2010 is geared up to be a fantastic year for gamers everywhere and it could not have gotten off to a better start than with January's release of Bioware’s highly anticipated Mass Effect 2. The only question is can it possibly live up to its predecessor? Well, in my opinion you should say goodbye to your other half, call in the babysitter and turn off your phone as the next thirty to forty hours of your life are all that matter!

It’s been two years since Commander Shepard drove away the Reapers and saved the Citadel from almost certain annihilation. Well guess who’s back and this time it’s personal. Shepard is on a mission to save the galaxy from uncertain peril. A mission that has been dubbed as suicidal. However, like every great hero, Shepard has a plan.

The main plot to the game involves recruiting some of the finest characters the galaxy has to offer. These guys are what make Mass Effect 2 the huge success it has become. Each character has their own compelling story to tell.  As you play through each person’s side mission, the characters really start to come to life. Shepard’s varied team are the most diverse and believable crew I have come to play with in a video game to date. BioWare really have outdone themselves by making these guys equally likeable and despicable.

Another interesting take on the original game is the larger amount of dialogue options available by using the innovative conversation wheel. Long gone are the slow moving conversations. No more needlessly long lists of conversation options. Shepard’s paragon or renegade personality has also become more believable this time round. Occasionally you will be able to act out these feelings during cut-scenes with your opposing character. Instead of screaming at the TV “punch the idiot”, you can act out these moments of frustration by a quick flick of the right trigger. It has to be mentioned that the new dialogue doesn’t bore you with needless information, unless you choose to ask about it. The cut-scenes are as engaging as ever, with many “Oh my God!” moments in store.

My absolute favourite feature of Mass Effect 2 has to be how personal BioWare has made the whole experience for the player. If you have a save game from Mass Effect 1, you can import your character and decisions for an even more personalised feeling to the game. Many people you helped, or didn’t as the case may be, reappear at various intervals as you progress though the game. However if you did not play the first, this will not have any drastic effects on the central plot. Just keep in mind that anything you do in this engaging sequel will have consequences for the next. Things you say and do have an effect on the people and the environment around you. Certain decisions can spur feelings of guilt like the decision to sacrifice a few innocent people to capture one man. This brings a whole new level of interaction to the gaming industry which I really hope to see more of in the future.

For those of you who found the original game terribly flawed, it appears as though most of the popular complaints have been rectified. Gone are the horribly long elevator rides. The complex inventory has been streamlined and has been replaced by lockers. No longer can you change weapons mid fight. The repetitive side-missions have been replaced with much more individual quests. BioWare have completely reshaped how the galaxy map works and makes discovering planets a little monotonous but addictive. The cramp inducing Mako has been removed entirely so there is no more being stuck in a crater for five minutes trying to scale across the planet to survey a platinum deposit. Hacking terminals and lockers now requires you to get a few brain cells together and work your way through it without the ever convenient omni-gel. The game is a much cleaner result, but it is not without its glitches which, thankfully, are few and far between.

From the moment you put the game in the disk tray, pick up the controller and hit ‘start game’ you will be captivated. It’s opening scenes are truly breathtaking and enthralling. This is pure ‘edge of your seat’ stuff. This game is by far one of the best I have played in years and is definitely a must-have for casual and hard-core gamers alike. I’d give Mass Effect 2 a well deserved 98%. Roll on Mass Effect 3!

**Review by Emma Furlong**