the shooting aspects were good, however not perfect though.I was incredibly pleased to find that the incredibly detailed narrative had returned in its full glory and the shooting had been vastly improved as well as using your biotic/tech abilities.If there had to be one downside it would be the actually main story of the game lacks a little bit of the quality of the first, but the conversational aspects are still top notch. However this takes nothing away from the experience or the over all quality of the game. This is my favourite game of the year so far and i don't see anything beating it as it is a perfect all round experience that pretty much everyone can enjoy… Expand
  57. trwag01
    Aug 31, 2010
    9
    When you start a game at eight at night, and five minutes later its eight in the morning, you know you got your moneys worth. Mass Effect 2 far exceeded any expectations I had going in. At first I was a bit skeptical because I am not the biggest fan of shooter games, they arenâ
  58. Chronolp5
    Aug 30, 2010
    8
    Biowareâ
  59. ColinArcadeFire
    Aug 29, 2010
    10
    Great game. Perhaps better than ME1, but they tweaked it so much it is hard for me to judge. The inventory, half the skills, elevators, and medigel are all gone. They stripped down the RPG elements to make the game more appealing to the masses, I suppose, which I don't particularly blame them for, as the crazy FPS fans were too confused to deal with all the aforementioned elements. IGreat game. Perhaps better than ME1, but they tweaked it so much it is hard for me to judge. The inventory, half the skills, elevators, and medigel are all gone. They stripped down the RPG elements to make the game more appealing to the masses, I suppose, which I don't particularly blame them for, as the crazy FPS fans were too confused to deal with all the aforementioned elements. I prefer this one for it's superior combat and handling of powers (love the 3 hot keys) and exploration (no more 3 hour mako drives) , but I think I favor ME1 in terms of story. This one is a little more linear, with a couple missions you don't get a choice of when to go (horizon, collector ship). That is the only dissapointment for me. Otherwise, I love the importing character option, many of the new characters (Mordin is awesome) and romance options. Great game, even more so if you import your ME1 character.… Expand
  60. PlutoniumTiger
    Aug 25, 2010
    5
    I can't understand all the praise this game recieved for it's so called "improvements" over the original. Bioware haven't tried to "improve" anything, though I'm not too sure how to improve a perfectly simple inventory in the first place. Oh..wait! That's right! By removing it altogether! So ya' can spend more time blastin' and less time trying to read those big words. Let's just cut theI can't understand all the praise this game recieved for it's so called "improvements" over the original. Bioware haven't tried to "improve" anything, though I'm not too sure how to improve a perfectly simple inventory in the first place. Oh..wait! That's right! By removing it altogether! So ya' can spend more time blastin' and less time trying to read those big words. Let's just cut the crap, apart from it's superficial impovements, this clearly is a step backwards in every way, at least for anybody with any brain cells anyway.… Expand
  61. Altarian
    Aug 24, 2010
    9
    What more can a humble Biotic such as I say about a game that so captures one's imagination and draws one in on such a deeply exciting way? There just isn't anything bad to say about this game! On principle, I don't give out 10's, just because someday a game will come along (hope, hope) that will so blow all other games away that I have to finally bestow that crown on its hallowed brow.What more can a humble Biotic such as I say about a game that so captures one's imagination and draws one in on such a deeply exciting way? There just isn't anything bad to say about this game! On principle, I don't give out 10's, just because someday a game will come along (hope, hope) that will so blow all other games away that I have to finally bestow that crown on its hallowed brow. Seriously, though, if you never play this game, you will be depriving yourself of one of the greatest joys ever in gaming. Take if from me: I'm 50 years old and have played more games than most of you ever will.… Expand
  62. Comasi
    Aug 24, 2010
    10
    Absolutely love this game. More action now and it made feel sorry for most of my crew with their stories (Especially Jack). I just love this game. Awesome.
  63. Heroicpotatoe
    Aug 21, 2010
    10
    This is my favourite game ever, why ?, because no game is so fast paced while still emotional like this, the combat system is perfect, the game never lags even with the frantic action.
  64. Plumbum
    Aug 21, 2010
    10
    Well, every game has it's detractors,but seriously? "Oh noes, they dun stole my RPG elements! It is awl dumb-down and stoopid now!" blissfully forgetting through their misty-eyed watercolour memories that Mass Effect could be muscled through with sheer gaming skill and an unleveled Shepard. Being able to be beaten by skill alone, an RPG does not make. The inventory was awful, it turned theWell, every game has it's detractors,but seriously? "Oh noes, they dun stole my RPG elements! It is awl dumb-down and stoopid now!" blissfully forgetting through their misty-eyed watercolour memories that Mass Effect could be muscled through with sheer gaming skill and an unleveled Shepard. Being able to be beaten by skill alone, an RPG does not make. The inventory was awful, it turned the whole game into a puzzle of managing your inventory. I'm glad to see it gone. To finish up, the romance options are much improved, instead of humans only or a 106-year old archeologist.… Expand
  65. macready
    Aug 20, 2010
    0
    Turned an honest but flawed attempt at a RPG/shooter hybrid into nothing but a dumbed down shooter with RPG residue.

    Story sucks, characters are disconnected from anything but their own issues, and are expendable. The gameplay is repetative cover/shoot CONSTANTLY.

    A massive disappointment all around, taking a great first attempt and turning into mediocre mass appeal trash.
  66. Colossus
    Aug 18, 2010
    10
    This is my favorite game I've ever played so I feel obligated to write a review for it. Mass Effect 2 is almost perfect they improved many of my problems from the first game which was a very good game in it's own regard and made it excellent. In the first one the frame rate was bad, the combat was stale and the Dialogue options were much less interesting all of this was fixed in MassThis is my favorite game I've ever played so I feel obligated to write a review for it. Mass Effect 2 is almost perfect they improved many of my problems from the first game which was a very good game in it's own regard and made it excellent. In the first one the frame rate was bad, the combat was stale and the Dialogue options were much less interesting all of this was fixed in Mass Effect 2. You have an compelling story, fun combat, great graphics and amazing characters with superb voice acting. What else can you really ask for in a game? Mass Effect 2 delivers in EVERY category.… Expand
  67. Island7
    Aug 17, 2010
    10
    Probably the best game I have ever played. Everything about it was superb.
