Mass Effect 2
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''Mass Effect 2'' is a 2010
action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and Role-playing video game, role-playing game genres. Definition Action role-playing games empha ...
developed by
BioWare BioWare is a Canadian video game developer based in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1995 by newly graduated Doctor of Medicine, medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk and Augustine Yip. Since 2007, the company has been owned by American ...
and published by Microsoft Game Studios and
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. It was released for
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and the
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in January 2010, as well as the
PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It is the successor to the PlayStation 2, and both are part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. The PS3 was first released on ...
the following year. It is the second installment in the ''
Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by Elder race, a ...
'' series and a sequel to the original ''
Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by Elder race, a ...
''. The game takes place within the
Milky Way The Milky Way or Milky Way Galaxy is the galaxy that includes the Solar System, with the name describing the #Appearance, galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars in other arms of the galax ...
galaxy during the 22nd century, where humanity is threatened by an insectoid alien race known as the Collectors. The player assumes the role of
Commander Shepard Commander Shepard is the player character in the ''Mass Effect'' video game series by BioWare (''Mass Effect'', '' Mass Effect 2'', and ''Mass Effect 3''). A veteran soldier of the Systems Alliance Navy, an N7 graduate of the Interplanetary Co ...
, an elite human soldier who must assemble and gain the loyalty of a diverse team to stop the Collectors in a suicide mission. Using a completed
saved game A saved game (also called a game save, savegame, savefile, save point, or simply save) is a piece of digitally stored information about the progress of a player in a video game. From the earliest games in the 1970s onward, game platform hardw ...
of its predecessor, the player can impact the game's story in numerous ways. For the game, BioWare changed several gameplay elements and further emphasized
third-person shooter Third-person shooter (TPS) is a subgenre of 3D shooter games in which the gameplay consists primarily of shooting. It is closely related to first-person shooters, but with the player character visible on-screen during play. While 2D shoot 'em ...
aspects, including limited ammunition and regenerable
health Health has a variety of definitions, which have been used for different purposes over time. In general, it refers to physical and emotional well-being, especially that associated with normal functioning of the human body, absent of disease, p ...
. In contrast to the exclusive focus on the main story of the original ''Mass Effect'', the developers opted to create a plot where optional missions had as much intensity as the main mission. ''Mass Effect'' composer Jack Wall returned to compose ''Mass Effect 2''s music, aiming for a darker and more mature sound to match the game's mood. ''Mass Effect 2'' also supports a variety of
downloadable content content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can be added for no extra cost or as a form of video game monetization, enabling the publisher to gain ad ...
packs, ranging from single in-game character outfits to entirely new plot-related missions. Notable packs include '' Kasumi – Stolen Memory'', ''
Overlord An overlord in the English feudal system was a lord of a manor who had subinfeudated a particular manor, estate or fee, to a tenant. The tenant thenceforth owed to the overlord one of a variety of services, usually military service or ...
'', '' Lair of the Shadow Broker'', and '' Arrival''. Released to critical acclaim, ''Mass Effect 2'' was praised for its presentation and cinematography, diverse and complex characters, and improved combat over its predecessor. Some critics, however, expressed concerns about the game's simplified role-playing mechanics. The game received numerous year-end awards, including Game of the Year at the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, and Best Game at the 7th British Academy Games Awards. ''Mass Effect 2'' is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor and one of the best video games of all time. A sequel, ''
Mass Effect 3 ''Mass Effect 3'' is a 2012 action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The third major entry in the ''Mass Effect'' series and the final installment of the original trilogy, it was released in March 2012 for ...
'', was released in 2012. In 2021, ''Mass Effect 2'' was
remaster A remaster is a change in the sound or image quality of previously created forms of media, whether Mastering (audio), audiophonic, Cinematography, cinematic, or Videography, videographic. The resulting product is said to be remastered. The term ...
ed as part of the ''
Mass Effect Legendary Edition ''Mass Effect Legendary Edition'' is a compilation of the video games in the ''Mass Effect'' trilogy: ''Mass Effect'' (2007), '' Mass Effect 2'' (2010), and ''Mass Effect 3'' (2012). Developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, the co ...
''.


