One of the best action RPGs our time

How were we PS3 fans jealous when we had to watch how the PC and Xbox 360 owners were allowed to gamble the second part of the sci-fi epic Mass Effect. Now, one year later, this blockbuster was released for Sony's flagship. Such a large period can naturally arise many expectations and questions. Has it improved or there is a simple multiplatform title? Is it worth it at all if you do not know part 1? And will the PS3 audience be as excited as the Microsoft customers? All this we will answer for you!

The PS3 version

It would almost have been outrageous, EA would have us put the same game on the shelves in January 2011, as it came out in 2010. Fortunately, this is not like that. Probably the best new detail is that the PS3 version of Mass Effect 2 is already running with the engine of appearing in the third part of the winter, that is: it looks even better than before! Since we unfortunately never come as PlayStation owners to enjoy the first part and will therefore miss an important part in history, EA missed this issue a comic, which summarizes the previous events. In some places you can even intervene in the comic, these actions can have an impact on the actual game, if one does not create a new character. This concept is more or less similar to last year's Mass Effect 2 issue, as you had the option to import their save games from Part 1. The third and final spendierte EA Goodie are three additional missions that were previously available only as paid DLC.

A Commander for all cases

Since the prehistory in the interactive comic retelling, we go directly to the beginning of Mass Effect 2. The invasion of the Reaper was stopped, the danger has passed and our main character seemingly Commander Shepard is celebrated on each star as a hero. On a mission to make the last rebels locate Shepard's ship gets under fire, explodes, leaving the Commander in inglorious way to die. The story seems to end before it has even started, but suddenly opens his eyes and Shepard finds himself in a kind of experimental laboratory again. A mysterious organization called Cerberus, whose leader is the still more mysterious stranger has brought the celebrated soldiers using advanced technology to life again and wants him to work for them. It explains Shepard that more and more people colonies captured by the so-called collectors and taken to defend and that this probably happens on behalf of the Reaper. Since the government does not seem to recognize the danger, Cerberus pulls arbitrarily in the fight against the new threat. Shepard will give the whole, but must first build a powerful team of experts that are scattered throughout the universe. And so your mission begins

Long conversations, massive action and a lot to explore

Before you start you missed the choice of whether you want to play the default Commander Shepard, or the character looks and sex itself. Is it then really with the game going on, so a lot waiting for you that needs to be done to tackle the great space adventure. The starting point is always the ship, with the nozzle Shepard and his crew through space. Here you can talk undisturbed with your colleagues and learn what moves them, some of them also have their own missions. The talks are an important factor of the game, it shows not only the frequency, but also the length. There are always several choices when it comes to questions and answers, some of which also have impact on your character if he is considered as a model or as an apostate, which in turn has consequences in the game. A second element that Mass Effect 2 offers a touch RPG, is the level up the abilities of Shepard and the team, in addition to new pieces of armor and other things to buy.

To access the missions you open a space map, are recorded in the various galaxies, solar systems and planets. Each solar system has a progress bar that indicates what percentage were already completed. Almost always it is running on a mix of an order and exploring the planets beyond. The tasks are often similar, to find in the first place new members to the team and to convince. This is done in the style of the classic third-person shooter. You land on the planet, paves you the way to the destination, sometimes through conversation, mostly through action-packed shootouts and again by small obstacles such as locked doors, the mechanism applies it off. Depending on the difficulty it is important this tactically proceed to choose the right weapons, special abilities and commands through the two always fighting at your side companion. For variety missions in which their explorations hires in a vehicle, or simply examined only a crashed ship care. All initially does not sound really extraordinary or even new, but it creates the game again and again to provide enough motivation, even if you should err once haphazardly through the area.

At least for the main missions is considered the just mentioned aspect, unfortunately, you have to still explore and plenty of it. In addition to the planets, which contain a task, located in each solar system still 4-5 further that it is necessary to examine only for commodities. Initially, this is still pretty cool, because it just fits this space epic, and the mood even further increases, but that is gone again soon. The system behind this is easy to explain. You fly into orbit a star, looking with your scanner on raw material deposits and then fires off probes to degrade the valuable commodity. Basically quite simple, but it is so incredibly often that it starts to annoy soon as this still damn much time is needed. One could almost feel this element was only built to extend the playing time.

Faces hui, natural Pooh

Already on the Xbox 360 was the artwork of Mass Effect 2 is a real treat, that has not changed even when the PS3 version. The characters are great and designed to act as lifelike as seldom before in an action game. But that was not all. The spaceships and stations appear realistic, sometimes bleak and chilly, is topped by the images of the universe, which can be a freeze almost in awe. Optical Game does so a lot to build a madness atmosphere. The Render sequences are the perfect match and leave a like to the mouth watering converge. Unfortunately, some savings in the foreign missions. Mostly plants and floorings are really at the level of the day before yesterday, but there can be overlooked.

When it comes to setting up developer BioWare was really a lot of effort. For the English dubbing Hollywood actors were like Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), Carrie-Ann Moss (Matrix) or Seth Green (Austin Powers) obliged accordingly sound convincing the dialogues. In German, that's not quite on the level, still very satisfactory, which is extremely important in a game that is a lot of emphasis on conversation, of course. Negative one must unfortunately note that offset in some scenes sound and images run that bothers a little. As a highlight, we are experiencing a pompous soundtrack, which always reminds us of what an epic we participate.

Conclusion

Mass Effect 2 meets the high expectations fully. Thanks to the comics can be played without the first part well get into the action, enjoy the story, beat epic battles and can captivate more than 30 hours before the screen. Small blemish free perfection, but even so the second part of this magnificent trilogy is an absolute must in the games.