Mass Effect 2

The definitive edition!

Posted 2 years ago By kingquagmire - David Collins

Mass Effect. BioWare’s behemoth sci-fi RPG franchise has garnered more critical and commercial praise than any other franchise in the genre this console generation. An Xbox 360 exclusive, the Mass Effect franchise was one of the console’s exclusive heavy-hitters, sitting proudly next to the likes of Master Chief and Marcus Fenix. However, BioWare is not a Microsoft first-party developer. And as such, after more than three years since the first title hit store shelves, Commander John (or Jane) Shepard’s saga is finally hitting the Playstation 3.

Here’s my disclaimer: I’m not going to rehash the Mass Effect 2 review we did last year for the Xbox 360 release. If you want or need a deeper understanding of why this game is so highly praised, I invite you to go take a look at it. My purpose here will be to simply look at what has been added or changed as the franchise jumped platforms.

While Mass Effect 1 will forever remain exclusive to the 360, Mass Effect 2 comes to the PS3 prepared to bring everyone up to speed. Note: If you don’t want to know the opening sequences of the game, skip ahead to the next paragraph. Still with me? Ok, good. Anyway, the game begins the same way its Xbox counterpart does, with the Normandy being attacked and blown to bits. Most of the crew survived with one notable exception: Commander Shepard. For this version, as Shepard is being reconstructed, a nifty interactive comic sequence becomes available. This comic re-tells the story from Mass Effect 1 and allows the player to make all the same crucial decisions that impact how the story played out. Sony fans may not have the luxury of adventuring through the first game, but they are at least able to start out the sequel as if they did.

I have to commend both Dark Horse and BioWare. They could have easily tossed in a haphazard set of cut-scenes and been done with it. Worse yet, they could have not done anything at all and just let PS3 players start out with the default choices. Instead, the comic not only was very well put together and well scripted, but having the ability to make the crucial choices maintained the “role-play” side of RPG; something that many games in that genre seem to be losing sight of these days.

The history lesson isn’t the only new feature. Built on the same engine BioWare is using for Mass Effect 3, the visuals are improved over last year’s Xbox 360 release. The differences won’t blow you out of your socks though. They are subtle at best and probably won’t be noticed unless you are looking at them side-by-side (which we did do for the purpose of this article).

Additionally, Mass Effect 2 arrives on the PS3 with all the additional story-based downloadable content included free of charge. Kasumi’s Stolen Memory, Overload, Lair of the Shadow Broker, plus all the other free goodies 360 players received like the Zaeed and Normandy packs all add in hours more content to this already-packed game.

Conclusion

If you’ve never experienced the richness within the Mass Effect universe, regardless of which platform you prefer, Mass Effect 2 PS3 is the definitive choice. From the enhanced engine to the loads of additional content, there really is no better package on the market. With Mass Effect 3 arriving before year’s end, there’s no better time to get acquainted (or re-acquainted) with Commander Shepard and the rest of the Normandy’s crew. Bravo BioWare. You’ve taken 2010’s almost-perfect Game of the Year and still managed to improve upon it.