Bite-Size Review-- Mass Effect 2: "The Arrival"

With the Mass Effect trilogy's final chapter already on the horizon, BioWare has returned to last year's Game of the Year for one last mission in "The Arrival". While providing an interesting hook in the story that gives insight into the beginning of Mass Effect 3, one critical design error almost breaks the whole experience.

"The Arrival" starts off like the previous DLC, where someone contacts Commander Shepard on the Normandy, leading into a new mission for Shepard to deal with. In this case, the conditions of the mission require Shepard to go at it alone without the aide of his compatriots. While this decision to keep combat a solo affair enables a fun stealth segment, it later comes at the cost of almost ruining the fun and strategy of combat entirely. In all other Mass Effect 2 missions, the combination and balancing of you and your squads specialties and powers allowed for combat to be dynamic, fresh, and exhilirating. This new mission feels like a neutered version of the original game and it becomes frustrating as you cannot establish a flow to combat like you normally do. While there are a few cool settings for key fights, overall the removal of your squad makes the game much more monotonous.

Where "The Arrival" does succeed is its strong ending, which provides an epic encounter and a key lead up into the final chapter. Furthermore, there is a major decision that appears will have big consequences in ME3 as well.  However, with these two notable exceptions, the rest of the story leaves much to be desired. Dialogue sections are uncharacteristically sparse, that the ones that are present are fairly dry and uninteresting. An attempted "twist" comes off as way too obvious and even borderlines on the unbelievable.

At the end of the day, "The Arrival" is only recommendable to those who absolutely cannot wait for Mass Effect 3 and need to feed that thirst with more Mass Effect 2. Otherwise, it falls well short of the towering standards set by its predecessors.

($7 / 560 Microsoft Points)


OVERALL GRADE: C+

How Interactivity Opens New Storytelling Possibilities

I made this video for a class project, in which I had to analyze an aspect of new media. Obviously, I chose games, and equally unsurprisingly if you follow my true passion in the medium, I took a look at what the element of interaction means from a narrative perspective. While my original vision was actually grander in scope and content, time limitations forced me to cut a lot out of the video and summarize even more. Here's the description from my YouTube page and the embedded video itself.

"Advances in technology have been changing the we create and consume stories for over a hundred years. More recently, video games have achieved a level of detail that allows for entirely new ways to tell and experience stories. The medium's inherent interactive qualities have opened up new doors, and some skilled developers are already laying the foundation."

The Growing Dichotomy of Game Design

There is something happening in the industry of video games. It has been a fissure that has been growing steadily wider the past decade or so and will only continue to widen further in the future. The change it brings has ramifications for fundamental design, for the way games will be sold and marketed, and even for the way they are played. It boils down to the central philosophy driving the game's creation. And, in layman's terms, this dichotomy can be boiled down to two things: is the game focused on story or play mechanics?

The heights of realistic graphical and audio quality that today's consoles are capable of has enabled story and narrative to take a more central role in many of today's games. However, certain game genres--for example, puzzle, fighting, and racing games--are built entirely around the "fun" of their mechanics and any story is usually superfluous and unimportant (or even nonexistent). On the other side of the coin, you have games that are starting to rival Hollywood movies in story quality, production value, and creative talent like Mass Effect, Heavy Rain, and Uncharted. While these games take varying lengths of steps toward being "more movie-like", they all retain the common denominator that the medium's intrinsic interactive qualities are integral to the way the story is experienced. That is to say, the fact that you, the player, are directly impacting the story is a key differentiator between movies and games and is still a defining aspect of these "story-focused" games; the difference is, it's not the only defining aspect.

Heavy Rain's revolutionary control scheme brings a new dimension to interacting with the game's story.

In fact, play mechanics are just as important to "story" games as "mechanic" games. As Epic Game's lead designer Cliff Bleszinski just so happened to say today on Twitter,

"If you have a great game with a bad story you still have a great game. If you have a bad game with a great story you still have a bad game. [But] if you have a great game with a great story then you have a classic."

To understand this, you must recognize that the emergence of story as a central element in many modern games is a relatively new phenomenon since in the old days story was very much an afterthought and what always came first were the mechanics. Furthermore, the thing that makes a game a game is the fact that interactivity is central to the experience...and interactivity is achieved via play mechanics. That being said, the few developers that have dipped their toes in the vast ocean of great narratives have opened whole new doors of possibilities.

The added dimension of interactivity means games are capable of stories that no other medium is, and by combining great game design on a mechanics level with the high quality narrative, characterization, and production values of movies, the door is open for fantastic new experiences to emerge. Games like BioShock have already played with the notion of interactivity as a central element to the game's story. Games like Mass Effect give your individual decisions a ripple effect that shows ramifications through the entire game's world--or multiple games' worlds--and affects your path through the story and the way other characters react to you. Games like Uncharted are more exciting than any summer blockbuster at the movie theaters because of the fact you are participating in the action, while witty writing and strong voice acting bring the story to a more personal level.

The way you've acted as Commander Shepard decides whether or not Wrex lives in Mass Effect.

