Mass Effect 2 is rapidly becoming one of my all-time favorite games. I really enjoyed the first Mass Effect, but this sequel easily tops it in just about every category. However, this review will be a little light on the technical detail. Without great difficulty, one can find numerous reviews that go into the nitty gritty, so I’ll try to keep my review more to the perspective side.

One thing I have to say is that I am continually amazed by the level of detail and thought put into the Mass Effect universe. These games have a setting that is as fully realized as any science fiction franchise I’ve ever seen. And, since this setting has been made from scratch by a relatively coherent group, it has very few inconsistencies. This is unlike, say, Star Trek, which has developed over the course of over a dozen movies and countless TV episodes and as such has many plot and continuity errors. Very little was not thought out by the game’s creators; the technology, economy, politics, and even biology of Mass Effect all make sense, lending an incredibly immersive sense of believability to the games.

When I played the first game, I often thought to myself that it was essentially like the perfect Star Trek game, in that it had you running around exploring the galaxy, completing episodic away missions, and having sex with aliens. The sequel builds on that even more, by tightening up the exploration and mission structure. Gone are the missions where you drive around a barren planet aimlessly in what amounted to a souped-up Lunar rover. Replacing them are a series of well paced and scripted foot-based missions that tell a specific story. This creates a certain rhythm to the game; you spend some time finding new worlds, and then spend a little time blowing them up!

And you can look good doing it, too. While the original Mass Effect was no slouch in the looks department, Mass Effect 2 is just gorgeous. Lush environments, incredibly detailed facial animations, and life-like character movements all combine to make a very satisfying visual experience. Complementing the graphical presentation is some very memorable voice acting, as well as a fully orchestrated sound track. The presentation is marred by the occasional graphical glitch, but these are relatively few and far between.

One of the things that Mass Effect 2 does very well is giving the player the sense that their actions actually have an effect on the galaxy around them. The game has two ratings, called “Paragon” and “Renegade.” Being a Paragon means that you generally play nice with others, and have a sunny disposition, while a Renegade generally acts like a huge jerk to everyone and would rather shoot first and ask questions later. Depending on which way you handle certain events, you can dramatically swing your character to one side or the other, which gives you all kinds of new options to take. In a way, choosing one path or the other becomes a self-fulfilling destiny; the more Paragon actions to take, the more Paragon options you have, which encourages you to want to continue down that path.

The characters in Mass Effect 2 are an interesting bunch; sort of a inter-planetary “Dirty Dozen.” By conversing with them, you get a detailed background on each of your major crew members. This then gives you the option to help them out with some predicament they find themselves in. While it may be a costly detour to do so, it will pay off in the end as helping your crew with their problems will make them loyal to you and unlock significant new upgrades and abilities for your team.

So, this game is very well done. It ties up a lot of the looser elements from the already outstanding first installment, and delivers an experience that I found simply extraordinary. Highly recommended!