Some improvements over ME1 and some steps back as well. Performance is improved, the cover system is much more fluid, and they did a better job with side quests. I like the expanded roster, but they still don't interact with each other. Combat gets really repetitive as the game goes on, with the limited enemy variety and everything being dumbed down overall. Plot's not as strong as ME1; almost feels like filler. Hard to say which is better between ME1 & 2, but I kinda lean towards 1.
BioWare's second incarnation of their scifi soap opera hits an incredible amount of highs over its last game despite being marred in incredibly rushed productions due to their distinct change of priorities. The characters this time around are incredible, each with strong faceted personalities and motivations (with an exception or two) that end up turning the game in general to a character study. It suitably reflects the idea of preparation for a suicide mission. The story however is a large step down from the previous one, to a point of complete melodrama that inadvertently makes the trilogy's story hard to take seriously. That being said, the character focus mitigates this issue and the worldbuilding is just as strong as it was previously although with a couple retcons. The gameplay is tolerable this time around but nothing really exciting, and I highly recommend setting the difficulty as easy as possible so it can be widely ignored. Its core TPS combat is too shallow and the enemy design too simple to justify the amount you do otherwise. As a finishing note, I also highly recommend the DLCs for the Shadow Broker as well as Kasumi, both having two strong character additions that feel core to the experience. (8/10)
no plot no problem!!!!
I've really fallen out of love with Mass Effect lately. As a teen/young adult I really didn't pick up on how reactionary these games are. Like, the plot of ME2 is that a white supremacist organization wants you to save humanity from a mindless foreign horde that's doing a Great Replacement on us, but no one will believe the white supremacists because they always say the foreign hordes are doing a Great Replacement on us but this time it's real so c'moooon help pwease? And everyone's favorite buddy Garrus is a cop-ass fuckhead who just wants to kill people without having to feel bad about it. Fuck this game. Vanguard charge still rules though.
Likely the best of Bioware's whole catalogue. I remain baffled that no one seems to be taking the final mission's concept and doing it better.
Lmao everyone died except Jacob and grunt on my first play through
A perfectly executed RPG.
Garrus is the only friend zoned alien I want
The best of the series by far. The shooting is passable and a massive improvement from the first, and the game has a narrative focus that neither the first nor the third have.
Such a great sequel. An improvement on the first in almost every way. Neo-noir at times, crazy sci-fi action epic at others. These games blew my mind when I first played them. I used to say the first game was better, but this has definitely aged much better and grown on me over the years.
easy 10
if you dont like me2 u are a legit fool; no beating around the bush, a straight up clown
So so good and honestly my favorite sci-fi universe ever created (yes, more than Star Wars, fight me). Managed to make it through the suicide mission with only one crew death this time which is a new record for me, but still disappointed I couldn’t save everyone. Oh well, it’s not like this is the last time I’ll ever play this game, so I have plenty more opportunities to try again. The best of the best in pretty much every regard.
The worst Mass Effect game. Includes Andromeda. Is in the boring, gray middle ground between 1's RPG elements and 3's shooter elements, so it doesn't feel like it knows what it wants to be.
I want to harass more planets with probes so I can get materials for hours on end
From a technical perspective it's very impressive. But I honestly still feel that all the changes they made to the combat and gameplay made the game lose some of its identity. The first entry was amazing and had no confusion as to what it was. This one felt like they were leaning more heavily towards being an action title than an rpg. The story is fine enough for being the second in the franchise, and when you got to a point where it was obvious the choices you made in the first one were carrying over it felt great. If it wasn't for the identity crisis this would be a better game in all aspects. I know it's unpopular opinion, but I still stand against the decision to bring Christina Norman on and pivot the game to be an action title that happens to have RPG elements.
Other than some awkwardness here and there due to some parts being rushed, well...
I think my username already shows how much this game means to me.
I think my username already shows how much this game means to me.
I think the issues of this game are buried under its massive leap forward in presentation, but it's deserving of its praise.
Might have been enjoyable, but the PS3 version was a bit of a janky mess at times and definitely crashed and corrupted my save data at least once. At least for the hours I got to play with it, it was a good time.
in 2010 tali was my wife
It's fine. I like Tali.
Writing: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Art Design & Visuals: 4/5
Voices & Sounds: 4/5
Atmosphere & Immersion: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Art Design & Visuals: 4/5
Voices & Sounds: 4/5
Atmosphere & Immersion: 5/5
I probably regard this game higher than it deserves. It is practically a side quest turned into an entire game, but the micro writing in some of the romance plotlikes like Garrus's, Talis and Thanes is some of the best. And the premise of the game, assembling an entire death squad of the universes most badass to take on something impossible, is cool.
The gameplay can be pretty fun once you've progressed far enough, but I find that if you just play as a normal soldier class with cover mechanics, it's really boring and stale. If this game didn't have the Vanguard I probably would think nothing of the combat.
Good game, but it is a tragic first step in the downfall of bioware and its slow decline.
The gameplay can be pretty fun once you've progressed far enough, but I find that if you just play as a normal soldier class with cover mechanics, it's really boring and stale. If this game didn't have the Vanguard I probably would think nothing of the combat.
Good game, but it is a tragic first step in the downfall of bioware and its slow decline.
Mass Effect 2 manages to be both a meathead stupid hollywood action movie, while also being a perfect sequel.
One of the best video game sequels ever that does such a brilliant job at expanding its world, establishing a number of fantastic characters and making for a very emotional and intense story. Improves upon the first game in every conceivable way.
imo this is still the best game in the trilogy! it's the one that made me really fall in love with it being put off by how janky the controls and gameplay were in me1. garrus and tail <3
I did like the expanded cast of characters, but not as much as I liked Shep's succinct team in ME1. I definitely enjoy how weird the story is in this game, and I cannot say how big of a relief it is that the controls in ME2 have held up.
If you want to experience the fun of the first game without the godawful controls, just go for ME2!
If you want to experience the fun of the first game without the godawful controls, just go for ME2!
Other strengths and weaknesses, but still a great game.
A must-own with a deep, fleshed-out story which focuses intensely on character development.
cool aliens and shit