Mass Effect 2 Review

Being a passionate gamer and all that, I hardly ever play a game twice. I don’t see any particular reason to play a game again when I have just completed it. I am not an achievement whore nor do I possess the urge to revisit levels to unlock every item and possession one can. But it was Mass Effect that made me do it. I played it twice on the Xbox 360 and once again on the PC. The only game I have played more than once back to back. It was the master story telling, the deep characters, the dynamic combat, and the epic presentation that pulled me in repeatedly. Bioware had created one of the finest games of the decade and it was evident from the acclaim and fan appreciation it received. With Mass Effect 2, Bioware had promised a darker, more sinister experience, and has easily created a better game than its predecessor, even if some of the decisions it took to implement radical changes may not go down well with certain sects of gamers.

One of the most talked about aspects of Mass Effect 2 is its character import feature, which enables players to transit their Mass Effect character seamlessly into the sequel. A successful transfer will net you some nice credit and bonuses, but your level and skills from the previous playthrough are reset and you begin as a Level 1 Shepard. What does stay with you is your past, the decisions you have made and the relationships you bonded in. Without revealing much, the consequences of your decisions in the first game add some profound effect in to the sequel’s story, creating a seamless integration that leaves one marveling at the cleverness and intelligence with which Bioware has penned the story and is exemplary of the quality of writing. However not required, I thoroughly recommend that players complete the first game before starting Mass Effect 2, as it offers the best experience, rather than relying on preset decisions that you may or may not agree with.

Regardless of how you start, the basic plot remains: Human colonies across the galaxy are disappearing. Shepard, revived, after a disastrous attack on the Normandy, by a controversial pro-human organization called the Cerberus and under the watchful eye of the sinister Illusive Man, is pawned into investigating the forces behind the mystery. Whether of what you think of the organization, there is a greater threat that abounds, and the need for each other is consequential. Shepard must now find and recruit the best across the galaxy and convince them to fight with him on a mission that is immediately termed as suicidal.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the myriad of characters is what adds depth to the story, which otherwise, isn’t really remarkable. Your squad will be made up of scientists, soldiers, rebellions and even criminals, with each one as diverse as the other, with their own backgrounds, with a past as troublesome and some even disturbing and despicable. It is them and their story that drives the plot, each compelling with their own arcs, their own perturbs and their own way of dealing with them. This again bears witness to the quality of writing aided by the dynamic approach to conversations that draws you in and engages you in an emotional response, making you feel for the characters and the universe the developers have created.

Mass Effect 2 has received a major core mechanics overhaul that in itself is quite radical, surprising and controversial. BioWare has attempted to streamline the whole structure of the RPG elements, giving away many of the conventional elements that may not go down well with purists. In fact, there have already been cries of blaming BioWare of ‘watering down’ the game for consoles, which is quite absurd when the first game was released for the same platform as well. Working on criticism received of the first game’s rather clunky inventory management system, Bioware decided to just strip it off as there would be only so much it can do and change in the context of the game and keep it from deviating it from what it actually is – an action-oriented RPG.

And it makes sense. Most of the changes actually do make some real sense and I dare say, are quite realistic. It seemed as though BioWare just raised its hands up and said ‘enough of the conventional crap, we want to introduce a system that is logical, practical and more real’ and they made it. While most of the changes gets my nod, and I am relieved that I will no longer have to put up with some of the restrictions of the genre (like needing an engineer to hack safes and doors, thank god!), there is one in particular that is of the ‘out of the fire and in the frying pan’ variety, which I will explain in due course.

The first major update you will receive is your spanking new Normandy, fitted with more high-tech engineering and luxurious conveniences than ever before. It is here that all the major updates are fitted, giving the ship a more consequential role to play than just giving you access to the map and a place to talk to the characters. Allow us to give you a tour: On Deck 1 is the captain’s cabin, your cabin, complete with a king size bed and embedded music system (we wonder why? :p), and a personalization terminal. At the personalization terminal, you can customize your look – during missions and on the ship. You can select the type of armor you want to wear, its material pattern, tint and color. While it is cool to choose your own colors, and not having your look restricted by the armor’s default appearance, there is dearth of armor choices, and you will rarely come across one in your galaxy escapades. Armor in this game plays a very small role and provides little benefit to health or shields.

On Deck 3 is your cabin crew area, which holds the medical bay, your squad mate Miranda’s office, a cook and kitchen, crew quarters and to everyone’s relief I am sure, toilets. Deck 4 is the engineering deck, a place for two of our old friends and a couple of clearly-in-awe maintenance folks. Deck 2, however, is where the meat is. The focal point of the level is, of course, the galaxy map system from which you can set the course of your travels between planets and star systems. It also holds Kelly Chambers, our expectantly flirtatious secretary cum psychotherapist that keeps the crew’s mind in balance, and the private terminal. The private terminal gives you access to your messages and the list of upgrades you have researched (more on that in a short while), among other unimportant things. And finally, on the right of the level is the research lab headed by our Redbull-induced, hyperactive Dr. Mordin.

About Mufaddal Fakhruddin

Mufaddal Fakhruddin is the Deputy Editor for MEGamers and has a perpetual passion for all things gaming. Except RTSs. They confuse him.