Mass Effect 2 (XBOX 360)

Gamecow’s Price	RRP $109.95     Save $40.00 $69.95
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Genre	Role Playing Game
Platform	XBOX 360
Release Date	28/01/2010
Rated

Mass Effect 2 (XBOX 360) Product Information

Two years after Commander Shepard repelled invading Reapers bent on the destruction of organic life, a mysterious new enemy has emerged. On the fringes of known space, something is silently abducting entire human colonies. Now Shepard must work with Cerberus, a ruthless organization devoted to human survival at any cost, to stop the most terrifying threat mankind has ever faced.

To even attempt this perilous mission, Shepard must assemble the galaxys most elite team and command the most powerful ship ever built. Even then, they say it would be suicide. Commander Shepard intends to prove them wrong.

Features:

• Prepare for a suicide mission to save humanity
• Choose between 19 different weapon classes
• Devastating heavy weapons (that) can end a battle in seconds
• Recruit a team of the galaxys most dangerous operatives
• Explore the galaxy scan planets to uncover unique secret missions
• Train and equip your team to survive insurmountable odds
• Control your conversation with physical moments of intense action

Mass Effect 2 (XBOX 360) Review

Though the original Mass Effect was a very good game, it was also a flawed one. The performance issues included horrid texture pop-in, very long elevator rides to cover loading and some rough slowdown, especially in combat. The repetitive locales in sidequests and the mountainous treks in the Mako buggy were drawbacks too. But Mass Effect's overall quality was such that it outshone these flaws. BioWare had conjured up an incredibly compelling science fiction universe in which humanity had just arrived on the galactic stage, desperate to make their mark. The alien designs, the smart dialogue and great voice acting, the memorable score and the sheer detail that had been injected into the fiction all contributed to crafting an immersive experience. The strength of the setting outweighed weaknesses in the gameplay. In Mass Effect 2, BioWare have stripped out the weaknesses and built upon the strengths. Just as Naughty Dog did with Uncharted 2, and Ubisoft with Assassin's Creed 2, BioWare have made Mass Effect 2 better than its predecessor in every possible way.

As many will be aware, you won't be taking on the role of just any Commander Shepard. You'll be playing as your Commander Shepard. Provided you have a completed save game from Mass Effect, you're able to import your Shepard's appearance, as well as the consequences of the decisions you made throughout the first game. This is one of the most innovative and exciting aspects of Mass Effect 2, and it works brilliantly. While there are three particular decisions the game takes note of, there are many references tied to smaller decisions too.

Mass Effect 2 looks gorgeous, with no sign of the performance issues that plagued the first game. Loading times are sometimes lengthy, but at least you'll get flashy computer imagery instead of slow elevators. But it's the art direction and high production values as much as the graphical punch that contributes to Mass Effect 2's look. Both humans and aliens are meticulously detailed and fluidly animated. The environments are incredibly atmospheric too. Whenever you're in one of the dense commercial areas, like the seedy red glow of Omega or the shopping area of the Citadel, you can genuinely get a sense of being there.

BioWare have outdone themselves. The game's look is magnificent, the fiction is deeper, the combat is smoother, and the RPG elements have been streamlined without being dumbed down. The ability to carry your Shepard over from the first game is a masterstroke and we can't wait to see how it plays out in Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect 2 has been a very ambitious undertaking from BioWare and we're glad to say that they have pulled it off with style.

Full review PALGN