For such a dark adventure, BioWare's first Mass Effect provided a surprisingly optimistic viewpoint on universal unity. Sure, an occasional crinkled forehead or an extra filongidler might visually separate the denizens of the galaxy, but it's nice to know that in all the unrestrained hugeness of space, we all still come from completely identical, prefabricated installations. Well, we did until Mass Effect 2 decided to terraform its sidequest planets with some variety.
"Now when you find mission[s] out there in the uncharted worlds, there are always missions where something special happens, and you get really good handcrafted gameplay and art that you can't see elsewhere in the game," project director Casey Hudson told VideoGamer.com. "I think people will find them to be really rewarding, really rich, because there's something different around every corner."
Even the process of discovering planets has been made more interesting, Hudson explained, with space-faring explorers sending out probes and expending fuel to make new discoveries. It's nice to know the shooter RPG still allows you to go boldly -- and not just go badass.
Reader Comments (54)
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:03PM Marco le Polo said
Sounds like I'm going to have to buy this game x2.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:04PM ViciousBastard said
duh! this game just gets better and better...trust in Bioware
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:13PM vmenge said
That's what I'm maybe going to do with the first ME. I want the PC version, but I already have the console version, since I didn't know the PC version was coming out first. But here's my gripe: If I'm buying ME1 on PC it's because I'm buying ME2 on PC, but I'm afraid that some stupid fucking console exclusive DLC will come out and I'll have wasted my money (like RE5 and PoP which thankfully I didn't buy for PC) :T
Does BioWare have any standing on the availability of the DLCs?
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Does BioWare have any standing on the availability of the DLCs?
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:19PM (Unverified) said
Well, Dragon Age's DLC was avaliable on all platforms, and there's no real reason for EA not to release it on the PC. The first Mass Effect had BDtS. (and you're not missing much with Pinnacle Station, trust me). I would guess it would be on PC as well.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:24PM (Unverified) said
Bring Down The Sky, the first DLC pack. It was free for the PC, wasn't it?
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 5:54PM (Unverified) said
Wasted your money because you might not be able to spend more of your money? Are you retarded? That's like saying you hope your hamburger comes with the option to super size your fries, or you won't even buy the burger. You know what? You're not allowed to buy ME2.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 8:24PM vmenge said
@Avatar
Okay, so because you THINK I'm not allowed to waste my money in ways I want to that makes me retarted? Maybe I want to play it on PC because I prefer playing on PC? Maybe I have some spare fucking money and want to make sure I'm chosing the option I consider best for myself?
I'd be wasting my money because I wouldn't be able to get an experience I would otherwise be able to get on consoles, and I'd like to buy the version that I can have the game with all the extra layer on top you half-witted cockface.
It's assholes like you that make the internet a shitty place to be. When the fuck did I offend you?
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Okay, so because you THINK I'm not allowed to waste my money in ways I want to that makes me retarted? Maybe I want to play it on PC because I prefer playing on PC? Maybe I have some spare fucking money and want to make sure I'm chosing the option I consider best for myself?
I'd be wasting my money because I wouldn't be able to get an experience I would otherwise be able to get on consoles, and I'd like to buy the version that I can have the game with all the extra layer on top you half-witted cockface.
It's assholes like you that make the internet a shitty place to be. When the fuck did I offend you?
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:57PM (Unverified) said
Yo drake im really happy for you and ima let you finish, but Deus Ex is the best videogame of all time. OF ALL TIME.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:04PM (Unverified) said
I'll believe it when I see it, or see a preview of it. If there's anything I learned from Mass Effect 1, as great as it was, is not believe Bioware's bullshit PR hype. Visit 100+ planets? Yeah ok, Bioware....
I do hope they made space exploration better. I had more fun exploring space in the latest Ratchet and Clank game than I did in ME1.
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I do hope they made space exploration better. I had more fun exploring space in the latest Ratchet and Clank game than I did in ME1.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:11PM (Unverified) said
True, I'm trying not to get caught up in the hype of this game. Kind of hard with all these videos.
Good thing is they seem to be going the Assassins Creed 2 route: fix every problem not matter how big or small from the first game to make it ever more awesome.
