Wikipedia

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2is anaction role-playingvideo game developed byBioWareand published byMicrosoft Game StudiosandElectronic ArtsforWindowsandXbox 360in 2010 and published by Electronic Arts forPlayStation 3in 2011. It is the second installment in theMass Effectseries and a sequel to the originalMass Effect.The game takes place within theMilky Waygalaxy during the 22nd century, where humanity is threatened by aninsectoidalien race known as the Collectors. The player assumes the role ofCommander Shepard,an elite human soldier who must assemble and gain the loyalty of a diverse team to stop the Collectors in asuicide mission.Using a completedsaved gameof its predecessor, the player can impact the game's story in numerous ways.

Mass Effect 2
A human male soldier carries an assault rifle. On the right, a woman and a reptile-like extraterrestrial accompany the soldier. The game's logo floats above them, while the background consists of ruins on a planet with orange sky.
Developer(s)BioWare
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Casey Hudson
Producer(s)
  • Jesse Houston
  • Nathan Plewes
Designer(s)Preston Watamaniuk
Programmer(s)David Falkner
Artist(s)Derek Watts
Writer(s)
Composer(s)
SeriesMass Effect
EngineUnreal Engine 3
Platform(s)
Release
January 26, 2010
  • Windows,Xbox 360
    • NA:January 26, 2010
    • AU:January 28, 2010
    • EU:January 29, 2010
    PlayStation 3
    • NA:January 18, 2011
    • EU:January 21, 2011
    • AU:January 27, 2011
Genre(s)Action role-playing,third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

For the game, BioWare changed several gameplay elements and further emphasizedthird-person shooteraspects, including limited ammunition and regenerablehealth.In contrast to the exclusive focus on the main story of the originalMass Effect,the developers opted to create a plot where optional missions had as much intensity as the main mission.Mass EffectcomposerJack Wallreturned to composeMass Effect 2's music, aiming for a darker and more mature sound to match the game's mood.Mass Effect 2also supports a variety ofdownloadable contentpacks, ranging from single in-game character outfits to entirely new plot-related missions. Notable packs includeKasumi – Stolen Memory,Overlord,Lair of the Shadow Broker,andArrival.

Released to critical acclaim,Mass Effect 2was praised for its presentation and cinematography, diverse and complex characters, and improved combat over its predecessor. Some critics, however, expressed concerns about the game's simplified role-playing mechanics. The game received numerous year-end awards, includingGame of the Yearat the14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards,andBest Gameat the7th British Academy Games Awards.Mass Effect 2is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor and one of thegreatest video games of all time.A sequel,Mass Effect 3,was released in 2012. In 2021,Mass Effect 2wasremasteredas part of theMass Effect Legendary Edition.

Gameplay

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Mass Effect 2is asingle-playeraction role-playing gamein which the player takes the role ofCommander Shepardfrom athird-person perspective.Before the game begins, the player determines Shepard's gender, appearance, military background, combat training, and first name.[1]The player may choose to import a character from a completedsaved gameof the originalMass Effector start the game with a new character.[2]Importing an old character allows several decisions the player made in the original game to impact the story ofMass Effect 2and grants the player a set of starting bonuses.[2][3]The game features six differentcharacter classesfor the player to choose from.[4]Each class is proficient in a different set of powers and weapon types.[1]For example, the Vanguard class specializes in close-range combat andshotguns,while the Infiltrator class relies on stealth combat andsniper rifles.[1]

The game'soverworldis agalaxymap the player can explore to find and completequests.[1]Most quests consist of combat missions, but some involve the player interacting withnon-player charactersduring visits to settlements.[5]Different locations and new squad members become available as the player progresses throughout the game.[1]Experience pointsare gained by completing quests.[6]Each time a sufficient amount of experience is obtained, the player "levels up" and is awarded Squad Points that can be used to develop powers for Shepard and squad members.[7]Powers provide enhanced combat capabilities, with each power having four ranks that can be unlocked.[1]Each rank costs the same number of Squad Points as its rank. For example, unlocking the first rank of a power requires one point, but unlocking all four ranks of a single power requires a total of ten points. Upon raising a power to its fourth rank, the player must evolve the power into one of two given forms.[7]

The player's primary mode of transportation is a starship which serves as Shepard's base of operations. Aboard the ship, the player can interact with the squad members, customize the player's armour, travel to numerousplanetary systems,and scan planets for mineral resources.[8]These resources allow the player to research numerous in-game upgrades found in the missions, providing benefits such as increasing weapon damage, fortifying the player's health, or extending the ship's fuel capacity, among others.[9]Scanning requires the player to move areticleover a planet and launch aprobewhen anoscilloscopewarns of near resources.[5]Additional upgrades, equipment, and non-essential items such as magazines and decorations for the ship can be purchased from merchants in settlements.[1]

Combat

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In combat, the player can pause the action to calmly target enemies and select different powers for the squad members. The enemy's life bars are shown in a frame at the top of the screen.

