Foreword

One and a half years ago, the game company BioWare celebrated a real surprise success with “Mass Effect”. Although one could not underestimate also in advance the Studio evolving for Publisher Electronic Arts due to an impressive portfolio – yet the first adventures of Commander Shepard made for so much depth that a glorious future could be predicted to the brand that is designed as a trilogy.

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“Mass Effect 2″ Packshot

These days it is so far as to make a review of thereof. With “Mass Effect 2″ (ME 2), the sequel was recently published in which again is a mixture of third-person shooter and role-playing game to save the Galaxy. The following is to be clarified whether this time comes up an exciting atmosphere, and whether the large footsteps of its predecessor can be thus duly filled.

Content

Plot

The plot of “Mass Effect 2″ builds on no larger gaps directly that of its predecessor. After the player has kept the threat of the Reaper or their instrument, the Geth, the Galaxy in the role of the Alliance soldier Shepard, he and his crew on the go after Normandy now everyday cases: so for example the disappearance of some ships. As causative for this a weapon violence-missiles, which breaks down the Normandy soon into their individual parts, where also Shepard to life turns out to be in the context of an exquisite Intros.

ME 2 powered but not about a new main character in this context, but it can be Shepard thanks to the groundbreaking possibilities of known from the first part, radically pro-human secret organization Cerberus after two year reraise medical fight as heroes with Nano implants. Fast turns that the Normandy victims of so-called collectors an insect-like species has, the more recently special pleasure in has to kidnap the inhabitants of remote Alliance colonies out. Whether behind these activities once again put the Reaper?

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Cerberus boss: friend or foe?

Precisely this question applies to clarify time in the next 40 hours. This is basically to say that the makers once more tell a total exciting, application-rich story to convince that over long distances thanks to some highlights and a stringency that disturbed hardly by unclear moments, white. As well as in the previous one has the possibility to resort to a team, so that it always goes together with two other competitors in the fight again this time too. Unfortunately to get but hardly can access old colleagues – play supporting roles, but after all what the atmosphere is also beneficial. Instead, a new team is to recruit – a task which also occupies the first season away from some skirmishes with the collectors.

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Collector in an intermediate scene

At this point, more evident once that one has a real knack for the conception of credible characters at BioWare. Because the new protagonists also come with a sophisticated biography, a very own blow and matching, excellent dialogues therefore, which were still on top of that great set to music (also in German!). In this respect, ME 2 receives thus further depth, what is weakened however, that the election of the members of the teams has generally no too much influence on the outcome of the Mission (see below).

By the way: How announced it is possible to take scores from the first part. Besides less important aspects such as a larger main budget, this has the advantage that certain dialogue options are unlocked, from the outset. Also certain story procedures and decisions were taken individually, are applied where the main action is not affected them. Who still has corresponding scores, should use but necessarily it via the import function.

RPG or shooter?

BioWare titles are characterized often especially in the recent past by a successful combination of areas and shooter elements. Also “mass effect” to such a philosophy of development well suited with controversial features such as a comparatively complex character development, a hakeligen inventory and a good evil orientation of the main character.

With ME 2, those responsible are now significantly different accents, which also provide ample material for discussions. The same is dependent on the actions classification as a “Model” or “Abtrünniger”, this time within reflected even in Options dialogs. A particularly nasty player receives for example, the opportunity to calm a wounded guard, before they can call amplification via radio while you can prevent unnecessary violence, for example, as an example. Said “RPG shooter scales” ME 2 is contradicting to attribute nevertheless relatively clearly the shooter segment, which most clearly demonstrate with a view to the character development: this is still the usual classes, has been compared to its predecessor but significantly cropped as the possibilities and specializations. Moreover anyway doesn’t too much matter the choice of the class, the enhancement of capabilities, as well as the group composition: da for the mission mandatory group members are already firmly booked and to master the tasks in each case without special skills, the different classes, specializations, and also a careful selection of the respective team members lose significantly in relevance.

For this, the combat system has been revised, thus helping that ME 2 in this respect is somewhat more dynamic. For example, attacks can be combined more comfortable which is an important point on stronger opponents. Being able to pause battles and due to the dynamics of movement restricted in comparison fail ME 2 however still, to move with conventional shooters at eye level. This is important, as that is the compensation for the circumcision of the RPG features thus not entirely – “Mass Effect 2″ shooter, RPG for this but much less so more, but not completely. A relationship that should go for shooter friends in order, but certainly can be criticized and accordingly in the conclusions again addressed are to.

Mission design

Can the mission design by ME 2 be with the verbs “land”, “explore” and “eliminate”. According to the focus shift in favor of the shooter shares, the breakdown by variety turns out less because accordingly tasks where it is less on the Schießprügel and for more on the head, are rare. Otherwise, not much you can criticise on the tasks: as part of said, they fall quite varied from what is reinforced by the venues set perfectly in scene. Here still is that “Mass effect” not open is world – there are to explore not much so. Instead must tubular level from A to B through, what monotonous sounds by well placed cut scenes and some content turn however quite exciting from visit goes.

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“Mass effect 2″ – Star chart

For this, there is usually some freedom in choosing the order in which the missions are processed. You therefore free to decide whether to first as one of the sufficient but not overly lush occurring Fmvs or dedicated to equal one of the parts of the main story. And also the navigation through the space is free, because you can maneuver the Normandy on a map of itself through the area (see picture above). While the associated refuelling of the vessel and the search for resources on unexplored planets represent a nice but not absolutely necessary feature.

Technical

Graphic

“Mass Effect” provided a good picture without to set new standards. The same can be expected, and of course improving one or the other is expected to be also by the successor. In the following we want to dedicate ourselves briefly just this point.

