Mass Effect 2 takes the bleak vacuum of space and flushes it with
color–the light of stars and galaxies, the red and violet swirls of
far-off nebulas, and the glimpses of comets as they burn through the
void. You’ll catch your first glimpse of this in the game’s intense and
much-improved art design, but that dance of light and shadows is also an
apt metaphor for bleak undercurrents in the story, as well as the moral
quandaries and past indiscretions that haunt the main characters. More
so than its predecessor, Mass Effect 2 possesses an identity, and most
of the obvious changes and improvements over the original are beholden
to the shift in tone. The shooting is more immediate and satisfying,
which keeps the pace moving and intensifies the violence of each
encounter. Rich characterizations invite you to look more closely at
each crew member’s personal stake in the sprawling galactic backdrop.
Even the relatively predictable space opera that is the main plot has
sinister moments, and you sense the characters struggling with that
heavy burden. Mass Effect 2 is incredibly enjoyable, but it’s more than
just fun: It’s a stellar package with a fierce spirit that makes it
engrossing and unforgettable.
Mass Effect 2 begins with dire events that foreshadow the game’s
darker tone–an attack that leaves the SSV Normandy in pieces and the
fate of series protagonist Shepard temporarily unclear. Never fear:
Shepard returns thanks to the efforts of the controversial pro-human
organization called Cerberus and under the watchful eye of its
chain-smoking overseer, The Illusive Man. Entire human colonies are
disappearing without a trace, and Cerberus needs you–as Shepard–to
investigate and confront the vicious forces behind the mystery. Whether
you make your contempt for Cerberus’ questionable methods clear or
espouse the organization’s manipulations, you owe The Illusive Man your
life. Like it or loathe it, he casts his shadow on every action you
take.
