Mass Effect 2 is the product of Bioware’s commitment to excellence and it stands apart from competitors while standing up to its own hype. Bioware took criticisms of the original Mass Effect seriously, even as a critically acclaimed game, and has delivered a product with so much quality that it spills onto a second disc. The endless television commercials and website references have resulted in the game’s release being one of the most anticipated this year and customers are sure to be pleased. Like most people, I have had limited time with Mass Effect 2 but have had a chance to make some notes on the improvements and additions that I have noticed thus far. If the first hours of the game are any indication of its remainder then we are in for an unforgettable experience.

Combat
Shooting
The most noticeable flaw in the original Mass Effect was surely in its handling and shooting. Most of the other elements were so well done that most players were able to overlook the rudimentary shooter aspects. Mass Effect 2 solves these problems to such a degree that it can truly be called an action-RPG rather than a RPG with shooter elements. When choosing a character class at the beginning of the game, the choices available will be apparent in the gameplay whereas in the past it was at times difficult to differentiate them. An improved cover system has also been incorporated which will be needed in order to progress through the game.

Biotics
The use of biotic powers feels right in the hands of the player and avoids becoming awkward or overbearing. New and exciting biotic powers vary the ways in which Shepard can dispel enemies and give the game a second element of combat making it much deeper tactically. These powers will be needed to do things like takes down shield, hold enemies or propel them into the air, or simply as a means of attack. Biotic powers can be assigned to the shoulder buttons, instead of constantly exiting to the radial menu, and as a result the action rarely stops.

Tactical Combat
Shepard can now better order his crew into position where they will also take cover properly. In the original game, characters accompanying Shepard could not be split up so the tactical aspect suffered and this is assuming the characters went where they were even ordered to. AI has been improved as now characters are easily sent to a location by a left or right press of the D-pad. The radial menu is as useful as ever which is used for queuing attacks by your crew.

RPG elements
Skill Tree
The skill tree has been slightly modified and at the early stages is easy enough for those new to RPGs to understand and experiment with. Each talent has a number of skill points required to purchase it and eventually more skills are unlocked as you progress through the game. I look forward to seeing what other abilities can be unlocked.

Conversation Wheel
The beloved conversation wheel returns and has some slight changes as well. For those unfamiliar with it, unlike Fallout 3 which lists a handful of complete responses, Mass Effect 2’s dialogue system is based on short and concise choices for the player to choose from which are then expanded on thus yielding a greater cinematic style. Further, there is a new tactics button that appears at times in conversations and is used to dramatically alter the conversation, usually without words, to get what you want.

Pointless Side-Missions Eliminated
This time around Bioware does not send you on pointless missions just to increase the amount of hours that the game takes to finish. Instead, most side-missions now have a sense of purpose. There will even be moments that Shepard will be sent on surprising and imminent missions where all other missions will be put on hold, giving the experience an unpredictable feeling. Exploration is now less tedious and is available to those who really wish to delve into Mass Effect 2’s universe.

Streamlined Inventory System and Many Weapons, Armor, Upgrades
Being only a handful of hours in, I have not had a chance to experience all of the new weapons and toys yet but the inventory system is much less of a burden. For hardcore RPG players this may seem lame but this feeling will pass after realizing that managing a cluttered inventory can sometimes take away from the real experience. There are dozens of items for Shepard and his crew to use and equip and many ways to upgrade them. Before a mission the player will be able to choose the weapons to be used for Shepard and their crew. New weapon schematics can be found throughout levels then to be researched back on the Normandy and used.

Codex System
The codex system is back, nearly identical to the previous version’s, and serves as a way to learn more about the Mass Effect 2 universe providing important information for those who have not played or have forgotten about the story in the original Mass Effect. Further, most of the codex are narrated so it makes for a much more relaxed experience rather than having to focus and read the seemingly endless small print.

Mini-Games
A handful of new mini-games reside in Mass Effect 2 such as an unsurprising computer hacking game, a circuitry hacking game, and a scanning/drilling game for harvesting minerals from a planet and using them to buy upgrades.

Story
Playing the original Mass Effect is not absolutely necessary
Honestly, Mass Effect’s story is not so complicated that it takes a genius to be able to jump into Mass Effect 2. Inexperienced players are brought up to speed in the opening cut-scenes and they can increase their knowledge of the Mass Effect universe if they please. The only thing that they will miss out on is a sense of personalization. Some of the decisions that were made by the player in the original game will be made for them in order to have a consistent narrative.

Import Character
By now you surely know that Shepard is not dead, if looking at the box art did not give you a clue, so you will be able to load your custom tailored Shepard from the first game in both appearance and history.

Characters
The characters met early in the game engross the player in the story as they are very interesting, lively, and at times nasty. Early on, the story revolves around your companions and you will want to talk to them as much as possible in order to fully understand their history and gain their loyalty. Luckily the characters vary greatly in appearance and behavior so it is difficult to get tired of them.

Visuals
Cinematic Cut-Scenes
Just as in the original Mass Effect, the cut-scenes are fantastic. The level of detail in both the setting and characters is great and it closely resembles a cinematic appearance. The player will definitely find themselves waffling over which dialogue option to choose as it will have real consequences on the story.

Environments
Aesthetically the environments are first-rate. It is hard to believe that Bioware made both this game and Dragon Age: Origins which was average graphically. The earlier settings and Shepard’s ship all look excellent and it is hard to think of many games with the attention to detail as this. At some moments the player will just stand still and be amazed by their stunning surroundings.

Character Animations
The way characters move in Mass Effect 2 is vastly improved. Animations seem to be increased in multiples and give a sense of being able to move nearly any way you want. I was most impressed with the variety of enemies and their animations. There are massive enemies that move with such elegance that I was sure I was watching a Michael Bay film. Characters will try to evade attacks or attack aggressively and it is almost hypnotizing to watch some of them.

Battles
Combat was clearly focused on in this iteration and making it look good and feel somewhat epic was clearly a priority. Frequently the player will find that they are knee-deep in a fight, surrounded by enemies, and the ensuing battles often look as if taken from Star Wars with oddly colored ammo being launched in all directions overhead. The explosions, weaponry, biotic powers, and the battlefields all look great.

Audio
Sound Effects
Everything from Shepard’s ship to the dank lairs underneath cities have a unique sound or hum to them that immerses the player. The sound of gunshots truly convey a sense of urgency to the player to the point where they will take cover just to escape the original barrage in order to find a better tactic for removing the enemies.

Voice Acting
One need say little more than the name Martin Sheen to understand the route the developers were going with this game. The voice acting by the dozens of other characters is so far beyond what most other games have to offer. Being that an important part of the gameplay is based on conversation, it is relieving to see that such care was taken with the acting. While there may be some clichés is some of the speech, most of it is spot on.

Soundtrack
My experience with the soundtrack is rather minimal at the moment but it has been at least adequate so far. There has been one dance track that has been caught in my brain for the last few hours though and I hope there are more good tunes to come. The music strikes a great balance between being appropriately epic at the right times and subtle for less intense moments.

Load Times
You will be happy to hear that the elevators that plagued the first game are largely gone. I was actively seeking out elevators and their ilk only to be surprised how little of my time they actually wasted so I did not fear having to wait a minute for loading in order to open a door. While loading is slightly improved, there will be some moments when it becomes tiresome.

Difficulty
If you are experienced with shooters then you should ratchet the difficulty level up to at least Veteran as anything less will be far too easy and will not require you to use your powers properly to defeat enemies.

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