$20 Game of the Week: Mass Effect 2(Xbox 360, PC)

Note: This is also coming to Playstation 3.
The sequel to 2007’s sci-fi role playing masterpiece, Mass Effect 2 once again raises the bar for RPGs. Set two years after the events of the original Mass Effect, you once again step into the shoes of Commander Shepard as he/she joins the organization Cerberus, an underground organization dedicated to protecting humanity at any cost. An all new alien menace is abducting entire human colonies, so Shepard has been tasked with putting together a team of bad-ass space mercenaries and stopping them. However, stakes are high, and many say that this is a suicide mission.

If you have a save from Mass Effect 1, you can use it to start a new game with your Commander Shepard. Even if you don’t, you won’t be feeling lost, as you’ll be bought up to speed of the events in the original. You’ll run into old friends as well as team up with new allies. Each of your allies has a side quest to take, which allows you to gain insight into their character. If you played any of Bioware’s hits in the past, then you already know how well these characters are developed. The dialogue trees work the same way in the first, as you can choose what tone you take when conversing with non-player characters, along with the general meaning of what they will say rather than their exact words.

The missions are more diverse than the first game’s cookie-cutter missions, and there is a greater focus on action this time around rather than the RPG elements. The RPG elements have been streamlined, and in some cases scaled back. For instance, instead of wading through an inventory screen, you select your weapon from a locker and head out. You can switch your equipped weapons and biotics (the game’s version of magic) in-game, so you stay focused on the action. The boring Mako-driving segments have been removed as well. You can also use the Normandy to scan planets and look for minerals to upgrade your equipment, although you’ll have to keep an eye on fuel. It will have you searching each solar system and planet in order to get the most out of your equipment. There has been tons of downloadable content released for the game as well. The most recent, Lair of the Shadow Broker, has you meet with your old friend Liara from the original Mass Effect.

Just like its predecessor, Mass Effect 2 is a riveting and engaging tale which will have you hooked from beginning to the end. It also serves as a demonstration of some of the finest story telling and characterization in a video game. Hopefully Mass Effect 3, which will use your save data from ME2, will no doubt keep up the pace.