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Good thing is they seem to be going the Assassins Creed 2 route: fix every problem not matter how big or small from the first game to make it ever more awesome.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:11PM Funkmaster General said
Exploring planets got boring quickly, so I stopped doing it. It's all optional, and I didn't feel any pressure do go on with it. I thoroughly loved the first game, and I forgave the planet exploration because it was optional.
Now, if you're talking about an achievement that required you to explore 100+ planets, then so what? If you didn't feel compelled to do it, then forget it. What goes into judging a game should not be the quality of achievements.
By the way, I am assuming that you were referring to such an achievement, so if you weren't...oops.
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Now, if you're talking about an achievement that required you to explore 100+ planets, then so what? If you didn't feel compelled to do it, then forget it. What goes into judging a game should not be the quality of achievements.
By the way, I am assuming that you were referring to such an achievement, so if you weren't...oops.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:13PM copa said
There's reason for optimism. We seem to be in the Season of the Sequel. Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed and Uncharted were all games that had loads of potential, but had significant flaws.
In the case of Assassin's Creed and Uncharted, the developers worked their asses off to put out sequels that fixed the fundamental problems in the games, and delivered on everything that the first iteration promised.
From all of the early previews, it looks like Bioware has accomplished the same thing with Mass Effect 2.
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In the case of Assassin's Creed and Uncharted, the developers worked their asses off to put out sequels that fixed the fundamental problems in the games, and delivered on everything that the first iteration promised.
From all of the early previews, it looks like Bioware has accomplished the same thing with Mass Effect 2.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:14PM (Unverified) said
No, I'm referring to their PR leading up to the first game. They claimed you could visit 100+ planets but in reality it was only around 30ish, and then of course you run into the other complaint everyone had which was every planet looked the same, every sidequest played the same etc etc.
There were probably over 100 planets technically, but most of them did nothing or at best you could highlight them and scan them for materials.
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There were probably over 100 planets technically, but most of them did nothing or at best you could highlight them and scan them for materials.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2009 2:19AM (Unverified) said
Half the things they wanted to do in ME they didn't end up doing, the game still rocked. Get over it. Goes to show that Bioware can live up to half of what they promised and it's still better than 99% of their competition.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:05PM Jawmuncher said
So doing the side missions on planets won't suck anymore?
That sounds great, that was my biggest gripe about ME1.
If you played the game through with just the Main Missions it was a great game.
But if you went to go and play all the side missions it grew very boring quite fast since all the planet missions were nothing more than drive the mako here grab this or kill this. Return to ship.
Not to mention driving the mako so much got old real fast, it wasn't fun driving around the planets. Just busy work.
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That sounds great, that was my biggest gripe about ME1.
If you played the game through with just the Main Missions it was a great game.
But if you went to go and play all the side missions it grew very boring quite fast since all the planet missions were nothing more than drive the mako here grab this or kill this. Return to ship.
Not to mention driving the mako so much got old real fast, it wasn't fun driving around the planets. Just busy work.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 6:57PM Hivetyrant said
I completely agree, was fun the first..maybe 3 times, then it got old...
However While i am avoiding the hype, I figure as with all past Bioware games, they can only really improve the exploration part (I hope....)
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However While i am avoiding the hype, I figure as with all past Bioware games, they can only really improve the exploration part (I hope....)
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:07PM copa said
So we now have this freaking insane release schedule:
January 26th: Mass Effect 2
February: Heavy Rain
February: Splinter Cell: Conviction
March 9: Final Fantasy XIII
That would make for an awesome holiday schedule, but this is just a seven-week period IN THE FUCKING DEAD OF WINTER!
How the hell am I going to find time to play through Dragon's Age and Assassin's Creed 2 and Uncharted 2 before Winter Holiday starts?
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January 26th: Mass Effect 2
February: Heavy Rain
February: Splinter Cell: Conviction
March 9: Final Fantasy XIII
That would make for an awesome holiday schedule, but this is just a seven-week period IN THE FUCKING DEAD OF WINTER!
How the hell am I going to find time to play through Dragon's Age and Assassin's Creed 2 and Uncharted 2 before Winter Holiday starts?
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:12PM (Unverified) said
Don't forget God of War III and (maybe) GT5 in that timeframe.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:12PM Funkmaster General said
Mmm, you're going to have to fit Bioshock 2 in there.
At least for me.
