One of the best sci-fi epics that has been released on Xbox 360 and PC, with over 70 perfect reviews and now, 2010’s Game of The Year has arrive on Sony’s PlayStation 3. This has been a debate by gamers and fanboys alike whether or not Bioware’s Space Ballet will go on to a machine that is not Microsoft owned.
By now everyone knows the story. You play as Commander Sheppard, the hero who saved the Citadel for being destroyed by the Reapers. While on a routing scout mission, an unknown space craft opens fire on the Normandy. After helping the crew to escape, Sheppard is blasted out from the now destroyed SSV Normandy. Floating into space, Sheppard dies from suffocation and burns up from entering a planet’s atmosphere. All hope seemed lost, but after 2 years an organisation known as Cerberus recovers the remains of Sheppard and rebuilt them thanks to the Lazarus Project. With Sheppard alive and well again, Cerberus want something in return, help save the human race.
ME2 two main elements are choice and consequence, every decision you make will cause a Good or Bad effect on to the Story. Throughout the game you’re trying to gain the respect of squad, this isn’t easy done, if you earn one persons respect but choose the wrong dialog during a critical decision, they’ll despise you and you’ll lose their respect. Respect is also a key feature for the last mission. If some of your squad don’t have respect, chances are they might die, which might cause your Sheppard to die also. This means that when you import you ME2 saves into ME3, the games storyline will change whether or not Sheppard lives or dies in ME2.
PS3 owners rejoiced in the arrival of the Mass Effect Franchise, but were disappointed by the fact that they will never get the first game, due to the fact that Microsoft published the first one. This eliminated part of the experience that made Mass Effect what it is. But Bioware found a solution to this. Working with Dark Horse Comic, they released a Digital Comic titled “Mass Effect: Genesis”. This comic, available after downloading the Cerberus Network, let the PS3 owners of ME2 to keep up to date on the Mass Effect Storyline. Also allow them to choose different storyline options that will go on through Mass Effect 2. The Comic will come into play between the destruction of the Normandy and the start of the Lazarus Project. It’s not ME1, but it’s the closes thing to it that the PS3 owners will ever have.
Comparing both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, the PS3 version is more like a Glossed up budget game. I say this, because all the DLC that 360 owners had to pay to get them are now free for PS3 owners who bought the game. All bonus missions, including Kasumi: Stolen Memories, Overlord and Lair of the Shadow Broker are included on one Blu-Ray Disc, except for Zaeed: The Price of Revenge, which is available after downloading the Cerberus Network.
This is a Perfect entry on PS3 for Mass Effect. Stunning planet landscapes, an epic soundtrack that equals to a sci-fi blockbuster and loads of hidden Easter Eggs to find. This is truly the Hardcore Gamers answer to Star Trek. Now that PS3 owners have, what people have called an Epic Sci-Fi Experience, they can now prepare themselves for final fight on November 2011.
--GRAPHICS--
The PS3 ME is to be Superior to the 360 version, with the help of the new Graphics Engine that will be used in the upcoming ME3. But I see no signs of change, just that the lighting effects are more dynamic. Some Cut-Scenes however are running slower than 30fps, which causes Scenes to be out of sync with the sound that will annoy the PS3 owners. This could be patched.
--SOUND--
All the actors are back playing their Mass Effect counter parts. Although sometime some voices disappear, making the characters just mouth out the words. Again, this will be patched.
The Soundtrack by Jack Wall, is unbelievably epic. Truly make this game an Blockbuster of it's own.
--GAMEPLAY--
The solid factor of Mass Effect 2 is the Controls, and they have been perfectly use in this game. Despite the fact for the Aim and Fire controls, the PS3 version use the L1/R1 buttons rather than the Left/ Right Triggers on the 360. The control scheme still works
--FUN FACTOR--
The solid factor of Mass Effect 2 is the Controls, and they have been perfectly use in this game. Despite the fact for the Aim and Fire controls, the PS3 version use the L1/R1 buttons rather than the Left/ Right Triggers on the 360. The control scheme still works
RPGs are often huge, sprawling endeavours. With limited playtime, we have to choose wisely, so here's the best western RPGs available today.
"I started playing games yesterday" the List... Meh!
How about a few RPGs that deserve some love instead?
1 - Alpha Protocol - Now on GOG
2 - else Heart.Break()
3 - Shadowrun Trilogy
4 - Wasteland 2
5 - UnderRail
6 - Tyranny
7 - Torment: Tides of Numenera
And for a bonus game that flew under the radar:
8 - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Not only glorious jank, but the idea that the story can completely change depending on what you do, or say, or side with, makes it one of the most forward thinking games ever. The amount of story permutation is the equivalent of a Hitman level but in Story Form. And it wasn't just that the story changed, no, it was that you met completely new characters, or missed them, depending on your choices. Made Mass Effect feel static in comparison.
Alpha Protocol was absolutely glorious, indeed. And it was, and still is, more Next Gen than most anything out there these days. In this regard at least.
Pity.
Wealth of Geeks explores some of the best gaming romances that have stolen our hearts over the years.
Diandra worked on Diablo 4 and also other games at Blizzard including WoW: Dragon Flight. She’s also been at Bioware, Carbine, RIOT, and she is currently working at Crystal Dynamics.
Brian was the Lead Writer on Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls, worked on StarCraft: Heart of the Swarm, StarCraft: Wings of Liberty, and was also a writer on Mass Effect 2. He’s also been involved in movies such as the Iron Giant.
Diandra and Brian discuss their industry experience, the games they have worked on, how the writing process works, and much more.
I'm only partway through the game and I'm not seeing it as a 10/10 game. It matches up very clearly with the 360 version with some slight lighting improvements.
There are still audio-synching issues in some cut scenes. Still graphical issues with some cut scenes. Mining still suck (they couldn't take any time to improve this?). And even though I went with Liara on my female Shephard for love interest in the first game, it still shows Ashley's photo in my quarters. Lots of these small things stand out to me because I've played it so many times before and know them very well.
So far, the game is pretty much just a port. A good port, but just a port. And, yeah, it comes with free DLC, but I paid $60 for that instead of the $40 I could get it for now on the 360. I wouldn't rate it higher for giving us the DLC for free since it's still more expensive than getting it on another platform (PC or 360).
I was also very disappointed with the quality of the comic graphics. That looked very amateurish and low-quality on my 52" 1080p Bravia.
I'll do a review when I've played through it completely, but I'm seeing it being about a. 8.5 to 9 out of 10 game since it didn't solve any of the issues that I experienced on the PC/360 versions.
I still thing the 360 version is cheaper. But for PS3 only owners, this will do.
I'm sorry. ME2 is a great game but even by your review it is not possible to give it a 10/10 review. How??? You din't even give the fun factor a 10/10.
Need to look at yourself and ask why you chose to up the overall experience to a perfect when each sub category you rated it as never achieving a perfect rating. Why?