mr.kasey

Ugh. So much misunderstanding. First and foremost, there is armor customization although it -is- only for Sheperd. You can choose various helmets, chest pieces, arm pieces and leg pieces. You can also change the colors and switch between various patterns. Each piece looks different and they all enhance different stats. So you can customize your armor visually and switch to pieces that suit your playstyle/class build.

You find schematics for new pieces and CRAFT the pieces on board the Normandy. Same thing for weapons, there are multiple weapons of each type and many different types of upgrades for each weapon. Charm & Intimidation options are still in the game, except they show up based on whether or not you are more Paragon or Renegade, which is -streamlining- and not "dumbing down." Hacking/bypassing can be done by all characters of all classes.

I, personally, really like this STREAMLINING because in the first game I really wanted to hack and be stealthy; I was a Vanguard however because the sniping in the first game is uncontrollable and nonsense. I preferred Garrus and Liara over any combination including Tali (though I like her as a character) because to be quite honest hacking was pretty much useless in the first game. It's there if you want to do it, if you enjoy that kind of thing now you don't have to spend inflated talent points purchasing the ability to do so.

Every single talent point you get in this game actually -matters- and when you unlock a new move to use, or increase the level and augment the ability you actually FEEL more powerful for it. Every ability for every character, when it's maxed out, has TWO different possible "Evolutions" which are drastically different. So while you and I could both be playing the same class, with the same characters, chances are we'll still have different playstyles and different skills and drastically diffent solutions to encounters.

AND THERE ARE SIDEQUESTS, holy Heysoos. They're all interesting and thought out. A lot of them are funny, or let you pass by funny dialogue. Your party members talk during your progress in a mission and occasionally there are areas that are significant to them (individually)wherein you can spark up a little conversation. It's light, yes, but it helps keep the feeling of momentum when you're down on a planet or in a space station.

And most importantly, all the dialogue systems and "choice systems" are back and improved in this game.

In short: They didn't "dumb down" the game, they STREAM LINED the game. It's better mechanically, faster and more polished than the first one by an order of magnitude. Yeesh. People.

Does anyone actually think that you don't play as Shepherd? Really? Seriously?

How about less fucking Facebook and you work on getting VOICE CHAT.