Combat inMass Effect 2is squad-based, and a maximum of two squad members may accompany the player on the battlefield. The player controls Shepard, while the game'sartificial intelligencecontrols the squad members.[1]Battles take place inreal-time,but the player can pause the action at any time to calmly target enemies and select different powers for the squad members to use.[7]The game uses anover-the-shoulder perspectiveakin to athird-person shooterand emphasizes usingcoverto avoid taking damage while fighting enemy forces.[5]The player may also issue commands to the squad members, such as sending them to take cover behind a manually picked object or focus their fire on a designated target.[1]

Unlike the originalMass Effect,where weapons overheat if fired continuously for prolonged periods, the weapons ofMass Effect 2have a finitemagazineand must be reloaded after a certain number of shots.[10]A damage-absorbing shield protects Shepard and the squad members. When the shield is fully depleted, further damage reduces thehit pointsof a secondary health meter. The shield bar and health meter regenerate when not taking fire for a brief period.[5]The player can revive fallen squad members with the use of the Unity power.[6]However, if Shepard dies, the player must start the game again from the last saved point.[1]

All enemies are protected by health, shields, armour, barriers, or a combination thereof.[1]Each type of protection has its vulnerabilities. For example, armour is usually vulnerable to powers such as Incinerate, which burns enemies over time, and weapons with a lowrate of fire,such as sniper rifles and heavy pistols. In contrast, shields are vulnerable to powers such as Overload and rapid-firing weapons likesubmachine gunsandassault rifles.[1]Barriers are typically used byboss-type enemies and are vulnerable to certain weapons and powers.[1]When an enemy's shields, armour, or barriers have all been depleted, the player can use status-effect powers such as Pull, which temporarily levitates targets into the air, incapacitating them.[1]Other powers may temporarily benefit the player; for instance, Adrenaline Rush puts the player inbullet time.Powers do not require anyexpendable resource;they only have a globalcooldown.[1]

Dialogue and morality

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During conversations with characters,Mass Effect 2employs aradial command menucalled Dialogue Wheel, where the player'sdialogue optionsdepend on wheel direction.[4]The left side of the wheel is typically reserved for options that will continue the conversation in-depth, while options on the right side tend to move the conversation towards completion. Responses at the top are generally more polite and selfless, while those at the bottom are more aggressive and hostile.[7]The game also introduces acontext-sensitiveinterrupt system, allowing players to interrupt the conversation with direct actions at certain times.[4]Dialogue choices impact how others react to Shepard, the rewards for completing missions, possible discounts from merchants, romances, and the Commander's morality.[1]

Morality is measured by Paragon (charm) and Renegade (intimidate) points. These points affect the availability of new special Paragon and Renegade dialogue options with a significant impact on the game.[1]For example, the game features some missions to gain the squad's loyalty. What the player does during one of these missions will determine whether they gain the loyalty of a squad member, which in turn will unlock a unique power and help in the final battle. Endings range from the entire team surviving to the entire team being killed, Shepard included, and everything in between.[4]Upon completing the game, aNew Game Plusoption is unlocked, allowing players to replay the game using the same character with which they finished it.[11]

Synopsis

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Setting and characters

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See also:Universe of Mass EffectandList of Mass Effect characters

Mass Effect 2is set within theMilky Waygalaxy during the 22nd century, whereinterstellar travelis possible through mass transit devices called Mass Relays, a technology believed to have been built by an extinct alien race known as the Protheans.[12]A conglomerate body of governments known as theCitadel Councilcontrols a large percentage of the galaxy and is responsible for maintaining law and order among races of the galactic community.[13]Races that belong to the Citadel Council include humans,asari,salarians, andturians.Other alien races in the game include the reptiliankroganand drell, the environmental-suitedquarians,and a hostile race of networkedartificial intelligencecalled geth.[14]During the events of the originalMass Effect,a geth army attempted to open a portal for theReapers,a highly advanced machine race of synthetic-organic starships that are believed to eradicate all organic civilization every 50,000 years.[15]The galactic community has since lived in fear of another possible invasion. Meanwhile, a human supremacist organization called Cerberus believes that humans deserve a greater role in the galactic community and supports the principle that any methods of advancing humanity's ascension are entirely justified, including illegal experimentation andterroristactivities.[16]