But not all games strive for these goals--and not all need to. There is room in the market for games that merely want to do what games were originally designed to do without all this fancy schmancy new age story business. Fighting games in particular excel at using the idiosyncratic fighting mechanics to drive competitiveness in the players. Racing games center themselves around two simple things: driving cars really fast and being the first one to the finish line. These games don't need canonical explanations; they simply need to be fun. And that's just fine. Even some games that do have stories, like the Call of Duty series, are not necessarily trying to push the envelope of interactive storytelling, and are arguably designed with a gameplay-is-the-only-important-thing philosophy--not that you can blame them given the fact that the multiplayer (arguably a separate "mechanics" game) is so important to their sales.

SoulCalibur IV doesn't need a story to be really fun.

This is the divergence we are seeing in game design today. Some games are simply going to try to push the fun factor of what games can do. Some games are going to push the artistic envelope of what ways they can use interactivity to tell an engaging story. Similarly, when gamers want to play a certain game, they'll often do it because a) they love its mechanics or b) they love its story. It's not a matter of one design philosophy "winning" over another, it's about the way they coexist and feed off each other. Mass Effect 2 is a great example, learning from the cover-based gunplay of Gears of War to make playing through its story more fun whilst still retaining its focus on story and character development. The emergence of truly great game narrative and a push to take artistic advantage of games' interaction does not mean that "fun" games will go away. What it does mean is that games don't necessarily have to be fun, whimsical distractions, and can instead provide an artistic canvas for exploring higher level questions, such as the illusion of free will (BioShock) or the ethics of cloning (Mass Effect).

Mass Effect 2 combines its great narrative with Gears of War's fun cover system.

What do you think of this growing dichotomy of game design? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Spotlight: Mass Effect 2 Wins IGN GotY in Style

Normally I'd rather be promoting my own Game of the Year Awards than someone else's, but IGN outdid themselves this year in announcing their winner for 2010 Overall Game of the Year. Of course, they nailed it on the head by picking the year's true standout in Mass Effect 2, but merely telling you who won the award was not enough for the imaginative folks in the IGN offices. Check out the award video they put together below, it's worth a few laughs:

More IGN Originals Video Videos

11 Games to Watch in 2011

We may already be 2 weeks into the new year, but the new year of games is only just beginning. You've read about the best games from last year, now take a look at what--at least right now--look like the best games going into this year. Of course, a LOT can change with any of these games, including slipping out of 2011 altogether. Also, there is at least one new platform launching this year in Nintendo's 3DS... but we will probably see the PSP's successor sometime this year as well. Furthermore, games for Apple's iOS (and often their Android ports) typically don't get announced until a week or two before they hit the App Store. Even on the console front, many of the big publishers will reveal new 2011 titles between now and E3 in June. With all that being said, however, here are 11 games that you need to keep an eye on in 2011.

11. XCOM developed by 2K Marin // published by 2K Games
Xbox 360, PC~~~Release TBA 2011


XCOM is one of the most beloved franchises in game design, composed of turned-based tactical action on the PC in the 1990s. 2K Marin's reboot is nothing like those games, but features similar themes while re-imagining the game as a first-person shooter in the BioShock mold. 2K Marin's first game was the surprisingly good BioShock 2, with which the studio proved it could handle an established franchise and add to it. The game was shown off at E3 2010 but has remained mostly dormant since; however, from what we have seen, it looks like 2K Marin is looking to evoke a similar sense of conspiracy and eeriness as what made BioShock so memorable.

E3 2010 Trailer

10. PORTAL 2 developed by Valve // published by Valve & EA Partners
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac~~~Releases April 21, 2011

Valve's breakout puzzler from the 2007 The Orange Box compilation is getting upgraded to a full-fledged retail title for its sequel. Don't think that Valve is selling you short though; the mind-bending puzzler with witty writing is going all out this time, both back inside the Aperture Science facilities and outside in a jungle-looking environment. GlaDoS is back as the antagonist as well, meaning laughs are sure to follow around every turn. On top of the lengthy new single-player adventure, Valve has also developed an entirely separate (but just as meaty) co-op tale starring two Aperture Science test robots. If you don't know what all the fuss is about, go check out the original Portal for cheap on Steam or Xbox Live right now. Few games can claim such an entertaining combination of charm and humor while also making you think.

IGN Video Preview

9. STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC developed by BioWare // published by Electronic Arts
PC~~~~Release TBA 2011

Look familiar? That's because this game also appeared on last year's list... before it slipped into a 2011 release. The game looks on track to hit sometime in the middle of the year though, and all the things we said last year only ring even more true now. First and foremost, this is a BioWare game, which guarantees a certain level of quality. It's also Star Wars, and in the Knights of the Old Republic part of the timeline (some 1000 years before the movies when Sith and Jedi are both still prevalent). Each class looks diversified enough and interesting enough to stand on its own, and most importantly, BioWare is attempting to infuse an important sense of story progression into the highly-personalized (per class) missions that bring a level of detail usually associated with single-player campaigns, not MMOs. This might be the strongest contender yet to World of Warcraft's MMO crown.

The Old Republic Action Trailer

8. GEARS OF WAR 3 developed by Epic Games // published by Microsoft Game Studios
Xbox 360~~~Releases Fall 2011

Originally set for an April release date, Microsoft instead pushed it back to anchor its pivotal holiday lineup. The extra 6 months of development is on top of what was already 6 extra months compared to the development time on Gears of War 2. A talented studio like Epic will not let all that extra time go to waste, and considering how good the first two entries in the franchise were, one can only imagine what Epic will be bringing to the third. For the story, the humans are even more desperate than last time now that their last city has been sunk, and they are scattered in small pockets with even women and children bearing arms. Meanwhile, a third "army" called the Lambent (mutated Locust) is now in the fold, promising some thrilling 3-way firefights. On top of that, Epic is looking to beef up an already wildly-popular multiplayer suite.

