Mass Effect 2 for the Xbox 360 and Windows PCs is a great game and has rightly earned high reviews from critics and raves from the gamers. Much like Ubisoft and Assassin's Creed 2, BioWare is to be commended by releasing a game that took many of the complaints from the first game and attempting to fix them.
Unfortunately, all is not sunshine and lollipops with Mass Effect 2 because there are a few issues with the game such as BioWare fixing some things that maybe didn't need to be fixed in the first place or by going from one extreme to another. Let's take a look at five things to hate about Mass Effect 2.
Break out the NoDoz
Scanning Planets for Resources – To upgrade items in Mass Effect 2 you have to scan planets for resources like Iridium and Palladium. This ultimately turns out to be nothing more than a pixel search that is an unnecessary time sink. Instead, the game should have either had EDI handle resource hunting for you or made scanning faster. It will actually make you miss the Mako from ME1. Story wise, it doesn’t make sense that you’ve got the backing of an organization like Cerberus with seemingly unlimited funds, yet you have to waste your time scanning planets to gather the resources needed to update your equipment. The planet scanner decidedly takes the ‘action’ out of Action RPG.
You can fit on a hard drive
Disk Swapping – No, I’m not going to complain so much about the game being extended to two DVDs as much as moan about a missed opportunity. The Xbox 360 allows you to install games to the hard drive and play them (with the disk in the drive) to reduce DVD drive use and make loading faster. So why not include the option to install at least the second disk while keeping the first disk in the drive? Granted you only have to swap disks twice during the entirety of the game but these are one of the little things that could have made the Mass Effect 2 experience better. Obviously not an issue with the PC version but it’s something that didn’t need to be an issue on the Xbox 360 as Forza Motorsport 3’s second disk demonstrated.
Stay with me guys!
Limited Squad Control – Ultimately, your squad control boils down to telling them what powers to use and pointing them to a spot that you hope they will occupy and not run off some place you don’t want them. Too often I would try to explore an empty room or corridor for ammo and health and I would hear the sounds of gun fire behind me as my squad mates left me to go fight some enemies who weren’t even visible from the corner I just turned. Now that’s some advanced AI! A simple ‘aggressive’, ‘moderate’, and ‘defensive’ option for squad mates would have been welcome so that they don’t go stumbling into fights that you aren’t quite ready for
Jack's suffers from OT
Jack/Subject Zero – Probably a little bit obvious and trite but Jack/Subject Zero just rubbed me the wrong way. While her background and story is one that should be a source of sympathy, the attitude and behavior grates after a while. Though, she is just filling her role as the team member who causes tension among the team members. Still, she remains the most unlikeable squad member between Mass Effect 1 and 2 in my opinion. That or I'm just biased against people with tattoos.
Weapon/Armor/Biotic Customization – This was one area that BioWare didn’t need to change. Yes, the new systems streamlines game play but it also takes away the ability to customize your character and their ability which helped make Mass Effect 1 so enjoyable. Hopefully, BioWare will veer back towards customization options closer to Mass Effect 1 for the next Mass Effect game.
And that's it without including any potential spoiler material. Honestly, 'hate' is probably too strong a word because none of these issues necessarily ruins the experience of Mass Effect 2 but they do keep a fantastic game from being perfect. Hopefully, BioWare will again take the feedback from gamers to enhance the experience for Mass Effect 3.
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Comments
These are all minor complaints compared to the previous games issues. This is probably the first video game sequel I have played that really feels like they listened to the fans and improved the game immensly to what they were trying to accomplish.
I believe this game overall was improved eons better than Assassins Creed 2 was.
Mass Effect 2 feels like what Mass Effect 1 was trying to be.
I wish they had added customization to the other pre order armors that were available. Other than that im happy with everything yes Subject Zero was kind of a whiny immature bitch, but hey I love the squad mate diversity.
This game is one of the best games ive ever played. Ill go as far as to say this may be one of the best xbox titles ever
Ive only had to switch the disc once so far
planet scanning i see can get old if you replay the game a few times . It hasnt bothered me on the 1st playthrough but i can totally see how you would get bothered by the second or third playthrough
This is all nonsense.
Me 1 was in the year 2500 ish, weapons should not be like the ones we have now.
Haveing to reload now is plain stupid of the developers.
No talking to teamates durring combat or just walking around, stupid.
Not being able to upgrade during mission, stupid.
Not being able to upgrade skills durring mission, stupid.
Can't explore planets on your own, stupid.
Have to fly your ship manual between galaxies, stupid.