  68. A_RandomGuy
    Aug 13, 2010
    10
    This game is amazing. Surely one of the best games of all time. When I first played the game it started of quite slow and seemed mediocre, but as it went on, it redeemed itself with its superb story, presentation, characters, replayability and game play. I was totally blown away with the extraordinary attention to detail. Graphics are also very good if you consider the size and depth ofThis game is amazing. Surely one of the best games of all time. When I first played the game it started of quite slow and seemed mediocre, but as it went on, it redeemed itself with its superb story, presentation, characters, replayability and game play. I was totally blown away with the extraordinary attention to detail. Graphics are also very good if you consider the size and depth of the game. A must buy… Expand
  69. FinalFantasyFan
    Aug 12, 2010
    5
    Wait i just found out that it has no online. That doesn't matter but it would be better if it had online. I like Mass effect and the way that it changes the ending is very good but i thought the game would change more than the ending.
  70. TomS.
    May 15, 2010
    10
    I purchased Mass Effect 2 expecting a good game, turns out I received one of the most brilliant video games ever made. The level of detail and depth that Bioware has put into this masterpiece is unprecedented, upon research I came to find that there are over 25,000 lines of dialog in this game, exponentially more than the typical game these days, which consist of mostly ''COVER I purchased Mass Effect 2 expecting a good game, turns out I received one of the most brilliant video games ever made. The level of detail and depth that Bioware has put into this masterpiece is unprecedented, upon research I came to find that there are over 25,000 lines of dialog in this game, exponentially more than the typical game these days, which consist of mostly ''COVER ME'' and ''RELOADING''. The story is very deep, and every action the player takes affects it. Controls are excellent, and sound is superb. Graphics are a strong point, often I found myself marveling at a blazing hot sun scorching the ground, or the futuristic environment surrounding me, all during the middle of an intense firefight. Completing the game took me around 20 hours, and that's without doing every single mission at my disposal. I would strongly recommend this game to everyone who owns an Xbox 360 or a computer that can run it. Bioware has done such an outstanding job that I eagerly await the next installment in this spectacular series.… Expand
  71. AC
    Apr 22, 2010
    10
    By far the best game of 2010 and we're only in April but this game is that good!! The original Mass Effect was a phenomenal experience but the sequel beats it in every category from the gameplay, story, character development, music, graphics and last but not least the pure adrenaline and excitement that the game brings from start to finish to the gamer and that's what makes this By far the best game of 2010 and we're only in April but this game is that good!! The original Mass Effect was a phenomenal experience but the sequel beats it in every category from the gameplay, story, character development, music, graphics and last but not least the pure adrenaline and excitement that the game brings from start to finish to the gamer and that's what makes this a masterpiece. Probably, the finest gaming experience I've had since Half-Life 2. All in all, I highly recommend it.… Expand
  72. CaseyP
    Apr 19, 2010
    10
    I bought Mass Effect 1 along with my xbox and Halo 3 at the end of 2008. It almost took me a year to but the disk in my machine, but when I did I was pleasantly surprised. I played through and beat it three separate times. I was lucky, I only ended up waiting 6 or 7 months after completing Mass Effect 1 for Mass Effect 2. however it would have been worth a three year wait. Simply put, I bought Mass Effect 1 along with my xbox and Halo 3 at the end of 2008. It almost took me a year to but the disk in my machine, but when I did I was pleasantly surprised. I played through and beat it three separate times. I was lucky, I only ended up waiting 6 or 7 months after completing Mass Effect 1 for Mass Effect 2. however it would have been worth a three year wait. Simply put, Mass Effect 2 is the best game on xbox 360. I don't see where any criticism can come from, other then the slow paced planet scanning, who's only crime is taking to long to execute, even with the advanced scanning upgrade. Characters are perfect, Classes are more unique then the first one, and combat is fantastic and fun. Above all, the story is better then 99% of the sci-fi genre as a whole (movies, books, comics, games, ect). All these elements, along with a streamlined RPG style that puts wait on choices, you have a game that is both personal and epic. BioWare is among the top game developers, and along with Valve, they always make games that are within the 90th percentile of gaming. This game is the perfect 100 on there stellar roster.… Expand
  73. OG
    Apr 12, 2010
    4
    Loved the first game, don't know what happen in this one. Feels that they didn't feel good with the game the first time and threw everything away. Is a complete different setting, instead of the council now it has a corporate sponsor. Horrible plots with lots of holes. The last one was sci-fi, this is like gossip girl on space. Arrrgh! I can't believe I wasted 60 bucks in Loved the first game, don't know what happen in this one. Feels that they didn't feel good with the game the first time and threw everything away. Is a complete different setting, instead of the council now it has a corporate sponsor. Horrible plots with lots of holes. The last one was sci-fi, this is like gossip girl on space. Arrrgh! I can't believe I wasted 60 bucks in this. Not buying the next one for sure. And they can buy all the reviews they want. In the end, they know who are the real fans. Why buying an angry space shooter game if there is Gears, Half life, even Modern Warfare. What was this game offering that the others didn't? All that they threw it away.… Expand
  74. Vanimal
    Apr 1, 2010
    10
    I almost never give 10s. The last 10s in the last 2 decades for me would be Resi 4 and Half-Life 2. I'm 37 yrs old and been gaming heavily since the Atari 2600. This may be the best gamer's game ever made. I didn't even care for ME1 enough to play past 10 hours. I can't even describe how good it is, so I won't even try anymore. Play it and find out for yourself.