Test system for “Mass Effect 2″

• Windows Vista Ultimate (32 bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2.66 GHz
• Gigabyte GA-965 p-DQ6
• ATI Radeon HD 4870 (512 MB)
• 3 GB DDR2 RAM

Manufacturers recommendation for “Mass Effect 2″

• Operating system: Windows XP (SP3), Vista (SP 1), 7
• Processor: 1.8 GHz two-core CPU
• Memory: 1 GB (XP), 2 GB (Vista / 7)
• Video card: 256 MB
• Disk space: 15 GB
• Sound card: DirectX 9 compatible
• Keyboard and mouse

Also known as “mass effect 2″ is based on the Unreal engine 3, which means that anti aliasing can be activated only on a small trick: rename the MassEffect.exe in UT3.exe and promote AA via driver Center. Otherwise, can be seen that the Visual processing in some places, particularly on lighting, has been significantly improved so that ME 2 as a title on the amount of time presents itself. This is still to say that BioWare delivers games, gently run which resources: ran on our practical test system “Mass effect 2″ in a resolution of 1,680 x 1,050, and full details at rates of 50 to 60 frames per second. The FPS but in the 1930′s area, which is still playable, but not very comfortable in this case fell in the 4 x AA. Basically, it is but to say that ME 2 without enabled AA makes a good figure, so owners of slightly older hardware not from this finding put off should.

Sound & language implementation

The musical version of “Mass Effect 2″ succeeded again excellent, what may be not surprised however, finally an excellent composer with the overall service was entrusted with Jack wall again, reflected successful blend of epic orchestral sounds and modern synth sounds in one. And also the localization of the dialogue has a good quality thanks to the excellent speakers and a clean translation, which these days is sadly long since no common standard.

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The artificial intelligence covered in ME 2 do not necessarily with glory. Who is more or less accustomed to dealing with shooters should choose also therefore necessarily a higher level of difficulty, because the enemy hordes are rather an average hire under “normal” and thus rarely pose a real threat. This assessment relates in particular to the motion behavior: who expected to be encircled or bypassed, is resent the pretty adynamischen enemy NPCs and also the contributors do not always ideal. A real nuisance is but the AI at any time – for the Crown of the genre it is not enough however by far.

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Interim boss from ME 2

Vehicles

The Mako offered in “Mass effect” due to a moderately successful control numerous targets and was rightly often criticized. Also for this reason disclaimed BioWare for ME 2 on the implementation of vehicles, making themselves painfully noticeable in the exploration of the planet, because larger tours so naturally represent. A subjective opinion a bad vehicle better than no vehicle – a critique that is relativized however, that a vehicle via download content is to be applied here.

Conclusion

To bring it equal to the point: the very big litter has not succeeded this time BioWare. The first part of this test already suggests, the small but relevant concerns stemming from which corner: man can criticize the genre mix of “Mass Effect 2″ entitled. The said subjective feeling to just those mix by the circumcision of the role-playing game elements in favor of the shooter shares has been a slight imbalance, where that not even compensated less on RPG entirely by more shooter. This is considered however in principle, that the atmosphere of the game and the depth suffer a game too much of the action moment lives – a view that is certainly controversial and not widely shared.

&Lt; div > Photo Gallery “Mass effect 2 review” (53 pictures)

One sees from this criticism at a high level, one obtains a brilliant game, with “Mass Effect 2″ that can score with a well told and conclusive action, elaborate characters and a dramatic presentation as expected. In addition, the light children’s diseases on technical side culled so that the game is graphically on the amount of time, and without performance issues on our mid-range test system ran.

All in all, one can say that is why despite the mentioned restriction: PC gamers should “Mass Effect 2″ be sure the contract grant.

Personal conclusion by Volker Rißka:

As a gamer of BioWare games the first hour, “Mass Effect 2″ was quite high on the list of the expected blockbuster. After the manufacturer had already delivered a legend with the first “Kotor”, and the original “mass effect” which in little, the expectations for the second part were no less considered very high. With this anticipation I went on that me practically in this game, with the intro from the minute could Captivate. Even before I could access already one of the most smartest features: import of story from the first part. This worked; the old character was suddenly in newer graphic one. Cool!

Then began the actual game, and unfortunately also the disenchantment was a little bigger with every hour. BioWare has saved some details from the first part, also the game is more drifted from the typical RPG towards the shooter. And since I don’t play personally it shooter, which exist as sand on the sea, this development worries me. But the role-playing game in the ME2 is not dead, it is “different”. So can I in ME2 while in 1,000 variants a face model, buy a bunch of ornamental fish or models for my area, but fails to change only the standard battle dress uniform.

Also was fed a stop one of the basic features of role-playing, inventory, and so countless weapons to choose from. Depending on the character class, there is a defined set of weapons, modifying as in the first part is not possible. Although there is still research, it is only superficial, there is no longer the individual tinkering for more damage, better cooling u.v.w.m.. BioWare has made it very easy even to the point with the ammunition for the weapons: A magazine fits everything and loads after no matter whether gun, submachine gun, shotgun or rifle, at the same time all weapons. Only for the rocket launcher or other heavy equipment, you must obtain special energy. Here, potential was given away.

However, the story itself, and the interaction with the other characters in the team is above any doubt. This has further deepened BioWare on many points. It’s fun, correctly, as you so even something more is bound at the screen, in the hope that you can intervene very quickly again directly in the video.

All in all has become a very good game “Mass effect 2″ in my view therefore though, the true blockbuster has not succeeded but unfortunately BioWare. Since the end of the new part but again a in many directions open is, there is hope for the third branch. Whether BioWare decides then to align the pointer again slightly more towards RPG, remains to be seen however. This would be not only my wish.