Interview with Lead Designer Cliff Bleszinski

7. BULLETSTORM developed by People Can Fly & Epic Games // published by Electronic Arts
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases February 22, 2011

Epic's other game coming out this year is a brand new IP from their recent acquisition People Can Fly. The game is billed as a "shooter with style" and takes place on some alien planet. Unlike Gears, it is shooter in the first-person perspective, but your arsenal is made up of all sorts of ridiculous concoctions like quadruple-barreled shotguns. On top of that you get a lasso-esque whip and the ability to kick enemies backward, both of which are encouraged to be used in combination with various weapons to create some memorable results. You get extra points for style and from what we've seen it looks like you'll be getting some good laughs along the ride. At the very least its a very interesting take on the genre, and we'll find out just how good it is in February.

IGN Video Preview

6. DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION developed by Eidos Montreal // published by Square Enix
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Release Q2 2011

Human Revolution is a prequel to the original groundbreaking Deus Ex, which was one of the first shooters to incorporate aspects of other genres. Puzzle solving and RPG character building are just as important to Deus Ex as the shooting, and Human Revolution adds in other augmented abilities (you play as a cyborg) that spice up the action even further. Visually, the game resembles a kind of mash-up between Blade Runner and Perfect Dark as it oozes heavy themes amid its dark, in-the-future-but-not-too-distant sci-fi setting. Putting it all together is a story of mystery and conspiracy that promises to keep the player enthralled throughout. We'll see if Eidos Montreal delivers on this promise later this year.

IGN Video Preview

5. THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM developed and published by Bethesda
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases November 11, 2011

After a fantastic trip to the Capital Wasteland in Fallout 3, Bethesda is going back to their signature franchise in The Elder Scrolls. Skyrim follows up 2006's Oblivion and takes place in the northern region of the continent Tamriel, called--you guessed it--Skyrim. Little is known about the game so far, but given Bethesda's track record (especially under director Todd Howard) there is little reason to doubt the draw of this game. What is known is that the events of Oblivion have caused the return of a legendary dragon that has ravaged the mountainous, snow-covered land of Skyrim, which is populated by a people called the Norse. Furthermore, according to the dragons' lore, they fear a human who in their language is called "Dragonborn"... who just so happens to be your character.

Debut Teaser

4. UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE'S DECEPTION developed by Naughty Dog // published by Sony CEA
PlayStation 3~~~Releases November 1, 2011

Naughty Dog made their name with the Jak and Daxter series on PS2 before making their current generation debut with the fun-but-flawed Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Then, in 2009, the studio released a follow up in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which wowed anyone who got to play it. More of the same is expected in this third installment, which takes Indiana Jones/Lara Croft-like protagonist Nathan Drake to the Arabian Desert in search of the mythical Atlantis of the Sands. Among Thieves was one of the best examples of how to combine a great narrative with engaging gameplay and wrap it in a polished cinematic presentation. Here's hoping Drake's Deception ups the ante even further.

First Gameplay Footage

3. BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY developed by Rocksteady Studios // published by Warner Bros. Interactive
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases Fall 2011

The sequel to the game that beat out Uncharted 2 for the 2009 PSB Game of the Year is developer Rocksteady's follow up. Something's happened on Arkham Island and new mayor Warren Sharp (the Arkham warden in the last game) has relocated the inmates to a closed off section of Gotham. Confirmed Bat-cameos include the Joker, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, and Catwoman, but the villainous headliner is none other than Dr. Hugo Strange, who in the comics deduces Batman's alter ego and threatens to sell the identity to the highest bidder. It'll be interesting to see how all these personalities are juggled, and if Rocksteady can maintain the outstanding pacing in a game that is reportedly four times the size of its predecessor. Arkham Asylum was great, but this fall we'll find out if Rocksteady is truly an elite studio or merely a one-hit wonder.

VGA Reveal Trailer

2. L.A. NOIRE developed by Team Bondi // published by Rockstar Games
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases Q2 2011

L.A. Noire is a landmark on many fronts. It's the latest game from acclaimed company Rockstar, best known for Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Unlike those games, L.A. Noire puts you on the law's side in a recreation of 1940s Los Angeles. Shady killings, gangsters, and police corruption are prevalent, so the detective aspect of the game actually takes the forefront from any gunplay you'll be doing. Team Bondi has also utilized some state-of-the-art face-scanning technology and put it to use with real Hollywood actors...a feature that not only gives the game a striking sense of realism, but is actually incorporated into the gameplay as you'll have to pick up on physical cues and decide if a suspect is lying. The premise is incredibly intriguing, now all that remains to be seen is whether Team Bondi and Rockstar can succesfully balance the difficulty of this player-based detective work (after all, there's a reason most players aren't actually homicide detectives).

