I wrote an article for a the website of a podcast I'm part of and was told by some people that it was good and I should pass it around so here it is (I'll post the first bit and then link so the forum page doesn't get huge):
As I'm sure most of you know, Mass Effect 2 has been released. The game is generally being reviewed as an amazing definite buy, but as with almost all new sequels, there is the inevitable comparison to its predecessor. A lot of people who have played Mass Effect 2 say that it is nothing more than a "dumbed-down" version of the first, with the lack of an in depth inventory system and general non-RPG feel. While the feeling of losing that desired RPG aspect is definitely understood, there are two sides to every coin, and ways that this game is just as strong an RPG.
The inventory system is by far the most notable revision that was implemented. No more do you need to buy / find armors and weapons all the time, as upgrades and new options are given to you throughout the game. I am 19 hours into the game, and only have about 24-ish weapons. I didn't sell any (because you can't) its just that those are the only guns the game has given me. While this may seem like a bad thing, the guns it gives you are variants of each other. The sniper rifles are either a bolt action, three round burst, or semiauto, the shotguns are pump shotguns or automatic combat shotguns, and the big guns are all vastly different from each other. Those differences among many others allow players to choose their own playstyle and customize their character in ways that ME1's 'cut and paste with bigger numbers' style of weapon changing didn't allow for.
Read the rest at www.theboilerroompodcast.com
As I'm sure most of you know, Mass Effect 2 has been released. The game is generally being reviewed as an amazing definite buy, but as with almost all new sequels, there is the inevitable comparison to its predecessor. A lot of people who have played Mass Effect 2 say that it is nothing more than a "dumbed-down" version of the first, with the lack of an in depth inventory system and general non-RPG feel. While the feeling of losing that desired RPG aspect is definitely understood, there are two sides to every coin, and ways that this game is just as strong an RPG.
The inventory system is by far the most notable revision that was implemented. No more do you need to buy / find armors and weapons all the time, as upgrades and new options are given to you throughout the game. I am 19 hours into the game, and only have about 24-ish weapons. I didn't sell any (because you can't) its just that those are the only guns the game has given me. While this may seem like a bad thing, the guns it gives you are variants of each other. The sniper rifles are either a bolt action, three round burst, or semiauto, the shotguns are pump shotguns or automatic combat shotguns, and the big guns are all vastly different from each other. Those differences among many others allow players to choose their own playstyle and customize their character in ways that ME1's 'cut and paste with bigger numbers' style of weapon changing didn't allow for.
Read the rest at www.theboilerroompodcast.com