Moments of choice
Like other Bioware games, Mass Effect 2 is full of choices. And while there are some fun shades of gray, this mostly comes down to good choices (known as “Paragon” choices) and bad choices (known as “Forsaken” choices).
If you are familiar with other classic Bioware games (such as Knights of the Old Republic or Jade Empire), then this system will look very familiar to you. And there’s not much difference between the Paragon and Renegade choices and the Light Side and Dark Side choices.
This game adds a fun change: you can now make Paragon or Renegade choices by pressing a button during dialogue sequences. It offers a real temptation to players too: even those who always aim for “good” characters can be tempted to give the baddies the revenge they have had on them.
An experience in its own right?
Earlier, I mentioned how Mass Effect 2 might be someone’s first entry in the series. And if you’re a Playstation loyalist, you didn’t have much of a choice!
The original game only came out on PC and Xbox 360. PlayStation 3 players were out of luck, but they got Mass Effect 2 (with some content added to update them on the story).
However, both by design and a happy accident, Mass Effect 2 has a story that mostly stands on its own. The plot takes Commander Shepard away from the Alliance and sees her (or him) working for a dark and xenophobic agency. And with the exception of a few characters like Joker, you’re mostly meeting an entirely new crew.
The end result is a game that anyone can learn and enjoy on their own. This is particularly impressive considering this is the second part of a trilogy.
Start a new Thread