The game's protagonist is Commander Shepard (voiced byMark MeerorJennifer Hale), an elite human soldier who is the Commanding Officer of the SSVNormandyandNormandy SR-2starships. Shepard's squad members include Cerberus operativesJacob Taylor(Adam Lazarre-White) andMiranda Lawson(Yvonne Strahovski), recurring associatesGarrus Vakarian(Brandon Keener) andTali'Zorah(Liz Sroka), salarian scientistMordin Solus(Michael Beattie), human criminalJack(Courtenay Taylor), genetically engineered krogan super soldierGrunt(Steve Blum), drell assassinThane Krios(Keythe Farley), asari JusticarSamara(Maggie Baird) or Samara's serial killer daughterMorinth(Natalia Cigliuti), and geth mobile platformLegion(D. C. Douglas). Other characters include theNormandy's pilotJeff "Joker" Moreau(Seth Green), Cerberus leader theIllusive Man(Martin Sheen), and theNormandy SR-2's enhanced defence intelligence, also known asEDI(Tricia Helfer).[17]

Plot

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In 2183, shortly after the events ofMass Effect,the SSVNormandy,while patrolling for geth resistance, is attacked by an unknown vessel, forcing the crew to abandon ship. Shepard pushes Joker into the finalescape podbefore being blasted into space and dying viaasphyxiationafter a suit breach.[18]The body is pulled into the orbit of a nearby planet and recovered by Cerberus, who begins the "Lazarus Project" with the sole purpose of bringing Shepard back to life. Two years later, Shepard is revived on an operating table and escapes a research station under attack by its securitymechs.Escaping alongside Jacob Taylor and Miranda Lawson, Shepard is brought to meet the Illusive Man, who reveals that entire populations of human colonies have disappeared all over the galaxy. Now working with Cerberus, Shepard is sent to investigate a recently attacked colony, encountering Tali and a contingent of quarians searching for their missing colleague. Shepard's team uncover clues that the Reapers are working by proxy through aninsectoidalien race called the Collectors, who have abducted the colonists.[19]

The Illusive Man explains that the Collectors reside beyond the Omega-4 Relay, a place from which no ship has ever returned, and tasks Shepard with assembling a team to stop them. Shepard is also given command of a new starship, theNormandy SR-2,piloted again by Joker and equipped with an onboard AI named EDI. Shepard recruits Mordin Solus, Garrus Vakarian, Jack, and (optionally) Grunt, before the Illusive Man informs them that another human colony is under attack. Shepard defends the colony with the help of Mordin's studies on Collector biology, but cannot stop a large portion of the population from being captured. Shepard can then recruit Tali, Thane Krios, and Samara (who may be optionally replaced by Morinth) before being sent to explore a supposedly disabled Collector ship. There, Shepard learns that the Collectors were originally Protheans that were turned into slaves of the Reapers. With EDI's help, Shepard also finds out how to bypass the Omega-4 Relay before being ambushed by the Collectors. Although Shepard's squad escapes, their relationship with the Illusive Man is strained due to his prior knowledge of the trap.[19]

Shepard visits a derelict Reaper and acquires anIFFnecessary to travel through the Omega-4 Relay safely. Shepard also acquires a disabled geth that, if activated, joins the squad as Legion. While the IFF is integrated into theNormandy SR-2systems, Shepard and the squad leave in a shuttle. During their absence, the Collectors board theNormandy SR-2.Only Joker avoids capture and, with EDI's help, extracts theNormandy SR-2to safety. When Shepard's squad returns, the team uses the Omega-4 Relay to reach the Collector base located in theGalactic Center.After a ship-to-ship engagement with automated Collector defense drones a damagedNormandy SR-2encounters and destroys the starship the collectors use to harvest the human colonists, however the battle disables theNormandy SR-2and results in the ship making an emergency landing on the exterior of the collector base. While Joker and EDI work to repair the ship, Shepard’s team members infiltrate the collector base, rescue any surviving crew members, and fight their way to the central chamber. Squad members will either survive or perish depending on the upgrades made to theNormandy SR-2,their loyalty to Shepard, and the tasks they are assigned in battle.[19]