  75. JonathanC
    Mar 31, 2010
    9
    I'll be honest, the original Mass Effect was a mediocre game. It lacked the great range of squad members that the KOTOR games had, it's combat system was rather flimsy, and felt a bit tedious at times with the inventory management (I remember sitting around selling/breaking down useless items for a good 15 minutes at one point). I was even uncertain about whether or not I'd I'll be honest, the original Mass Effect was a mediocre game. It lacked the great range of squad members that the KOTOR games had, it's combat system was rather flimsy, and felt a bit tedious at times with the inventory management (I remember sitting around selling/breaking down useless items for a good 15 minutes at one point). I was even uncertain about whether or not I'd actually bother with the sequel, even had a bit of buys regret as I slapped down 60 big ones for a new copy. But oh my god, sophomore slump this was not. It was worth every cent. Every complaint I ever had with the original was dealt with: Side-missions were actually unqiue and did not involve fighting through the same mine or aboveground/underground compound time after time; the squad choice was doubled (sadly no return of Wrex *tear*); the tedious inventory given the boot; and strengthened combat element including expanded weapon variety. And to top it all off, one the suicide mission is the most epic, all-consuming, and intense sequence I've ever experienced in my gaming days. The kind of choices made available to me makes playing any other RPG a vary disappointing experience. Being able (or at least being given the illusion) of influencing the course of events of this game is so great as to make any other experience lame in comparison. I honestly can't see the validity in the arguments against this game. The resource collecting is tedious, but it's inconvenience is completely dwarfed by the monolith that is this games storytelling, and that's what matters in RPG's, not the nitty little details of combat. If you just want to crunch numbers and levels all day, go play an MMO, and if you want an emphasis on shooting gameplay go play *gasp* a shooter! RPG's are for story telling and I haven't ever played a game with as engaging a story as Mass Effect 2. Ever. It literally pains me to know that I have to wait another 2 years for the (hopefully) epic conclusion to the trilogy. All that said, no game is perfect and I have to knock off a point for it's short play time, for being a two disc game it was frustratingly short. Good luck with ME3, Bioware, you've set the bar exceptionally high for yourselves.… Expand
  76. ElliottR
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    Not since I played Knights of the Old Republic back in 2003 have i experienced such a character driven game. This is one of the greatest games I have ever played because every formula that Bioware has used fits together almost perfectly. The heart pounding and beautifully composed score, the terrific camera angles, and the return of old and new heroes(and/or villains). Mass Effect 2 is Not since I played Knights of the Old Republic back in 2003 have i experienced such a character driven game. This is one of the greatest games I have ever played because every formula that Bioware has used fits together almost perfectly. The heart pounding and beautifully composed score, the terrific camera angles, and the return of old and new heroes(and/or villains). Mass Effect 2 is the reason I can say that video games are beginning to have the same impact that movies have on an audience. Throughout the game, fighting and conversing with my squad, I really began to feel for some of my teammates. I finished the game awestruck and wished that I could have made some different choices beforehand to save some of my dead squad. My only complaint is that I felt the story should have focused more on the main mission at hand; maybe added a couple more important decisions and an extra quest before heading through the Omega 4 Relay. Also I wish the final battle had been longer; all that build up for an amazingingly put together but short lived close. Nevertheless I still cannot believe that I was so pulled into this game and how breathtaken I was as it ended, I didnt want it to end.I still cant stop thinking about the incredible battle sequences and cutscenes. Bioware is not only the future of science fiction gaming but gaming alone. Bravo on the masterpiece!… Expand
  77. alexg.
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    Released in 2007, Mass Effect was a modern classic in the Role Playing genre. It combined elements of a Third Person Shooter, incorporating the cover system which has been something of a phenomena in recent years, with the levelling up and decision making standard in any Role Playing Game. But it had its fair share of problems. The framerate, for instance, was a major annoyance and the Released in 2007, Mass Effect was a modern classic in the Role Playing genre. It combined elements of a Third Person Shooter, incorporating the cover system which has been something of a phenomena in recent years, with the levelling up and decision making standard in any Role Playing Game. But it had its fair share of problems. The framerate, for instance, was a major annoyance and the cover system was somewhat difficult to handle. On top of this equipping weapons and armour became labourous after your inventory became vast over the course of the game. Needless to say, BioWare obviously took notice of these complains. And the result is a near-flawless gaming experience, the likes of which is very difficult to come by, especially in a market dominated by First Person Shooters. Mass Effect 2 refines everything that was great about the first game and erases everything that didn't work. You'd be hard-pressed to find a flaw in Mass Effect 2: it's that brilliant a game. Set weeks after the first instalment, Mass Effect 2 sees Commander Shepard hailed as a hero after the defeat of Sovereign and saving the galaxy. Now, about the events of the previous games: any decisions you made in the first game will carry on into this game. If you chose you kill a character in Mass Effect, they remain dead in Mass Effect 2. If you destroyed a race, they're still extinct. If you got onto the wrong side of someone, they're still going to hate you for it. Considering the countless choices you made in the first game, it's really quite impressive that everything you did carries over into this game. This game, however, is a much darker affair than its predecessor. Moments into the game, your ship the Normandy is attacked by an unknown enemy. The crew are sent to disparate parts of the galaxy and the game continues two years later. A mysterious alien race known as the Collectors have begun capturing human colonies across the galaxy for an unknown purpose. You have been hired by a shadowy organisation named Cerberus to investigate the abductions and bring an end to the Collectors. To do this, you are sent to assemble a team to assist you in your mission. Throughout the game you come across one of the finest ensemble of characters ever conceived in a video game. You will come across characters from the first game, as well as assassins, prisoners, scientists and criminals. The entire galaxy is yours for the taking as you choose whether to continue your characters do-gooding or reign of terror from the first game, or choose to totally change his appearance and personality. For those who have never played the first game, you can just create a name character and the game will play as it normally does, only without the decisions from the first game carrying over into this one. It's still hugely recommended that you play through the first game before this though, as they're both highly rewarding experiences. In terms of gameplay, the game is superior to the vast majority of Third Person Shooters and Role Playing Games out there. The combat is as kinetic and pulse-pounding as anything you'll find in Uncharted or Gears Of War and the Role Playing elements are fleshed out just as much as in Fallout 3 or Oblivion. This game perfectly melds these two genres together, much better than any game has ever done before. In fact, the two genres have been mastered to such an extent that it is quite easily possible to just play the game as a Third Person Shooter, ignoring the Role Playing elements, and it could still be an all-out classic video game. Whether you want to go in all guns blazing or take a tactical approach to combat is all up to you. This is your game, you play it any way that you want to play it. It's all up to you, as the player, to decide how the story, character development and the gameplay progresses. The sheer amount of detail put not only into the gameplay, but in the story and overall universe of the game is astounding and incredible. This game is truly the next step in action and storytelling within video games, with immense set pieces, sprawling environments, countless side-quests, endless outcomes in missions and infinite replay value. Mass Effect 2 is quite simply one of the greatest video games ever made and if a better game is going to come in 2010, it's going to have to put up one hell of a fight to beat out this. If you own an Xbox 360 or a PC capable enough of playing this game, you absolutely need to own it. If you don't, you're missing out on a landmark in video gaming. Well and truly the most essential Role Playing Game in the past decade.… Expand
  78. robs.