Gameplay

''Mass Effect 2'' is a
single-player A single-player video game is a video game where input from only one player is expected throughout the gameplay. Video games in general can feature several game modes, including single-player modes designed to be played by a single player in add ...
action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and Role-playing video game, role-playing game genres. Definition Action role-playing games empha ...
in which the player takes the role of
Commander Shepard Commander Shepard is the player character in the ''Mass Effect'' video game series by BioWare (''Mass Effect'', '' Mass Effect 2'', and ''Mass Effect 3''). A veteran soldier of the Systems Alliance Navy, an N7 graduate of the Interplanetary Co ...
from a
third-person perspective Narration is the use of a written or spoken commentary to storytelling, convey a narrative, story to an audience. Narration is conveyed by a narrator: a specific person, or unspecified literary voice, developed by the creator of the story to del ...
. Before the game begins, the player determines Shepard's gender, appearance, military background, combat training, and first name. The player may choose to import a character from a completed
saved game A saved game (also called a game save, savegame, savefile, save point, or simply save) is a piece of digitally stored information about the progress of a player in a video game. From the earliest games in the 1970s onward, game platform hardw ...
of the original ''
Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by Elder race, a ...
'' or start the game with a new character. Importing an old character allows several decisions the player made in the original game to impact the story of ''Mass Effect 2'' and grants the player a set of starting bonuses. The game features six different
character class In tabletop games and video games, a character class is an occupation, profession, or role assigned to a game character to highlight and differentiate their capabilities and specializations. In role-playing games (RPGs), character classes ag ...
es for the player to choose from. Each class is proficient in a different set of powers and weapon types. For example, the Vanguard class specializes in close-range combat and
shotgun A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, peppergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which discharges numerous small ...
s, while the Infiltrator class relies on stealth combat and
sniper rifle A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long range shooting, long-range rifle. Requirements include high accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment, and optics, for anti-personnel weapon, anti-personnel, anti-materiel rifle, anti-materiel and sur ...
s. The game's overworld is a
galaxy A galaxy is a Physical system, system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar medium, interstellar gas, cosmic dust, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek ' (), literally 'milky', ...
map the player can explore to find and complete
quests A quest is a journey toward a specific mission or a goal. It serves as a Plot (narrative), plot device in mythology and fiction: a difficult Travel, journey towards a goal, often symbolic or Allegory, allegorical. Tales of quests figure promine ...
. Most quests consist of combat missions, but some involve the player interacting with
non-player character A non-player character (NPC) is a character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster (or referee) rather than by a ...
s during visits to settlements. Different locations and new squad members become available as the player progresses throughout the game.
Experience point An experience point (often abbreviated as exp or XP) is a unit of measurement used in some tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's life experience and progression through the game. Experien ...
s are gained by completing quests. Each time a sufficient amount of experience is obtained, the player "levels up" and is awarded Squad Points that can be used to develop powers for Shepard and squad members. Powers provide enhanced combat capabilities, with each power having four ranks that can be unlocked. Each rank costs the same number of Squad Points as its rank. For example, unlocking the first rank of a power requires one point, but unlocking all four ranks of a single power requires a total of ten points. Upon raising a power to its fourth rank, the player must evolve the power into one of two given forms. The player's primary mode of transportation is a starship which serves as Shepard's base of operations. Aboard the ship, the player can interact with the squad members, customize the player's armour, travel to numerous planetary systems, and scan planets for mineral resources. These resources allow the player to research numerous in-game upgrades found in the missions, providing benefits such as increasing weapon damage, fortifying the player's health, or extending the ship's fuel capacity, among others. Scanning requires the player to move a
reticle A reticle or reticule, also known as a graticule or crosshair, is a pattern of fine lines or markings built into the eyepiece of an optical device such as a telescopic sight, spotting scope, theodolite, optical microscope or the electronic v ...
over a planet and launch a probe when an
oscilloscope An oscilloscope (formerly known as an oscillograph, informally scope or O-scope) is a type of electronic test instrument that graphically displays varying voltages of one or more signals as a function of time. Their main purpose is capturing i ...
warns of near resources. Additional upgrades, equipment, and non-essential items such as magazines and decorations for the ship can be purchased from merchants in settlements.


Combat

Combat in ''Mass Effect 2'' is squad-based, and a maximum of two squad members may accompany the player on the battlefield. The player controls Shepard, while the game's
artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...
controls the squad members. Battles take place in real-time, but the player can pause the action at any time to calmly target enemies and select different powers for the squad members to use. The game uses an over-the-shoulder perspective akin to a
third-person shooter Third-person shooter (TPS) is a subgenre of 3D shooter games in which the gameplay consists primarily of shooting. It is closely related to first-person shooters, but with the player character visible on-screen during play. While 2D shoot 'em ...
and emphasizes using cover to avoid taking damage while fighting enemy forces. The player may also issue commands to the squad members, such as sending them to take cover behind a manually picked object or focus their fire on a designated target. Unlike the original ''Mass Effect'', where weapons overheat if fired continuously for prolonged periods, the weapons of ''Mass Effect 2'' have a finite
magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...
and must be reloaded after a certain number of shots. A damage-absorbing shield protects Shepard and the squad members. When the shield is fully depleted, further damage reduces the hit points of a secondary health meter. The shield bar and health meter regenerate when not taking fire for a brief period. The player can revive fallen squad members with the use of the Unity power. However, if Shepard dies, the player must start the game again from the last saved point. All enemies are protected by health, shields, armour, barriers, or a combination thereof. Each type of protection has its vulnerabilities. For example, armour is usually vulnerable to powers such as Incinerate, which burns enemies over time, and weapons with a low rate of fire, such as sniper rifles and heavy pistols. In contrast, shields are vulnerable to powers such as Overload and rapid-firing weapons like
submachine gun A submachine gun (SMG) is a magazine (firearms), magazine-fed automatic firearm, automatic carbine designed to fire handgun cartridges. The term "submachine gun" was coined by John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun, to descri ...
s and
assault rifle An assault rifle is a select fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge, intermediate-rifle cartridge and a Magazine (firearms), detachable magazine.C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', F.A. Moyer '' ...
s. Barriers are typically used by boss-type enemies and are vulnerable to certain weapons and powers. When an enemy's shields, armour, or barriers have all been depleted, the player can use status-effect powers such as Pull, which temporarily levitates targets into the air, incapacitating them. Other powers may temporarily benefit the player; for instance, Adrenaline Rush puts the player in bullet time. Powers do not require any expendable resource; they only have a global cooldown.


