Mass Effect remains as one of the highest rated, and selling, titles on the Xbox 360.  With accessible combat, amazing visuals and a truly dynamic story, the game fit all of the nodes needed for a truly enjoyable, well-rounded game.  But Bioware is not finished with Mass Effect’s success as they are determined to deliver an even bigger, bolder, and engrossing title than the first game ever was.

Mass Effect 2 takes place almost immediately after the events of the first game, and although a teaser trailer surfaced that announced Commander Shepard as “K.I.A,” that obviously is not the case.   Bioware has remained quiet has to how Shepard is still alive, but from what we have seen in some early gameplay footage, many of the characters early on in the game are as shocked and surprised about Shepard’s livelihood as well.  In any case, Shepard sets his sights on the Cerberus Corporation as he tries to figure out their plans for the galaxy.

As such, Mass Effect 2 allows players to transfer saved data over.  If you completed the first game and still have your saved file available, you can transfer all of your stats, powers, and characters over to Mass Effect 2 for easy, manageable access.  However, if you took the evil route and decided to “whack” a few of your squad mates, those characters will not be appearing in Mass Effect 2, in any way, shape, or form.  Newcomers don’t have to worry about missing out on the first game since Bioware stated that a short video will cue players in to what happened in the first game and players will get the chance to control a very powerful Shepard from the beginning as well.  Since Bioware stated that Mass Effect will be a trilogy, perhaps the choices you make in Mass Effect 2 will be done with more careful planning this time around.

Shepard’s first mission is to infiltrate the Cerberus Corporation and find out what they are hiding, and needless to say it’s a suicide mission where no one is expected to survive.  But fortunately Shepard never has to do any of this alone and players can expect to recruit even more powerful and charismatic allies this time around.  One of the new ones, called Thane, belongs to a new race of aliens known as the Drell who helps Shepard during an assassination mission.  Bioware stated that his experience in that type of espionage killing could make him a very formidable ally.

Besides new characters, Mass Effect 2 is looking to increase the amount of skills, weapons, and locations as well.  Combat has been changed to allow individual character customization, meaning during combat you can select specific skills for each character in your party, right down to where they will move and attack during battle.  Bioware has also confirmed new weapons, such as machine guns and rocket launchers will be available as well as new classes that open up plenty of unique skills.  The Asari city of Illium, which sports towering skyscrapers and a beautiful skyline and the ominous Cerberus outpost are just some of the new locations Shepard and crew will be visiting in, but expect dozens more as well.

But perhaps the biggest aspect of Mass Effect 2 is the dialogue and how your actions and spoken words affect the entire scope of the story.  Bioware has confirmed that the dialogue in Mass Effect 2 is more accessible than the first game, meaning there are options that allow you to interrupt conversations during certain chats.  Of course, Mass Effect 2 will also include the patented dialogue-tree wheel that opens up new options depending on which side of the wheel you choose, good or evil.  More galaxy changing decisions have been included this time around and Bioware is determined to make you think twice about your choices as they can lead to irreversible outcomes.

Mass Effect 2 is looking better and better every time something new is shown, and from the stunning visuals, awesome new weapons, and improved combat, everything about Mass Effect 2 seems to look better and of higher quality than the first game.  Although the game already looks incredibly polished, don’t expect Shepard and crew to hit stores until 2010, where it heads to the Xbox 360 and PC.

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About This Author: Josh Schwartzman

Been into gaming for as long as I can remember and have enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoy playing with everyone and anyone online and I am an avid PS3 and Xbox 360 player.

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