Battlestar Galactica, eat your heart out.
Set two years after the events of its predecessor, Mass Effect 2 takes place in the year 2185 after the discovery of alien technology on Mars has led to the development of interstellar travel and alien contact.
The players take control of Commander Shepard, a human agent of the Galactic Citadel Council, putting together an elite team to combat a threat that is abducting entire human colonies – a threat that may be the key to complete galactic genocide. The mission has been classified by Shepard's employers as suicide and the players must dare to prove them wrong.
The storyline of Mass Effect 2 is everything that a sequel should strive for: darker, deeper, reinforcing the ground rules laid down by the original but all the while remaining open to newcomers. The plot is compelling from beginning to end but more memorable than the plot are the characters.
The team Shepard must recruit throughout the game has personalities akin to real people. They feel less like squad mates on a job and more like friends. This can be attributed to the loyalty system that gives every character a personal story arc, which can be resolved to ensure their dedication to the cause, as well as providing character development on a level unseen in a video game.
Mass Effect 2 is more than just an incredible story. In addition to the groundbreaking storytelling, the game is incredibly fun to play.
The character of Shepard can be either male or female and is completely customizable by the player. Mass Effect 2 is an action-role-playing game, with an emphasis on the action. Playing out as a third person shooter in combat, most of the cumbersome role-playing elements of the first game have been removed or revamped entirely.
Item management has been removed entirely, simplifying the system to a pre-mission equipment check, removing the tiresome inventory cleanouts of the original. The guns themselves have more weight to them as well, making every shot not only decrease life but slow the player down, forcing them to think on their feet.
Overall, Mass Effect 2 is not just good; it is excellent. It is a credit to its medium, an evolution in storytelling and an excitingly fun experience all in one package. Despite its January release, this may just be the game of the year. Some may believe that it is too early to make such a call, but I highly doubt I will play a game better than this one within the rest of the year. Nor will I play many better games in my lifetime.