Friday, February 26, 2010
By Max Votey
Opinion Editor
and Sean Yates
News Editor
In the world of Halo, Call of Duty, and Gears of War, many people have forgotten that a game with shooting can also be well- written and have important choices. Mass Effect 2 breaks the mold of the generic shoot-em-up game by engaging the player with story as well as explosions.
Mass Effect 2 is the sequel to the wildly popular science fiction game Mass Effect. The Mass Effect series is known for combining role-playing elements with the third-person-shooter genre to create an engaging and unique gaming experience.
The game is set several hundred years in the future, where humanity has gained access to the newly discovered intergalactic community. Players control Commander Shepard, a man (or woman) tasked not only with establishing humanity’s role in the galaxy but also with combating a race of sentient robots known as the Reapers that are bent on destroying all sentient life.
In the first Mass Effect, Shepard uncovered the threat of the Reapers and managed to stop their first attempt to annihilate the galaxy. At the beginning of Mass Effect 2, Shepard jumps out of an exploding spaceship and dies.
However, much like a futuristic space-Jesus, Shepard is resurrected by a pro-human organization called Cerberus. Now, Shepard is on a mission to find connections between missing colonies and the Reapers while recruiting the galaxy’s greatest individuals.
Mass Effect 2 surpasses the first installment in almost every respect. Most importantly, it fixes many of the problems of the first game. Issues such as bland side quests, boring exploration and a poor saving system are corrected in the sequel.
The first game’s confusing and inefficient inventory screen, which often forced players to delete valuable items, is gone.
In addition to correcting the errors of its predecessor, the game brings its own innovations to the series. The feel of the game is faster-paced but more immersive, and the writers outdid themselves with a dynamic storyline.
The characters are flushed out with detailed personalities and complex motives. Even the minor characters have interesting and often amusing commentary. The player’s choices, for good or evil, have a greater effect on the story and the environment of the promised Mass Effect 3, as saved files can transfer between games.
In terms of gameplay, the combat system now places greater emphasis on conserving ammunition and making use of each party member’s skills and powers. In the original Mass Effect, combat was focused on weapon use, which made the “Soldier” the strongest class and made other classes seem gimmicky and pointless. The sequel resolves this issue by limiting the power of guns, forcing reliance on alternative abilities.
High damage relative to the character’s health make the combat highly tactical and force the player to use his allies’ abilities to expose and weaken targets. While frequent deaths can be frustrating, there is almost no penalty, as Shepard regenerates right before the fight ready for another go.
One aspect not up to the high standards of the rest of the game is graphics. The visuals of the game are improved from the original but are still poor compared to other recent video games. In addition, after completing the main quest, it is possible to continue searching the galaxy.
For anyone interested in role-playing video games, Mass Effect 2 is a must-have. The well-developed gameplay and incredible writing elevate the game to a truly epic status.
With the flexible combination of a role playing game and an over-the-shoulder shooter, Mass Effect 2 reaches further than nearly any game before it. Mass Effect 2 is rated M and available at most game retailers.
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