Mass Effect 2: Gaming’s Suicide Squad

To say the expectations for Mass Effect 2 were high is a major understatement. How could anyone recapture the brilliance of the original, while expanding the already vast universe players had come to know? Enter Mass Effect 2 – arguably the best sequel to a video game of all time. It’s very rare this happens in almost any form of entertainment, especially cinema. But BioWare is a fantastic developer, and they knew exactly how to perfect their amazing new series, with little hiccups along the way.

From the first sequence aboard the Normandy, you can tell right away this is a much darker, more mature entry in the Mass Effect series. Everything from the new graphics engine that displays amazingly beautiful character models and environments, to the crisp, sharp sound effects shows the huge leaps in this entry.

The stakes have been raised in a more personal way this time, however. Shepherd’s life is put in jeopardy more than once, both from the initial opening sequences and to the spectacular finale. The writers crafted a story that hooks you in very quickly and dramatically, much like the original title.

In fact, perhaps deserving recognition above anything else in Mass Effect 2 is the incredibly engaging plot, which shows a much more complex, vast universe than we saw in the original. Granted, the beloved Citadel level is reduced to one building essentially now, but this was always a minor gripe for me. The story is far more expansive, though. The plot introduces us to a new foe, the Collectors, an insect-like mysterious alien species that has been abducting entire human colonies one by one. As Shepherd, you are recruited by the Illusive Man, an incredibly enigmatic leader of a pro-human organization called Cerberus, to find out what is happening to the colonies and put a stop to it.

Throughout the game we are introduced to many new races and new characters that help add both history and depth to the universe. I’ve always argued that I believe Mass Effect to have a universe just as rich and expansive as anything like Star Wars or Star Trek or any beloved science fiction universe. When you factor in the whole trilogy plus the upcoming Andromeda release, we have a universe that is unbelievably massive. As you explore this universe more, you end up recruiting a potential 12 teammates to assist you in your mission to stop the Collectors.

Now this is where Mass Effect 2 truly shines. I titled this article as “suicide squad” because the mission is literally called a “suicide mission” because no one has ever been able to reach the Collectors on their home world and almost no information is available about them. The odds are so highly stacked against you and your team, which is why it is emphasized that this is essentially a suicide mission. Shepherd has overcome impossible feats before, though and this is no exception. What’s different this time around is the emphasis on teamwork and the deep loyalty you command over your squad. While only two at any given time accompany you, the final climactic mission utilizes everyone to their strengths and even divides them into multiple teams to assist Shepherd. The loyalty and resolve of your squad, combined with the many upgrades you can add to your ship, the Normandy, all affect the final mission’s outcome. And what’s more challenging, it can hard to decipher what the best course of action is to reach these goals.

As your progress through the story and build your team, each member you recruit has their own motivations and backstory. Some return from the original Mass Effect, but most are new to players. What’s more, a few of them aren’t exactly heroes by reputation. Jack, a well-known convict who was subjected to horrible experiments by Cerberus is a perfect example of this. She reluctantly joins Shepherd’s team but at the same times hates the Illusive Man and his organization, blaming them for her troubles and her past. She’s an oddball, certainly – but her story is interesting nonetheless. She has some great lines too (if you can excuse her foul language).

Characters like Samara, the Asari Justicar added a deep mythology to the universe as well. Justicars are Asari warriors, bound by a very strict code of honor. Her first encounter with Shepherd is a memorable one, as we find her in the middle of a dark investigation concerning a deadly serial killer known as Morinth. Samara eventually joins Shepherd’s team and shares many experiences from combat and the life she had before joining her warrior code. I found her to be particularly interesting, seeing as she was at least several hundred years old and her outfits (while a bit revealing) were reminiscent of a superhero like Wonder Woman. Her dedication to her code, and the dark struggles she’s had to overcome made her for a compelling character to say the least.

My personal favorite has always been Garrus Vakarian, a Turian former Citadel Security officer. He is one of two characters who return from Mass Effect to join your team, and I’m so glad he made the cut. His witty banter and lighthearted competitions with Shepherd help to really create a sense of comradery between the two. He’s intelligent but also very handy in a firefight. He’s like that best friend you can always count on, and the kind of guy who will fight alongside you to the very end. He’s the definition of loyalty, not to mention a great leader on his own merit. He pushes himself hard, and he does carry some baggage from his past experiences and disappointments, always feeling held back.

Mass Effect 2 is many things, but at its core its about the characters and their stories. Yes, the vastness of the galaxy allows for a much bigger narrative, but the really compelling stories originate from these teammates Shepherd recruits along the way. Their trust has to be earned as much as it is given. Every squad member has their own strengths and weaknesses, and the possibilities for mixing and matches their combat types seem endless. I wanted to get to know these characters because they made me care, brought to life by brilliant writing and superb voice acting. In many ways, I feel Mass Effect 2 launched itself to a new height of cinematic storytelling, almost matching the quality of Hollywood-produced television or movies. I simply couldn’t get enough of these amazing characters and the rich universe they came from. And being that so much of the game is left to Shepherd’s choices, it adds so much replay value to the series and each entry in the series.

The brilliance of Mass Effect 2 is how personal a story players can make it , but what will keep you coming back more than anything else is its immensely detailed universe, filled with compelling characters and fantastic writing and voice acting. The gameplay is fun and combat is challenging enough to force you to think ahead your tactics, especially on the higher difficulties. Ultimately, this is gaming’s answer to Suicide Squad at its best, and it’s been out for years! It’s a fun experience for anyone who enjoys a good science fiction story with a strong cast to keep things engaging.

I would recommend playing the original first so you can carry over your saved game into this entry and the third Mass Effect as well, but even without using that feature Mass Effect 2 will keep you coming back for more and leave you with one of the richest, most memorable, most compelling story-based gaming experiences of this generation.