Mass Effect 2 Review

Mass Effect 2 builds on the world and characters of the first game while dramatically improving the moment-to-moment feel of combat and mission design.

It is a more focused and polished experience than Mass Effect 1, with stronger shooting, clearer class identities, and one of the most memorable final missions in the series.

The combat and gameplay are very different from Mass Effect 1. In the first game, combat felt much simpler and the cover system was not especially strong. In Mass Effect 2, both areas are improved significantly.

In Mass Effect 1, each power had its own recharge timer, which allowed you to chain biotic abilities very freely. In Mass Effect 2, powers instead work on a shared cooldown per character. At first I disliked that change, but over time I came to appreciate the added need to plan and choose the right ability at the right moment.

I completed my Insanity playthrough as a Soldier. For that difficulty level, I think the Soldier is the most effective choice because of Adrenaline Rush, which slows down time and makes difficult encounters much more manageable. Having access to a wider weapon set and useful ammo powers also helps a lot.

If you are attempting Insanity, I highly recommend Incendiary Ammo for the squad.

The game offers six classes:

• Vanguard — combat and biotic powers
• Soldier — combat focused
• Sentinel — mix of biotics and tech
• Engineer — tech based
• Adept — biotic powers
• Infiltrator — combat and tech

My usual favourite is Vanguard because it has some of the most enjoyable abilities in the game, especially Biotic Charge. Freezing enemies and then charging into them is still incredibly satisfying.

The Sentinel is also a strong class, but Vanguard remains my personal favourite. Each class feels distinct enough that it is worth trying all of them to find the one that suits you best.

Spoiler warning.

The game opens with one of the best introductions I have ever played. You begin on the Normandy during a mission, only to be attacked by an unknown ship. The Normandy is destroyed and Shepard dies in the attack.

Shepard is then recovered and brought back by Cerberus under the control of the Illusive Man, one of the great antagonistic figures in the series.

From there, the game becomes a mission to stop the Collectors and recruit a team capable of taking them on. I will leave the rest there, because the story is something every player should experience directly.

Mass Effect 2 uses a mission structure that is fairly linear overall, even though it gives the player room to explore, scan planets, and complete smaller side activities.

One of the best aspects of the game is the loyalty mission system. Each squadmate has their own personal mission, and these are some of the most memorable parts of the entire game.

The game balances player freedom with urgency very well. You can choose the order of many tasks, but the story constantly reminds you that there is a larger threat that needs to be stopped.

The final mission is one of the greatest finales in gaming. The choices you make matter, and if you make the wrong decisions, characters can die — with consequences that carry into Mass Effect 3.

The game was originally made in Unreal Engine 3 and ran flawlessly for me on PS5. I had no crashes, no lag, and an excellent overall experience.

This is still my favourite game ever. The cast, the story setup, the combat improvements, the mission design, and especially the final mission all come together brilliantly.

I replay it often, and every time I come away loving it just as much.

Final Score: 10/10