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect is an incredible game, and shockingly, my favorite all time. And I don't throw that around often. You'll see that describing every new game, but I don't have anything to do with that. Mass Effect 2 definitely tops my list. The game improves in every single way upon it's original, the slightly overrated Mass Effect. Mass Effect 2 doesn't have a Mass Effect is an incredible game, and shockingly, my favorite all time. And I don't throw that around often. You'll see that describing every new game, but I don't have anything to do with that. Mass Effect 2 definitely tops my list. The game improves in every single way upon it's original, the slightly overrated Mass Effect. Mass Effect 2 doesn't have a traditional story arc, which will surprise and disappoint some when the game abruptly ends, but the ride will have been amazing. Leaving you not asking for more, but pleading for more. Craving more Mass Effect. The graphics are great, and aliens and armor rank among some of the best graphics I've ever seen. Humans are a bit bland, and animate oddly sometimes, but small complaint. The environments range from dark red's and browns on trashy city-planets where you'd expect to be mugged by a drunk Krogen at any point, to lush, bright, jungle planets. This is a great improvement over the grey warehouses of Mass Effect. Now it feels like you're adventuring in Blade Runner as opposed to Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. The combat is simply perfect. It takes the blueprint off Gears of War, Uncharted, and Resident Evil 5, and easily beats them at their own game. Third person shooting has never been so fluid and fun. Enemies react realistically to being shot, and headshots are a blast. The game does away with the clunky forced use of the attack wheel. Now you'll go into it simply to connect your favorite moves to a hotkey and get back into combat. Before you pretty much had to use it, and it didn't feel strategic, it felt like a speed bump during combat. Which brings me to the cast and story. Wow to both. This is easily the most likable cast of characters ever. Most RPGs I'll simply pick my two favorites and put the rest on the shelf until the game is over. But now you'll want to mix and match depending on the mission, or just to hear what Jack has to say. They're unique, deep, and very interesting. When the game forces a character into your party, you'll rarely mind, and welcome the chance to have Garrus at your side. The story itself is wonderfully presented, but slightly thin. You'll be on the edge of your seat, but after the game is over you'll suddenly realize that what you thought were side quests, were actually the bulk of the game, and the real action seems to be coming in Mass Effect 3. This won't be disappointing though, because it's very satisfying. And which content on the way, there's plenty of meat here. Which brings me to the reason I loved the game so very much. Mortality. Never before has a game been so visceral. I believe this is game as art, which isn't a term yet like film as art. But it will be. And this is why. Without spoiling too much, odds are, you won't finish your suicide mission with the team you started it with. And it's not a scripted gimmick like the Modern Warfare series where they kill you off six times a game for shock value. Based on tiny decisions you probably didn't put any thought into, you sealed the fate of one of the characters you loved. Hint: upgrade the ship. You don't see the point during the game, but it's key. I myself lost 4 characters and my entire crew. I was furious. I began playing reckless, as Shepard would have, but without thinking about it. Without making the conscious decision, I was running face first into combat with my shotgun blasting. The game literally affected me in a way no other game ever has. And for the first time I can think of, when a character makes a slo-motion leap into a spaceship, you have no guarantee he'll make it. How many times have we seen the Master Chief make a similar slo-motion leap of faith? Did you ever doubt the outcome? Well you will now. How many times has Dom grabbed Marcus' hand at the last second? No doubt in the outcome. But now when Shepard leaps to grab Garrus' hand right before he falls, you'll gasp and hope he gets a hold of him. This is game as art.… Expand
  79. gordonD.
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    Even if the third is not even announce yet its one of my most awaited game of all time. Mass effect 2 is probably in my opinion the best sequel ever made,if you ever played the first one youll see the difference in terms of gameplay but 90% of core gameplay thats good is still here and has been improved to much larger scale.the messy inventory system from the first game is now gone and Even if the third is not even announce yet its one of my most awaited game of all time. Mass effect 2 is probably in my opinion the best sequel ever made,if you ever played the first one youll see the difference in terms of gameplay but 90% of core gameplay thats good is still here and has been improved to much larger scale.the messy inventory system from the first game is now gone and now its more seamless knowing you dont have to check your inventory every corner after you acquired new weapons and upgrades.graphics is almost still the same(which is not bad)and the framerate issue on the first game is now long gone.without any spoilers you should play the first one in order to really immerse yourself in this epic quest plus the save game import really adds the feeling that youre the shepard thats making a difference from the first all the way to the third...good voice acting delivers with that sci- fi ambience. For some real good story and gameplay RPG wise,look no further...this is one western RPG you dont want to miss.… Expand
  80. williamv.