Dialogue and morality

During conversations with characters, ''Mass Effect 2'' employs a radial command menu called Dialogue Wheel, where the player's dialogue options depend on wheel direction. The left side of the wheel is typically reserved for options that will continue the conversation in-depth, while options on the right side tend to move the conversation towards completion. Responses at the top are generally more polite and selfless, while those at the bottom are more aggressive and hostile. The game also introduces a context-sensitive interrupt system, allowing players to interrupt the conversation with direct actions at certain times. Dialogue choices impact how others react to Shepard, the rewards for completing missions, possible discounts from merchants, romances, and the Commander's morality. Morality is measured by Paragon (charm) and Renegade (intimidate) points. These points affect the availability of new special Paragon and Renegade dialogue options with a significant impact on the game. For example, the game features some missions to gain the squad's loyalty. What the player does during one of these missions will determine whether they gain the loyalty of a squad member, which in turn will unlock a unique power and help in the final battle. Endings range from the entire team surviving to the entire team being killed, Shepard included, and everything in between. Upon completing the game, a
New Game Plus New Game Plus (also New Game+ or NG+) is an unlockable video game mode available in some video game titles that allows the player to restart the game's story with all or some of the items or experience gained in the first playthrough. New Game ...
option is unlocked, allowing players to replay the game using the same character with which they finished it.


Synopsis


Setting and characters

''Mass Effect 2'' is set within the
Milky Way The Milky Way or Milky Way Galaxy is the galaxy that includes the Solar System, with the name describing the #Appearance, galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars in other arms of the galax ...
galaxy during the 22nd century, where
interstellar travel Interstellar travel is the hypothetical travel of spacecraft between star systems. Due to the vast distances between the Solar System and nearby stars, interstellar travel is not practicable with current propulsion technologies. To travel between ...
is possible through mass transit devices called Mass Relays, a technology believed to have been built by an extinct alien race known as the Protheans. A conglomerate body of governments known as the Citadel Council controls a large percentage of the galaxy and is responsible for maintaining law and order among races of the galactic community. Races that belong to the Citadel Council include humans, asari, salarians, and turians. Other alien races in the game include the reptilian krogan and drell, the environmental-suited quarians, and a hostile race of networked
artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...
called geth. During the events of the original ''
Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by Elder race, a ...
'', a geth army attempted to open a portal for the Reapers, a highly advanced machine race of synthetic-organic starships that are believed to eradicate all organic civilization every 50,000 years. The galactic community has since lived in fear of another possible invasion. Meanwhile, a human supremacist organization called Cerberus believes that humans deserve a greater role in the galactic community and supports the principle that any methods of advancing humanity's ascension are entirely justified, including illegal experimentation and
terrorist Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war aga ...
activities. The game's protagonist is Commander Shepard (voiced by Mark Meer or Jennifer Hale), an elite human soldier who is the Commanding Officer of the SSV ''Normandy'' and ''Normandy SR-2'' starships. Shepard's squad members include Cerberus operatives Jacob Taylor (Adam Lazarre-White) and Miranda Lawson (
Yvonne Strahovski Yvonne Jaqueline Strzechowski (born 30 July 1982), known professionally as Yvonne Strahovski (), is an Australian actress. She is known for roles as Sarah Walker in the spy comedy drama series '' Chuck'' (2007–2012), Hannah McKay in the dra ...
), recurring associates Garrus Vakarian ( Brandon Keener) and Tali'Zorah (Liz Sroka), salarian scientist Mordin Solus (Michael Beattie), human criminal Jack ( Courtenay Taylor), genetically engineered krogan super soldier
Grunt Grunt, grunts or grunting may refer to: Sound and music * Grunting (tennis), in tennis refers to the loud noise, sometimes described as "shrieking" or "screaming", made by some players during their strokes * Death grunt, the death metal singi ...
(
Steve Blum Steven Jay Blum (; born April 29, 1960) is an American voice actor. Known for his distinctively deep voice, his roles include Spike Spiegel from the anime series ''Cowboy Bebop''; Amon from ''The Legend of Korra''; Heatblast, Ghostfreak, and ...
), drell assassin Thane Krios ( Keythe Farley), asari Justicar
Samara Samara, formerly known as Kuybyshev (1935–1991), is the largest city and administrative centre of Samara Oblast in Russia. The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Samara (Volga), Samara rivers, with a population of over 1.14 ...
(
Maggie Baird Maggie May Baird (born March 29, 1959) is an American actress. She grew up in Colorado performing music, and studied theater and dance at the University of Utah, before moving to New York City, where she performed on Broadway. She made her tele ...
) or Samara's serial killer daughter Morinth ( Natalia Cigliuti), and geth mobile platform Legion ( D. C. Douglas). Other characters include the ''
Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...
''s pilot Jeff "Joker" Moreau ( Seth Green), Cerberus leader the Illusive Man (
Martin Sheen Ramón Gerard Antonio Estévez (born August 3, 1940), known professionally as Martin Sheen, is an American actor. His work spans over six decades of television and film, and his accolades include three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and ...
), and the ''Normandy SR-2''s enhanced defence intelligence, also known as EDI ( Tricia Helfer).


