Mass Effect 2: Bioware delivers space epic sequel and triumphs over original
Chuck Acheson
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Entertainment
Very rarely does a game come along that challenges our preconceived notions of morality and forces the player to look inward at who they are and who they think they are. "Mass Effect 2" takes on this challenge and soars with success.
Recently, a plethora of games attempted this same feat, letting the player decide to be a "good" or "evil" person, with varying degrees of success. The greatest flaw in the majority of these titles was that the decisions a player made had clear implications, that is to say, the difference between good and evil was clearly delineated. "Mass Effect 2" bucked this trend by successfully implementing a gray area of morality.
Is worth it to remain good even if costs an ally his life? Not all the decisions in the game are this earth shattering, but they all come back in the end.
For the first time playing a game of this nature, the player really does get the sense that every decision will have a consequence later in the game. This goes beyond whether or not the characters in the party will like the player. By not knowing the strengths and weaknesses of some characters, the player may consign them to their untimely death.
Another weakness from the first game that has been addressed was the communication wheel. The player has much more control over what Commander Shepard actually says and implies in the narrative.
Adding to the player's control of the narrative, Bioware added the interrupt system. During certain cut scenes, the player has the opportunity to interrupt conversations for either good or evil. This intuitive addition to the game adds new depth to the already astounding story.
Throughout the game the player is treated to a compelling narrative. From the opening sequence when Shepard is floating lifeless through space, until the final battle, the player is on a wild rollercoaster of intrigue and danger. The storytelling in "Mass Effect 2" is far beyond any of its competitors or predecessors. Rich and well-developed characters help pull the player into the story and form bonds with the player.
Recently, a plethora of games attempted this same feat, letting the player decide to be a "good" or "evil" person, with varying degrees of success. The greatest flaw in the majority of these titles was that the decisions a player made had clear implications, that is to say, the difference between good and evil was clearly delineated. "Mass Effect 2" bucked this trend by successfully implementing a gray area of morality.
Is worth it to remain good even if costs an ally his life? Not all the decisions in the game are this earth shattering, but they all come back in the end.
For the first time playing a game of this nature, the player really does get the sense that every decision will have a consequence later in the game. This goes beyond whether or not the characters in the party will like the player. By not knowing the strengths and weaknesses of some characters, the player may consign them to their untimely death.
Another weakness from the first game that has been addressed was the communication wheel. The player has much more control over what Commander Shepard actually says and implies in the narrative.
Adding to the player's control of the narrative, Bioware added the interrupt system. During certain cut scenes, the player has the opportunity to interrupt conversations for either good or evil. This intuitive addition to the game adds new depth to the already astounding story.
Throughout the game the player is treated to a compelling narrative. From the opening sequence when Shepard is floating lifeless through space, until the final battle, the player is on a wild rollercoaster of intrigue and danger. The storytelling in "Mass Effect 2" is far beyond any of its competitors or predecessors. Rich and well-developed characters help pull the player into the story and form bonds with the player.
The Oracle encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The Oracle also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Web Editor at wahousley21@tntech.edu.
Be the first to comment on this story