Best Xbox 360 RPG: Mass Effect 2

While Bioware had already struck gold with Knights of the Old Republic, it's only during this recent console generation that the developer's dominance over RPGs has become apparent and Mass Effect 2 is a prime example of this.

[NYC_Gamer]

one of the best wrpgs period

[Shoko]

I don't care what anyone says. Mass Effect TWO is NOT an RPG. The RPG elements in this game were so light. To me, this game is a third-person shooter with a SLIGHT progression system.

Im not saying it's a bad game - it's one of my favorite games this gen, but I just hate how it's counted as an RPG.

[MikeTyson]

shouldn't you be off in your so called "life" instead of on here?

[MikeTyson]

totally agree though :D

great game all around still!

[Shoko]

Lol, shuddup cjasko xD

[Nihilism]

What do you think an RPG is?

A role playing game, you play a role and you control the direction. What other game carries hundreds of decisions across the the previous game. That increase the immersion 10x. There were different classes of weapons, weapon upgrades,different classes of powers and power upgrades, leveling, party member loyalty, dialogue choices ( with greater outcomes that most games where the dialogue is separate from your in game actions ), and non linear exploration...how is it not an RPG, it is 100% an RPG, it just happens to have guns instead of swords.

There was a lot of strategy needed on the higher difficulties, it was only primarily a shooter if you played it on easy....then party builds and tactics don't matter, you could just shoot. But that is no fault of the game, that is the fault of people being noobs and needing their hand held through games.

ME1 had a lot more choices when you levelled up...you know why?, because in ME2 those choices have changed from being on the level up screen in regards to weapon and armour upgrades to being a separate system. So ALL the same elements existed in ME2.

ME1 had a better story, but ME2 had way better gameplay, and that's because of those changes.

[dkp23]

I agree with the assessmnt that ME2 is an RPG. If ME1 is an RPG this game is an RPG. The comment about ME2 not being an RPG I believe is soley based on the combat system...The game elements are the same ..YOu have a main character,you got missions you have choices and the choices you make affect the game...

[DigitalRaptor]

"The RPG elements in this game were so light. To me, this game is a third-person shooter with a SLIGHT progression system."

QFT Shoko!

[TheXgamerLive]

they've upped the action beyong the first game. I love it. ME2 is all my all time fav game. Fallout 3 is slightly second.

[dkp23]

If Mass effect 1 is considered an RPG, dont so why not ME2...I just finished ME last week and am about 10 hours in for ME2....Has the same feel with upgrade system and combat system being different...So instead of the battle system being 3rd person instead of dicerolling type logic, its not an RPG? The game plays the same to me except for the combat/upgrade system...

Gears of war is what you call a third persn shooter...they just implemented a third person system in an WRPG game...

[Shoko]

No, it's the other way around. It's a 3rd person shooter with a [SMALL] implemented RPG system, not an RPG with an implemented 3rd person system.

No one can deny that's it's a 3rd person shooter before it's a RPG.

[SOAD]

It's an RPG, dude. Upgradeable armor, upgradeable weapons, character leveling, party building, sidequests, main quests, inventory system.

It's a fucking RPG. I don't understand this. People find ways to nitpick a game. I wouldn't say anything, but I hear mostly the PS3 side on this site muttering that the game is great but not an RPG. I've played the game for about 15 hours. It's an RPG. It's as much an RPG that Kotor was.

It just happens to be oriented towards shooting. So it's a shooter RPG, like Fallout 3.

[Shoko]

All of those things you listed can be done in ONE press of a button. There's no process, like real RPGs have. Sure it has all those things, but you can't honestly sit there and say it's as deep as let's say, Final Fantasy X and XII. It's way too simple.

In real RPGs, you got to go to dungeons and fight monsters and such to get materials. You don't enter some silly mini game. Think about it man. You find materials, take it to a smith or something of that nature, and there's a success chance, etc. Conduit 2 will have side and main quests, does that mean it's an RPG?

And Im not even a PS3 fanboy. I game on my Wii the most. Mass Effect just feels like a 3rd-person shooter with quick, slapped-on RPG elements.

Also, just about EVERY online FPS has a character leveling system, so does that mean Killzone 2 and MW2 are RPGs? In Killzone you unlock new abilities for your class, in MW2 you unlock guns and perks for your characters each time you rank up. Does that mean it's an RPG?

[THECRONAN]

So its not an RPG cuz they stream lined your inventory so it doesnt take an hour just to equip a weapon?

[siliticx]

its as much an RPG as Diablo 2 was.

[life doomer]

I think the first mass effect was better than the second because it was more of an rpg.

[captain-obvious]

yah I agree with you
and I like demon souls better
its just more hardcore

[Poseidon]

demons souls ftw

[Cheeseknight28]

I like Mass Effect 2 because it's the better game. Not necessarily the better RPG, but it's the superior of the two in my opinion.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

especially how each power had a separate cooldown time.

I still think that that mass effect 2 is the better game. And I am a person who actually loved the mako and RPG elements in ME1.

ME2 simply makes the game much more playable. Im talking about fixing problems like super long loading elevators, texture pop-in and ESPECIALLY THE FRAME RATE.
In ME1 the combat was seriously held back by some of the technical problems. And Me1 or 2, are both about the combat most of the time.

