Mass Effect 2 Interview/Trailer/New Screens

akibastyle

[CENTER]August 18, 2009 - Anybody lucky enough to make their way to the Gamescom convention in Cologne, Germany will be amongst the first to get their hands on a playable demo of Mass Effect 2. For those of us, including yours truly, who can't make the trek, we've gone to Executive Producer Casey Hudson for an update on how the game is coming along, what Gamescom attendees can expect, and much more. There's even a little talk about Project Natal in here. Enjoy the newtrailer and then get the latest details here.

IGN: What's the significance of what we're seeing in this latest video?

Casey Hudson: In Mass Effect 2 we're introducing some pretty incredible new locations that will become major parts of the Mass Effect universe. A great example is Omega, an enormous mining station that has become a major crime center in the galaxy. It really is the opposite of the Citadel. Whereas the Citadel represents the height of civilization, on Omega you'll find the dregs of the galaxy. It's dark and dangerous, but with all the crime and heavy industry, a lot of money runs through Omega as well. In the video you'll see that while Omega is a gritty new environment, it has some spectacular and awe-inspiring locations.

The video also gives a first look at one of the new squad members that you can recruit. His name is Grunt, and he's a huge Krogan who makes an excellent bodyguard on a place like Omega. We show some scenes of Grunt in action, which make it pretty clear why he's a lot of fun to have in your team on a combat mission.

IGN: What can fans expect to learn about Mass Effect 2 at Gamescom this year?

Casey Hudson: It's going to be the first time fans can get their hands on the game and try out the new controls and combat for themselves. Players will be able to try out the new heavy weapon system, the real-time power use and the new squad command features. I suspect people will want to replay the demo mission a few times, because the new focus on physics chaos in combat really makes you want to master the new versions of biotic powers and weapons like the Missile Launcher. In the demo you can experiment with launching these powers and weapons in different ways to control how and where you throw enemies around, which gets particularly fun as you cross the bridge between two skyscrapers in the middle of a firefight. Once you realize the angle that Biotic Pull hits an enemy determines what direction they're pulled in, you immediately start having fun with throwing enemies exactly where you want them to go.

IGN: How far along in production is the game? Is it still on track for an early 2010 release?

Casey Hudson: We're at the end stages of production, completing all the content in the game and putting the final polish on new features. There's still a lot of work to do, but we're in great shape to release in early 2010.

IGN: If you had to pick three decisions from the first Mass Effect that most affect the story in the sequel, what would they be?

Casey Hudson: For those who haven't played Mass Effect, I should mention that (a) there are some spoilers ahead, and (b) you really should play Mass Effect. I'd say the top 3 decisions are probably the choice of who lives and dies in the nuclear explosion on Virmire, who you had a romance with (if any), and whether you allowed the Galactic Council to die during the final battle. These things naturally cause some of the longer-lasting effects on your story as Commander Shepard. Another interesting aspect is that the sum of your decisions – your renegade / paragon status – also has an immediate and profound effect that we can't explain without giving away some of the story.

IGN: Since the humans saved the day in Mass Effect, is there a newfound respect for our species across the galaxy?

Casey Hudson: It actually depends on your choices. The galaxy has changed because of what happened in the first game, but how it changed really is dependent on some of the key choices you made.

IGN: Will there be any Achievements in Mass Effect 2 that you can only earn if you made specific decisions in the first game?

Casey Hudson: No. You can accomplish the game's full achievements from within the game itself.

IGN: Will any upcoming Mass Effect 1 downloadable add-ons bridge the gap between the two stories?

Casey Hudson: No. Our upcoming PRC for the original Mass Effect will be a standalone story, and after that we'll be focusing strictly on Mass Effect 2 content. The novel Mass Effect: Ascension introduces some of the key people and places in Mass Effect 2, and there will be a Dark Horse comic that leads directly into the beginning of Mass Effect 2's storyline.

IGN: What changes, if any, are being made to the Mako? Will it get a performance upgrade?

Casey Hudson: We've created a new vehicle for Mass Effect 2 which is a major improvement over the Mako and is an absolute blast to play – especially when combined with our improved level design for uncharted world levels. Improving the vehicle has been a major goal, so we've been very cautious about getting it perfect before we reveal it. But, we'll be able to reveal it soon and I think players are going to really enjoy the way the new vehicle moves and fights.