2010 "Debut" Trailer

1. MASS EFFECT 3 developed by BioWare // published by Electronic Arts
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases Fall 2011

Given the series' pedigree, it should come as no surprise that the final installment in BioWare's carefully orchestrated and pre-planned trilogy lands at #1 on this list. Everything you've done so far in the first two games comes down to this. The Reapers have somehow found their way to Earth and are assaulting humanity's homeworld (how the hell did these guys do this after I already foiled their plan twice??). Now its up to the galaxy's greatest hero, Commander Shepard, to rally the divided civilizations together for their defining moment. We saw how well BioWare was able to refine the original Mass Effect into Mass Effect 2, and only our future selves know what tweaks will be in store for the finale. BioWare and EA have promised that the franchise will likely continue past this installment, but as far as the main, three-part story arc of Commander Shepard...well, this is it. That's all there really is to say since--either than our own guesswork--all we have to go on at this point is the trailer below:

Bite-Size Review-- Mass Effect 2: Overlord

BioWare has done it again. The latest expansion to the greatest game ever made, dubbed "Overlord", centers around a Virtual Intelligence (VI) that has gone rogue and threatens to cripple the cybernetic network of the galaxy. Sounds like pretty straightforward classical science fiction, an anti-AI theme that even resembles the first Mass Effect game. Even when you first boot it up, "Overlord" feels like a set piece for the action sequences held within. But then, as they do best, BioWare flips the whole thing on its head and proves once again why videogames are, in fact, decisively a form of art.

Without going into spoilers, all I'll say is that "Overlord" intelligently tackles ethical debates in a matter that rivals the commentary on racism prevalent in the main story of Mass Effect 2. If that sounds like the type of liberal propoganda that you want no part of in your interactive experience, do not fear--BioWare does not beat you over the head with this information, but merely presents it in an organic fashion and lets you interpret it in any way you choose (including ignoring the ethics altogether). The roughly hour-long story arc once again affirms the potential of an interactive medium in regards to artistic and literary expression. To top it all off, its a damn fun ride that features more than one memorable battles. "Overlord" even mixes up the tone, drifting from epic action into eerie Dead Space-esque corridor trotting that exudes equal amounts of Terminator vibes, to finally commencing in a very much dark and serious conclusion. You even get to take out the amazingly-fun Hammerhead hovertank out for multiple rides, and at one point they even channel some Mario (yes, "Overlord" has vehicular platforming elements).

"Overlord" is an example of exactly what an expansion should be, especially an expansion to such a great game. It nails its agenda on every front, from story (including subtext) to action, and beyond. You might have skipped over the interesting-but-light "Kasumi: Stolen Memory", but "Overlord" is definitely an experience every Mass Effect fan should try out.

OVERALL GRADE: A

Bite-Size Review-- Mass Effect 2: "Kasumi--Stolen Memory"

In case you missed it, catch the full review for Mass Effect 2 here.

BioWare's post-launch support for ME2 has thusfar consisted of small mission and weapon packs delivered via its free (to new copy purchasers) Cerberus Network platform. "Kasumi--Stolen Memory" marks the first paid expansion to the epic space saga's second chapter, coming in at $7/560. Is it worth it?

"Stolen Memory" kicks off with a rendevous with Kasumi on the citadel where she explains her mission. The dialogue is written as if you download this in the middle of your quest, so if you've already finished the game expect it to be slightly awkward (but all-in-all not detracting). Once the mission actually begins in earnest, it resembles a 007-style undercover operation at a fancy cocktail party. The mission itself is pretty unique compared to the rest of the game in terms of objectives and structure, and I found it to be wholly entertaining throughout. I admire Kasumi Goto's swagger and tech prowess, but her moment to truly shine comes at the conclusion of the story where the plot takes a powerfully emotional turn, complete with a signature key choice for Shepard to make.

The acclaimed Mass Effect 2 combat system is sprinkled throughout the quest, albeit pretty lightly compared to most loyalty missions. This should give the dialogue sequences the spotlight, but there is only one major dialogue exchange, which is a little disappointing. Nevertheless, the story is an intriguing side-plot from the main quest, and I hope BioWare continues in this direction in the future. That being said, I can only truly recommend this expansion to people who truly fell in love with Mass Effect 2; anything less than that, and $7 is simply too much to ask for a 1-hour quest. ME2 is a great enough experience to make the big fans jump in regardless of price, but $3-5 would be much more appropriate.

Overall Grade: B+

Review-- Mass Effect 2

Ed. Note: due to technical difficulties, we are unable to supply related screenshots for this review. For a gallery of screens for the game, please go here. Apologies for the unattractive large block of text.

BioWare has built up quite a pedigree in the RPG genre over the years. After building success after success using popular licenses such as Baldur's Gate and Star Wars, the studio has more recently begun an effort to create entirely original new universes as canvases for their games. In 2007, they brought us the sci-fi epic Mass Effect, the first entry in a pre-planned trilogy and a game many would argue as the best game on Xbox 360 if not any platform. With the sequel, the acclaimed sutdio has promised a dark second act that will broaden the story and refine or overhaul the gameplay features of the first game. They not only succeeded in their goals, but they have also once again set a new standard for interactive storytelling, crafting one of the most complete pieces of entertainment ever made.