In the central chamber, Shepard discovers that the Collectors have been constructing a new Human-Reaper made from the genetic material of the abducted colonists. Destroying the machine powering the Reaper, Shepard prepares to destroy the Collector base by attaching explosives to the base’s reactor. However, the Illusive Man proposessterilizingthe base with a timedradiationpulse to preserve the Collectors' technology and use it against the Reapers. After deciding the base's fate, Shepard destroys the awakened Human-Reaper and escapes with the surviving squad members. If no squad members survive, Shepard fails to escape and dies. Back on theNormandy SR-2,after speaking with the Illusive Man one last time, Shepard meets the survivors in the cargo bay. There, Joker gives them schematics of a Reaper. The final scene shows the Reapers awakening indark spaceand descending upon the galaxy.[19]

Development

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Game design

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Lead gameplay designer Christina Norman at the 2010Game Developers Conference

Mass Effect 2was developed byBioWareand directed byCasey Hudson,who previously led the production of the firstMass Effectgame.[20]Before actual production began, BioWare created a list of goals to work towards based on feedback from fans, reviewers, and internal staff members.[21]The company's main goal was to "create an experience that was less about being a game and more about being an experience."[22]In contrast to the exclusive focus on the main story of the originalMass Effect,Hudson explained that BioWare was interested in a plot where optional stories had as much intensity as the main story and decided that the idea of recruiting people and making them loyal to the player so that they could survive a suicide mission allowed to explore these possibilities.[22]He noted, "the funny thing is that people will say 'other than gathering your crew and building your team and getting ready for this mission, there's not much story there.' But that is the story."[22]

During the first stages of development, the designers prioritized streamlining and polishing theshootingaspects;RPGelements were not added until this process was complete.[20]According to lead designer Christina Norman, "we wanted more satisfying combat and a big part of that is making weapons more accurate and powerful at level one—basically saying 'let's take the RPG out of the shooter.'"[20]Since BioWare had no experience with shooter games, the team spent roughly three months tuning how combat would work using the originalMass Effectas a basis.[20]The camera was improved to offer a more precise aiming that included body-specific targeting like headshots.[23]Norman explained that they wanted the weapons to have their own identity, noting that the game's final build has 19 weapons with 108 tuning variables.[24]The inclusion of limited ammunition was initially not part of the game design and was implemented for some early playtesting.[20]However, the developers ultimately felt it improved the tension and pacing of combat.[20]

Real-time gameplay with an emphasis on weapons and cover was a preference because the team felt that the constant pausing to select powers interrupts the intensity of the combat.[24]As a result, more options were added to assign different abilities to theuser interfacefor real-time use.[24]Developers also decided to introduce regenerating health because it prevented players from playing erratically and relying on health kits.[24]Norman remarked that it was important not to oversimplify the RPG elements but to make them easier to use.[24]She explained that the originalMass Effectoffered "too many choices that weren't particularly representative of how they would impact the game. InMass Effect 2,the levelling options were pared down and made more descriptive. "[24]The developers wanted to create very different play styles for the character classes, "even if it meant cutting some of the possible choices."[24]The powers were balanced with a unified refresh cooldown since the earlier system, where powers could be used sequentially, was considered "ridiculous and endgame easy."[20]

Keeping track of the enemies' strengths and weaknesses was made more consistent with different types of health bars so that players did not have to estimate the challenges they faced when fighting new enemies.[24]The game'sHUDwas revised eight times during development.[25]As the inventory management of the originalMass Effectreceived criticism, designing a new inventory system forMass Effect 2was one of the main concerns during development.[26]Ideally, the inventory needed to handle many characters with simplicity.[26]Norman spent time examining various inventory systems from other RPG games, but none could be applied to support the game's large number of characters.[26]Ultimately, the team opted to replace it with different systems that provide the same functionality without any management.[27]This concept allowed a character to use a weapon without taking it away from someone else.[26]