IGN: Several hardcore RPG fans I've spoken to are worried that the streamlining of item management and skills will water down character customization too much for their liking. What would you say to them?

Casey Hudson: Not to worry - we're not really streamlining or simplifying. What we actually did was we rebuilt the entire inventory system so that it could do more, while being easier to use. The previous system tried to handle all the equipping, customizing, and managing of your entire squad's armor, weapons, and gear in a single screen. The main difference in ME2 is we've separated these functions into different activities, so that each one can offer deeper customization while being more fun and easy to use. An example is the armor personalization system which goes far beyond what players could do in the first game (and that's an understatement), but because it's on its own screen you can manage the deeper level of options more easily.

IGN: Do you think the motion controls and voice recognition offered with Natal will ever be incorporated successfully in games like Mass Effect?

Casey Hudson: There are some fun possibilities for Natal functionality in existing games, but to really make use of it you'd want to design a game from the ground up with Natal in mind. It will take a while to evaluate the technology and find robust ways to apply it, but we are looking at it to see what kinds of meaningful additions it might be able to make to the Mass Effect experience.

IGN: GC 2009: Mass Effect 2 Interview [CENTER]Trailer

Screenshots

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kamikazee

@ [COLOR=green]Asymmetric[/COLOR]

I know >_< when I got Kasumi DLC....I already finished the game.. So when I played the Kasumi mission I already out leveled the badguys!

kamikazee

yea its been out for awhile. In fact they just release a New DLC for it called Shadow Broker

Asymmetric

The game is already ancient by today's standards, and I have no idea why Bioware keeps releasing new character DLCs...do they really expect that the majority of players will run another playthrough just to experience the one new character? Errrr....no.

TheWolf

the graphics on that look PHENOMENAL aki!!! is that demo available to the general public yet?

akibastyle

[FONT=Century Gothic]I believe the game's been out for over a year Wolf, so there should be a demo download available out there somewhere:P[/FONT]

Marekolte

Such a great Game !!!

Been playing it for a bit now, and it is quite superb. Graphics are awesome, voice acting quite good.

And re-playable countless times thanks to (very) different classes and alignments. Importable saves from the first opus for an even deeper experience.

I am at a loss for words with this game, definetly one of the best of the year 09-10

aliza

enjoy here

IveliosChristopher

Nice game, but very short, I finish in 23h.

Gamespot.
Mass Effect 2 takes the bleak vacuum of space and flushes it with color--the light of stars and galaxies, the red and violet swirls of far-off nebulas, and the glimpses of comets as they burn through the void. You’ll catch your first glimpse of this in the game’s intense and much-improved art design, but that dance of light and shadows is also an apt metaphor for bleak undercurrents in the story, as well as the moral quandaries and past indiscretions that haunt the main characters. More so than its predecessor, Mass Effect 2 possesses an identity, and most of the obvious changes and improvements over the original are beholden to the shift in tone. The shooting is more immediate and satisfying, which keeps the pace moving and intensifies the violence of each encounter. Rich characterizations invite you to look more closely at each crew member's personal stake in the sprawling galactic backdrop. Even the relatively predictable space opera that is the main plot has sinister moments, and you sense the characters struggling with that heavy burden. Mass Effect 2 is incredibly enjoyable, but it's more than just fun: It's a stellar package with a fierce spirit that makes it engrossing and unforgettable.

Mass Effect 2 begins with dire events that foreshadow the game's darker tone--an attack that leaves the SSV Normandy in pieces and the fate of series protagonist Shepard temporarily unclear. Never fear: Shepard returns thanks to the efforts of the controversial pro-human organization called Cerberus and under the watchful eye of its chain-smoking overseer, The Illusive Man. Entire human colonies are disappearing without a trace, and Cerberus needs you--as Shepard--to investigate and confront the vicious forces behind the mystery. Whether you make your contempt for Cerberus' questionable methods clear or espouse the organization's manipulations, you owe The Illusive Man your life. Like it or loathe it, he casts his shadow on every action you take.