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    Mass effect 2 was a great game because it gives a good storyline. Every choices you made in mass effect will be transferred in mass effect 2 and this time you must gather your ally to fight the collectors. the graphic in mass effect 2 was improved dramatically from the original mass effect. I enjoyed while playing this game because the graphic was amazing. I think that the graphic in mass Mass effect 2 was a great game because it gives a good storyline. Every choices you made in mass effect will be transferred in mass effect 2 and this time you must gather your ally to fight the collectors. the graphic in mass effect 2 was improved dramatically from the original mass effect. I enjoyed while playing this game because the graphic was amazing. I think that the graphic in mass effect2 was better than the graphic in gears of war. The main antagonist in mass effect 2 was the collectors. But the geth still make the appear in this game because of some mission. The sound in mass effect 2 was amazing and I enjoy them all. I think that mass effect 2 was the greatest game in 2010. But this game short and I hope that in the next sequel will be better and have a long time to played. And also this game have a good ai . After all, this game was great and must be played by every gamer in the world.… Expand
  81. R.F.
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    This is a game that brings everything to the table. From its dialog from the redesigned FPS, its a must play. The story continues on but grows. Graphics are better and the galaxy got bigger. The mining is a little much on the boring side but I guess you must gather to build. And the other thing that bothered me at first is the ammo. Why add it now? The overheating issue was working but This is a game that brings everything to the table. From its dialog from the redesigned FPS, its a must play. The story continues on but grows. Graphics are better and the galaxy got bigger. The mining is a little much on the boring side but I guess you must gather to build. And the other thing that bothered me at first is the ammo. Why add it now? The overheating issue was working but they probably had their reasons. I love the fact that you can build your dirty dozen and then try to gain their loyalty by helping them out with some personal issues. The free DLC is a nice touch. The new hover craft looks fun. Assigning certain powers to RB, LB and Y is a great feature. All in all the experience is beyond great. This is a game that makes you chose how you want the story to go, who you wanna take with you and how you want to be remembered.… Expand
  82. Dav.L.
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    I never played the first Mass Effect, so I was wondering if I would be able to jump right in to the sequel and still be able to enjoy the story line. Once again the developers with Bioware did a great job of bring you up to speed quickly with the story line. After reading several reviews, I was skeptical about the A.I. party system. Many games have promised great A.I. counter parts i.e. I never played the first Mass Effect, so I was wondering if I would be able to jump right in to the sequel and still be able to enjoy the story line. Once again the developers with Bioware did a great job of bring you up to speed quickly with the story line. After reading several reviews, I was skeptical about the A.I. party system. Many games have promised great A.I. counter parts i.e. "Operation Flashpoint" for one. The A.I. runs around, gets shot, and now you have to save them or finish missions alone. Once again you face the same A.I. problems only this time if they die, they don't come back. This can affect the outcome of the end game. I found myself several times restarting missions because a party member can't seem to understand commands to take cover or will not take cover themselves. Next up was the combat movement of the main character. I didn't like the fact that you can't kneel in game. Your character can seek cover behind barriers in Gears of War fashion, but you have to be right up on the object. This gives problems when you're trying to shoot around cover. When shooting from your weak side, sometimes the character will exposes himself completely to gun fire. The weapon upgrades are nice, yet you need to mine ore and such to be able to purchase the upgrades. This tends to be a bit of a hassle. Over all, the missions are fun and active and there is plenty to do per map with limited mind grinding side games. I would recommend this game for intermediate and hard core gamers due to the complex controls and commands. Beginner gamers might find the combat controls and complexity of the missions a bit over whelming.… Expand
  83. A.Collen
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    By now you must have heard of the Mass Effect series. You are a human male/female known as Commander Shepard. You go around the galaxy saving lives and taking almost as much. In Mass Effect 1 you pretty much put together a rag-tag team of humans and aliens and you have to prevent a just machine called "The Reapers" from destroying all life in the galaxy. You do so, everyone is happy. In By now you must have heard of the Mass Effect series. You are a human male/female known as Commander Shepard. You go around the galaxy saving lives and taking almost as much. In Mass Effect 1 you pretty much put together a rag-tag team of humans and aliens and you have to prevent a just machine called "The Reapers" from destroying all life in the galaxy. You do so, everyone is happy. In Mass Effect 2 things have been stepped up. [SPOILER ALERT] In the beginning of ME2 you are attacked by a lesser known alien race called "The Collectors". They destroy your beloved ship, but not before most of your crew mates get to escape pods. Things happened and you get blown into outer space, only to plummet into a planets orbit. Dying in the process. You are found by the terrorist group "Cerberus" and brought back to life with cybernetic parts. It takes them 2 years to fully bring you back. You are informed that the Reaper threat isn't over, you've barely scratched the surface. Many of your teammates have moved on. Its time to meet some new and old friends. This time again, you need the best of the best. Assassins, Mad Doctors, Psychopaths, Thieves, Marksmen, Biotic Warriors and even Geth. It is one of the best teams I have ever seen in a video game. And you must bring them together to stop the Reaper threat once and for all. I'm leaving a lot of it out on purpose so I don't totally spoil the game for you. Trust me, you'll thank me for it. Everything about this is amazing. The visuals are breathtaking. I have never seen graphics like this outside a Peter Jackson film. The characters are so well put together, you almost think of them as real friends. The voice acting is top-notch. It's like Patrick Stewart playing Professor X, you can't really picture anyone else playing that part. This game is a must have for any collection. There was only a few drawbacks for this game. Barely any to worry about, but they are there. First is the new planet scanning mini-game. This is how you search for minerals to upgrade weapons, armor, yourself, and the ship. Its just a pain sometimes when you need a lot of a mineral and you have to go looking and dragging your targeting cross-hair sluggishly around a planet. Another thing is that you can't truly explore the new citadel now. 70% of it is blocked off now which really sucks. I loved being able to run around in the first game, its a shame they screwed us out of it. Anyways, with DLC Galore and more on the way, go pick this game up before you shame yourself and your Xbox for not doing so earlier.… Expand