The planetary exploration of the originalMass Effectwas revamped entirely. Instead of having vast barren landscapes, the designers opted to build distinct and interesting places. The goal was to encourage players to keep exploring the galaxy by changing their expectations about what they could find.[28]Initially, the developers experimented with the idea of having a vehicle that could be used to navigate the planetary terrain more flexibly than in the original title. However, the vehicle was ultimately removed from the game's final build.[27]The context-sensitive interrupt system, which was initially meant to be a feature in the originalMass Effect,was introduced inMass Effect 2to help blend the dialogue better with the rest of the action.[29]The story's pacing was also improved because developers wanted to get players into the action faster.[30]

Production

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Since theMass Effectseries was envisioned as a trilogy from its inception, work onMass Effect 2started shortly before the originalMass Effectwas released.[30]The game was initially developed exclusively for theWindowsandXbox 360platforms with support provided byMicrosoft Game Studios,focusing to have the same level of dedication.[21]As a result, each version features different user interfaces and controls.[21]Like its predecessor,Mass Effect 2was built usingEpic Games'Unreal Engine 3in conjunction with aframeworkthat BioWare specifically developed for theMass Effectgames.[23]As most of theseMass Effecttechnologies were already developed in the first game, the development team focused on adding new content and perfecting new features rather than creating them from scratch.[30]Technical improvements included bettermemory management,larger textures, a higherframe rate,and betterlightingscenarios.[23]According to Hudson, "I actually can't think of an aspect of the game that we haven't overhauled and made 100% better."[30]

Mass Effect 2contains voices from 90 voice actors who play 546 characters and speak over 25,000 lines of dialogue.[25]Voice recording for the game took twice as long as the originalMass Effect.[31]The Unreal Engine 3's Matinee tool, allowing developers to animate characters during cinematics, was integrated into BioWare's digital acting and conversation technology.[23]As Hudson explained, "Our writers write into a dialogue editor and that becomes fused with the way that you end up seeing many different pieces of Matinee play out in combination when you have a conversation with characters."[23]Another Unreal Engine 3 technology, Kismet, was used for scripting how levels or enemies would respond to a particular action.[23]After using it on the firstMass Effectgame, the game's programmers were already familiar with Unreal Engine 3, so they did not need to communicate with Epic Games for support constantly.[23]

AlthoughMass Effect 2was primarily developed at BioWare'sEdmontonstudio, a new team of 30 people was set to work atEA Montrealin March 2009 to supplement the teams already working on the game.[32]The new team was composed of many people who worked on the original game, but most were new hires.[32]Mass Effect 2was developed over roughly two years and more than 150 people worked on the game.[23]Hudson mentioned two significant challenges that interfered with the development: financial problems due to theGreat Recessionlimited the game's budget, and the team had to get through it without impacting their ambitious goals.[33]Additionally, due to the2009 flu pandemic,a significant part of the team was ill during the last months of development, resulting in losing a man-year of time.[33]Despite these factors, Hudson described the development ofMass Effect 2as successful "on time, on budget, and exceeding quality goals."[33]Lead writerMac WaltersconsideredMass Effect 2a very quick project, stating that the team did not have much time to second guess themselves.[34]

Initially, BioWare denied that aPlayStation 3version was in the works.[35]Despite this, it was reported that the Microsoft Windows version of the game featured lines ofcodereferencing the PlayStation 3.[36]BioWare responded that the Unreal Engine 3 iscross-platform,which is why it includes PlayStation 3 code.[36]Eventually, a PlayStation 3 version ofMass Effect 2was released a year later than the Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 versions. The PlayStation 3 version uses a modified version of the Unreal Engine 3 called theMass Effect 3engine, the same engine BioWare used for the then-upcomingMass Effect 3.[37]In this newer version, character models were slightly improved, and controls were updated to support thePlayStation 3 controller.An option which allowed to switch back to the Xbox 360 controls layout was also added.[37]

Music

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Jack Wallreturned to composeMass Effect 2's music, aiming for a darker and more mature sound to match the mood of the game.

The music ofMass Effect 2was primarily composed byJack Wall.[38]His previous work with BioWare was as the main composer forJade Empireand the originalMass Effect.[38][39]The score also features some pieces by Sam Hulick, David Kates, and Jimmy Hinson (better known asBig Giant Circles), with additional editing and in-game implementation by Brian DiDomenico.[40]Unlike the originalMass Effect,the composers aimed for a darker and more mature sound to match the game's mood.[40]The music incorporatesorchestraland classicsci-fiarrangements, inspired by the soundtrack of the 1982 filmBlade Runnerand music by GermanelectronicgroupTangerine Dream.[40]Theharmonicstructure ofWendy Carlos'sTronsoundtrack also represented significant influences.[40]To complement each character, the composers gave them themes to convey their personalities and backgrounds.[40]According to Kates, "it was one of our mandates to create a dynamic score that expressed a wide range of emotions."[40]