Plot

In 2183, shortly after the events of ''Mass Effect'', the SSV ''Normandy'', while patrolling for geth resistance, is attacked by an unknown vessel, forcing the crew to abandon ship. Shepard pushes Joker into the final escape pod before being blasted into space and dying via
asphyxia Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of deficient supply of oxygen to the body which arises from abnormal breathing. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which affects all the tissues and organs, some more rapidly than others. There are m ...
tion after a suit breach. The body is pulled into the orbit of a nearby planet and recovered by Cerberus, who begins the "Lazarus Project" with the sole purpose of bringing Shepard back to life. Two years later, Shepard is revived on an operating table and escapes a research station under attack by its security mechs. Escaping alongside Jacob Taylor and Miranda Lawson, Shepard is brought to meet the Illusive Man, who reveals that entire populations of human colonies have disappeared all over the galaxy. Now working with Cerberus, Shepard is sent to investigate a recently attacked colony, encountering Tali and a contingent of quarians searching for their missing colleague. Shepard's team uncover clues that the Reapers are working by proxy through an insectoid alien race called the Collectors, who have abducted the colonists. The Illusive Man explains that the Collectors reside beyond the Omega-4 Relay, a place from which no ship has ever returned, and tasks Shepard with assembling a team to stop them. Shepard is also given command of a new starship, the ''Normandy SR-2'', piloted again by Joker and equipped with an onboard AI named EDI. Shepard recruits Mordin Solus, Garrus Vakarian, Jack, and (optionally) Grunt, before the Illusive Man informs them that another human colony is under attack. Shepard defends the colony with the help of Mordin's studies on Collector biology, but cannot stop a large portion of the population from being captured. Shepard can then recruit Tali, Thane Krios, and Samara (who may be optionally replaced by Morinth) before being sent to explore a supposedly disabled Collector ship. There, Shepard learns that the Collectors were originally Protheans that were turned into slaves of the Reapers. With EDI's help, Shepard also finds out how to bypass the Omega-4 Relay before being ambushed by the Collectors. Although Shepard's squad escapes, their relationship with the Illusive Man is strained due to his prior knowledge of the trap. Shepard visits a derelict Reaper and acquires an
IFF In logic and related fields such as mathematics and philosophy, "if and only if" (often shortened as "iff") is paraphrased by the biconditional, a logical connective between statements. The biconditional is true in two cases, where either both ...
necessary to travel through the Omega-4 Relay safely. Shepard also acquires a disabled geth that, if activated, joins the squad as Legion. While the IFF is integrated into the ''Normandy SR-2'' systems, Shepard and the squad leave in a shuttle. During their absence, the Collectors board the ''Normandy SR-2''. Only Joker avoids capture and, with EDI's help, extracts the ''Normandy SR-2'' to safety. When Shepard's squad returns, the team uses the Omega-4 Relay to reach the Collector base located in the
Galactic Center The Galactic Center is the barycenter of the Milky Way and a corresponding point on the rotational axis of the galaxy. Its central massive object is a supermassive black hole of about 4 million solar masses, which is called Sagittarius A*, a ...
. After a ship-to-ship engagement with automated Collector defense drones a damaged ''Normandy SR-2'' encounters and destroys the starship the collectors use to harvest the human colonists, however the battle disables the ''Normandy SR-2'' and results in the ship making an emergency landing on the exterior of the collector base. While Joker and EDI work to repair the ship, Shepard’s team members infiltrate the collector base, rescue any surviving crew members, and fight their way to the central chamber. Squad members will either survive or perish depending on the upgrades made to the ''Normandy SR-2'', their loyalty to Shepard, and the tasks they are assigned in battle. In the central chamber, Shepard discovers that the Collectors have been constructing a new Human-Reaper made from the genetic material of the abducted colonists. Destroying the machine powering the Reaper, Shepard prepares to destroy the Collector base by attaching explosives to the base’s reactor. However, the Illusive Man proposes sterilizing the base with a timed
radiation In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium. This includes: * ''electromagnetic radiation'' consisting of photons, such as radio waves, microwaves, infr ...
pulse to preserve the Collectors' technology and use it against the Reapers. After deciding the base's fate, Shepard destroys the awakened Human-Reaper and escapes with the surviving squad members. If no squad members survive, Shepard fails to escape and dies. Back on the ''Normandy SR-2'', after speaking with the Illusive Man one last time, Shepard meets the survivors in the cargo bay. There, Joker gives them schematics of a Reaper. The final scene shows the Reapers awakening in dark space and descending upon the galaxy.