  84. AllenM.
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect 2. The first ME was an astounding action-RPG from the masters at Bioware, with an extremely memorable plot, brilliant gameplay mechanics and fantastic visuals. ME2 takes it to the next step, and it may be simply the best game on Xbox 360 right now. Graphics - 10/10 WOWOWOWOW. The level of detail here is absolutely astounding. Character models look brilliant, costume detail is Mass Effect 2. The first ME was an astounding action-RPG from the masters at Bioware, with an extremely memorable plot, brilliant gameplay mechanics and fantastic visuals. ME2 takes it to the next step, and it may be simply the best game on Xbox 360 right now. Graphics - 10/10 WOWOWOWOW. The level of detail here is absolutely astounding. Character models look brilliant, costume detail is sublime and the environments are lip-smackingly tasty. The amount of variety found here will amaze you, and all adds up to an impressively gorgeous experience. There are a few blurry textures, but these are few and far between. Gameplay - 10/10 The shooting mechanics from the original have been considerably beefed up here, although at the loss of some deeper RPG elements, but you don't really miss them after you've played for a while. It's just so much fun, as the shooting is top notch and the integration of powers is a lot smoother than ME1. The inventory doesn't even EXIST anymore however, and this may an issue for some. But not me. Lifespan - 10/10 Endless DLC, loads of sidequests and a very replayable storyline with several different endings will make this one last. Overall, its a huge improvement over ME1 and the undisputed king of 360 action games and a clear front runner for GOTY 2010. Just oustanding, well done Bioware.… Expand
  85. chrisa
    Mar 29, 2010
    10
    If you never played any rpg before,this game will be good start for you.mass effect 2 is an artistic game with new style exploring the planets of galaxy with recruiting strong troops of this deadly space is excitement and i must say that i did not play any role playing game until this time and this was good start. trials of a rpg like mass effect 2 looks awesome.mass effect 2 is mixed of If you never played any rpg before,this game will be good start for you.mass effect 2 is an artistic game with new style exploring the planets of galaxy with recruiting strong troops of this deadly space is excitement and i must say that i did not play any role playing game until this time and this was good start. trials of a rpg like mass effect 2 looks awesome.mass effect 2 is mixed of 2 style of game,rpg with action.playing this game has a sweet taste. if you didnt play any rpg before and you like action games like me but you want to try this one too,believe me this game is for you,you can enjoy this game even if you are action fan.you can play this game with pleasure i can explain this about mass effect 2 that you travel in galaxy so as to find perfect troops of space.in the middle of your journey you will visit some strange existing.you choose your tactic to join them for your team against collectors.as commander shepherd needs to build powerful team for his purpose,he recruit them.you never be alone in this fight with unique soldiers of galaxy,you will have strongest ship and your mission is depend on your team. these mysterious missions of commander shepherd makes this one of best solid games on xbox360. certainly you will have good times with this unforgettable game and when you playing this game you will see new kind,new gene,new experience and different weapons that you never seen before. in the future i hope to see so many game like this. good work,thanks bioware and electronic arts for this artistic game.… Expand
  86. Nick
    Mar 22, 2010
    10
    Any game that treats you like a criminal simply isn't worth paying for, and isn't worth playing. The draconian DRM ruins any fun I might have had, since my spotty internet connection means I keep getting booted out of the game.
  87. JustinV
    Mar 17, 2010
    10
    There's someone below me named Adam B. that rated this game and gave it a 7. He said it was a 10 hour RPG and that the game was only worth renting. I just want to clarify to everyone that it's physically impossible to beat this game in 10 hours. You could maybe in 20 if you were really good and didn't do any exploration at all. This game is amazing and has a ton of replay There's someone below me named Adam B. that rated this game and gave it a 7. He said it was a 10 hour RPG and that the game was only worth renting. I just want to clarify to everyone that it's physically impossible to beat this game in 10 hours. You could maybe in 20 if you were really good and didn't do any exploration at all. This game is amazing and has a ton of replay value. There's a lot of different classes and also different decisions from mass effect 1 that can flip this game upside down for you. Yeah the concept is the same, recruit a good team and take them on a suicide mission against the collectors. But it's the personal relationships that can almost make the game feel totally different. This is the best RPG i've ever played and i've played them all. If you can though, use a class that has adrenaline rush(soldier class) because this is the best combat feature in the game. It allows you to slow time to increase chances for head shots and also does more damage. It sounds simple but is really an addictive and an amazing feature that will make you appreciate this game even more. Kinda reminds me of the vat system in fallout 3 even though its not exactly the same concept. And folks, please don't come out and spend time rating and commenting this game if you haven't even played it or because you're a fanboy because there are some people who rely on our honest opinions to help with there purchasing decisions. Summary: If you love RPGs then this is the best you can buy and if you don't then y are you even playing this game. And if you haven't even play the game then please don't taint the user review section with some misleading information. thank you and hopefully this review helps.… Expand
  88. AlexM
    Mar 14, 2010
    10
    For any fan of sci fi, or dramatic storytelling, you can not go past the Mass Effect Series. ME1 was the most engaging story in a game I have ever played, with characters and visuals and acting that were second to none. It was not perfect, and had its bugs, but it was an overall triumph. ME2 picks up where the 1st left off, and does it in style. I honestly could not fault this game, as For any fan of sci fi, or dramatic storytelling, you can not go past the Mass Effect Series. ME1 was the most engaging story in a game I have ever played, with characters and visuals and acting that were second to none. It was not perfect, and had its bugs, but it was an overall triumph. ME2 picks up where the 1st left off, and does it in style. I honestly could not fault this game, as everything you do in the game has a purpose, and fuels the richness of the epic story that is being played out. I was a fan of Star Wars as a kid, but would have to say I am now a converted Mass Effect fan. Bioware has created a world that rivals the Star Wars Universe in terms of depth, history and memorable characters. I think the story is just so brilliant, and the characters are so deep and compelling that it will hard for any game to challenge this for a very long time. I would usually say I can't wait for this game to be turned into a movie, but this game is so perfect I think every person who plays it realizes that it pretty much already is a film, a rich world that is pure escapism. Eagerly awaiting the 3rd installment...… Expand
  89. TD
    Mar 7, 2010
    10
    When I saw the first cinematic trailer for ME2, I was hoping that this was not another sequel bust like so many other games released recently. But once I saw the opening cutscene, I was convinced that ME2 was definitely worth the $60 and countless hours of anticipation. Once I beat the game, I had a sense of accomplishment that I have not felt since beating only a few of the games that I When I saw the first cinematic trailer for ME2, I was hoping that this was not another sequel bust like so many other games released recently. But once I saw the opening cutscene, I was convinced that ME2 was definitely worth the $60 and countless hours of anticipation. Once I beat the game, I had a sense of accomplishment that I have not felt since beating only a few of the games that I have ever played. On the basis of the best graphics I have ever seen on an Xbox 360, the best storyline I have ever seen in a video game, some of the best game mechanics to date, and the realistic characters I encountered during my epic quest; this game deserves nothing less than a perfect 10 and I feel that it will be Game of the Year for 2010.… Expand
