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What will definitely improve your chances of becoming completely immersed in the experience is it’s technical aspects as well. The visuals are some of the best out there, with jaw dropping realism at times and art design that transports you to a whole new world, all the while traveling to living, breathing locations as well as beautiful, fascinating or menacing new planets, spacestations and worlds.

To make it even better, the musical score and sound effects are enough to make George Lucas’s career roll over in its grave. A star studded voice acting cast delivers the goods in every way and breathes life into each and every character that you will encounter.

The game does still have some issues though. Instead of “moon landings” in the Mako vehicle, you now play a scanning “mini-game” that allows you to mine for the resources needed for upgrades. It’s not bad but it’s nothing great either and I would have preferred something a little more engaging. There are a few animation glitches here and there, as well as a few rough loading times but when put alongside the sheer scope of the game, feel completely forgivable.

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For the best experience, I highly recommend that anyone interested ensures that they have already played the first Mass Effect, as picking it up from the second game may be a little confusing, not to mention that a large part of the game is continuing in a world crafted by your choices.

Conclusion:

What Mass Effect 2 has done, is taken the already winning formula from Mass Effect and improved it in countless ways that have created a near perfect balance between the joys of action shooters and the depth of role playing games.

This ranges from fixing minor issues like cover systems and AI, to the improving the essential fun factor that keeps us so glued to our seats.

More importantly, this game delivers a truly emotional experience, be it love, hate or fear of what lies ahead. It’s a real sense of emotion that climbs out of your character and into your very being.

Mass Effect 2 may not be perfect in every way, but it exceeded my already high expectations by delivering a never before seen, or felt, experience from what is actually difficult to simply refer to as just a videogame.

I cannot recommend this game highly enough, and to put my money where my mouth is, I have awarded it my highest ever, and first, perfect score.

For Fans Of: Videogames

Scoring (not an average)

Gameplay: 9.8

Great combat, great conversation system, solid feeling all round.

Presentation: 10

Incredible looking characters, animations, environments, art direction and even loading screens that relate to what you are doing

Sound: 10

Perfect voice acting, sensational sound design and a musical score that easily matches or even surpasses some of Hollywood’s best efforts

Value: 9.8

No multiplayer means nothing when a game will take you around 35 – 40 hours to complete with very good reason for two or even three playthroughs. Bioware have also planned loads of DLC for the future.


Overall: 10

Mass Effect 2 may very well change the future of videogaming, because for the first time ever, I really, truly, cared about my decisions, the characters, the world and the outcome.

My first perfect score could not have gone to a more deserving title.

[Reviewed on Xbox 360]

Last Updated: February 9, 2010

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Mass Effect 2
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21 Comments

  1. It’s a great game but there are too few side quests. The RPG element has been streamlined to make it more action packed which some might prefer. I think they should have allowed you to purchase your own weapons, armor etc.

    Much better than the first one but could have been even better if you think about it.

    Reply

  2. WitWolfyZA

    February 9, 2010 at 12:43

    Just wish i could of gotten it together with Miranda lol never got the option in the game

    Reply

  3. Syph1n

    February 9, 2010 at 12:49

    Great review. My ONLY issue with the game was on that level where u first encounter the coll(not gonna spoil) the leaves on trees looked crap… Lol. Just had to put that out there. Otherwise wat he said. Pretty much the perfect game

    Reply

  4. Flamebaitboy

    February 9, 2010 at 12:49

    For once you get it right Nick. 😉

    Reply

  5. Reaver

    February 9, 2010 at 13:02

    I’m hearing all these people complain about how they couldn’t get to hook up with , but I guess my Shepard’s pimp hand is just uber-strong, coz I received booty calls from Miranda, Tali and even Jack. Unfortunately, not all 3 at the same time. :devil:

    Reply

  6. Karl

    February 9, 2010 at 13:55

    Currently 4 hours in, and I’m still blown away at the quality.

    10/10 indeed. Great review Nick.

    Reply

    • WitWolfyZA

      February 10, 2010 at 08:24

      Wait till you enter the Mass Relay 4 that’s where the game shines at its best

      Reply

  7. Geoff

    February 9, 2010 at 15:09

    Quite likely the best game to come out of 2010…and it’s only February.

    Reply

  8. ewie

    February 9, 2010 at 15:40

    Will start playing this tonight, but this series for me have become the spiritual successor of what Star contoll II could have been.

    Reply

  9. spl0it

    February 9, 2010 at 15:50

    This game is pretty tit but not 10/10 tit, more like 9/10 tit, as a comparison UC2 was 9.5/10 tit for me

    But then again I am only 4 hours in 🙂

    Reply

    • Nick de Bruyne

      February 9, 2010 at 15:56

      Just play it to the end

      Reply

    • WitWolfyZA

      February 10, 2010 at 08:26

      Uncharted 2 is a BRILLIANT game, but this game has its own spiring combos. To show the Xbox 360 has still many round house kicks left in its hardware

      Reply

  10. Mike

    February 9, 2010 at 16:05

    I’m about 10 hours deep and its ok so far. Giving it an 8 for now. It feels more action orientated than an RPG but its not bad. I was not so into ME 1, but am giving it another go with ME 2 to see if it gets better.

    Reply

  11. Uberutang

    February 9, 2010 at 16:11

    Done and dusted, Galaxy saved.

    yeah 8.5 / 10 .

    Very focussed, and well done, but not a true RPG. Not enough loot for that.

    Great start to 2010.

    Reply

  12. Boobs

    February 9, 2010 at 16:24

    I am 10 hours in on my second playthrough and it’s definately a 10. @Uberutang So if it had more loot you would have given it a higher score?

    Reply

  13. Rally Playing Gamer

    February 9, 2010 at 17:04

    How the hell is this game getting so many TENS out of TENS? Last time I checked, there weren’t even weather effects lol. Also, I herd they removed the Mako. I actually liked doing rally races with it on the outer space planets.

    Reply

    • WitWolfyZA

      February 10, 2010 at 08:28

      I for one despised the Mako that thing handled weird. Ill give this game a 10. Even though sometimes it looks like the characters have down syndrome

      Reply

  14. mark

    February 10, 2010 at 15:33

    yeah game deserve 10 not enough side quests ? yeah i agree but that because i dont want the game to end . def one of the best games ive played in a very long time

    Reply

  15. ShoCKeR ZA

    February 11, 2010 at 13:28

    Played through ME2 twice now. It just got better everytime. I hated the first ME ( but i finished it….hahahaha) but this game was just amazing.
    10/10 is the only score it deserves

    Reply

  16. eyss

    February 11, 2010 at 15:00

    Awesome game 9.9/10. 10 means it’s perfect… almost

    Reply

  17. kkk-kool-kid-klan

    April 1, 2010 at 18:29

    kick ass game

    Reply

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