If BioWare’s Mass Effect was comparable to Star Wars: A New Hope in 2007, then Mass Effect 2 is the series’ Empire Strikes Back. Or Aliens. Or Terminator 2. Or any other franchise where the sequel takes everything that made the original so revolutionary and amazing, and somehow still manages to up the ante in virtually every conceivable way.

Mass Effect was good. However, it wasn’t great. It introduced gamers to a new, fascinating world, with its expansive galaxy and dynamic, interactive dialogue system.

But mainly, Mass Effect‘s success was in showing its audiences the possibilities of the world it created, instead of actually delivering them. Like A New Hope, Mass Effect set the framework for what the ideal space opera should be, without quite fully bringing this perfect vision into realization.

Mass Effect 2, on the other hand, is what every video game that involves laser beams and space ships should aspire to be. It takes Mass Effect, strips it all of its deficiencies and inadequacies, and then rebuilds it with an immersive, engaging narrative. Also, throw in an intense third-person combat system for good measure. It’s one of the most complete sequels ever developed, and it surpasses its predecessor so massively that it forges a legacy of its own.

From the second you boot up Mass Effect 2, the game immediately puts you on the edge of your seat. The story’s protagonist, Commander Shepperd, comes under attack from an unknown vessel and is left for dead in the middle of space. Upon being discovered and revived, Shepperd is recruited into a mysterious organization known as Cerberus, who is working to defend the galaxy against a new threat.

The story starts off with a bang and seldom slows down, demanding that you keep up with all the political intrigue, plot-twists and character interactions amidst the raging gun battles and explosions.

Though stories usually take a back seat to gun play, the plot in Mass Effect 2 is every bit as integral to the experience as its jaw-dropping graphics or amazing soundtrack and voice work. It’s well-written, full of interesting, charismatic characters. Best of all, certain events are influenced by whether you act like a saint (Paragon) or villain (Renegade).

Another nice touch is the ability to import your save file from Mass Effect into the sequel. Not only will your new character receive some bonus cash and perks, but for better or worst, choices made in the first Mass Effect also carry over.

The only downside is that Mass Effect 2 almost requires that you beat the first one in order to fully appreciate its sweeping, sci-fi epic. If you haven’t, there are a lot of things that won’t make a whole lot of sense. If you have, though, Mass Effect 2 is an example of BioWare’s stellar storytelling at its finest.

Combat in Mass Effect 2 has been substantially revamped and is far more accessible—particularly for those more familiar with the Gears of War school of third-person combat. Though Shepperd is equipped with body armor and rechargeable shields, taking cover and utilizing your teammates effectively is still important.

You can pop up from behind cover to fire off shots or unleash powerful biotic attacks, or you can command your team to maneuver around the battlefield and perform abilities. Though you still don’t have direct control over your squad, team members are competent enough this time to be effective allies.

In your journey across the galaxy, you’ll run into all sorts of aliens, raiders and more that are in need of killing and Mass Effect 2 ensures you’re well equipped for the task. There’s now 19 different weapons and ammunition for them is easy to come by. Your weapons and armor can also be upgraded using minerals that are conveniently found all over the place.

Mass Effect 2 definitely does have more of an “action” feel, but the game’s role-playing game roots are hardly forsake neither. At the start of the game you can customize, Commander Shepperd’s appearance, back story and character class. As you kill enemies and level up, you can choose where to allocate upgrades.

How you play Mass Effect 2 is largely based on these upgrades. If you want to be a gun-toting Soldier, be prepared to switch between heavy weapons and blow stuff up. More partial towards staying in the back and using “magic” to toss around enemies? Mass Effect 2 accommodates that with the Adept class.

Another feature that returns from Mass Effect is BioWare’s innovative dialogue trees. When Commander Shepperd talks to individuals, different conversation options will pop up. Depending on which one you choose, the scenario can unfold differently. Sometimes making the right choice will be rewarded with valuable information or extra money. Making the wrong one, though, can either lead to people dying, gun fights that could have been avoided and certain opportunities disappearing forever.

Of course, concepts like “right” and “wrong” are entirely subjective, meaning that shooting someone just to be a heartless bastard could very well be the “right” decision.

Mass Effect 2 clocks in at an impressive 20-30 hours, depending if you decide to take on the game’s side quests. Considering how abnormally fleshed out and well designed these missions are, it’s highly recommended you at least take on a few of them. They’re hardly perfunctory and actually contribute to the story instead of just padding the game’s length. 

If there’s one thing about Mass Effect 2 that can not be understated, it’s this: the graphics are simply beautiful. Alien worlds are vibrantly colorful, unique and exotic, character models flirt with photorealism and weapons, armor and spaceships look like they’ve been borrowed from the latest Star Trek movie. Everything looks stunning. Even when you’re just strolling around it’s easy to forget you’re still playing a video game and not watching a film on blu-ray.

Ignore the naysayers: Mass Effect 2 is proof that the Xbox 360 can still hang with the PlayStation 3, even if the game does ship on two discs.

But BioWare’s latest sci-fi RPG isn’t perfect. The controls are awkward at first, and never quite ideal, especially if you’re accustomed to the fluid controls found in Gears of War or Uncharted 2. Additionally, the load times are a bit on the lengthy side. Sometimes they’re perfectly within the realms of acceptability, but occasionally even a basic task like changing floors on the Normandy takes a good 10-15 seconds longer than it really should.

Fortunately, the obnoxious elevator rides have been blessedly removed and replaced with old fashioned loading screens.

Of course, splitting hairs and searching for every little thing wrong with Mass Effect 2 is a lot like criticizing The Empire Strikes Back because Lando didn’t get enough screen time or that building a rebel base on Hoth was a really dumb idea. There might be some truth to it, but at the end of the day, when you have a peerless gem resting in your hands just waiting to be experienced and loved, what difference does it make?

Final Verdict

Mass Effect 2 is like Mass Effect’s genetically enhanced clone. It replicates the same, basic structure that made the original so successful, but so many tweaks and upgrades have been made that it’s undeniable which of the two is superior.

At this point, there’s not a whole lot more than can be said about how awesome Mass Effect 2 is. If you like RPG’s, you’ll adore the game for its intricate dialoguesystem and character customization. If you like action games, you’ll appreciate being able to get big guns and shoot things. If you’re a sci-fi fan, Mass Effect 2 is a dream come true.

Grade: A

Mass Effect 2 was developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The version reviewed was for Xbox 360 and it is available for Xbox 360 and PC now.