Development


Game design

''Mass Effect 2'' was developed by
BioWare BioWare is a Canadian video game developer based in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1995 by newly graduated Doctor of Medicine, medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk and Augustine Yip. Since 2007, the company has been owned by American ...
and directed by Casey Hudson, who previously led the production of the first ''Mass Effect'' game. Before actual production began, BioWare created a list of goals to work towards based on feedback from fans, reviewers, and internal staff members. The company's main goal was to "create an experience that was less about being a game and more about being an experience." In contrast to the exclusive focus on the main story of the original ''Mass Effect'', Hudson explained that BioWare was interested in a plot where optional stories had as much intensity as the main story and decided that the idea of recruiting people and making them loyal to the player so that they could survive a suicide mission allowed to explore these possibilities. He noted, "the funny thing is that people will say 'other than gathering your crew and building your team and getting ready for this mission, there's not much story there.' But that is the story." During the first stages of development, the designers prioritized streamlining and polishing the
shooting Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missile ...
aspects;
RPG RPG may refer to: Military * Rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-launched anti-tank weapon **''Ruchnoi Protivotankoviy Granatomyot'' (Russian: ''Ручной Противотанковый Гранатомёт''), hand-held anti-tank grenade laun ...
elements were not added until this process was complete. According to lead designer Christina Norman, "we wanted more satisfying combat and a big part of that is making weapons more accurate and powerful at level one—basically saying 'let's take the RPG out of the shooter.'" Since BioWare had no experience with shooter games, the team spent roughly three months tuning how combat would work using the original ''Mass Effect'' as a basis. The camera was improved to offer a more precise aiming that included body-specific targeting like headshots. Norman explained that they wanted the weapons to have their own identity, noting that the game's final build has 19 weapons with 108 tuning variables. The inclusion of limited ammunition was initially not part of the game design and was implemented for some early playtesting. However, the developers ultimately felt it improved the tension and pacing of combat. Real-time gameplay with an emphasis on weapons and cover was a preference because the team felt that the constant pausing to select powers interrupts the intensity of the combat. As a result, more options were added to assign different abilities to the
user interface In the industrial design field of human–computer interaction, a user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine fro ...
for real-time use. Developers also decided to introduce regenerating health because it prevented players from playing erratically and relying on health kits. Norman remarked that it was important not to oversimplify the RPG elements but to make them easier to use. She explained that the original ''Mass Effect'' offered "too many choices that weren't particularly representative of how they would impact the game. In ''Mass Effect 2'', the levelling options were pared down and made more descriptive." The developers wanted to create very different play styles for the character classes, "even if it meant cutting some of the possible choices." The powers were balanced with a unified refresh cooldown since the earlier system, where powers could be used sequentially, was considered "ridiculous and endgame easy." Keeping track of the enemies' strengths and weaknesses was made more consistent with different types of health bars so that players did not have to estimate the challenges they faced when fighting new enemies. The game's HUD was revised eight times during development. As the inventory management of the original ''Mass Effect'' received criticism, designing a new inventory system for ''Mass Effect 2'' was one of the main concerns during development. Ideally, the inventory needed to handle many characters with simplicity. Norman spent time examining various inventory systems from other RPG games, but none could be applied to support the game's large number of characters. Ultimately, the team opted to replace it with different systems that provide the same functionality without any management. This concept allowed a character to use a weapon without taking it away from someone else. The planetary exploration of the original ''Mass Effect'' was revamped entirely. Instead of having vast barren landscapes, the designers opted to build distinct and interesting places. The goal was to encourage players to keep exploring the galaxy by changing their expectations about what they could find. Initially, the developers experimented with the idea of having a vehicle that could be used to navigate the planetary terrain more flexibly than in the original title. However, the vehicle was ultimately removed from the game's final build. The context-sensitive interrupt system, which was initially meant to be a feature in the original ''Mass Effect'', was introduced in ''Mass Effect 2'' to help blend the dialogue better with the rest of the action. The story's pacing was also improved because developers wanted to get players into the action faster.


Production

Since the ''
Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by Elder race, a ...
'' series was envisioned as a trilogy from its inception, work on ''Mass Effect 2'' started shortly before the original ''Mass Effect'' was released. The game was initially developed exclusively for the
Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
and
Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...
platforms with support provided by Microsoft Game Studios, focusing to have the same level of dedication. As a result, each version features different user interfaces and controls. Like its predecessor, ''Mass Effect 2'' was built using
Epic Games Epic Games, Inc. is an American Video game developer, video game and software development, software developer and video game publisher, publisher based in Cary, North Carolina. The company was founded by Tim Sweeney (game developer), Tim Sween ...
' Unreal Engine 3 in conjunction with a framework that BioWare specifically developed for the ''Mass Effect'' games. As most of these ''Mass Effect'' technologies were already developed in the first game, the development team focused on adding new content and perfecting new features rather than creating them from scratch. Technical improvements included better
memory management Memory management (also dynamic memory management, dynamic storage allocation, or dynamic memory allocation) is a form of Resource management (computing), resource management applied to computer memory. The essential requirement of memory manag ...
, larger textures, a higher
frame rate Frame rate, most commonly expressed in frame/s, or FPS, is typically the frequency (rate) at which consecutive images (Film frame, frames) are captured or displayed. This definition applies to film and video cameras, computer animation, and moti ...
, and better
lighting Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aesthetic effects. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources like lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight. ...
scenarios. According to Hudson, "I actually can't think of an aspect of the game that we haven't overhauled and made 100% better." ''Mass Effect 2'' contains voices from 90 voice actors who play 546 characters and speak over 25,000 lines of dialogue. Voice recording for the game took twice as long as the original ''Mass Effect''. The Unreal Engine 3's Matinee tool, allowing developers to animate characters during cinematics, was integrated into BioWare's digital acting and conversation technology. As Hudson explained, "Our writers write into a dialogue editor and that becomes fused with the way that you end up seeing many different pieces of Matinee play out in combination when you have a conversation with characters." Another Unreal Engine 3 technology, Kismet, was used for scripting how levels or enemies would respond to a particular action. After using it on the first ''Mass Effect'' game, the game's programmers were already familiar with Unreal Engine 3, so they did not need to communicate with Epic Games for support constantly. Although ''Mass Effect 2'' was primarily developed at BioWare's Edmonton studio, a new team of 30 people was set to work at EA Montreal in March 2009 to supplement the teams already working on the game. The new team was composed of many people who worked on the original game, but most were new hires. ''Mass Effect 2'' was developed over roughly two years and more than 150 people worked on the game. Hudson mentioned two significant challenges that interfered with the development: financial problems due to the Great Recession limited the game's budget, and the team had to get through it without impacting their ambitious goals. Additionally, due to the 2009 flu pandemic, a significant part of the team was ill during the last months of development, resulting in losing a man-year of time. Despite these factors, Hudson described the development of ''Mass Effect 2'' as successful "on time, on budget, and exceeding quality goals." Lead writer Mac Walters considered ''Mass Effect 2'' a very quick project, stating that the team did not have much time to second guess themselves. Initially, BioWare denied that a
PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It is the successor to the PlayStation 2, and both are part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. The PS3 was first released on ...
version was in the works. Despite this, it was reported that the Microsoft Windows version of the game featured lines of Computer program, code referencing the PlayStation 3. BioWare responded that the Unreal Engine 3 is cross-platform, which is why it includes PlayStation 3 code. Eventually, a PlayStation 3 version of ''Mass Effect 2'' was released a year later than the Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 versions. The PlayStation 3 version uses a modified version of the Unreal Engine 3 called the ''Mass Effect 3'' engine, the same engine BioWare used for the then-upcoming ''
Mass Effect 3 ''Mass Effect 3'' is a 2012 action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The third major entry in the ''Mass Effect'' series and the final installment of the original trilogy, it was released in March 2012 for ...
''. In this newer version, character models were slightly improved, and controls were updated to support the PlayStation 3 controller. An option which allowed to switch back to the Xbox 360 controls layout was also added.


