The Mass Effect 2 review embargo lifted overnight, so I hope you’re ready to do a lot of reading. And this is only the first wave…
The first is at GameSpot with a score of 9.0/10:
Mass Effect 2’s improved shooting mechanics are no-brainers; they’re the expected advancements that clean up the flaws of its predecessor. But what makes this sequel so rich isn’t mechanics, but vision. A nightclub lit with flames, deadly family reunions, a friend accused of the inconceivable–these are the sights and events that cast shadows in your mind and heart. A few blemishes prove that this planned trilogy still has potential for growth, but they barely diminish the game’s overall impact. This is a galaxy you want to explore that is populated with characters you are glad to know. Mass Effect 2 is the kind of game that you return to, not just because it’s fun to play multiple times, but also because its universe is a place you wish you could call home.
The second is at 1UP with a score of “A-“:
ME2 is a step back from the original game in a number of ways. It’s also a step forward in many others, though, and I don’t doubt that it will appeal far more to the average gamer than the original game did — and for the exact same reasons it feels a little underwhelming to an RPG fan like myself. When Mass Effect 3 rolls around to bring this tale to its finale, I’d really like to see BioWare strike some sort of happy medium between the clumsily executed RPG mechanics of the first game and the stripped-down shooter feel of this sequel. But even with its simplified mechanics, ME2’s story makes for a compelling odyssey, and I can certainly think of worse things than another adventure that builds on this one. So long as the galaxy keeps busting Yukiko Shepard’s chops for all my noble choices, I’m eager to see this series to its conclusion.
The third is at IGN UK with a score of 9.2/10:
On most levels it’s hard to fault Mass Effect 2; this is a sequel that polishes many of the original’s faults, tightening the combat and turning the screw on Shepard in the fight to save humanity with an impressive flair. Those already in thrall to BioWare’s magic will fall in love all over again with a game that’s got the sweep and stagger of the very best sci-fi epics. There are a handful of gripes; loading times remain unacceptably long, with the game’s momentum continually sapped by long periods of staring at space, while the focus on combat pushes some of the more traditional role-playing elements aside, and anyone who fails to see the point of a game where half the player’s time is spent chatting will find little to win them over here. It’s their loss, however, as Mass Effect 2 is one of BioWare’s finest games.
The fourth is at GameSpy with a perfect score of 5/5:
I could just say that ME2 improves upon the original in nearly every possible way, but it’s far more than that. BioWare took the existing narrative and didn’t just continue it, but built it into the framework of this sequel. Games like Quest for Glory and Baldur’s Gate tip-toed in these waters years ago, and Dragon Age: Origins showed us real consequences just recently, but ME2 creates true continuity, where every decision truly matters. Mass Effect 3 better be spectacular, because it’s going to be tough for BioWare to top this.
The fifth is at TeamXbox with a perfect score of 10/10:
Mass Effect 2 delivers the best experience of its kind in this generation-and considering I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished my initial 39-hour playthrough a few days ago, a lower score would feel disingenuous. From its mechanics to its writing to its presentation, Mass Effect 2 is the kind of game that justifies gushing clichés and superlatives. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
The sixth is at GamePro with a score of 4.5/5:
In Mass Effect 2 BioWare has done a spectacular job moving the role playing genre forward, and blending disparate gameplay styles into genuinely exciting sci-fi epic. It shows an enormous amount of growth from the original game both technically and emotionally, and stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of other RPGs for almost the entire ride. If it weren’t for the silly ending, it would have been a five out of five game, easily, but as it stands, it’s still an incredible achievement in the genre.
The seventh is at AtomicGamer with a score of 96%:
Mass Effect 2 delivers a story that’s deeper than what many novelists are capable of, and its action is better than what most Hollywood directors are creating nowadays. It’s an addictive, engrossing experience that many gamers will replay over and over while they hold their breath waiting for the third game. It’s rare to talk about Game of the Year candidates before January is even over, but I may have just found mine for 2010. And by my calendar, I’ve only got eleven months left before I know for sure!
The eighth is at Joystiq with no score:
Mass Effect 2 is a work of calculated contradictions. It’s an action game, but it’s imbued with all the best parts of the RPG genre. It’s simple to understand, but incredibly deep. It is — and this is crucial — a story, a universe that spans light years and millenia, but is intensely personal. To the casual observer, the parts may not all seem to fit together, but — as I’ve discovered after laughing, cheering, screaming and even crying (a bit) with Shepard and crew through their suicide mission — their sum is nothing short of one of the single best games I’ve ever played.
The ninth is at NowGamer where the PC version received a 9.5/10:
Having played and completed every BioWare RPG released, we’re still comfortable saying that if the Canadian developer succumbed to the recession tomorrow (and that’s hardly likely) that this would be its magnum opus. It’s the best game BioWare has ever made and our only fear is that, as the second episode of the trilogy, Mass Effect 2 could upstage what will undoubtedly be a soild gold finale.
And the tenth is at Bit-tech with a perfect score of 10/10:
Whatever else Mass Effect 2 does, it works in a way that has a real, lasting impact. It has flaws too, as everything does, but the gestalt holds true in the end and Mass Effect 2 ends up as more than the sum of it’s parts. Much, much more. This is easily and doubtlessly destined to be one of the best games of the year, because it’s frankly hard to see how it could get much better than this.
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