Massive Effect

Note originally posted: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 11:50pm

I couldnt be arsed thinking of an original name for this one so anyone who's familiar with my notes should know what I am about to write...




Yes this one is going to be about Mass Effect 2. I've written briefly about Mass Effect 1 in one of my very early notes and commented on how much I loved the game and couldnt wait to see what number two had to offer. Well, I'm here to tell you that it offers a whole heap.

Geth. Ugly suckers.

Mass Effect 2 continues a few weeks on from Mass Effect 1. Shepherd and the crew of the SSV Normandy are on patrol in an outlying system looking for any remaining Geth. The ship is attacked by an unknown cruiser of gigantic proportions and, outclassed in every aspect, the Normandy is annihilated. Shepherd being the ever honourable hero that he is sacrifices himself to save Joker and we're treated to a fantastic scene of Shepherd slowly drifting through the vacuum of space above an unknown planet as his suit is compromised and he suffocates to death.

What!? The protagonist is dead? Wait a minute back up a bit here... Isn't he supposed to save the galaxy from the Reavers? How can he do that if it's dead? Enter Cerberus, the secretive human organisation dedicated to advancing the human species at any cost. You might remeber Cerberus from the first game. A certain mission on Luna perhaps? Anyway suffice to say that Cerberus works some magic to bring Shepherd back and the game starts from here.

Mass Effect 2 really builds on the original adding more characters, bigger guns and a much more polished feel. The combat has been overhauled to make it easier, the weapons are much better and feel more realistic and the classes are now each given a unique superpower which makes deciding on class a much harder option.

Gears anyone?

I went with a soldier this time because I wanted to check out the weapons systems and honestly, biotics arent really my style. Blasting through hordes of enemies in this game is definetly more fun than the first. It feels a lot more Gear'sish this time rather than an underdone attempt at a third person shooter and your comrades actually seem to be able to use their powers to your advantage rather than your detriment. However it really is the typical Bioware attention to detail and story that make this game shine. It's something that you'll wish you could play again for the first time.

If you played Mass Effect 1 and even remotely enjoyed it then it's a given that you need to play Mass Effect 2; if you haven't played either then you need to go out to your local game store, give the nice man behind the counter some money and then go home and play until you can't possibly play anymore.

9/10

Cheerio.

Thane. Best assassin ever. Ezio can suck it.

Mordin. Possibly the funniest/most badassed doctor since Doctor Who.