Mass Effect 2 is how you handle a sequel. In fact, it might be one of the greatest jumps in quality from one game to the next I've ever seen. It doesn't opt for the "bigger is better" approach that many sequels take, instead seeking to streamline what worked in the first game while ditching what didn't. In the process, it became a much more focused and enjoyable experience. It concerned itself less with being a subpar KOTOR and doubled down on being what it was really meant to be: a very solid Gearslike. I described the first Mass Effect as being a product of its time in the negative sense, whereas Mass Effect 2 is an example of how that phrase now can be used as a positive: If you're going to borrow from the best of the era, why not the pre-eminent third-person cover shooter that is Gears of War?
In addition to being a much more enjoyable shooter (god damn did they ever improve the feel and sounds of those guns, it makes a huge difference) Mass Effect 2 also nails its tone and setting in a way that makes the first game feel like a Playskool title. It's dark, it's grungy, it's seedy - it's all the little things you really want in a game that traffics in space fantasy. Hell, the massively improved lighting alone does a world of good in setting ME2's atmosphere. From the moment that first setpiece kicks off you know you're playing something that looks and feels much better than what came before.
Then you have your new squadmates. Top to bottom they are far more interesting and complex characters than the majority of their ME1 counterparts, and bring with them problems and scenarios that actually put the morals of your character to the test. This couples nicely with having Shepard be ingrained within a terrorist organization instead of a military one, giving you a more ambiguous but difficult situation to navigate. Also, somewhat surprising to me after my experience with the first game, this setup gave me far more avenues in which I felt like I was genuinely role-playing my character. Being able to play Space Punisher instead of different shades of Space Cop made a world of difference.
Very excited to see how they bungle all this in Mass Effect 3.
In addition to being a much more enjoyable shooter (god damn did they ever improve the feel and sounds of those guns, it makes a huge difference) Mass Effect 2 also nails its tone and setting in a way that makes the first game feel like a Playskool title. It's dark, it's grungy, it's seedy - it's all the little things you really want in a game that traffics in space fantasy. Hell, the massively improved lighting alone does a world of good in setting ME2's atmosphere. From the moment that first setpiece kicks off you know you're playing something that looks and feels much better than what came before.
Then you have your new squadmates. Top to bottom they are far more interesting and complex characters than the majority of their ME1 counterparts, and bring with them problems and scenarios that actually put the morals of your character to the test. This couples nicely with having Shepard be ingrained within a terrorist organization instead of a military one, giving you a more ambiguous but difficult situation to navigate. Also, somewhat surprising to me after my experience with the first game, this setup gave me far more avenues in which I felt like I was genuinely role-playing my character. Being able to play Space Punisher instead of different shades of Space Cop made a world of difference.
Very excited to see how they bungle all this in Mass Effect 3.