Right from the get-go, Mass Effect 2 starts off with a bang--quite literally. The game has one of the better introduction sequences I've recently played; the sound design in particular adds to the mystery and tension immensely, and seconds after starting up you are already treated to the stellar voice cast. It is also here that I became consciously aware that most games lack a proper introduction and title sequence--a common characteristic of most movies. You'll get to choose (or re-choose, if you wish) your combat class from a much more varied, well-defined selection; BioWare has done such a good job differentiating the different classes that you truly will want to go through the game multiple times just to see the way the combat changes. The game will also give you bonuses based on the level of your completed character in Mass Effect 1--a very nice touch. In addition, all your major (and even some minor) decisions from Part One of the trilogy will craft your own personalized Mass Effect universe in the sequel, and you even get some glimpses as to how your decisions will also be reflected in Part Three.

Following the opening narrative sequence, you get your first taste of Mass Effect 2's vastly upgraded combat system. You'll instantly recognize that BioWare has crafted a more legitimate shooter this time, and the very first pistol you get feels more responsive than even your fully-leveled guns in the first game. The HUD is also more streamlined to further emphasize the games shooting credentials. For example, enemies are no longer highlighted by obnoxious red triangles; instead, they have very faint, light orange boxes around them, and the end result is that you pick out enemies naturally in the environment. All combat options--from different ammo types to biotic and tech powers--have now been relegated to the combat wheel, allowing for much smoother and varied combat that is tailored to the player's preferences.

It is also during the initial combat sequences that you will start to see how Mass Effect 2 leans more heavily toward action shooter than RPG, as well as where the few complaints about the game lie. Fans of the original may feel a little disappointed that there is less customization in skill trees, armor, and weapon mods, noting that the entire looting system in the first game has been replaced by the new streamlined system. While at first feeling like something is missing, while continuing through the game you notice that you do not miss the clumsy looting (you always pick the best stuff anyway and it just becomes tedious) and the refinements to the combat engine have made for a much more action-oriented Mass Effect game, which in the end is a huge plus. The cover system also is much improved, though a little shy of Gears of War's fluidness. Finally, BioWare was brilliant decision to let you "expand" your combat prowess at a key point in the game really opens up your options during fighting. The only other grip is that the studio has ditched their innovative ammo-less overheat system for a "thermal clip" (read: ammo) system; in short, running out of ammo is really annoying when you never had that limitation in the first game.

One of the hallmarks of the first Mass Effect was its innovative conversation system that allowed the player to fluidly react with thoughts rather than explicit dialogue, which also made the superb dialogue itself that much more interesting. BioWare has kept this system in tact, but added a few new wrinkles that raise the bar even further. One of the more publicized new aspects is the ability to interupt certain dialogue sequences with Paragon or Renegade actions; these are context-sensitive and vary from pushing someone off a building to giving someone medigel. While the payoff is indeed very satisfying, its hard to not initiate these actions whenever you get the chance. In addition, conversations have a decidedly more cinematic and fluid feel. Gone are the static figures and expressionless faces; in their stead are dynamic camera angles and movements, body expressions, camera cuts, framing, and character interaction. These qualities make conversation scenes look and feel like the well-orchestrated talking scenes of Hollywood movies, except with the added benefit that you are actually choosing where the conversations go. The studio absolutely nailed it these scenes this time around, adding to the overall well-roundedness of Mass Effect 2's presentation.

Despite its extremely tight narrative, the actual mission structure of the game is quite open-ended. I did not even realize this until the end of my first playthrough when I was reflecting back on it, which really speaks to just how well-crafted all the little parts of the game are. Basically you have a couple missions in the beginning that you have to do, and then the game starts opening up more and more until you can pretty much do whatever you want in whatever order. Occassionally, the game will interject mandatory missions involving the Collectors, which break up the pace very well and keep you feeling like you're constantly progressing. The entire experience culminates when you finally decide when (as yes, you can pretty much decide whenever you want once you've gone through the few Collector missions) to use the Omega-4 relay and launch your offensive on the Collectors. You're decisions throughout the game will alter this final mission drastically, which in turn will change the course of the third game--if your Shepard makes it out of the final mission alive. If you do survive, you'll also be allowed to go back and continue your exploration of the galaxy and whatever DLC comes down the pipeline...but honestly, you'll probably want to jump right back into the beginning with a different class.

Though the crux of the overall conflict revolves around the mysterious Collectors and what you must do to get through the Omega-4 Relay, most of the actual substance of the game revolves around BioWare's fantastic characters. This, of course, starts and ends with your squad, whom you spend the majority of the game either recruiting or completing personal missions to gain their loyalty--a key mechanic to determining survival in the final conflict of the game. These loyalty missions really flex BioWare's narrative muscles as they deal with complex personal themes such as family, coming of age, redemption, and a bevy of other heavy topics, each specifically tailored around the squad member they are associated with. It is in these missions that your squad is fully fleshed out, and many of these missions also leave you with key decisions over how to proceed in completing them.

The only drawback is that you wish BioWare had a chance to go even further into depth with these characters as every single one is genuinely engaging and enthralling and has a story to tell. Even if you really don't like a character (I for one had an extreme distaste for Jack) they are still very believable and fleshed out; on the flip-side, characters that you do like will truly shine. Mordin in particular is one of the funniest characters in any video game, providing much-needed comic relief during the desolate story. Best of all, its very intelligent humor and not just some cheap fart jokes or something. Minor characters outside your squad, though not as riveting or incredibly fleshed-out, also provide many unique narrative and gameplay opportunities, in some cases again altered based on decisions you made in Mass Effect 1.