A race of locustlike beings known as the Collectors cast an even larger shadow, and the threat they pose is greater than may first appear. Cerberus wants you to assemble a formidable team to assist and provides you with two human officers of its own. First, there is the sexy Miranda. Then, there is Jacob, who seems initially reticent but allows his emotional fire to burn more brightly as the journey progresses. One by one, you build up your crew of specialists to complement them. Among them are a stoic but powerful Asari named Samara, whose ethical code is as unforgiving as it is inflexible, and Thane, a brooding assassin that belongs to the reptilian Drell race. These are great characters, as are other members of your team, though the Salarian scientist Mordin Solus is possibly the finest character in Mass Effect 2 and arguably the most interesting one seen in an RPG in some time. His ultracaffeinated, ultralogical delivery is often hysterical and always entertaining (his romantic advice will have you in stitches), but his moral misgivings and humaneness make him more than just comic relief. This diverse team joins you aboard a newly built vessel named, appropriately enough, The Normandy SR-2, with the ever-reliable and ever-feisty Joker at the helm. He's not the only blast from the past to cross your path in Mass Effect 2, but it's best to discover for yourself which characters from its predecessor (and what role they play in this trek across the Milky Way) you'll meet again.

The main plot is conventional science fiction that draws to a predictable close, so the narrative wonders don't exist within the sturdy-but-safe central story; rather, they gild its periphery. Each recruit offers a quest of his or her own to undertake, and these missions give you a lot of insight into your crew members--even those, like Jacob, that seem rather boring initially. Not all of these missions involve combat, which doesn't always work in the game's favor; one in which you follow your target from a walkway overhead is one of Mass Effect 2's weaker moments. But even the rare missions that are light on thrills are still heavy on character development. Writing and dialogue are top notch, keeping each teammate from being a simple sci-fi cliche. The game may come with an M rating, but it doesn't flaunt its adult motifs. Profanity and sexual themes are handled maturely, and their use has purpose and poignancy. There's nary a weak link in the tremendous voice cast, so each line sounds heartfelt, and great facial animations (especially among the nonhuman members of your crew) and physical gestures make it easy to connect with your cohorts.

Conversations commonly present you with a number of responses that affect the meters representing two sides of the ethical spectrum: paragon and renegade. These meters are handled separately rather than represent sides of a single gauge. This structure makes a simple but important point: Morality isn't an either/or, good/bad attribute, but it allows for shades of gray in which to maneuver. As these meters fill, new conversation options open, giving you additional ways to solve dilemmas. These choices don't lead to the complexity and flexibility you see in RPGs like Fallout 3 or Dragon Age, but they result in some electric moments, particularly during the final hours. If you import your character from the original Mass Effect, the decisions you made in that game will be manifested here in extraordinary ways--though it might take a second play-through for you to really understand exactly how extraordinary. A more immediately noticeable adjustment to the conversations is the addition of interrupt triggers. In certain cases, you may get a prompt allowing you to interrupt the scene. This may involve pulling a gun on an unsavory mercenary (a renegade action) or snatching an impressionable youngster from the clutches of a gang when he tries to enroll (a paragon action). These instances have a nice feeling of immediacy and prove that actions really are louder than words.

Mass Effect 2's third-person shooting action is greatly enhanced over the original, making battles exciting and violent, which befits the overall shift in tone. Battles play out as they do in a typical cover-based shooter like Gears of War, with a few caveats (you can't tumble, for example). Sliding into cover is slick and easy, as is popping in and out to take potshots at the wide variety of foes that assault you. Action sequences still present a few rare hangups; you may suddenly rise a few feet into the air for no reason and be unable to move. Or you may get stuck on an invisible obstacle and jitter back and forth. Uncommon bugs aside, Mass Effect 2 works well as a shooter, and other changes to the combat reinforce the improvements. For example, your shields and health automatically regenerate as they commonly do in straightforward shooters, and you now pick up ammo from the battlefield. You can still pause the action to let loose biotic-powered fury, but combat remains fluid and stimulating. It helps that the two teammates accompanying you on your missions are much less of a burden than before--not quite brilliant, but certainly smart enough to stay out of your way and stay alive.