First impressions: Mass Effect 2 just as fantastic as original game

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      So far, I haven’t found during my first play-through any reason to beef about BioWare’s follow-up to its great first Mass Effect title. Mass Effect 2 offers some of the best animations and scenes I’ve seen on the Xbox 360, and the changes to the combat in this game are mind-altering.

      Mass Effect 2 starts off with a dramatic cut scene, and then asks you to choose between using your old character from Mass Effect (you can re-detail all of your character’s physical attributes) and creating a new one.

      Combat in Mass Effect 2 feels a lot heavier (think Gears of War) and the gunplay is fun. I don’t like the introduction of cooling packs (substitution for ammo), the reason being that I cannot constantly use my favourite gun like I could in the first installment. I’ve found myself running out of cooling packs and having to use a weapon I’m not severely fond of until I find more “ammo”.

      Just like in game number one, the characters worth interacting with are vibrant and elusive. But there are a lot more random non-player characters that just stand around and get paid to pick their nose (in space). For some reason, the inventory menus, and armour and weapons configuration have been altered. Equipment has been severely simplified. You can, however, change all of the colours on your armour.

      As much as BioWare has added to the feel of Mass Effect as a franchise with its second title, I believe that the game’s strongest suit is that it stays on par with the original. It adds great pieces—don’t get me wrong—but Mass Effect 2 is not leaps and bounds better. Still, it’s simply fantastic.

      Wyatt Fossett can be reached on Twitter at twitter.com/SheriffEarp.

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