Mass Effect 2

Fight for the Lost.

The first game review I will be doing is Mass Effect 2. ME2 is the sequel to what else- Mass Effect. With the release of Mass Effect 3 looming on the horizon, I figured it would be a good idea to review this one.

One of the cool things about this series is the fact that your actions in the first game change the story in the subsequent games. For example, if you killed someone in the first game, the effects of that would show throughout the rest of the sequels. The original game was only available on the XBox, but the PS3 version came with a web comic that allowed you to make decisions the same way.

The version I played was rented from GameFly, so it did not come with this web comic. However, that did not affect the gameplay or story at all. ME2 has a great story line. You are Commander Shephard (who can be male or female by the way) and it is your job to protect the human race from being completely wiped out by the Reapers.

As you play through the game, you will meet many different people (not all of whom are human), some that have served with you before, and some new. By helping these characters after recruiting them to your team, they can become loyal to you and they will be more powerful than when you first met them.

On that same note, as you progress, you will gain levels and points that you can use to specialize your powers. You see, you don't just have guns. You also have powers, of 4 different kinds: biotic, ammo, tech and combat. Depending on the power type, they allow you to do anything from throw an enemy across the room to brainwashing an enemy to attack their own people. Maximizing the powers allows them to alter slightly so they are much stronger than before.

This, coupled with the fact that you can choose two teammates to accompany you on every mission, allows for a wide variety of strategies to be used. One such strategy would be to go all out on firepower and overwhelm the enemy. Another would be to up your defenses and simply outlast them.

Mass Effect 2 gets 9.5 stars

If you love shooters (ME2 is in third person view, so no FPS for you) or are just looking for a great story, you can't go wrong with Mass Effect 2. Not only is it a great shooter game, but its' story carries over into ME3, which releases on March 6 of this year, a mere week-and-a-half away.

As always, if you have suggestions for reviews, don't hesitate to leave a comment and let me know. And don't forget to vote on the Poll in the right margin for the chance to have your suggestion reviewed in an upcoming book review.