So, I intended to buy this and set it aside until I had more time to play it. Turns out I wound up buying the collector's edition and blowing 50 hours on it in a weekend. Epic fail. Anyhow, I played the first and second Mass Effects on PC and definitely loved the first.
I've got 4 characters I finished ME1 with to play through Mass Effect 2 with, but I don't think I'll be returning to my male character. The voice acting is just such a ridiculous let down, especially with Jennifer Hale backing femshep. I was all set to play a badass, named him Dredd because he is Mr. I-am-de-law, got his face exactly how I wanted it, and the flat, emotionless delivery KILLED that character for me. I just couldn't get the image of a voice actor in a studio reading a script in front of a wind-screened mic out of my head with male shepard. Whereas Jennifer Hale tows the Paragon/Renegade line extremely well and really creates the character. I think she even stepped it up in the second game. Can anyone who played both male and female characters comment on the male voice acting in the second game? Is it any better? I really wanna kick ass with Dredd, but it's not worth the disappointment.
The second game is a significant departure from the first, I think. Ridiculously amazing opening. I loved some of the side characters, plus returning characters became more interesting. Mordin and Grunt were great, and really gave you insight into story threads from the first game. That's what I think is best about the second game. It expounds on codex entries and species-dynamics in an engaging, interesting way. The side threads made the game more worthwhile for me than the main plot of it, which is great and ends well, but it definitely feels like the middle section of the story. Don't expect to have your questions answered in full. Didn't ruin the game at all for me, in fact it makes it feel like a natural extension of the first as it transitions into the third.
Still waiting to see the Cerberus Network really deliver, though the side mission you can download from it is pretty great, especially if the opening of the game hits you in an emotional way. I have to say that I did miss the Mako exploration. But it wouldn't have fit in the game, plus the game's main storyline is structured very differently. To all who have started Mass Effect 2 or haven't played it yet but intend to, my suggestion is to finish the main story before really exploring the galaxy. The game gives you a little more direction as to when you should do missions, but you should complete the main story line as soon as it gets really intense. They kind of hint that you can take time to go exploring, which you can, it's just a little misleading. Just keep a lot of past saves handy once the main plot starts hitting its climax.
Still not sure where I stand with this game. Definitely improved combat system. I think they encourage you to role-play your Shepard more in the second game. And I loved the character side-quests. I just think it loses the feeling of exploring the galaxy that you had in the first game. Which makes complete sense within the story and structure of the game. You wouldn't be dickin' around driving over mountains aimlessly blowing holes into the landscape if humanity was threatened as much as it is in ME2.
Played as an Adept and loved the changes to the biotics. More strategic for sure; AoE Throw and Heavy Warp/Pull were my goto's. And once I discovered Warp Ammo, I never had it unequipped from anything. I just think I blew through it so quickly that I don't think I'll be able to form a real opinion until I play through it at a more regular pace.
Topic: Mass Effect 2 (Read 11703 times)