  90. xyz
    Mar 6, 2010
    10
    This is the best game I have player since KoTOR. It's immersive, deep, cinetmatic, exciting and most importantly-three playthroughts later you're coming back for more. Basically everything wrong with ME1 is ammended here. Planetary exploration is better in every way. The only thing lacking is the Mako, but the hammerheads coming soon. Wrex and Garrus at times were the only 2 This is the best game I have player since KoTOR. It's immersive, deep, cinetmatic, exciting and most importantly-three playthroughts later you're coming back for more. Basically everything wrong with ME1 is ammended here. Planetary exploration is better in every way. The only thing lacking is the Mako, but the hammerheads coming soon. Wrex and Garrus at times were the only 2 squadmates with any consistent personality in ME1-in ME2 it's pretty much the whole squad, even tali who I found bland in ME1 was now a much more interesting character. Gameplay is better, specifically combat wise. As an RPG, dialouge (Interrupts FTW!) is much more streamlined and you have much more controle. It's also great how things import and how you decisions in ME1 affect ME2 with the exception of Liara, but I hear a DLC may be coming, so heh. On topic, the DLC so far is imo better then pinnacle station and bdts put together. The armors this time are, while being much rarer, much more unique. Instead of just being the same armor with different colours, ALL the armors are unique, and have a vary of bonuses, some being suited to different missions. Customization for N7 lets you create all those other armors the first had anyway. Weapons is a low point, but you get different rate of fires where as no such thing in ME1. (Vindicator and Avenger, shruiken and tempest are examples. Carnifex and predator). I miss grenades, but heavy weapons offer much more. The loyalty missions really add extra immersion, Garrus' one showed more depth to his character, Legion';s taught you alot about the geth, Tali's finally revealed the migrant fleet. Finally, "hardcore rpg fans" rave about how this game is a failure as an RPG (ZOMG no ability to carry 100's of weapons and armors at any time!!!!!111), but they can just not appreciate change. This game is the modern equivelant of Baldurs gate.… Expand
  91. Hunter
    Mar 3, 2010
    10
    This is an absolutly amazing game and is one of the best games i have ever played with some amazingly epic moments and top-notch voice acting and graphics on top of it i cant get enough of this game.ive played it so much and im still not bored i love this game.the personality of all the character is diverese non are the same and each one has a unique backstory and are fun to find out This is an absolutly amazing game and is one of the best games i have ever played with some amazingly epic moments and top-notch voice acting and graphics on top of it i cant get enough of this game.ive played it so much and im still not bored i love this game.the personality of all the character is diverese non are the same and each one has a unique backstory and are fun to find out about.The graphics are amazing in this game the art every thing its has some of the best graphics i have seen in a long time.The music is amazing aswell none of it is annoying or reptitive and it all fits the moment its in.I recomend this to any one who wants a truly epic experience with fun third person elements and rpg elements also this is already GOTY in my opinion.… Expand
  92. CodyB
    Mar 3, 2010
    10
    Let me start off by saying that I hated Mass Effect 1. It was slow, clunky, glitchy, and extremely boring. I tried to play it 2 different times but the pace of the game was so slow that I couldn't ever get into the amazing story. Mass Effect 2 is nothing like the first! Every problem that was in ME 1 they have fixed in ME 2. This is hands down the best game I have played and I Let me start off by saying that I hated Mass Effect 1. It was slow, clunky, glitchy, and extremely boring. I tried to play it 2 different times but the pace of the game was so slow that I couldn't ever get into the amazing story. Mass Effect 2 is nothing like the first! Every problem that was in ME 1 they have fixed in ME 2. This is hands down the best game I have played and I haven't even finished it yet. I feel like I am Marcus Phoenix with jedi powers in this game! Nuff said.… Expand
  93. nmooney
    Mar 3, 2010
    7
    I agree with the sentiment that too many new games get glowing reviews. Mass Effect 2 is a plodding, linear bore. It does have it's moments of slick sci-fi production but fails to grab me and I doubt I'll finish. For all those with battlelines drawn between xbox and the ps3? Screw, that. I'm buying a ps3! Consider that if you've purchased 5 games you regret buying I agree with the sentiment that too many new games get glowing reviews. Mass Effect 2 is a plodding, linear bore. It does have it's moments of slick sci-fi production but fails to grab me and I doubt I'll finish. For all those with battlelines drawn between xbox and the ps3? Screw, that. I'm buying a ps3! Consider that if you've purchased 5 games you regret buying you've already paid for either console. It's not the consoles that are expensive...it's these darn games the industry keeps encouraging us to buy. I'd rather get the ps3 and expand my option for genuinely great games. Also, I'm on my second xbox 360 as are about half my gaming friends. We are the victim folks, all of us that game.… Expand
  94. alexh
    Mar 2, 2010
    9
    This is an excellent title. Bioware took everything that was wrong with the first game and scrapped it. to name a few the mako, elevator rides, and the spotty fighting mechanics . The writing is also top notch and I appreciate how you can actually here your character act out your decisions. It makes me feel a lot closer to Shepard. I have a couple of tiny nit picks which is that the game This is an excellent title. Bioware took everything that was wrong with the first game and scrapped it. to name a few the mako, elevator rides, and the spotty fighting mechanics . The writing is also top notch and I appreciate how you can actually here your character act out your decisions. It makes me feel a lot closer to Shepard. I have a couple of tiny nit picks which is that the game can be hard to play through multiple times since you've heard %80 of the dialogue already and the classes aren't very balanced. Oh and one more thing, I bought the game new so I had access to the cerberus network out of the box, but i think that's kind of a cheap tactic to prevent people from buying used. I blame EA for that one, not Bioware.… Expand
  95. MikeyJ
    Mar 1, 2010
    10
    I don't usually give games 10s, but this is a solid exception- its not perfect but its easily one of the closest games to that point that ive played in a long time. It improved on pretty much everything from the original: load times are handled much faster, and theres far less flow killing sequences in alot of places they used to be, most if not all glitches have been taken care of, I don't usually give games 10s, but this is a solid exception- its not perfect but its easily one of the closest games to that point that ive played in a long time. It improved on pretty much everything from the original: load times are handled much faster, and theres far less flow killing sequences in alot of places they used to be, most if not all glitches have been taken care of, and combat is more sophisticated. the storyline was a really nice standout too, as was with the original mass effect, its honestly one of the first games where ive actually cared about alot of the allied characters too, all are very effectively developed, and when in combat they dont get in the way half as much as they did in ME1. combine that with a 25 to 45 hour gameplay experience that can play out drastically different each time in accordance with the player's choices, you get nothing short of one of the best single player experiences ive seen yet. resource collecting was admittedly meh, but whatever, its not a deal breaker of any sort for the game, the rest of the experience makes up for it in full. great game.… Expand