Music

The music of ''Mass Effect 2'' was primarily composed by Jack Wall. His previous work with BioWare was as the main composer for ''Jade Empire'' and the original ''Mass Effect''. The score also features some pieces by Sam Hulick, David Kates, and Jimmy Hinson (better known as Big Giant Circles), with additional editing and in-game implementation by Brian DiDomenico. Unlike the original ''Mass Effect'', the composers aimed for a darker and more mature sound to match the game's mood. The music incorporates orchestral and classic Science fiction, sci-fi arrangements, inspired by the soundtrack of the 1982 film ''Blade Runner'' and music by German Electronic music, electronic group Tangerine Dream. The harmonic structure of Wendy Carlos's ''Tron'' soundtrack also represented significant influences. To complement each character, the composers gave them themes to convey their personalities and backgrounds. According to Kates, "it was one of our mandates to create a dynamic score that expressed a wide range of emotions." Around 180 minutes of music were composed for ''Mass Effect 2'', which totalled more than 700 assets. The song "Callista" by video game music composer Saki Kaskas, who wrote the music for five ''Need for Speed'' games, was used as the game's Afterlife Club theme. Music from the game has been released in several albums. BioWare released the main soundtrack album, ''Mass Effect 2: Original Videogame Score'', on January 19, 2010. The soundtrack spans two discs and 27 tracks, covering a duration of 1:55:43. ''Mass Effect 2''s score was nominated for Best Original Music at the 7th British Academy Games Awards and Best Soundtrack Album at the 9th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards. In 2012, ''Legacy'', an album composed mostly of tracks written for ''Mass Effect 2'' but not used in the game, was released by Big Giant Circles.


Marketing and release

''Mass Effect 2'' was formally unveiled at the Game Developers Conference on March 17, 2009, and a teaser trailer declared Shepard "killed in action". The announcement confirmed that the game would be released for Windows and Xbox 360. In June 2009, the game was presented at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, where it was confirmed that Shepard would be alive and playable in ''Mass Effect 2'', but the character could die at the end of the game. Players could receive new in-game armours and weapons if the game were pre-ordered at certain retailers. Players could also redeem codes on specially marked Dr Pepper products for one of three pieces of headgear and registered copies of ''Dragon Age: Origins'' for a new armour set. In the months leading up to the game's release, BioWare released a final cinematic trailer and launched six class trailers narrated by Norman. Electronic Arts sold-in more than two million copies of the game to worldwide retailers for its first week of release. ''Mass Effect 2'' was initially released for Windows and Xbox 360 by Microsoft Game Studios in partnership with
Electronic Arts Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by former Apple Inc., Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry ...
on January 26, 2010, in North America and on January 29, 2010, in Europe. Microsoft published the Xbox 360 version, as well the Windows physical version. Alongside the standard edition, digital deluxe and collector's editions were available. The collector's edition featured a different packaging, an artbook, bonus in-game content, a behind-the-scenes DVD, and one issue from the ''Mass Effect: Redemption'' comic series. Although ''Mass Effect 2'' was released at the end of the month, it became the second best-selling game of January 2010 with 572,100 units sold, behind Nintendo's ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''. Shortly after ''Mass Effect 2'' was released, the game's font size and colouring were criticized for being too difficult to read on some standard-definition televisions. Because BioWare considered it a design choice, the company could not resolve it but stated that they would consider it for future games. In February 2010, BioWare released a Patch (computing), patch that addressed minor issues such as Crash (computing), crashes and long load times on single-core computers. A second patch, which reduced the mining time required to acquire upgrades and fixed other minor issues, was released in June 2010. At Gamescom 2010, BioWare announced that a PlayStation 3 version of the game was in development. Microsoft responded to the announcement that, despite losing the game's exclusivity, the Xbox 360 was still the most appropriate console to play the game due to the game's compatibility with the original ''Mass Effect'', which was only available for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 at the time. The PlayStation 3 version was released on January 18, 2011, in North America and on January 21, 2011, in Europe. After some PlayStation 3 players reported that their save files can become corrupted if the game crashes unexpectedly, BioWare released a patch designed to combat save bugs and crashes experienced. The PlayStation Network version accounted for more than 10% of the game's overall sales on PlayStation 3. As of April 2011, it was reported that the original ''Mass Effect'' and ''Mass Effect 2'' combined had sold more than seven million units worldwide, 77% coming from Xbox 360. New game purchases are provided with a one-time use card granting an access code that unlocks the game's Cerberus Network, an online
downloadable content content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can be added for no extra cost or as a form of video game monetization, enabling the publisher to gain ad ...
and news service that enables bonus content for the game. However, users who bought a used copy would have to pay for the Cerberus Network separately if they wanted access to the new content. This policy allows publishers to combat the used-game market; companies like GameStop have allowed customers to sell used games back to the retailer so that the company can resell them at a slight discount to other customers, but the publisher does not make a profit. BioWare online development director Fernando Melo revealed that 11% of all ''Mass Effect 2''s downloadable content revenue came from the Cerberus Network. The policy attracted criticism from some of the fan community, who have criticized downloadable content as being overpriced and an incentive for developers to leave items out of the initial release. In 2012, a compilation featuring the three main games of the series, ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. In 2016, ''Mass Effect 2'' was added to the List of Xbox 360 games compatible with Xbox One, list of backward-compatible Xbox 360 games on Xbox One. In 2021, ''Mass Effect 2'' was
remaster A remaster is a change in the sound or image quality of previously created forms of media, whether Mastering (audio), audiophonic, Cinematography, cinematic, or Videography, videographic. The resulting product is said to be remastered. The term ...
ed as part of the ''
Mass Effect Legendary Edition ''Mass Effect Legendary Edition'' is a compilation of the video games in the ''Mass Effect'' trilogy: ''Mass Effect'' (2007), '' Mass Effect 2'' (2010), and ''Mass Effect 3'' (2012). Developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, the co ...
''.


