OXM UK: Mass Effect 2 Review

BioWare's sci-fi universe was exquisitely rich and detailed in story, and pleasingly deep in the relationships that you built with your crew. And thanks to the quality of the script and voice acting, even the minor characters rarely slipped into easy cliché.

Set in a huge universe, in which it genuinely feels possible to finish the game with a huge percentage untouched, Mass Effect 2 is a very similar game to its predecessor.

Verdict
Great action combat with a fantastic story.

Uppers
* Still gaming's best-told story
* Improved combat and balance
* Superb acting and script
* No horrendous space buggy

Downers
* How long until 3?

[Shaka2K6]

.

[Scotracer]

Yeah cause no other great RPG has been on multiple DVDs before...

[LordMarius]

I got it, A$$ Defect

[LordMarius]

lol, a clone account

@below, no thanks, both suck(me no RPG person)

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I will play Ass Defect and you can go play F@G (Flop Action Game)

Seriously though, you guys are missing out on a great RPG. It is worth running down a rig or console to play it if you can.

[playstation123]

I cant believe bots are still switching, M$ probably thinks were still in the 90's lol last gen console 3fixme.

[Zulwarn]

i cant believe droids are still using old VCR Tech to insert Discs, $ony probably thinks were still in the 60's lol last gen console BS3.

[SaberEdge]

I can't believe droids are still putting up with stupid mandatory installations.

[00]

so close, can't wait.

[FACTUAL evidence]

It's a fun game, i'm enjoying it, I'm only 3 hours through.

[Dark360]

Nice DROIDS...Enjoy MAG HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[MajestieBeast]

I seriously hope i dont have to wait till the 29th seeing as my ea downloader is dling the deluxe edition at this moment 10gb of pure goodness.

[MajestieBeast]

1 hour to go:D

[playstation123]

LOL from Xbox magazine of course 10/10 for a star trek game.

[likedamaster]

As if that's a bad thing.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

I guess you can add another 360 game that brings the hate and jealousy from the other side. Duplicate accounts a plenty. Hmmmmmmmm, must be the crappy reviews that MAG is getting.

[MajestieBeast]

Last time i checked i can play this game on my pc did ms turn it in a exclusive hours before the launch?

People disagreeing with the truth now i have seen it all.

[ukilnme]

@ MajestieBeast

We all know PC gaming only matters when the game is on 360 and PC because the usual suspects are butt hurt. I'll be enjoying this on 360.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Guys...calm down.

He gets to play his game.

We get to play our game...

...and his game.

: )

Anyone wanna share Steam accounts? PSN accounts?

Steam - MySwordIsHeavenly
PSN - JacobIsHollywood

[MajestieBeast]

Steam:HolyMajesticBeast
Psn:majesticbeastt

Here ya go.

[Zulwarn]

tells all the pc gamers: pc gaming doesnt matter :(

"You'll play it on 360, because you don't have a powerful PC like me. There's no point playing the inferior version."

or maybe we dont like playing all games on pc with KB/M

[ukilnme]

Live: ukilnme
PSN: ukilnme2

[SaberEdge]

And the fact that you are a hardcore PS3 fanboy doesn't have anything to do with you constantly bringing up the PC version, right MajestieBeast? Uh huh sure. Whether you have a gaming PC or not is irrelevant. You ARE a PS3 fanboy and you ARE trying to stealth troll.

[Foxton01]

I'm just glad i don't have to buy a 360 to play this awesome game. Keeping a gaming pc, and a ps3 stocked with new games is expensive enough :)

[nycredude]

You guys are such losers. Why would someone get jealous. Only broke fools who can't afford all consoles would get jealous. If someone wants to play any game enough they will buy the other console, if they don't buy it then they don't want to play a game enough. What part of this don't you people understand. It's not like you have the last xbox 360 on earth. Get off your high horse, you don't own the company and you didn't make the games.

I bought this game on Friday before it released and it's good, which I expected cause ME1 was the reason I bought a 360, and it alone was worth the $100 I paid for it.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Hm...

Probably gonna wait on this one still.

Not a big Bioware fan.

I prefer Bethesda.

Will anyone give me a personal review when they've played it? I really WANT to like this game!

[green]

From what i have noticed, if a games concept does not appeal to you after being subjected to a media overload, its very hard for your mind to change even if you play it.

For example,there was a media overload of Fallout 3 related stuff and even if it looked good, something inside me just could not connect with the game.Ended up playing it after a mate of mind forced me to play it and i stopped playing after 6 hours because i really hated it. As they say "different strokes for different folks".

So i will advise you to either rent it or borrow a friends copy if you really want to try it out.

[jdktech2010]

I have a way more powerful computer than's needed for this game and I'm getting it on 360....now what?

Geeze, what do you guys do for fun? I seriously hope for your long term life it's not to rag on each other's systems....talk about a pointless existence

[havikzero]

I think he just won the fanboy argument by making everyone arguing look like children.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

THANK YOU!

I have a very powerful PC as well. If I owned a 360, I'd probably buy it on that instead too. I prefer to game on a console.

That's why I'm excited for Crysis 2 to come to consoles! I love the first one!

They're electronics!

I guess the reason people argue it, however, is that they think one company cares more about its customers. While it "may" be true...odds are...both companies are in it purely for profit.

Look at Bobby Kotick. He couldn't care less what games his company pumps out...as long as they put money in his bank account.