Around 180 minutes of music were composed forMass Effect 2,which totalled more than 700 assets.[41]The song "Callista" by video game music composerSaki Kaskas,who wrote the music for fiveNeed for Speedgames,[42]was used as the game's Afterlife Club theme.[43]Music from the game has been released in several albums.[44][45][46]BioWare released the mainsoundtrack album,Mass Effect 2: Original Videogame Score,on January 19, 2010. The soundtrack spans two discs and 27 tracks, covering a duration of 1:55:43.[44]Mass Effect 2's score was nominated for Best Original Music at the7th British Academy Games Awards[47]and Best Soundtrack Album at the 9th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards.[48][49]In 2012,Legacy,an album composed mostly of tracks written forMass Effect 2but not used in the game, was released by Big Giant Circles.[50]

Marketing and release

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Mass Effect 2was formally unveiled at theGame Developers Conferenceon March 17, 2009, and a teaser trailer declared Shepard "killed in action".[51]The announcement confirmed that the game would be released for Windows and Xbox 360.[52]In June 2009, the game was presented at theElectronic Entertainment Expo,[53]where it was confirmed that Shepard would be alive and playable inMass Effect 2,but the character could die at the end of the game.[53]Players could receive new in-game armours and weapons if the game were pre-ordered at certain retailers.[54]Players could also redeem codes on specially markedDr Pepperproducts for one of three pieces of headgear[55]and registered copies ofDragon Age: Originsfor a new armour set.[56]In the months leading up to the game's release, BioWare released a final cinematic trailer and launched six class trailers narrated by Norman.[57][58]Electronic Arts sold-in more than two million copies of the game to worldwide retailers for its first week of release.[59]

Mass Effect 2was initially released for Windows and Xbox 360 byMicrosoft Game Studiosin partnership withElectronic Artson January 26, 2010, in North America and on January 29, 2010, in Europe.[54]Microsoft published the Xbox 360 version, as well the Windows physical version.[60]Alongside the standard edition, digital deluxe andcollector's editionswere available.[61]The collector's edition featured a different packaging, an artbook, bonus in-game content, a behind-the-scenes DVD, and one issue from theMass Effect: Redemptioncomic series.[61]AlthoughMass Effect 2was released at the end of the month, it became the second best-selling game of January 2010 with 572,100 units sold, behindNintendo'sNew Super Mario Bros. Wii.[62]Shortly afterMass Effect 2was released, the game's font size and colouring were criticized for being too difficult to read on somestandard-definition televisions.[63]Because BioWare considered it a design choice,[64]the company could not resolve it but stated that they would consider it for future games.[65]In February 2010, BioWare released apatchthat addressed minor issues such ascrashesand long load times on single-core computers.[66]A second patch, which reduced the mining time required to acquire upgrades and fixed other minor issues, was released in June 2010.[67]

AtGamescom2010, BioWare announced that a PlayStation 3 version of the game was in development.[68]Microsoft responded to the announcement that, despite losing the game's exclusivity, the Xbox 360 was still the most appropriate console to play the game due to the game's compatibility with the originalMass Effect,which was only available for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 at the time.[69]The PlayStation 3 version was released on January 18, 2011, in North America and on January 21, 2011, in Europe.[70]After some PlayStation 3 players reported that their save files can become corrupted if the game crashes unexpectedly,[71]BioWare released a patch designed to combat save bugs and crashes experienced.[72]ThePlayStation Networkversion accounted for more than 10% of the game's overall sales on PlayStation 3.[73]As of April 2011, it was reported that the originalMass EffectandMass Effect 2combined had sold more than seven million units worldwide, 77% coming from Xbox 360.[74]

New game purchases are provided with a one-time use card granting an access code that unlocks the game'sCerberus Network,an onlinedownloadable contentand news service that enables bonus content for the game.[75]However, users who bought a used copy would have to pay for the Cerberus Network separately if they wanted access to the new content.[75]This policy allows publishers to combat the used-game market; companies likeGameStophave allowed customers to sell used games back to the retailer so that the company can resell them at a slight discount to other customers, but the publisher does not make a profit.[75]BioWare online development director Fernando Melo revealed that 11% of allMass Effect 2's downloadable content revenue came from the Cerberus Network.[76]The policy attracted criticism from some of the fan community, who have criticized downloadable content as being overpriced and an incentive for developers to leave items out of the initial release.[77]

