Mass Effect 2 PS3 Demo Released

Just as promised, EA and BioWare have released a demo of Mass Effect 2 on the PlayStation Network that allows us to play through three of the game’s “most memorable, action-packed missions” (including the opening sequence and Mordin’s recruitment mission). Here’s the press release with all of the details:

COMMANDER SHEPARD CONQUERS NEW TERRITORY WITH PLAYSTATION 3 DEMO TODAY

PlayStation gamers, the time has come for you to join Commander Shepard in his fight for the lost! After earning over 70 perfect scores, over 50 awards and having explored countless galaxies and uncharted worlds, Commander Shepard and the Normandy will make their long-awaited debut on the PlayStation Network with a Mass Effect 2 demo in North America today, Tuesday, December 21, 2010, and in Europe on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. The Mass Effect 2 demo marks the first time the highest-rated game on Xbox 360 and PC, and one of the most critically acclaimed interactive entertainment franchises of all time, will be available on the PlayStation 3.

In the demo, players will step into the role of the heroic icon of the Mass Effect franchise, Commander Shepard, giving them a chance to experience three of the game’s most memorable, action-packed missions that have helped make Mass Effect 2 G4TV’s Game of the Year, the Xbox 360 Game of the Year from the Spike Video Game Awards, IGN.com and Gamespy.com, and over 15 other Best of 2010 awards to date. This includes the game’s shocking and thrilling opening sequence, the investigation of a planet whose inhabitants have disappeared and a mission to help recruit one of the most memorable characters in the franchise, Mordin Solus, to your squad.

Mass Effect 2 on PlayStation 3 will ship to retail stores in North America on January 18, 2011 and in Europe on January 21, 2011 and will include six hours of bonus DLC missions, including the critically acclaimed and award-winning Lair of the Shadow Broker, making it a terrific value. Mass Effect Genesis, an interactive comic from Dark Horse Comics and BioWare, will also be available through the Cerberus Network, an in-game online interface that allows gamers who purchase the game new to receive free content. The interactive comic will help give players a high level overview of the events of the original Mass Effect, giving them the option to make critical choices that will affect their storyline in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, launching simultaneously on all three platforms for the first time in the franchise’s history in Holiday 2011. For those who do not purchase the game new, Cerberus Network codes will be available for $10 on the PlayStation Network.

*Requires PlayStation Network account and internet connection