There’s little surprise Mass Effect 2 has the level of anticipation that currently awaits its January release. Billed as videogames’ first real sci-fi saga, BioWare’s ambition from the off has been so high, people are instantly interested. Just to stamp its dominance on the industry, the first Mass Effect lived up to the expectation. Crafting a universe that was as in-depth and complex as the likes of Star Wars, it catered for anyone wanting an experience that offered more than the usual template. The adventures of Commander Shepard were proof that when done right, videogames have the promise to be one of the most unique mediums within entertainment. Every action the player made affected their world with the ultimate realisation that one day in the future these choices and their effect on the narrative would come to fruition. Mass Effect 2 is just that.

Just being around the developers of what is arguably the 360’s finest RPG is enough to get you excited. With constant questions being raised regarding how you approached the first game, you soon start to realise individuals you had considered nothing more than fodder and decided to slight may very well be your eventual undoing. The sequel is the darker, more threatening version of BioWare’s epic, and one that is aiming to completely shock and surprise anyone who thinks they’ve got the format pegged. The entire plot is focused towards our hero and his inevitable suicide mission, a point producer Adrien Cho is quick to reiterate. “There are a multitude of ways to play [Mass Effect 2], and it really encourages players to try out different things. You’ve got to play both sides to see everything. I’m always surprised at the options that open up. It makes it really exciting and fun to play because you do something and realise there’s a good chance you may never have seen it. On top of that, there’s all these shades of grey that open up events further. At the end, with the suicide mission, that’s really interesting as to what happens. People are going to be shocked.”

It’s a testament to the level of depth that even at this late stage BioWare is still exceedingly confident that there’s so much more within its franchise. As we sit down to go through a brand new level, this idea is magnified yet again.

… continued