Why? Why are you reading this review? The time that you spend reading this page is valuable time that could be spent playing Mass Effect 2. It’s that good. Seriously. (Doubly so if you’ve played the original) Everything you need to know about Bioware’s sequel can be summed up as so. Buy this game. If need be purchase the Xbox 360, to do so.
Games such as this are a rarity in the industry and it was evident that Edmonton’s Bioware was onto something when it delivered the predecessor back in 2007. Although the franchise doesn’t have the brand power that other s do, such as the Halo series, Metal Gear, or Mario, it makes its stand as the only game with heart. Yes, I said it,…Heart. And before all sorts of preconceptions are made and you write Mass Effect 2 off as a touchy-feely space drama, know this; You, dear reader, are the hero of this game. Let me explain.
For years, mediums have attempted to bridge the gap between the personality on a screen and the personality that is you. Movies attempt to build their characters to become relatable to the audience. That’s why hero’s that start out in environments that can be familiar to a viewer are more endearing to the masses then a hero’s that been built that way. Chances are you have more in common with farm-boy Luke Skywalker with daddy issues, then you do with the metal-man Terminator who was carved out of Adamantium or Chuck Norris. My point being, that if you can identify with the protagonist then you are more likely to become invested in them. Video games have done with in numerous ways. From the blank-slate of the Master-Chief, which you are inclined to make your own personal assumptions about, to your personally sculpted avatar in MMOs such as the juggernaut that is World of Warcraft. Games have even gone so far as to allow the user to craft their hero in their own image, allowing body shape, size and facial features all to be formed to emulate the gamer. Mass Effect 2 (and its predecessor) have taken it a step further. And although you can still sculpt your hero to your physical likeness, the real gem in this series is what you, personally, choose. Your, in-game decisions, not only affect the outcome of the game, giving you direct control of the overall story, but they also work together to build your hero. And THAT, not anything else, is what sets this game apart from millions of others.

Now, Video games have long given people choices, it’s what sets them apart from Hollywood’s offerings. You have about the same amount of control over Bruce Willis as you do the weather. “Don’t go into that room Bruce!” You can say it and wish it all you want, but no matter how many times you rewind Bruce Willis always goes into that room, always gets shot and always hangs out with Haley Joel Osmond alone (which is creepier then him being a ghost.) Not video games. If you don’t want Mario to go over there, then don’t tell him to go over there. You have control. What Mass Effect has done was developed that idea times a thousand. Now Mario can strengthen his brotherly bond with Louigee, kill Yoshi to further his career and sleep with Princess Peach, (or Toad if thats your thing!) Now not to defame the mustached plumber, but thats how this game works. Your choices make you, and you make the game.

Bringing me to the other-half of what makes Mass Effect 2 so great. Its cast. The developers left the hero, Commader Shepard up to you, leaving them to focus on the games stealer supporting cast. With an optional 10 group members to recruit to aid you through your galactic romp there’s someone that everyone will identify with. You’ll have your favourites and you’ll have those you could care less about. And how you interact with those characters determines wether they live or die, like you or hate you, help you or hurt you.

Favor one person in the game and the other will hate you for it. Strike up a relationship with the ships cheer-leader and the geeky-girls will hold it against you. All these choices don’t just affect the drama throughout the story, but game-play as well. One character may be less likely to help you out in your time of need if she’s pissed off about your choice to demote her husband, where-as if she was confident with your leadership she’s be that much more likely to assist you. This sort of concept happens thousands of times during its progression and it encouarges multiple playthroughs just so you can see how things play out differently.
The kicker is that your character that you built in Mass Effect 1 can be imported into Mass Effect 2, so choices you made 2 years ago still dramatically effect you now. People you let die in 2007 are dead, and will not be coming back to assist you in 2010. This makes the game personal. My Commander Shepard adventure is profoundly different then your Commander Shepard, he has friends that you let die, but yours was faithful to his girl-friend while mine was not. It will be interesting to see how this ripple effect play out for the already announced Mass Effect 3.
So even though, the graphics are great, the game-play is tight and the story is stellar (well mostly) you need to play Mass Effect 2. Not for any of the above mentioned reasons, but to experience the fact that YOU, dear reader, are finally in a video-game.

Tags: Achievements, Bioware, Bruce Willis, Choices, Mario Bangs Princess Peach, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2

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