Mass Effect 2 succeeds as both RPG, first-person shooter

Set in space, 200 years in the future, Mass Effect 2 features a highly multiethnic cast; out of a dozen unique recruitable characters, only a third are human.

As with most BioWare titles, Mass Effect 2's main attraction is the beautifully sculpted universe that the player is left to explore. Unlike most role-playing games, Mass Effect 2 does not require that you speak to every non-player character to ensure advancement of the plot. Exploring large portions of the game is entirely optional, but you certainly won't want to miss it when the opportunity presents itself, if only for the immersive storytelling that accompanies even the most menial of errands. Your squad members each have a backstory that you can explore by talking with them, and in doing so sometimes discover the chance to write the next chapter. Even characters that one might ordinarily consider mundane and faceless, like shopkeepers and bartenders, have their own story to tell. The voice acting, even when it comes to nameless NPCs, is top notch. The game's cut-scenes aren't visually disappointing either: the camera does an excellent job of focusing on the action rather than remaining fixed and stationary.

As a sequel, Mass Effect 2 rewards players who played the first game by allowing them to import their old save file, which affects some character stats, and the impacts of some events from the first game do carry over. Most of the cast of the first game return in one form or another (sometimes as non-player characters), and they are sometimes introduced abruptly, which may make things a bit confusing for those who didn't play the first game. However, apart from a few awkward introductions, new players shouldn't find themselves out of place in Mass Effect 2.

Mass Effect 2 is a hybrid of RPG and shooter, two genres that seem so distinctly different that placing them together seems almost a contradiction. However, BioWare has managed to combine the two in a tasteful manner that draws on more traditional definitions of "role-playing game." Final Fantasy, this game is not. Unlike most games that bear the RPG label, Mass Effect 2 does not give much attention to things like inventory management and experience points. In fact, equipment management is managed automatically by default, with a system that automatically equips the best armor and weapons as soon as they become available. Players can similarly allow the game to stat their squad members for them. Mass Effect's role-playing game system focuses on precisely that: playing a role within the game.

Players are given a massive amount of control over the protagonist's interactions, both story-related and otherwise. Through dialogue choices and quick-time events, players build a character based on the decisions that they make. Two scales, dubbed "paragon" and "renegade," affect your character's ability to influence others through charismatic persuasion or violent intimidation respectively. Unlike most RPGs, Mass Effect doesn't necessarily reward players for "playing nice;" both paragon and renegade paths have their perks. It's also worth noting that the game doesn't simply lay out a "good/evil" dichotomy. Regardless of the decisions the player makes, the end goal is still to stave off a threat to humanity, but the paragon is more compassionate and ethical while the renegade takes a more callous pragmatic approach.

The game's combat system forces the player to devote just as much focus to avoiding damage as dealing it. Ducking behind cover to avoid damage is a critical part of staying alive. Unlike most shooters, your ability to aim plays secondary to your ability to approach combat tactically to avoid getting your squad members killed. Mass Effect 2 isn't a mindless shooter-its combat system forces the player to focus on planning just as much as firing.

Although it's hard to fault Mass Effect 2's combat, it's hardly the focus: the game's highly immersive world is by far its greatest selling point. The game's sci-fi universe sucks you right in, and you won't want to leave until you've uncovered everything it has to offer.