With near-perfect execution, Mass Effect 2 is a must-play for any action fan.
94
Verdict
94%
Steam
96
IGDB
Verdict score based on confidence-adjusted Steam reviews?
Very Positive on Steam (94% positive from 16K reviews)
Critically acclaimed (96/100 critic average)
Compelling narrative and story
Outstanding soundtrack
No significant drawbacks reported
Mass Effect 2 is a 2010 action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Microsoft Game Studios and Electronic Arts. It was released for Windows and the Xbox 360 in January 2010, as well as the PlayStation 3 the following year. It is the second installment in the Mass Effect series and a sequel to the original Mass Effect. The game takes place within the Milky Way galaxy during the 22nd century, where humanity is threatened by an insectoid alien race known as the Collectors. The player assumes the role of Commander Shepard, an elite human soldier who must assemble and gain the loyalty of a diverse team to stop the Collectors in a suicide mission. Using a completed saved game of its predecessor, the player can impact the game's story in numerous ways.
Runs well on modern hardware.
Last updated 18d ago
Incredibly detailed world and good mechanics for replayabillity
This is still one of the best sci-fi RPGs ever made. Not because it has the biggest world or the most complicated systems, but because it makes you care about the people on your ship like they’re an actual crew and not just a menu full of combat abilities. The whole structure is simple in the best way: build the team, earn their loyalty, prepare the Normandy, and try not to get everyone killed. Every squadmate has their own problems, history, attitude, and baggage, because apparently saving the galaxy also means becoming the galaxy’s most heavily armed therapist. The loyalty missions are the heart of the game. They make the crew feel real, and they turn the final mission into something much stronger than a normal ending. You’re not just bringing random companions to a big fight. You’re bringing people you spent hours helping, arguing with, trusting, and occasionally wondering why they’re allowed near expensive ship equipment. The combat is smoother than the first game, the writing is strong, the voice acting is great, and the Normandy still feels like one of the best “home bases” in gaming. The Suicide Mission is famous for a reason: it actually makes your choices, preparation, and relationships matter. Still a classic. Stylish, emotional, cinematic, and very easy to replay just to spend more time with this crew.
This was one of the worse games I've played. Not the absolute worst, by far, but it's quite low on my list. Given that the "choices matterTM" and "your saves carry over!" promises of adventure RPGs of the late 2000s to early 2010s turned out to be a complete farce, completing this game just to import your save file into Mass Effect 3 is, quite frankly, entirely skippable. It's simply not worth the struggle to get through this game, and besides which, the bulk of the characters or plot elements from ME2 are merely going to get a slight nod if that in ME3. IIRC the only part which was even worth it was what ended up being a paid DLC, if only b/c you get to be blamed for leaving the Hegemony high and dry, as I did not have that DLC, complete waste of time.
Reviews sourced from Steam. All reviews belong to their respective authors.
Data sourced from RAWG, Steam, IGDB, CheapShark, Wikipedia, HLTB, and GX Corner. Sources: rawg, steam, cheapshark, igdb, wikipedia.
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