brilliant in almost every way
1) The story is amazing. It is alot darker than the story of the first game, packing more of an emotional punch, for, depending on player action, the party may not survive the ending of the game. The true intentions of the Collectors is not revealed till the very end of the game, giving the plot an even greater sense of mystery and danger.
2) Actions have consequences: If you have beaten Mass Effect, you can import your save file into Mass Effect 2, meaning that your actions in the first game will have their consequences in the events or scenarios of the second game. this will create a unique experience for each player. In Mass Effect 2, your actions and your words will have a greater impact because it determines whether some or all of your party, including Shepard, live or die by the end of the game.
3) Graphics: To say that the game looks amazing is an understatement and a half. the character models look realistic and highly detailed. the worlds that you visit throughout your mission look just as amazing.
4) Action packed: The game packs more of a visceral punch in terms of the action. The game leans towards third person shooter, giving the action sequences more intensity. this is partially done through the fact that you have to reload through thermal clips, so paying attention to how much ammo you have becomes just as much as a priority.
5) No more tank sequences: The tank sequences were the primary weakness of the first Mass Effect game, and they are no more in the sequel.
6) Fuel: The Normandy also relies on fuel to travel across the distance spaces of the universe. This adds to the realism and it feels like you actually made some distance.
7) Voice Acting: Mass Effect 2 has some of the best voice acting I have ever heard in a game. It features the voice talents of Martin Sheen, Carrie-Anne Moss, Adam Baldwin, Seth Green and many others.
Of course, very few games are perfect and Mass Effect 2 has it's imperfections.
1) Probing: get your mind out of the gutter lol, to get the raw materials needed to upgrade, weapons, armor and the Normandy, you need to go across the galaxy essentially depriving the planet of all it's natural resources. This is a very slow, tedious and boring process. Even though there is an upgrade to speed up the process, it offers little to no help in the entertainment process.
Mass Effect 2 is an amazing game that I would easily recommend to anyone. Go pick up a copy if you haven't played it yet, you will not be disappointed