In 2012, a compilation featuring the three main games of the series,Mass Effect Trilogy,was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.[78]In 2016,Mass Effect 2was added to thelist of backward-compatible Xbox 360 gamesonXbox One.[79]In 2021,Mass Effect 2wasremasteredas part of theMass Effect Legendary Edition.[80]

Downloadable content

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Main article:List of Mass Effect 2 downloadable content

Mass Effect 2supports additional in-game content in the form of downloadable content packs released from January 2010 to May 2011. These packs range from character outfits to entirely new plot-related missions. Major releases includeLair of the Shadow BrokerandArrival,which are vital to the series' plot. InLair of the Shadow Broker,Shepard helps former squad memberLiara T'Sonito find an information dealer known as the Shadow Broker.[81]InArrival,Shepard investigates evidence of a Reaper invasion, leading to events that bridge toMass Effect 3.[82]Other plot-related downloadable content packs include the loyalty missionsZaeed – The Price of RevengeandKasumi – Stolen Memory,andOverlord,which adds five new missions to the game.[83][84][85]

Unlike the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows versions, the PlayStation 3 version includes theKasumi – Stolen Memory,Overlord,andLair of the Shadow Brokerpacks.[86]Because the firstMass Effectgame was originally not released on PlayStation 3, BioWare releasedGenesis,a downloadable content pack that allows the player to impact the story of the game with major plot decisions of the first game. These decisions are made through a digital interactivecomicappearing at the game's beginning.[87]Genesiswas released on May 17, 2011, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 users.[88]Some of the game's downloadable content packs were well-received by critics and nominated for Best DLC (downloadable content) at theSpike Video Game Awards.[89][90]

Reception

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Critical response

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Upon release,Mass Effect 2received critical acclaim from video game publications.[92]Substantial praise was given to the game's diverse characters,interactive storytelling,voice acting and art design.[2]IGNreviewer Erik Brudvig calledMass Effect 2a personal game with much emotion.[2]He praised the option of importing a character, stating that the overall experience changes as different saved games from the previous game are used.[2]Tom Bramwell ofEurogamerpositively highlighted the weight of social interaction on the outcome of events and that players feel actual pressure for their decisions.[96]Further praise was given to the game's characters.Edgecredited them for their complex personalities and greatcharacterization,[95]whileGameRevolutionpointed out that the loyalty missions "reach deep enough into their characters to make you empathize with all of them".[6]

The game's visuals and atmosphere received similar praise.GameSpotreviewer Kevin VanOrd remarked thatMass Effect 2is more detailed and darker than its predecessor.[5]He wrote that "deep reds and glowingindigossaturate certain scenes, making them richer and more sinister; eerie fog limits your vision in one side mission, while rain pours down upon you in another. Subtle, moody lighting gives certain interactions great impact. "[5]Reviewer Adriaan den Ouden ofRPGamercredited the conversations andcutscenesfor featuring better cinematography than the first game, stating that "it's hard to imagine them becoming much better inMass Effect 3".[106]Critics also gave high marks to the game's extensivecast of voices;in particular, Martin Sheen's performance of the Illusive Man, which was singled out for "steal[ing] the show".[2]Andrew Reiner, writing forGame Informer,opined that the music "flows beautifully" in both the story and action sequences.[10]The game's presentation and direction were considered "miles ahead of the competition".[2]

Numerous publications declared that the gameplay was an improvement over the original.[2][5][96][102]John Davison ofGameProwrote, "BioWare has done a spectacular job moving the role playing genre forward, and blending disparate gameplay styles into genuinely exciting sci-fi epic."[100]VanOrd praisedMass Effect 2for possessing an identity, which was something that its predecessor lacked.[5]He noted that the shooting is "more immediate and satisfying, which keeps the pace moving and intensifies the violence of each encounter".[5]Similarly,GameSpy's Gerald Villoria observed that the originalMass Effect"walked the line between RPG and shooter [...]Mass Effect 2has become a much more focused shooter experience ".[102]Jeremy Parish of1UP.comcredited the combat for being more balanced, stating that the game encourages players to use different weapon classes and squad abilities when the situation requires it.[94]Some publications, however, expressed concerns about the game's simplified RPG elements, calling it "stripped-down" and with a "dumbed-down feeling".[105][106]The game's slow planet scanning was also criticized.[5][6][105]GameRevolutionfelt it was a "chore, mandatory if you want upgrades and boring because there is no tension or challenge", but ultimately concluded that the game as a whole "does more than enough to live up to its predecessor".[6]

