Saren and the Sovereign have been defeated and the Citadel has been saved. Depending on the player's choices made in the first Mass Effect, humanity may be all that's left of the Citadel Council. Of course, that doesn't keep them from ignoring the former war-hero Shepard who knows that the threat from the Reapers is still real. Instead, they send him/her on a boring mission to find some Geth in the Terminus system. The inevitable happens: a new enemy enters the scene, destroys Shepard's ship, the Normandy, and kills the hero of the galaxy. End of game? No, not really. Cerberus, a known human-centric network, believes the threat from the Reapers to be real and only sees one chance of saving the human race: Shepard. So they invest millions upon millions of credits into the Lazarus Project, and two years after Shepard died floating in space, he/she reawakens on-board the Cerberus Station. The main mission is given by Cerberus: find out more about the mysterious race of Collectors who abduct millions of human colonists for an unknown purpose, and figure out their possible connection to the Reapers. Mass Effect 2 is a hybrid of third-person-shooter and role-playing game. After the prologue, where the player witnesses the destruction of the original Normandy, he has to create a new character and choose from one of six classes each with its own abilities. The player's decisions here will influence the story significantly. The combat in Mass Effect 2 is fast-paced and action-packed. The player can switch between different weapons and use special abilities like grenades to take down enemies. Inventory management has been removed, and the player must rely on their team to change their loadout.
The game also features a dialogue system with multiple-choice options that can affect the story. The player's decisions will influence their relationship with other characters and even determine whether they become a hero or a villain. Quick-time events have also been added, allowing players to perform specific actions in critical moments.
One of the key features of Mass Effect 2 is its ability to import a character from the first game. This allows players to continue their story and reap benefits like increased credits and experience points. The player's decisions in the first game will also have an impact on the second game, making it feel more connected.
Overall, Mass Effect 2 is a gripping sci-fi adventure that builds upon the foundations of the first game. With its engaging story, improved combat, and deep character customization, it's no wonder why this game has become a classic in the gaming world.