Look at Ted Price. He is making games because he believes in his product. He has these worlds he's imagined (along with the rest of his team) and he wants to let people live in that world...experiencing it.

Huge difference.

I personally think that there are individuals at both Sony and Microsoft who aren't in it just to make a quick buck. Some of them truly care about what they're pumping out. Otherwise, we wouldn't see the quality both are showing us.

No two publishers/developers in the world have worked so hard to win the hearts of gamers! We should be glad we have both.

[hazardman]

especially when the PC version is still part of MS's Windows Live lineup..so regardless if you play it on PC or Xbox..your still supporting MS..

[Bigpappy]

Well said. Some on N4G want to paint M$ as a monster because there are a big American company, and to paint Sony as some kind of human rights organization who do what they do for the good of mankind. The fact is they are both in it to profit. M$ lost money the first time around, Sony is loosing money this time around. It is not by choice. This is what they have to do to grow and stop the momentum of the other guy. Like Live and PSN. Sony would love to charge for PSN but they know it will hurt PS3 sales. Live was too far ahead so they offered the service free as a way to attract users to the higher prised system. Now they are trying to get some of that potential cash to move into the black. Profit is why they exist people. This doesn't mean that everyone that works with these companies are greedy and could care less about the people buying their product.

[Alan Wake]

woooooooooooow yaa 10 of 10

Sony enjoy with LAG i mean MAG flop of the year

heheheheheheehheheheheheheheh ehe

[drzmvp554]

glad to see Mass Effect 2 is getting all these good scores, it only raises my expectations

[table]

So much hate in the comments on this site. Just enjoy what is to be a great game. If you're a ps3 gamer don't be an asswipe out of jealousy and buy a 360.

[Blow Out Your Brains]

Yea, this reviewer isn't a Mass Effect fanboy, sure// Downers-when's 3 coming out?? Like, totally dude, f@cking space geek. I bet this same tool thinks life on the planet Pandora from Avatar is a possibility.

[Blow Out Your Brains]

On a side note, what will Bots say when the game comes to PS3, not like I give a sh!t anyway.

[LuHawk27]

LOL dont act like your feelings aint hurt B!tch stupid crybaby

[Heartbroken-Menace]

jeez you people have no life.

[steck67]

Honestly, both sides are looking real ridiculous. Just look above and see how many people are starting fire, and I'm assuming some of the comments were "reported" for a reason. Grow up people.

[steck67]

Mass Effect... here I come!

[Gigalol]

Droids keep dreaming with L.A.G.

;)

[The EDGE]

finaly a game 360 only owners can talk about besides multi plats.

[TwistedMetal]

All I see is shooting in 3rd person view. Looks like dead space to me as far as gameplay. Dont understand how you can be the difinitive rpg when your the farthest thing from an rpg. Also It has no online which is mind boggling because its a shooter. I just find it odd that people who have played and completed maybe 5 rpgs in there whole life can act like they know what a definitive RPG is. Just goes to show you how casuals have been takeing over gameing. First the wii and now the x360 with everyone only playeing shooters and dreaming about natal.

@The EDGE_ ME series is multiplat and will be on ps3 as well.

[artsaber]

Time to unbox the 360 from the closet.

[Smokzdaizm]

With MAG out today you would think that the SDF would not be on N4G dissing yet another 360 game, but playing with their 256 friends... I guess their not too interested in playing their "EXCLUSIVE" game today, instead they are more interested in trolling a 360 thread. I dunno maybe it's me

[artsaber]

With such an exciting game that had tremendous Playoff Commercial Ads and outstanding reviews, PS3 fans might ask why are you here reading their comments instead of playing the EXCLUSIVE Mass Effect 2. My mistake, since it is on PC also, does it qualify as an exclusive, or should we pan the new term "console exclusive to 360" instead? And if someone is playing Mag, that would be 255 friends, since they would be the 256th person.

Also, any PC gamers... I think Amazon may have a few Mass Effect2 copies for $39.99

[Smokzdaizm]

I will be in just a few hours gotta hit the gym first... OMG you really schooled me about exclusives you Sony fanboys are so clever and original, but while I'll be playing tonight and talking to friends and listening to the soundtrack I made for the game last night-you guys will still be here talking about exclusives and how every PS3 comes with a top notch gaming PC rig that all of you seem to have *sacarasm* Have fun with that tonight... Ok no mor internet fights for me today ;)

[gamer0123456]

why is that hard to understand smoke....mag sucks

[Solotov]

Well, FFXIII & GOW3 is officially dead

[AnotherGamerUser]

Its the official magazine. Of course they are going to like it.

[AnotherGamerUser]

still...it's the Definitive RPG of this generation >>>

Thats not saying much!

[xtremeimport]

never doubted the quality of this game, however..the first didnt sell so well, and i dont expect that to change for this one even with MS pushing for more adds. I just cant get into this series..not my style..but i respect the quality and hardwork bioware put into it. I look forward to the future of the series and if it stays on the 360.

[gamer0123456]

ps3 fanboys...

http://www.metacritic.com/g... ...ahhhhhh

http://www.metacritic.com/g... ....ewwwww

flip flop flop spin spin spin flippidy flop...

i lose these ps3 fanboys they make me laugh so hard....

[Bodster]

Really enjoying this game so far, played 5 hours + already. Im actually surprised at how much im enjoying it.