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Mass Effect 2 takes the bleak vacuum of space and flushes it with
color–the light of stars and galaxies, the red and violet swirls of
far-off nebulas, and the glimpses of comets as they burn through the
void. You’ll catch your first glimpse of this in the game’s intense
and much-improved art design, but that dance of light and shadows is
also an apt metaphor for bleak undercurrents in the story, as well as
the moral quandaries and past indiscretions that haunt the main
characters. More so than its predecessor, Mass Effect 2 possesses an identity,
and most of the obvious changes and improvements over the original are
beholden to the shift in tone. The shooting is more immediate and
satisfying, which keeps the pace moving and intensifies the violence of
each encounter. Rich characterizations invite you to look more closely
at each crew member’s personal stake in the sprawling galactic backdrop.
Even the relatively predictable space opera that is the main plot has
sinister moments, and you sense the characters struggling with that
heavy burden. Mass Effect 2 is incredibly enjoyable, but it’s more than
just fun: It’s a stellar package with a fierce spirit that makes it
engrossing and unforgettable.
Mass Effect 2 begins with dire events that foreshadow the game’s darker tone–an attack that leaves the SSV Normandy
in pieces and the fate of series protagonist Shepard temporarily
unclear. Never fear: Shepard returns thanks to the efforts of the
controversial pro-human organization called Cerberus and under the
watchful eye of its chain-smoking overseer, The Illusive Man. Entire
human colonies are disappearing without a trace, and Cerberus needs
you–as Shepard–to investigate and confront the vicious forces behind the
mystery. Whether you make your contempt for Cerberus’ questionable
methods clear or espouse the organization’s manipulations, you owe The
Illusive Man your life. Like it or loathe it, he casts his shadow on
every action you take.
A race of locustlike beings known as the Collectors cast an even
larger shadow, and the threat they pose is greater than may first
appear. Cerberus wants you to assemble a formidable team to assist and
provides you with two human officers of its own. First, there is the
sexy Miranda. Then, there is Jacob, who seems initially reticent but
allows his emotional fire to burn more brightly as the journey
progresses. One by one, you build up your crew of specialists to
complement them. Among them are a stoic but powerful Asari named Samara,
whose ethical code is as unforgiving as it is inflexible, and Thane, a
brooding assassin that belongs to the reptilian Drell race. These are
great characters, as are other members of your team, though the Salarian
scientist Mordin Solus is possibly the finest character in Mass Effect 2
and arguably the most interesting one seen in an RPG in some time. His
ultracaffeinated, ultralogical delivery is often hysterical and always
entertaining (his romantic advice will have you in stitches), but his
moral misgivings and humaneness make him more than just comic relief.
This diverse team joins you aboard a newly built vessel named,
appropriately enough, The Normandy SR-2, with the ever-reliable
and ever-feisty Joker at the helm. He’s not the only blast from the
past to cross your path in Mass Effect 2, but it’s best to discover for
yourself which characters from its predecessor (and what role they play
in this trek across the Milky Way) you’ll meet again.
Features
- Great cast of interesting and diverse characters
- Excellent dialogue and voice acting
- Fantastic art design with a strong sense of identity
- Solid shooting mechanics make for exciting encounters
- Level design makes every mission feel fresh.
System Requirements
Operating System Windows XP with Service Pack 3,Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or Windows 7
CPU 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD CPU 2.6+ GHz Core 2 Duo Intel or equivalent AMD CPU
Memory 1 GB (XP), 2 GB (Vista/Win 7)
Hard Drive Space 15 GB
Graphics Hardware NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater; ATI Radeon X1600 Pro or greater ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT or greater
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