As far as the presentation goes, Mass Effect 2 is leaps and bounds above its predecessor as well as its competition, not just in games but in other media as well. Jack Wall's musical score for the game is among the best of any audio-visual creation, bar none. The voice acting is among the best in games, pillared by Hollywood greats such as Martin Sheen, Keith David, and Seth Green. Sound design is phenomenal in every aspect, from soundless void of space to the heat of battle to the bustle of futuristic metropoli. The graphical presentation has also been stepped up dramatically, and every part of the game can visually be described with two words: stunningly gorgeous. The technical hiccups that plagued the first game--frame rate drops, screen tearing, sound cutting, etc--are virtually absent this time around. Every part of the Mass Effect 2 experience shines with polish.

Between the peerless characterization, the epic musical score, the Hollywood voice acting, the varied and engaging combat experience, the innovative conversation system, and the fully-realized universe, Mass Effect 2 is one of the most complete pieces of entertainment ever crafted. It's a very mature piece of art that--like the best sci-fi in any medium--grounds its futuristic setting in a firm sense of realism, tackling many themes common in real life but absent in most video games. These themes include racism, genocide, morality, politics, love, and other heavy topics, and most impressive of all is that the game never beats you over the head with this stuff; it's simply there, realistically blended into the world and open to individual interpretation and analyzation. Few games ever incorporate any one of the mature themes listed above, yet Mass Effect 2 tackles them all gracefully, truly a pioneer in its medium.

The entire Mass Effect experience thusfar culminates into the final endgame sequence. This sequence is unlike many others in video games and does a lot of things that other studios should take notes on. It's not a quick, one-off mission, but rather an extended web of choices and repercussions that reverberate past the resolution of the game (and yes, this is a video game that actually has a resolution after its climax!). Based on your actions throughout the course of the game, some of your squad members (including yourself) may not even make it to Act Three. This hangs over your head in the final mission as you have to make decisions knowing full well you might be condemning that character to a permanent fate. In addition, BioWare did a great job of incorporating entirely new gameplay elements into the final mission that dynamically change up the pacing of combat in creative ways. Unforunately, there is a bit of a dip near the end of this dramatic crescendo with a questionable battle near the end of the mission. Regardless, overall the game wraps things up tightly and sets up what is sure to be an epic final act in Mass Effect 3.

Once you finish Mass Effect 2--particularly if you also finished Mass Effect 1--the third game will be set up for a battle of epic proportions. You will know the direction where the story is heading and how all your decisions, big and small, from both of the first two games, will create variables in the way the final chapter plays out. Despite lacking a true "cliffhanger" style of ending, the game will leave you pawing for the sequel like few other games do--a testament to the incredible world BioWare has crafted. Not enough can be said about how exponentially more powerful the story is if you take a character through Mass Effect 1 and 2 and into the third game (though if you missed one and have no way to play it, ME2 is fantastic on its own merits). This is the game by which all others will be judged this year. This is the standard by which interactive storytelling will be measured for years to come. This is the most grounded, believable, and enthralling science fiction universe ever crafter (yes, even more so than the classic Star Wars). This is the most complete video game ever crafted in every single aspect of its production, and one of the best pieces of artistic entertainment regardless of medium. Mass Effect 2 is everything fans wanted it to be and so much more. And it just gives you shivers when you think about how everything will come to a head with the conclusion of the trilogy in Mass Effect 3.

OVERALL GRADE: A+

15 Most Anticipated Games of 2010

2009 is in its waning hours and the new year is upon us! Wanna know what you'll be spending all that Christmas money and gift cards on? Keep checking back every day as we reveal more of our 15 Most Anticipated Games coming out next year.(disclaimer: remember that these are only games that have already been announced as there will likely be a few more announced during the year!)

1. MASS EFFECT 2 developed by BioWare//published by Electronic Arts

Xbox 360, PC~~~Releases January 26, 2010

BioWare, the king of the RPG, is a busy studio these days. It just came out with Dragon Age:Origins and is still working on a pipeline of DLC for it. It has the Star Wars MMO looming in the distance. And in the foreground towers the sequel to arguably its best and most succesful game ever. Mass Effect 2 rectifies all the technical problems the original had and beefs up the entire combat suite. On the story side, BioWare's strong suit, you can continue your character from the first game with decisions you made back then immediately impacting the shape of the world for the dark second act. Mass Effect 2 is mere days away, and on January 26 a new standard for interactive narrative will again be set.

Cinematic Trailer

2. HALO: REACH developed by Bungie//published by Microsoft Game Studios

Xbox 360~~Releases Fall 2010

Bungie is back with the next full installment in the Halo saga. This is a full game, akin to a Halo 4 but actually taking place before the originally Halo when Spartan soldiers were still plentiful. Make no mistake, this game has been built from the ground up, so don't expect Halo 3+ like ODST was; once glance at the new trailer, which is all in game footage, will leave your jaw agape at just how damn good Halo looks.

VGA Reveal trailer

3. Tom Clancy's SPLINTER CELL: CONVICTION developed by Ubisoft Montreal//published by Ubisoft

Xbox 360~~Releases February 23, 2010

After a brief hiatus and a couple redesigns, Sam Fisher is back with a bang. Instead of your geared-up government techno-superspy, Fisher now takes on a role more akin to Jason Bourne or Jack Bauer; that is, he's a badass former operative on a personal vendetta. The gameplay looks much more fast paced and action oriented than its slothy predecessors, and when you throw in a 6-hour co-op prologue campaign, its hard not to get giddy about this game.

