The reviews for Bioware's Mass Effect 2 are coming in thick and fast - and it seems that hardly anyone has a bad word to say about the game.
The last week has brought opinion from the likes of PC Gamer, which awarded the game 90 per cent. It said: "Faster paced action and difficult ethical decisions make Mass Effect 2 even more immersive than the excellent original."
The US Official Xbox Magazine meanwhile, granted the game a very tidy 95 per cent. It said: "For all the myriad improvements that make Mass Effect 2's visuals so appealing and its combat so exhilarating, it's ultimately the way it moves us that make it some memorable."
Back in the UK, CVG sister mag Xbox World 360 came up with another 90 score, commenting that the game was "arguably the best RPG in recent years".
Meanwhile,IGN gave the title 9.6/10, telling its readers: "It's incredibly personal while still retaining a sense of epic sweeping scale. The combat and mission design are outstanding."
Elsewhere in the blogosphere, Brave New Gamer laid down yet another 90 per cent score. The site commented: "After sitting down with it over the weekend and taking in the new, redefined universe, I can safely say that you will love this game."
NowGamer offered up a 9.8/10 review, saying ME2 'penetrates the line between gaming and cinema like no other [title]'.
The title is tracking beautifully on Metacritic, with a current average of 97/100.
What does CVG make of it, I hear you cry? It's in the pipes, good people - and we've played every nook and cranny of it.
Keep checking back this week for the grand unveiling...
I'm really lookin forward to ME2, but I think reviewers are massively overestimating how 'innovative' Mass Effect is. The conversation wheel isn't really anything new; multiple dialogue routes and decisions have been done in various other games, and done well in stuff like Oblivion and Vampire Bloodlines. Mass Effect is just a good overall experience, I don't think it's doing anything particularly new.
Roll on Thursday when PLAY.com usually get deliveries out to me. (prays that this delivery isn't delayed). Might have to pull a sickie on Friday due to a lack of sleep.
I just don't understand why people always go back to oblivion when they're talking about great RPGs. It really isn't.
I've always hated those games, although I am biased as I have a deep hatred of all things Medieval.
I only got as far as the second quest in Oblivion before getting so mad at it because of allies getting in my way then attacking me because they stupidly ran into my sword. I though Fallout 3 was 10X the game Oblivion was but i'm sure there's a hell of a lot of people who will disagree.
IGN and Eurogamer have pointed out that all the pre order DLC, all the Cerberus network DLC and (presumably) all the Dr Pepper DLC were uploaded to Xbox.com downloadable for free. Apparently a bunch of people managed to download (or at least queue) the lot but MS have clamped down and removed access now.
The title is tracking beautifully on Metacritic, with a current average of 97/100.
That's 90+95+90+96+90+98 = 559. And I make 1/6 of that score to be 93.17. So there.
Has anyone seen the film Clue, with Tim Curry? This is one of those 1+2+2+1 sort of things...
Though none of this really matters it’s probably as there is a PC world review in there, that won’t be included in the 360 part, and there are publications on the 360 page that are not part of Future Publishing and therefore don’t wish to list them in the article as it gives competition undue prominence. Either way it’s all just a number that doesn’t really matter at all.
I got those downloads queued to my console, the shame is that by the time I get home to physically get them they will have been removed.
I just don't understand why people always go back to oblivion when they're talking about great RPGs. It really isn't.
I've always hated those games, although I am biased as I have a deep hatred of all things Medieval.
I only got as far as the second quest in Oblivion before getting so mad at it because of allies getting in my way then attacking me because they stupidly ran into my sword. I though Fallout 3 was 10X the game Oblivion was but i'm sure there's a hell of a lot of people who will disagree.
I'm one of those who disagrees with you.
I hated Oblivion when I first played it, but I just persevered with it and after about 6 or 7 hours I just couldn't put it down. Definitely in my all time top 5, I can understand how it wouldn't appeal to everyone though.
As for ME2, almost certainly goty I bet, nuff said.
Oouhh yeeaaaah! Just three days to go counting today ("Mass Effect 2" is officially in stores here in The Netherlands on Thursday; I'm guessing it has to do with their tradition of keeping stores open late on that day every week)! I'm starting to feel like a giddy school kid!
I'm really lookin forward to ME2, but I think reviewers are massively overestimating how 'innovative' Mass Effect is. The conversation wheel isn't really anything new; multiple dialogue routes and decisions have been done in various other games, and done well in stuff like Oblivion and Vampire Bloodlines. Mass Effect is just a good overall experience, I don't think it's doing anything particularly new.
