After deciding I really wanted to pick up Mass Effect 3 on release day, I realized I had to get up to speed and prepare for the grand finale! The best way to do that? Play earlier installments of course. Since I will be picking up Mass Effect 3 for PS3, I was very happy to pick up Mass Effect 2 as a budget buy. After a couple of marathon sessions I’ve completed the game. Time for a Final Verdict review.
[ please note ] This post contains spoilers !
Plot
One month after the devastating Geth attack on the Citadel, humanity seized political control of the galaxy. Now the human-led Council is forced to respond to evidence that the Reapers have returned. To quell the rumors, the Council has send Commander Shepard and the Normandy to wipe out the last pockets of Geth resistance. Officially they blame the invasion on the Geth and their leader, a Rogue spectre.
On the fringes of known space, something is silently abducting entire human colonies. Now Shepard must work with Cerberus to stop the most terrifying threat mankind has ever faced. Shepard must assemble the galaxy’s 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.
Final Verdict
Playing Mass Effect 2 is a very personal experience. Players can not only customize the look of Commander Shepard and decide if they’re playing a male or female leading character. Players can also react very differently during conversations and events. I played as a female Commander Shepard and followed the Paragon path, meaning I mostly did the good thing. As a result my personal choices did not only influence my experience of the game, but also my final verdict.
When a game is part of a series I usually don’t like jumping in the middle of the action. Since I never played Mass Effect I was very hesitant about starting with Mass Effect 2. I actually received a free copy of the game for PC after the amazing sales of Dragon Age 2. Even though I installed it on my PC, I never really played the game. Fortunately Mass Effect 2 for PlayStation 3 comes with an interactive comic. It not only explains the story of the original game, but also gives you the opportunity to make some key decisions. For example do you save Ashley or Kaidan during the operation at Virmire. The interactive comic really helped me get things in perspective. What Shepard and his (her) team did during the events of Mass Effect was very impressive. This definitely had in impact on Shepard and the team.
In Mass Effect 2 Shepard again has to defeat a powerful enemy. Teaming up with Cerberus, definitely not a friend during Mass Effect, must have been a surprise for the fans. I really enjoyed the interaction with my companions, but I was a little sad it wasn’t as intense as in Dragon Age 2 – another BioWare title. I enjoyed doing the loyalty missions, but I would have loved to find out even more about my companions. Since an important part of the game is getting your team together, Mass Effect 2 still gives you enough time to focus on the members of your team. Maybe I just couldn’t get enough after missing out on Mass Effect.
I truly love the fact Mass Effect is an action role playing game. It’s not just about shooting those Collector drones to bits, but the game also comes with a very powerful story. A story where you can influence events and interact with your companions. Even though fighting aliens is a theme that is so familiar to a lot of people, BioWare still created a game that really pulls you in. It’s definitely one of the best games I’ve ever played and I’m so looking forward to the grand finale in Mass Effect 3.
If you’re into action games AND enjoy great storytelling, be sure to pick up a copy of Mass Effect 2! You might be able to finish it just in time for the release of Mass Effect 3 and import your savefile ♥