TGS 09 Developer Walkthrough

4. GOD OF WAR III developed by SCEA Santa Monica//published by Sony

PlayStation 3~~Releases March 2010

The first HD God of War is being billed as the third and final installment of a "trilogy". Needless to say that one of the best action games in the business is looking mighty fine in its PS3 debut. The series has delivered 3 AAA action games so far and there is no reason to doubt this one.

E3 09 trailer

5. STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC developed by BioWare//published by LucasArts/EA

PC~~~Release TBA

BioWare is back in the Knights of the Old Republic universe, this time in an MMO that they say has enough content to be "KoToR 5-9". While that remains to be seen, what has been shown of the game has impressed mightily. Known for their best-in-the-West storytelling, BioWare is applying that skill to creating an MMO where story takes on a relevance unlike any before. Also, this is a Star Wars MMO that looks really, really good. Just check the trailer below and see for yourself.

E3 09 Jedi vs. Sith cinematic

6. FINAL FANTASY XIII developed and published by Square Enix

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3~~Releases March 9, 2010

After over four years in development the first HD chapter of the Final Fantasy saga will be unleashed on North America (the PS3-only Japanese version is already out). Like any Final Fantasy game, it boasts top of the line graphical and audio design, a dramatic and engaging story, strong characterization, and hours upon hours of J-RPG pleasure. This is one of those games that is just going to be good given its pedigree and the amount of work Square Enix has put into it.

TGS 09 English trailer

7. BIOSHOCK 2 developed by 2K Marin, et al//published by 2K Games

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~Releases February 9, 2010

The second trip to Rapture is being headed by a new studio founded by some members of the 2K Boston team that built the first game, including the lead level designer now serving as the creative director. You also play as the very first prototype Big Daddy, fight agile new baddies called Big Sisters, and there is even a whole multiplayer suite for when you close the book on Rapture for a time (note: you will be in different parts of the city, so don't worry about retreading the first game). Oh, and its kind of the sequel to the best game of all time. Just sayin'.

"Siren Alley" trailer

8. METROID: OTHER M developed by "Project M" (Team NINJA and Nintendo)//published by Nintendo

Wii~~Release TBA

The latest Metroid takes a new direction from Retro Studios' Prime series, this time being designed in collaboration by the team that made the excellent Game Boy Advance games and Team NINJA--the developers of Ninja Gaiden. Giving Samus her first 3D 3rd-person adventure is intriguing enough herself, but the influence on the combat system of one of the best teams in actions games makes Other M a must-play. In addition to all-new combat, Other M also appears to have a larger focus on story than previous iterations with full CG cutscenes. At the very least, it's an interesting way to shift direction for one of the best franchises in gaming.

E3 2009 "Debut" trailer

9. DARKSIDERS developed by Vigil Games//published by THQ

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3~~Releases January 5, 2010

You may not have heard of this game or studio, but if you're a comic fan you may know comic book artist Joe Madureira who is one of the leads on the project. The concept is simple: it's a dark, mature take on The Legend of Zelda formula mixed with a God of War-inspired combat system, all set in a port-apocalyptic modern world with a comic book aesthetic where you play as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. If that was too much of a mouthful, just concentrate on the words "mature Zelda" and that should be enough for you anyway.

GTtv Preview

10. DANTE's INFERNO developed by Visceral Games//published by Electronic Arts

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, PSP~~Releases February 9, 2010

It has been called a God of War clone and that's not really a bad thing. The game is based on Dante Alighieri's epic poem The Divine Comedy and is in fact a God of War-style slice-em-up action game. The game takes players through the nine circles of Hell as Dante tries to rescue his girlfriend from an unintended fate. It comes from the studio that gave us Dead Space and if the just-released demo is any indication, this will be an early gem in the 2010 line up.

GTtv Preview

11. ALPHA PROTOCOL developed by Obsidian Entertainment//published by SEGA

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~Releases Q2 2010

"The Espionage RPG", as its box deems it, is a fresh action-RPG made in the BioWare-influenced mold by a team that is basically BioWare B. Having previously worked on sequels to BioWare games including Knights of the Old Republic II and Neverwinter Nights, Obsidian brings us an original tale of a budding superspy, given players free reign over the way his clandestine skills evolve.

E3 2009 trailer

12. ALIENS VS. PREDATOR developed by Rebellion//published by SEGA

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~Releases February 16, 2010

After the films turned out to be mindless and not very entertaining, developer Rebellion wanted to refocus the series back where it originated: in the realm of video games. Their HD effort features three campaigns: one for the Aliens, one for the Predator, and one for the Marines, each featuring distinctively different gameplay. The three types of characters also carries over into the game's multiplayer offering up a variety of unique modes and scenarios.

"Weyland-Yutani" trailer

13. SUPER MARIO GALAXY 2 developed and published by Nintendo

Wii~~Releases 2010

For the first time since the NES, Mario comes back for more platforming adventure on the same Nintendo system twice. The game picks up right after the first and continues with the inter-planetary gameplay. New for round 2 is the return of Yoshi as well as a promise from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto that the difficulty will see a bump to accommodate seasoned plumbers. Beyond that not much else is known, but keep an eye out for more news on it in 2010.