I hope Me3 has the playability of ME2, but with some of the RPG elements of ME1. Maybe more weapons/pickups, exploration with the hammerhead and EXP for killing enemies too, not just for completing missions. But if ME3 has an inventory, I hope they do some revamping from the clutter of the one in ME1, maybe a 'convert all to omni gel' choice.

[SOAD]

Belonging to a certain genre doesn't make it better. By your logic, the first Mass Effect was better any other non-RPG game because it's an RPG. Mass Effect 2 did a lot more things right, and ran smoother. And also, it's still an RPG.

[Myst]

Lost Odyssey would like see you in it's office and it is not happy >:(

Granted Mass Effect 2 is a great game, heck it's one that I will keep playing over and over again, but in terms of RPG and best I can't help but keep Lost Odyssey at the forefront.

[BX81]

I downloaded Mass E on xbox live and have yet to get into it. This game is def on my radar for later in the year.

[MajestieBeast]

So

360=Mass effect 2
PS3=Demons Souls
PC=Mass effect 2
Wii=????
DS=Dragonquest 9
PSP=Final Fantasy 7?

[izuna]

360 = Mass Effect 2
PS3 = Valkyria Chronicles/Demon's Souls/The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
(JRPG/action-RPG/WRPG)
PC = Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Wii = Monster Hunter Tri
DS = Dragon Quest IX/Chrono Trigger
(New Game/Old Game)
PSP = Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

[XactGamer]

your bias is showing

[SOAD]

360 has oblivion as well. and why haven't you listed fallout 3?

[DelbertGrady]

Because the PS3 version was broken.

[lh_swe]

Not THAT broken Soda, I played it and the DLC was where the problems started to arise.

Not that you'd know since you don't own a PS3, it was buggy but that didn't stop it from being one of the PS3's best games that year.

On topic - Mass Effect 2 is in my opinion the 360's Uncharted 2 making it (in my opinion) the best 360 game.

[izuna]

My bias is showing? I got those games from GameRankings, and changed the titles a little over what I've heard others say.

It isn't an XBOX 360 > PS3 list, dumb ass.

[izuna]

Best JPRG on Xbox 360? Lost Odyssey.

[stonecold1]

thought i have to get demon souls thought and im going to be waiting for vs 13 to arrive on ps3 and i may rent out masseffect and play the game on my brother 360

[VladimirK]

Well that writer doesn't really appear to be a big fan of RPGs if they prefer some kind of RPG-Lite. (ie less choices and more action)
TPS with RPG elements =/= RPG.
(That includes removing all of the different items you can use and all of that other stuff they mentioned being cut.)

Oblivion, ME1, Lost Odyssey, Dragon Age, Risen; they are good/great RPGs for this gen.
ME2 is a great game, but it's not a full RPG imo.

[izuna]

Stop being stupid, it's an action-RPG, which is an RPG, deal with it.

[bobdog626]

ITS JUST THAT @#$$ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO D ! PERIOD

[SOAD]

it's on PC. If a gamer wanted it so much, they would go and buy the console it's on or upgrade their rig. stop waiting.

[Skadoosh]

One of the best gaming stories ever. Can't wait till the pt.3.

[MariaHelFutura]

I`ve been playing it all day.

[ranmafandude]

maybe i should give it a chance. i'll probably even like it lol.

[Shadow017]

From a ps3 owner for so long I gotta admit mass effect is an amazing rpg literally if it wasn't for this game I wouldn't be using my 360.

[PLAYstar]

I don't own a xbox anymore, IT BRICKS! But that doesn't mean I don't play ME2 on my PC.. Personally I still think Oblivion is the best western RPG to date! ME2 came close. Heck this is to preferable choice. I love mythical stuff, armor and swords of ancient culture, but some might like into the future feels, the sci-fi shooters and having to see aliens sex.

Lost Odyssey is mediocre at best! Have elements of RPG, good storyline, generic mechanics, and can't take it the graphics like PS2 games. Ya graphic isn't all when you got a brilliant story and gameplay. However this game got subpar in everything. Some even said it was the best JRPG ever in history? U f*ck cracked your head, or a virgin in JRPG genre?

[XactGamer]

ME2 is for sure the top action RPG this gen so far but people shouldn't get so caught up in one game when there are so much more to chose from.

[Spenok]

I disagree, The best 360 RPG is Lost Odyssey.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

I think the best 360 RPG is fallout 3. ME effect series is great and all but, you do and see every thing in 2-3 runs. After that the DLC is too short. I will be there for ME 3 to finish the journey.

[labwarrior]

Mass Effect 1-2-3, Fable 2-3, Lost Odyssey etc

[dizzleK]

me2 has probably the most intense end game i've ever seen. maybe i'd have more respect for traditional rpgs if anything you did in them actually mattered. they lack the danger and true "role playing" that biowares games have. i hate predetermined outcomes and predefined player characters in rpgs. i can't stand the traditional trappings of the genre: trite characters emo-ing at each other for 40 hours who beat the bad guy and live happily ever after.

[Beahmscream]

To me, Is more of a deep FPS with dialogue choices rather than a true RPG...

[baodeus]

ah.....it would be more like a deep TPS, not FPS. Something tells me you haven't even play the game. Why are you even commenting on something if is is an RPG or not when you haven't played the game?

[Beahmscream]

My mistake, and how would you know whether I've played the game or not? Of course I have, as a matter of fact I have both an infiltrator and an adept. Otherwise, I would be foolish to post my statement.