Mass Effect 2 Hands On Preview [PC]

21 Dec 2009 at 15:01:10 by Richard Walker

Writing a spoiler free Mass Effect 2 preview is becoming an increasingly difficult task. The more we see of the game, the more narrative is revealed, and our recent hands-on with the opening first hour of the full game gives away a whole lot of new stuff in terms of Shepard's story.

However, in the interest of adhering to a policy of writing non-spoilerific previews, we're not going to give away any of Mass Effect 2's opening story moments. They'll be for you, the player to unveil when you finally get your eager hands on the game at the end of January.

Following the character customisation screen (where presumably old Mass Effect save games will also be detected and also let's hope there'll be an option to tweak old characters, so we can adjust our ugly, fish-lipped freak of a man) and a brief textual summary of the events of the first game, you begin back on the Normandy, effectively starting where you left off in the previous Mass Effect. So you'll see a lot of your trusted crew again and to reacquaint yourself with the clean lines, narrow corridors and cramped quarters of your old vessel, which is rather nice.

Of course, it's not long before pretty cut scenes unfold detailing hugely important events that conspire to shake Shepard's world to its very foundations, and you're eventually spat out on the other side. Big spoilers duly sidestepped, the rest of the demo takes place at a Cerberus space station where you meet the slinky, sophisticated Miranda and tough-looking, no-nonsense Jacob.

These first two characters you encounter form your initial team, and it's your job to lead them in an escape from Cerberus HQ as their mechs have been hacked, consequently causing them to turn upon you and the station's crew. As such, this section - which largely involves engaging in combat with a lot of robotic enemies - doubles as Mass Effect 2's tutorial, introducing players (old and new alike) to the tighter shooting mechanics and much-improved cover system.

You needn't be concerned that ME2's revamped combat means the series is shifting focus into all-out shooter territory though, because although the gameplay is possibly every bit as refined as any decent third-person actioner worth its salt, it's still the dialogue and narrative-driven moments that impress and compel the most.

Take an earlier exchange with the shady, enigmatic Illusive Man (voice provided by the distinctive, gravel-tones of Martin Sheen) for instance. The lighting and camera are enormously cinematic and the fantastic graphical finesse (some of the best visuals we've seen) highlights this, lending the scene real gravity as the Illusive Man asks for Shepard's help in confronting the newest threat to mankind, the insect-like Collectors.

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