This list goes on... but i would rather say quite simply.
They should have left all the game mechanics and menus the same and just added new places to go and have a good storyline that included members of your previous team if you wanted them back.
They should have added some extras but you should be able to have your old team back.
If you disagree with this then you really only play the game because it is a game.
You don't understand the idea that it was made with a certain structure that should not have been altered.
No actual improvements were needed except having renegade make you possibly and enemy of the citidel. or whoever.
None of these gripes hold any weight whatsoever. Good job grabbing my eyes with an intriguing title. Terrible follow-through.
We're in agreement about the ^&%&%*!!!! Scanner. I don't mind the new Armor and weapon upgrade system, but they could at least have included a marketplace feature (90K Palladium, 1000 PLatinum..... come on, guys). I think I would have enjoyed it more if they had kept the old system though. A classic case of fixing something that isn't broken.
Jack is a matter of personal aesthetics, much as some people prefer hard boiled Mickey Spillane and others prefer Harlequin Romance. Both have their audiences and there's going to be some crossover.
I am MOST grateful to be rid of the G-Dmnd frogger knock off decryption mini-game. If they hadn't changed that there would be NO way they would sell me on ME3.
These are all minor complaints compared to the previous games issues. This is probably the first video game sequel I have played that really feels like they listened to the fans and improved the game immensly to what they were trying to accomplish.
I believe this game overall was improved eons better than Assassins Creed 2 was.
Mass Effect 2 feels like what Mass Effect 1 was trying to be.
I wish they had added customization to the other pre order armors that were available. Other than that im happy with everything yes Subject Zero was kind of a whiny immature bitch, but hey I love the squad mate diversity.
This game is one of the best games ive ever played. Ill go as far as to say this may be one of the best xbox titles ever
Ive only had to switch the disc once so far
planet scanning i see can get old if you replay the game a few times . It hasnt bothered me on the 1st playthrough but i can totally see how you would get bothered by the second or third playthrough
I HATE THE LACK OF CUSTOMIZATION.
I played a Paragon, and I loved Jack from her first line to Shepard: "Sh**, you sound like a pu**y." It was hilarious, there's no other character like her, so she comes in as a great addition to a complex collection of characters. She can be annoying, but she is a believable character that I enjoyed seeing development from.
Ashley is still my girl, though. I'll be seeing her in ME3.
Allow me to put in my two cents on the problems with ME2:
1. Can't Crouch!? Why not? If you will notice, couching automaticall when behind cover increases your accuracy vs. standing behind cover (when aim of course). So... if there is an obvious benefit in crouching - and your teammates obviously have this function - why not toggle a button for it? Crouching ME1 made it a lot easier to hit enemies in the distance...
2. No XP for killing bad guys! Pardon me, but, W...T...F? Is this not an RPG? In all of the history of RPG's, has there ever been a game where you do not get xp for killing bad guys? Yeah... this 'decision' enables the player to focus on the battles, but ultimately it makes you feel that killing enemies is just a way of getting through to the next point of the mission, vs. providing that sense of accomplishment that I usually get from each individual kill.
3. Biotic Powers and gameplay strategy/blanace...
3. (continued) I noticed that you cannot use pull/shockwave (and possibly throw - haven't experimented with that yet) while an enemies shields and armor are up. The shields makes logical, sci-fi sense (and I like it!); shields should help absorb the energy. But armor? Why? Why should armor make a difference? Not only does it not follow the same logic, it also make biotic powers much less effective - enemies have to be significantly weakened in order to use biotic powers against them. I don't know if you guys have noticed, but even the toughest enemies have low "health" - meaning, oce the shield and armor are gone, the each hit does a lot of damage to their "health HP". So... by the time biotic powers (such as shockwave, pull, and throw) can be used, the enemy is practically dead. Armor should not affect biotic powers...
Well, that's my two cents anyway.
the customization was way better this time. last game you didnt see any noticable results between upgrades. if u really got off on ur fake control go play me1 again
I miss the Mako. It's not that I think driving is fun. It's the scenery in a desolated planet is the most memorable experience a sci-fi fans can have. I loved the sky view of some of the most exotic planets. I felt I am out there in space.
Beside the scenery, ME 1 also had many cultural archeological sites. Player is literally discovering new and exotic civilization.
ME2 stripped all of that, which I believe is the core and essence of the game.
@Joe
You are spot ON!!! And the fact that now the galaxy uses bullets (heat sinks).
ME2 improved many things from ME1, but take away "exploration" from an RPG/Adventure game and you are taking away it's soul.
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