The sequel to the hit video game Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 continues the story of Commander Shepard and the fight against the Reapers.

Mass Effect 2’s story however starts off with a first look at the Illusive Man and his assistant Miranda Lawson, who are both apart of an organization called Cerberus. After some dialogue it then cuts to the iconic Normandy and Joker and the crew are seen talking abut their current mission patrolling the Terminus System. Just after they realized they were being tailed by an unknown ship, said ship attacks the Normandy blowing the ship in half. Many of the Normandy crew died during the attack but most of all Shepard is blasted into space and also dies, but before the player can cry the scene is cut to Miranda Lawson talking about reviving Shepard in a project called the Lazarus Project. Shepard is revived and then meets the Illusive Man.

The Illusive Man then tells Shepard that he must put together a team after finding out the many human colonies have been disappearing because of the Collectors, an advanced alien species. Shepard must now put together a team and that is the main focus of the game. The player goes around the galaxy recruiting different characters to his team to fight the Collectors and save the colonists. When recruiting characters to the team the player must also do loyalty missions that greatly effect the ending of the game. The player also can continue past romances from the first game or create totally new relationships.

The gameplay of Mass Effect 2 is greatly improved from the first game. The controls are perfected and the guns are all upgraded. Although now every class has a special ability that is tied to only that class. Also, submachine guns were added to the game allowing for more customization. Depending on what class you choose determines what weapons you get however much like the first game, but you do get a chance to get a new weapon later in the game. Using powers also have become easier and all powers have become more useful and upgraded. Dialogue options also greatly improved with the addition of quicktime Paragon and Renegade actions. Paragon actions allow you to act like a hero, while Renegade actions allow you to be a jerk and a bad guy.

With the story and gameplay in mind Mass Effect 2 deserves a 8.5/10. There are many holes in the story that many wish were filled but were ignored by BioWare. Everything else about the game is fantastic and should still be recommended for people to play. The characters are all fantastic and their stories are great.