  96. AdamB.
    Mar 1, 2010
    7
    Fun, rent-worthy 10-hour single player RPG with little to no replay value. Once you beat it, there's no reason to go back to it. Most dialog options result in the same events, and the two lead voice actors become stale even if you choose to try new characters. The mining and exploration games are boring and the controls are a bit clunky overall. Tons of long load times, like the Fun, rent-worthy 10-hour single player RPG with little to no replay value. Once you beat it, there's no reason to go back to it. Most dialog options result in the same events, and the two lead voice actors become stale even if you choose to try new characters. The mining and exploration games are boring and the controls are a bit clunky overall. Tons of long load times, like the original. On the plus side, the game has amazing graphics and sound, and a highly engaging story, but in general it's not the greatest interactive experience and surely doesn't deserve its wild accolades.… Expand
  97. MattP.
    Mar 1, 2010
    10
    This game is awesome. from my experience i think it is the best i have ever played, except for halo ofc. i recommend buying this game immediately because its really a must-have. i give this game a definite ten out of ten not just because its awesome game, but also because it has affected me in real life. if i would define the genre RPS, this would be the meaning of it.
  98. JeremyL
    Mar 1, 2010
    10
    Well, what can I say about this game? Mass Effect is an amazing game, with an amazing story. It's something for every RPG fan to enjoy, and get sucked into the story. I must say, I am really impressed by the game. I knew it was going to be awesome but, holy crap it's one of the best games I have played in a while. First off, you can use your character that you had before. Which Well, what can I say about this game? Mass Effect is an amazing game, with an amazing story. It's something for every RPG fan to enjoy, and get sucked into the story. I must say, I am really impressed by the game. I knew it was going to be awesome but, holy crap it's one of the best games I have played in a while. First off, you can use your character that you had before. Which is certainly a huge bonus to who ever worked hard on building their characters from the first game. Second, the characters you get to interact with are just more amazing then the first one. The screen is brighter, things are just more beautiful. Bioware does an awesome job on their games. If you played the first one I would recommend going out to buy this right now. If you have not played the first one, I would suggest you go buy it, and then get this one. You will not be disappointed!… Expand
  99. AndreaL.
    Mar 1, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect is one of my favorite games of the past decade. Despite its technical shortcomings, BioWare's first in what it promised to be a trilogy took the role-playing genre to new cinematic heights. Mass Effect 2 is a better game in near every way. From the very first scene, you will be hooked. And the farther you dive into this epic action role-playing game, the better it gets. Mass Effect is one of my favorite games of the past decade. Despite its technical shortcomings, BioWare's first in what it promised to be a trilogy took the role-playing genre to new cinematic heights. Mass Effect 2 is a better game in near every way. From the very first scene, you will be hooked. And the farther you dive into this epic action role-playing game, the better it gets. It fulfills the promise of its predecessor while continuing to push the boundaries of what we should expect in a videogame. This is the continued saga of Commander Shepard. It's the future, and all sentient life across the galaxy is in peril. An advanced race of machines known as Reapers is intent on wiping the slate clean. Shepard, a distinguished soldier, has faced this threat and emerged triumphant once, but victory is far from assured. Now Shepard must take the fight to the enemy -- a mission that is dubbed suicidal from the outset. Things don't look very promising, but Shepard has a plan. It involves recruiting the best and brightest from around the galaxy and somehow convincing them their lives are worth sacrificing for the greater good.… Expand
  100. AhmedB.
    Mar 1, 2010
    10
    Combining RPG and action gaming elements into cinematic and highly realistic game play immersed in futuristic realm, makes this game the best ever in the genre. The games cinematic sequences makes it more like a sci-fi movie, but still don`t lose the feeling of game, the storyline is deep and finely worked out. It`s like synergy of watching the movie, reading the book and playing the Combining RPG and action gaming elements into cinematic and highly realistic game play immersed in futuristic realm, makes this game the best ever in the genre. The games cinematic sequences makes it more like a sci-fi movie, but still don`t lose the feeling of game, the storyline is deep and finely worked out. It`s like synergy of watching the movie, reading the book and playing the game... I`m very happy seeing that game creation takes a leap ahead in the direction the gamers like. Graphics are awesome, even on my GF 240M game looks fantastic.... I hope very much that the third part of the game will have the same amount of innovations that the second part has from first. I already understand that it will be hard days waiting for the next part or the similar quality game after playing through ME2.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2010
2
#2 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010
8
#8 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 98 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 98
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 98
  3. Negative: 0 out of 98
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    95
    Mass Effect 2 overcomes its few gameplay weaknesses with a fantastic weave of dynamic combat, lavish presentation, and engaging character and weapon customization. But for all the myriad improvements that make Mass Effect 2's visuals so appealing and its combat so exhilarating, it's ultimately the way it moves us that makes it so memorable. [Feb 2010, p.56]
  2. games(TM)
    100
    Despite all of the ways Mass Effect 2 is more engaging to play and explore, after 35 remarkable hours it was the characters that stayed with us… Game of the year in January? Oh, go on then. [Feb 2010, p.112]
  3. X-ONE Magazine UK
    100
    Both an astonishing RPG and confident shooter, Mass Effect 2 is daring, shocking and often awe-inspiring in its use of choice. This is the future of storytelling in videogames. [Issue#, p.85]
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