Ahh! You mentioned "Vampire Bloodlines". That was a fantastic game and a gem of an RPG, IMO. True, it had at least one game breaking bug when released "The Leopold Society" mission in the caves, but with a console work around discovered by a fan it was possible to continue on. I genuinely love that game yet too often forget about it. It makes me a bit wistful to think that a third installment in that game franchise may never surface. A worthy continuation of the same quality (in regards to the story, voice acting and game play) would be more than welcomed by me. "Vampire Bloodlines" along with "Deus Ex" are two games that I think desperately need up-to-date continuations. Since "Deus Ex 3" is said to be in the works (and hopefully not a lame duck like "Deus Ex 2: Invisible War" was compared to its predecessor,) that leaves "Vampire 3 (or whatever)"....*sigh*
Oouhh yeeaaaah! Just three days to go counting today ("Mass Effect 2" is officially in stores here in The Netherlands on Thursday; I'm guessing it has to do with their tradition of keeping stores open late on that day every week)! I'm starting to feel like a giddy school kid!
Really hoping my copy arrives on Thursday as well from PLAY. Contemplating whether or not to try book friday off work, cause if i don't then there's gonna be f**k all work done that day as i watch the clock count down to home time. Honestly cannot remember the last game that had this effect(no pun intended) on me.
I think I'm halfway through the game and it's amazing, they improved everything from the combat to the side missions and the exploration parts. The story is amazing they could make a good series with it.
Oouhh yeeaaaah! Just three days to go counting today ("Mass Effect 2" is officially in stores here in The Netherlands on Thursday; I'm guessing it has to do with their tradition of keeping stores open late on that day every week)! I'm starting to feel like a giddy school kid!
Really hoping my copy arrives on Thursday as well from PLAY. Contemplating whether or not to try book friday off work, cause if i don't then there's gonna be f**k all work done that day as i watch the clock count down to home time. Honestly cannot remember the last game that had this effect(no pun intended) on me.
Same here. Regular version + Terminus gear ordered from play (PLEASE be early!) and collectors edition ready to pick up from GAME on Friday. Which I booked off for exactly the reason you state here.
Honestly I don't think this DLC that's been on and off Live today is going to be useable without the unlock codes though.
Just becasue something isn't new doesn't mean it can't be brilliant. I think its the refinement of stuff thats gone before that makes it great.
I just don't understand why people always go back to oblivion when they're talking about great RPGs. It really isn't.
If that was a reply to what I said, then look again, cus I'm not saying it's not gonna be a great game, I'm just saying people overestimate how innovate it is. My point about Oblivion was with regards to the conversations, which were quite open to choice. I agree, I don't really rate Oblivion, and never finished the game. It's just that the innovation people talk about ME bringing is with the dialogue system, which has been done before, and the choices you make having lasting influences.. which isn't new, but being fair, I can't think of an RPG that does it as well.
Oouhh yeeaaaah! Just three days to go counting today ("Mass Effect 2" is officially in stores here in The Netherlands on Thursday; I'm guessing it has to do with their tradition of keeping stores open late on that day every week)! I'm starting to feel like a giddy school kid!
I'm really lookin forward to ME2, but I think reviewers are massively overestimating how 'innovative' Mass Effect is. The conversation wheel isn't really anything new; multiple dialogue routes and decisions have been done in various other games, and done well in stuff like Oblivion and Vampire Bloodlines. Mass Effect is just a good overall experience, I don't think it's doing anything particularly new.
Ahh! You mentioned "Vampire Bloodlines". That was a fantastic game and a gem of an RPG, IMO. True, it had at least one game breaking bug when released "The Leopold Society" mission in the caves, but with a console work around discovered by a fan it was possible to continue on. I genuinely love that game yet too often forget about it. It makes me a bit wistful to think that a third installment in that game franchise may never surface. A worthy continuation of the same quality (in regards to the story, voice acting and game play) would be more than welcomed by me. "Vampire Bloodlines" along with "Deus Ex" are two games that I think desperately need up-to-date continuations. Since "Deus Ex 3" is said to be in the works (and hopefully not a lame duck like "Deus Ex 2: Invisible War" was compared to its predecessor,) that leaves "Vampire 3 (or whatever)"....*sigh*
It's one of my favourite games of all time, a flawed masterpiece. I wish someone would pick up the rights for it and make a sequel. I did read in PCGamer a while ago that an MMO was being developed though, called World of Darkness... but I'd rather a proper RPG myself.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