Downloadable content

''Mass Effect 2'' supports additional in-game content in the form of downloadable content packs released from January 2010 to May 2011. These packs range from character outfits to entirely new plot-related missions. Major releases include '' Lair of the Shadow Broker'' and '' Arrival'', which are vital to the series' plot. In ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'', Shepard helps former squad member Liara T'Soni to find an information dealer known as the Shadow Broker. In ''Arrival'', Shepard investigates evidence of a Reaper invasion, leading to events that bridge to ''Mass Effect 3''. Other plot-related downloadable content packs include the loyalty missions ''Zaeed – The Price of Revenge'' and '' Kasumi – Stolen Memory'', and ''
Overlord An overlord in the English feudal system was a lord of a manor who had subinfeudated a particular manor, estate or fee, to a tenant. The tenant thenceforth owed to the overlord one of a variety of services, usually military service or ...
'', which adds five new missions to the game. Unlike the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows versions, the PlayStation 3 version includes the ''Kasumi – Stolen Memory'', ''Overlord'', and ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' packs. Because the first ''Mass Effect'' game was originally not released on PlayStation 3, BioWare released ''Genesis'', a downloadable content pack that allows the player to impact the story of the game with major plot decisions of the first game. These decisions are made through a digital interactive comic appearing at the game's beginning. ''Genesis'' was released on May 17, 2011, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 users. Some of the game's downloadable content packs were well-received by critics and nominated for Best DLC (downloadable content) at the Spike Video Game Awards.


Reception


Critical response

Upon release, ''Mass Effect 2'' received critical acclaim from video game publications. Substantial praise was given to the game's diverse characters, interactive storytelling, voice acting and art design. ''IGN'' reviewer Erik Brudvig called ''Mass Effect 2'' a personal game with much emotion. He praised the option of importing a character, stating that the overall experience changes as different saved games from the previous game are used. Tom Bramwell of ''Eurogamer'' positively highlighted the weight of social interaction on the outcome of events and that players feel actual pressure for their decisions. Further praise was given to the game's characters. ''Edge (magazine), Edge'' credited them for their complex personalities and great characterization, while ''GameRevolution'' pointed out that the loyalty missions "reach deep enough into their characters to make you empathize with all of them". The game's visuals and atmosphere received similar praise. ''GameSpot'' reviewer Kevin VanOrd remarked that ''Mass Effect 2'' is more detailed and darker than its predecessor. He wrote that "deep reds and glowing indigos saturate certain scenes, making them richer and more sinister; eerie fog limits your vision in one side mission, while rain pours down upon you in another. Subtle, moody lighting gives certain interactions great impact." Reviewer Adriaan den Ouden of ''RPGamer'' credited the conversations and cutscenes for featuring better cinematography than the first game, stating that "it's hard to imagine them becoming much better in ''Mass Effect 3''". Critics also gave high marks to the game's extensive Voice acting, cast of voices; in particular, Martin Sheen's performance of the Illusive Man, which was singled out for "steal[ing] the show". Andrew Reiner, writing for ''Game Informer'', opined that the music "flows beautifully" in both the story and action sequences. The game's presentation and direction were considered "miles ahead of the competition". Numerous publications declared that the gameplay was an improvement over the original. John Davison of ''GamePro'' wrote, "BioWare has done a spectacular job moving the role playing genre forward, and blending disparate gameplay styles into genuinely exciting sci-fi epic." VanOrd praised ''Mass Effect 2'' for possessing an identity, which was something that its predecessor lacked. He noted that the shooting is "more immediate and satisfying, which keeps the pace moving and intensifies the violence of each encounter". Similarly, ''GameSpy''s Gerald Villoria observed that the original ''Mass Effect'' "walked the line between RPG and shooter [...] ''Mass Effect 2'' has become a much more focused shooter experience". Jeremy Parish of ''1UP.com'' credited the combat for being more balanced, stating that the game encourages players to use different weapon classes and squad abilities when the situation requires it. Some publications, however, expressed concerns about the game's simplified RPG elements, calling it "stripped-down" and with a "dumbed-down feeling". The game's slow planet scanning was also criticized. ''GameRevolution'' felt it was a "chore, mandatory if you want upgrades and boring because there is no tension or challenge", but ultimately concluded that the game as a whole "does more than enough to live up to its predecessor". The reception for the PlayStation 3 version was similar. Colin Moriarty of ''IGN'' described it as "the best, most complete version of the game available" due to the upgraded game engine and the extra downloadable content packs. In contrast, VanOrd criticized the inclusion of the character Kasumi Goto from the ''Kasumi – Stolen Memory'' pack, stating that "she never fits in with her more fully developed cohorts." He also remarked that the PlayStation 3 version suffers from technical issues such as frame rate inconsistencies, graphical glitches, and other minor bugs, mostly present in the downloadable content sections of the game. ''Game Informer'' reviewer Joe Juba reacted negatively to the lack of save importation from the original ''Mass Effect'', which was initially not released on PlayStation 3, and pointed out that the decisions made in the ''Genesis'' comic "have practically no context". Despite the criticism, he stated that the game is equally as good on PlayStation 3 as on Xbox 360.