The reception for the PlayStation 3 version was similar. Colin Moriarty ofIGNdescribed it as "the best, most complete version of the game available" due to the upgraded game engine and the extra downloadable content packs.[104]In contrast, VanOrd criticized the inclusion of the character Kasumi Goto from theKasumi – Stolen Memorypack, stating that "she never fits in with her more fully developed cohorts."[101]He also remarked that the PlayStation 3 version suffers from technical issues such as frame rate inconsistencies, graphical glitches, and other minor bugs, mostly present in the downloadable content sections of the game.[101]Game Informerreviewer Joe Juba reacted negatively to the lack of save importation from the originalMass Effect,which was initially not released on PlayStation 3, and pointed out that the decisions made in theGenesiscomic "have practically no context".[99]Despite the criticism, he stated that the game is equally as good on PlayStation 3 as on Xbox 360.[99]

Accolades

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Mass Effect 2received numerousGame of the Yearawards for its writing, characters, and soundtrack. At the 2010Spike Video Game Awards,the game won the Best Xbox 360 Game and Best RPG awards. BioWare was also recognized for its work on the game and was awarded Studio of the Year.[107]At the14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards,theAcademy of Interactive Arts & SciencesawardedMass Effect 2withGame of the Year,Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year,andOutstanding Achievement in Story.[108]Other notable awards that the game received includeBest Gameat the7th British Academy Games Awards,[47]Best Writing at the 2011Game Developers Choice Awards,[109]and twoGolden Joystick Awards:Best RPG of the Year and Ultimate Game of the Year.[110][111]At the 2011 Canadian Videogame Awards,Mass Effect 2was awarded Game of the Year, Best Console Game, Best Game Design, and Best Writing.[112]

Legacy

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Mass Effect 2continued to receive attention years after its release.GamesRadareditor Hollander Cooper explained that the game improved the technical issues of its predecessor significantly while at the same time "expanding the already-impressiveuniversewithout sacrificing what made the series special. "[120]He went so far as to call the gameThe Empire Strikes Backof video games, stating that "few sequels have trumped the original as handily asMass Effect 2."[120]The game's focus on characters and their deeper stresses and internal conflicts was highly praised.[120][121]The way the game lets non-player characters carry the weight of the narrative progression has also attracted scholarly interest.[122]Eurogamereditor Rick Lane describedMass Effect 2as a darker, warmer, and overall more human game than its predecessor, noting that it is the player's responsibility to make sure these characters are prepared for the final mission, or they will die.[121]He explained thatMass Effect 2is a long quest that "works towards an epic climax", and when it arrives there, "it doesn't disappoint."[121]A decade after the game was released,Eurogamerconsidered the game's finale "some of BioWare's best ever work" due to its choice complexity.[123]

Mass Effect 2has been cited as one of thegreatest video games of all timeby multiple publications, includingSlant Magazinein 2014,[124]IGNin 2015,[125]Polygonin 2017,[126]Game Informerin 2018,[127]andGQin 2023.[128]In 2011, the game was selected as one of 80 titles from the past 40 years to be placed in the Art of Video Games exhibit in theSmithsonian American Art Museum.[129]According to the museum, the exhibit explored "the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies."[130]

Sequel

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Main article:Mass Effect 3

The game's sequel,Mass Effect 3,was released in 2012.[131]The sequel begins onEarthwith Commander Shepard having been detained following the events in theArrivaldownloadable content pack.[132]The story of the game is influenced by decisions the player made in the originalMass EffectandMass Effect 2.[133]However, if Shepard dies at the end ofMass Effect 2,the character cannot be imported intoMass Effect 3.[134]BioWare stated thatMass Effect 3ends Shepard's story arc and that future games in the series would feature a different context.[135]Unlike its predecessors,Mass Effect 3features amultiplayercooperativemode in addition to the single-player campaign.[133]Although the game received critical acclaim from video game publications,[136]its ending was poorly received by fans and drewsignificant controversy.[137]

Notes

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  1. ^Microsoft published the Xbox 360 version and the Windows physical version.

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