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At least for me.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:15PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said
Yeah and thats also leaving out some of the other heavy hitters like Gran Turismo 5 (March), Gof Of War 3 (April) and Battlefield Bad Company 2 (March) ... lets just forget that Bioshock 2, MAG, Modnation Racers and Dantes Inferno even exist because my head just might explode.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2009 9:41AM WiNGSPANTT from TopTierTacticsco said
Super Street Fighter 4 as well.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:07PM (Unverified) said
Well, the one good thing about the identical prefab structures in the first was that you always knew where to go. But I'm glad they're mixing things up.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:13PM Padilla7921 said
Amazing. Gonna replay ME1 to get myself EVEN MORE excited for ME2.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:17PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said
There are two games that make me wish I still had a 360 or that the games were on the PS3 ... Gears Of War & Mass Effect.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 5:06PM Cheesus Crust said
This is why you should own all 3 gaming systems.
A Self-built Gaming PC
A PS3
A 360.
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A Self-built Gaming PC
A PS3
A 360.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:19PM kenny goo said
I love how I'm completely ignoring everything and anything Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2, and Heavy Rain because it's pretty much set in stone that I'll be getting all of them. I don't need to be sold on either, and I want them to be as fresh and new as possible since I'm getting all three.
This roots back to when they announced Shepard can die or something, and I was just like WHAT THE FUCK WHY WOULD YOU RUIN THAT FOR ME! Man I was pissed...
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This roots back to when they announced Shepard can die or something, and I was just like WHAT THE FUCK WHY WOULD YOU RUIN THAT FOR ME! Man I was pissed...
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 6:06PM TheDarkWayne said
they're making a new vehicle that they havent announced but is supposed to be much better and different
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:26PM CynicalStrike said
I'm deliberately trying to not give a shit about this game; it's a great tactic for avoiding that feeling of being stung by disappointment due to the level of hype (see Fable II etc.). Then again, it also gives you that "holy crap, this game is incredible" feeling if the devs actually pull it off, ala Assassin's Creed II.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:27PM Uncle Jesse said
This is how you get people excited and continue to be even more excited as the release date creeps closer. They have been rolling out new info at the right times with the right information and this game is just looking better and better. Good job with the hyping/teasing/making-everyone-crazy, Bioware. That's how you do it.
This looks so amazingly, epic...
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This looks so amazingly, epic...
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 4:53PM Chief Oddball said
Given that I actually enjoyed the (admittedly repetitive) planet exploration in ME1, am really excited to these improvements. Having to perform rudimentary resource management (finite fuel reserves), send out probes and experience handcrafted missions sounds more interesting than the old point, scan, land.
Unfortunately, there may be fewer planets to actually land on. But this is a matter of quality over quantity, and I'll happily take quality.
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Unfortunately, there may be fewer planets to actually land on. But this is a matter of quality over quantity, and I'll happily take quality.
Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 5:00PM arnavdesai said
God finally, I felt poking my eyeballs out for the dullness & repetitive nature of the side quests. Every fraking building from normal planets to frozen wastelands were the damned similar. At most they would change the location of the doors from left to right in the buildings.I hated the side missions in ME & only had to do them because of the achievements.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 6:16PM heyImWyatt said
Totally agree with that, side quests were dumb. Go to the planet pick up stuff blast that weird looking creature out in the middle of nowhere as you are driving to the generic looking building to kill the dumb baddies.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 6:17PM Red Son Rising said
its exciting to hear about all the changes being made to the Mass Effect formula for the sequel. im hoping everything they add solves most of the complaints i had about the game: now, about mass effect 2 dlc. make it happen. soon.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 6:34PM RadiantViper said
This game looks great (loved the first despite it's flaws). I'm a little apprehensive though, (still a little annoyed about the terrible Pinnacle Station DLC), but I'll probably get it anyways.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 8:37PM TheIcemanCometh said
I will have to agree with you on Pinnacle Station. Not only were there issues with the DLC that took WEEKS to get resolved, but you also had crappy DLC that you had to wait for on top of all that AFTER you'd already paid for it. I'll wait for DLC in ME2 until I get some kind of "review" for sure.
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Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 8:18PM LuTon James said
I've only just got a 360 so I need to play the first before this obviously. I'm not much of an rpg nut be people seem to love this one so I really should give it a go. Too many games at the moment!
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