Accolades

''Mass Effect 2'' received numerous List of Game of the Year awards, Game of the Year awards for its writing, characters, and soundtrack. At the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards, the game won the Best Xbox 360 Game and Best RPG awards. BioWare was also recognized for its work on the game and was awarded Studio of the Year. At the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded ''Mass Effect 2'' with Game of the Year, D.I.C.E. Award for Role-Playing Game of the Year, Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year, and D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Story, Outstanding Achievement in Story. Other notable awards that the game received include Best Game at the 7th British Academy Games Awards, Best Writing at the 2011 Game Developers Choice Awards, and two Golden Joystick Awards: Best RPG of the Year and Ultimate Game of the Year. At the 2011 Canadian Videogame Awards, ''Mass Effect 2'' was awarded Game of the Year, Best Console Game, Best Game Design, and Best Writing.


Legacy

''Mass Effect 2'' continued to receive attention years after its release. ''GamesRadar'' editor Hollander Cooper explained that the game improved the technical issues of its predecessor significantly while at the same time "expanding the already-impressive Universe of Mass Effect, universe without sacrificing what made the series special." He went so far as to call the game ''The Empire Strikes Back'' of video games, stating that "few sequels have trumped the original as handily as ''Mass Effect 2''." The game's focus on characters and their deeper stresses and internal conflicts was highly praised. The way the game lets non-player characters carry the weight of the narrative progression has also attracted scholarly interest. ''Eurogamer'' editor Rick Lane described ''Mass Effect 2'' as a darker, warmer, and overall more human game than its predecessor, noting that it is the player's responsibility to make sure these characters are prepared for the final mission, or they will die. He explained that ''Mass Effect 2'' is a long quest that "works towards an epic climax", and when it arrives there, "it doesn't disappoint." A decade after the game was released, ''Eurogamer'' considered the game's finale "some of BioWare's best ever work" due to its choice complexity. ''Mass Effect 2'' has been cited as one of the List of video games considered the best, greatest video games of all time by multiple publications, including ''Slant Magazine'' in 2014, ''IGN'' in 2015, ''Polygon (website), Polygon'' in 2017, ''Game Informer'' in 2018, and ''GQ'' in 2023. In 2011, the game was selected as one of 80 titles from the past 40 years to be placed in the Art of Video Games exhibit in the Smithsonian American Art Museum. According to the museum, the exhibit explored "the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies."


Sequel

The game's sequel, ''Mass Effect 3'', was released in 2012. The sequel begins on Earth with Commander Shepard having been detained following the events in the ''Arrival'' downloadable content pack. The story of the game is influenced by decisions the player made in the original ''Mass Effect'' and ''Mass Effect 2''. However, if Shepard dies at the end of ''Mass Effect 2'', the character cannot be imported into ''Mass Effect 3''. BioWare stated that ''Mass Effect 3'' ends Shepard's story arc and that future games in the series would feature a different context. Unlike its predecessors, ''Mass Effect 3'' features a multiplayer video game, multiplayer Cooperative video game, cooperative mode in addition to the single-player campaign. Although the game received critical acclaim from video game publications, its ending was poorly received by fans and drew Controversies surrounding Mass Effect 3, significant controversy.


Notes


References


External links

* {{Authority control 2010 video games Action role-playing video games BioWare games British Academy Games Award for Best Game winners Microsoft games Electronic Arts games Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year winners LGBTQ-related video games Mass Effect video games PlayStation 3 games Role-playing video games Science fiction video games Single-player video games Space opera Space opera video games Video games about terrorism Unreal Engine 3 games Video game sequels Video games scored by Jack Wall Video games developed in Canada Video games with gender-selectable protagonists Video games set in the 22nd century Video games set in outer space Video games set on fictional planets Windows games Xbox 360 games Video games with multiple endings