E3 2009 trailer

14. ALAN WAKE developed by Remedy//published by Microsoft Game Studios

Xbox 360, PC~~Releases June 2010

After nearly 5 years in development once its released, former Max Payne developer Remedy has a lot to live up to with its latest project. You play as the titular character, a horror writer who gets wrapped up in a mystery when his girlfriend disappears while the couple is on vacation and his writings start coming to life.

Director interview

15. FABLE III developed by Lionhead Studios//published by Microsoft Game Studios

Xbox 360~~Releases Fall 2010

In this third chapter of the Fable saga you play as the son or daughter of the main character in Fable II. You are also the ruler of Albion, taking over for your father or mother. In this game you will be able to influence the world as its sovereign leader and deal with dilemmas of choice and destiny.

"Debut" trailer

DON'T FORGET DOWNLOADABLE ADD-ONS!

You know all those games you got this past fall, either in gift-giving celebration or just by your own paycheck? Well, many of the biggest titles have downloadable add-ons coming out in the new year to extend your experience! For the biggest of beasts, Modern Warfare 2, one 360-exclusive map pack has already announced and more will surely follow. Dragon Age: Origins already has two expansions out--"Warden's Keep" and "Return to Ostagar"--and BioWare has promised a steady stream of new content will continue into 2010. Resident Evil 5 is getting a rebirth with its "Lost in Nightmares" and "Desperate Escape" expansions featuring new characters, while Assassin's Creed II will get at least two new genetic sequences (read: chapters) in "The Battle of Forli" and "The Bonfire of Vanities". Left 4 Dead 2 gets a new campaign in "The Passing" featuring the first game's cast and Valve has promised there will be no Left 4 Dead 3 any time soon with more plentiful DLC in its place. You can also travel back to the Borderlands with the already-released Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and the soon to be released Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot. Finally, you can continue your Rock Band, Guitar Hero, or Lips addiction with a continued stream of songs. MTV Games is launching the Rock Band Network early next year which will allow artists to upload there own songs, so expect the amount of new songs to expand exponentially.

E3 is Right Around the Corner

In case you've never heard of it, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is the biggest video game trade show of the year. What that means is that publishers showcase most of their big titles that will be carrying them through the upcoming holiday season, and usually even titles that are still a year or two off. The "Big Three" console makers--Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo--all hold extravagant pre-show press conferences that have gained a reputation for big announcements regarding their respective platforms. Many games are shown in playable builds for the first time and still some games are featured in trailers or behind-closed-doors demonstrations. 

This year the show will be held in the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 2-4, but the ramp up is already starting. In an effort to gain their titles a little bit more attention than they may normally get in the tumultous circus of the actual show, publishers in recent years have actually begun showing titles and trailers in the weeks leading up to the big event. Below you'll find the big trailers that have already been revealed, but come June 2 expect a total flood of information on new titles. Enjoy!

MASS EFFECT 2- is Shepard dead?

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Video Games | Mass Effect 2 | E3 09: Exclusive Teaser HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM- "Poison Ivy" trailer

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Video Games | Batman: Arkham Asylum | Poison Ivy Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM- playable Joker levels (PS3 version only)

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Video Games | Batman: Arkham Asylum | E3 09: Exclusive Joker Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

BRINK- the new game from Fallout/Elder Scrolls maker Bethesda

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Video Games | Brink | E3 09: Exclusive Teaser

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

ALPHA PROTOCOL- "Decisions" trailer

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Video Games | Alpha Protocol | E3 09: Exclusive Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Honorable Mention.... MODERN WARFARE 2- reveal trailer

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Video Games | Modern Warfare 2 | Reveal Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Wanna see more on any of these games next week? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook. Expect a lot of big game-related posts in the next week, especially--but not limited to--the following games:

• Final Fantasy XIII
• Kojima Production's Next Project
• Halo 3: ODST
• Assassin's Creed II
• Splinter Cell: Conviction
• God of War III
• BioShock 2
• Brutal Legend
• Borderlands
• Red Steel 2
• Anything and everything that's unannounced right now but will be revealed next week!

Mass Effect 2 'Debut' Trailer Thoughts

To view the trailer for yourself, go here.

Being the first trailer for the hotly anticipated sequel, there is unsuprisingly very little substance revealed as its meant to be more of a teaser to get fans all riled up. At least, so one would think of a brief 60-second clip that shows no gameplay whatsoever. As anyone who has completed the first game, however, the end of the trailer comes as quite a shock, no matter what path you took through the first one.

I'm talking, of course, about the trailer's labeling of Mass Effect protagonist Commander Sheppard listed as "Killed In Action" at the hands of a Geth in the last few seconds in the trailer. Now, besides the fact that this scenario seems highly unlikely after having decimated countless geth troops with Sheppard in the first game, this snippet also seems to imply that players will not be controlling their character from the first game--a feature implied when the 'trilogy' was first announced. While technically Sheppard's decisions could still affect aliens' reaction toward a potential new protagonist, its still disappointing that we won't get to continue on with our unique characters from the first game. Part of me even wants to attribute this revelation to technical difficulties BioWare may have encountered trying to transition so many different permutations of the main character into a second chapter. Still, its very disappointing, but I guess judgement must be witheld until more solid info is revealed. But then, does this mean that we are gonna get another new character in Mass Effect 3? Suddenly, the story has lost some of its epicness.