|
Written by Steven McKay
|
|
Friday, 12 February 2010 00:00 |
 ;
Upon its release in 2007, Mass Effect immediately commanded a lot of attention for a number of reasons: it was one of a number of new and original IPs to release that year; it was one of the first games to successfully combine RPG and shooter elements; and its dialogue-centric gameplay strove to re-invigorate the way complex narrative could be conveyed to the player. While the game, which was admittedly very ambitious, had its fair share of technical problems, the quality of the game's narrative was more than enough to secure its status as a “must-play” title.
As the follow-up to this, Mass Effect 2 was immediately saddled with the burden of fixing all of the technical issues that plagued the first game, whilst still providing the rich narrative that the first game delivered so perfectly. Surprisingly, Bioware have not only listened to the complaints surrounding Mass Effect, but have also been brave enough to completely overhaul the parts which didn't work so well; it's fair to say that Mass Effect 2 plays like an entirely different game than the first one, and, for the most part, is all the better for it.
So what have Bioware improved? The answer to that is practically everything. Probably the first thing you'll notice is the graphical improvement: the grain filter is all but gone, the texture pop-in problem has been practically eradicated, and the game runs at a consistently smooth frame-rate. The fact that the game is absolutely gorgeous doesn't hurt either.
Besides the aesthetic make-over, the most significant improvements have been made to the game's combat mechanics. The addition of a robust cover system leaves the game feeling like a more intelligent, tactical take on Gears Of War. The game's weapons also have a more pleasingly tactile feel to them; the weapons now feel powerful, like they pack a real punch – as opposed to the soft feel of the combat in the original – and this is reinforced by the fact that enemies now also react accordingly when shot.
It really is fair to say that Bioware have addressed all of the complaints from the first game, and have succeeded in correcting all of said complaints. In fact, rather than listing the numerous areas in which the game has been improved, it's probably far easier to list the few things that Mass Effect 2 doesn't do quite so well.
As previously mentioned, Bioware weren't shy about taking a hatchet to the less successful aspects of the first game, and top of the list of features to be cut from Mass Effect 2 is the inventory system. This is now completely gone, and instead, equipment is upgraded by purchasing upgrades, or through research. While this system works really well – especially compared to the old inventory system – you can't help but feel that it's perhaps been made a little too simple. These cuts aren't just limited to the inventory system though; in fact, Bioware have taken the decision to remove most of the conventional RPG elements from the game, and while this lends the game a much more dynamic, action-oriented feel, it again just feels a little too different to its predecessor.
Probably the biggest departure from the first game is Mass Effect 2's story line. That's not to say that the story line is bad; the game's narrative is actually very well written, and there are a number of sequences that will leave you absolutely speechless. The main problem, though, is that the story often seems somewhat unrelated to the events of the first game, and the links between the two occasionally feel a little tenuous. To re-iterate, the story is largely very well done, but what was by far the strongest element of the first game, takes somewhat of a backseat to the action in Mass Effect 2.
However, while the story may be slightly less compelling than it was the first time around, one aspect that is guaranteed to get you invested in the game is the characters – or more specifically, the relationships that you'll form with them throughout the course of your adventure. The characters in Mass Effect 2 are surprisingly well-realised, and you'll find yourself forming a very strong, very literal friendship with said characters. This is by far Bioware's crowning achievement in Mass Effect 2, and you'll be hard pushed to find a game with more three-dimensional, personable characters than are found here. This level of camaraderie is formed through the game's various different ways of interacting with your team-mates: By conversing with them between and during missions via the games branching dialogue system; by taking part in each characters' individual side-quests; or even during the games cut-scenes. Of course, this is all helped by the fact that the game, and some of the characters, are, at times, absolutely hilarious.
As previously stated, the expectations for this game were set extremely high by its predecessor. Staggeringly, Bioware have not only managed to correct all of the technical flaws of the original, but have also exceeded all expectations, and delivered a slick, polished, and highly compelling game. It does have a few minor problems, but when a game is this charming and charismatic, these are largely inconsequential. With Mass Effect 2, Bioware have again succeeded in producing another rich, believable, and fantastically realised piece of interactive sci-fi.
Score:
93/100
|
|
Disagree with us? Got an idea? Want to put up your own post with full credit? Click here to send it to us and we'll post it...as long as it doesn't suck.
|
Bloguin is the revolutionary blog network specifically focused on helping bloggers get the most out of their websites. We're currently working on building a large network of online communities and hope to expand our blogging coverage to include a wide range of topics. 
The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.
The Bloguin Network is always looking to expand. We're specifically looking for blogs in the sports, entertainment, and video games field, but are open to adding any type of quality site. If you're a blogger and interested in joining our network, please fill out our application form.
The Bloguin Login gives you full access to everything our network has to offer. Your name and password will work for each and every one of our sites. Signing up is simple, and will allow you to post in all our forums, create member blogs, and access other cool features! What are you waiting for? Create an Account!