Mass Effect 2 Message Board older than one year ago

*SPOILER* The fifth segment of six in the endgame gameplay series featuring Mass Effect 2.

*SPOILER* The conclusion to the endgame video series showcasing the end of Mass Effect 2.

Let me tell you something. It's rough being one of the few Joystiq editors that isn't currently knee-deep in the space-faring magic of Mass Effect 2. The constant insults, the pointing and laughing, the threats on my life; it gets old really fast. And now Electronic Arts has to announce that Mass Effect 2 has already shipped two million units worldwide in its first week. The press release also notes that the game has earned more than 40 perfect review scores. And, of course, the Joystiq review drips with effusive, well-earned praise. I get it, okay? I need to play it, and I will, just as soon as soon as I finish the first Mass Effect. Oh, gotta go. Looks like Justin is putting another stink bomb in my lunch box.

First blockbuster of 2010 belongs to BioWare?

It's quite obvious we adore Mass Effect 2. Judging from the game's Metacritic score, we certainly aren't alone. What a crazy and exciting year we've got ahead of us, especially when a game of the year candidate sets such a very high bar in January. Let's check out the lavish praise other sites bestowed upon BioWare's epically epic space opera: Eurogamer (100/100): "Perhaps BioWare's greatest success in Mass Effect 2 has been taking a complex RPG and making it effortless to understand, play and enjoy on a constant basis, because it has done this in a manner that should prove utterly essential to veterans and newcomers alike, and more than enough to suggest Mass Effect 3 will be the most important game in BioWare's history" Giant Bomb (100/100): "BioWare has really gotten it right the second time around. They took those same ideas and figured out a better way to combine them into a more cohesive, more playable sequel that makes good on every bit of Mass Effect's potential and leaves me staring very grudgingly at the presumable two-year wait until my own Commander Shepard can continue his fight in the next game." Game Informer (98/100): "The loss of RPG elements may hit some people hard, and the repetition in minigames may lead to yawns and tired eyes, but none of these faults hold Mass Effect 2 back from being a work of bold ambition, and one of gaming's most exciting sequels." IGN (96/100): "It's incredibly personal while still retaining a sense of epic sweeping scale. The combat and mission design are outstanding. The visuals, voice acting, soundtrack, and direction are miles ahead of the competition. Perhaps most impressively, Mass Effect 2 manages to fulfill its incredible ambition while only suffering from very few technical hiccups. The only real caveat I should mention is that some of the revelations and plot twists won't be quite as powerful if you haven't played Mass Effect 1, but that isn't any reason to skip this fantastic videogame." Edge (90/100): "Ultimately, Mass Effect 2's greatest strength is in tying its disparate pieces together, binding the gunplay and conversation systems into something that meshes, while creating an action-RPG that knows stats should be there, but that they should never get in the way of a good headshot." Gallery: Mass Effect 2

The IGN Staff chimes in with our thoughts on Bioware's splendid sequel.

The Batarians are back for another go-round; Zaeed Massani's a human bounty hunter who's going to bring one in!

One of 2010's most anticipated blockbuster videogames ships to stores worldwide today.

It would appear that BioWare has gotten things with our buddy Zaeed all sorted, as his Xbox 360 DLC pack is now available through Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network. Coming in an update this morning, the disgruntled, padded mercenary is now available for the low, low price of zero dollars. As BioWare doc Greg Zeschuk explained to us recently, additional content arriving for Mass Effect 2 through the Cerberus Network will be free of charge, with "paid DLC packs" available separately.

Once more into the breach.

BioWare has posted a clarification for those having issues redeeming Mass Effect 2 promotional codes received in the Collector's Edition of the game or as pre-order bonuses from retailers. The codes require you to go to MassEffect.com to redeem, and although PC players just have to download a file in most cases, it's the Xbox 360 users that are stumbling into an issue. Take note: If you have played a recent EA game with an online component (like Battlefield 1943) on your Xbox 360, chances are you already have an EA.com account linked to your Gamertag. If this is the case, do not create a new account on BioWare's or EA's site to redeem your code. Xbox 360 owners that have played an EA game online and have their Gamertags tied to an account should not input their codes until they can log into their EA.com accounts. If you've already tied your Mass Effect 2 DLC code to a new account, the only way we know to get the game content is to transfer your new account over to an existing one, which requires getting in contact with EA. We're currently contacting the publisher to see if EA can implement a streamlined process to transfer accounts and will update as soon as we hear back. Update: We've placed EA's suggestions on fixing various Mass Effect 2 DLC issues after the break.

The Salarian Mordin joins Shepard's crew in an effort to atone for his sins and fight for the lost.

BioWare has posted a clarification for those having issues redeeming Mass Effect 2 promotional codes received in the Collector's Edition of the game or as pre-order bonuses from retailers. The codes require you to go to MassEffect.com to redeem, and although PC players just have to download a file in most cases, it's the Xbox 360 users that are stumbling into an issue. Take note: If you have played a recent EA game with an online component (like Battlefield 1943) on your Xbox 360, chances are you already have an EA.com account linked to your Gamertag. If this is the case, do not create a new account on BioWare's or EA's site to redeem your code. Xbox 360 owners that have played an EA game online and have their Gamertags tied to an account should not input their codes until they can log into their EA.com accounts. If you've already tied your Mass Effect 2 DLC code to a new account, the only way we know to get the game content is to transfer your new account over to an existing one, which requires getting in contact with EA. We're currently contacting the publisher to see if EA can implement a streamlined process to transfer accounts and will update as soon as we hear back.

We dish on the free mission and preorder bonuses.

The stars of Mass Effect 2 and industry insiders recap their personal experiences with the storyline in the conclusion of the documentary series.

BioWare hits another snag with its downloadable content.

It seems there's a slight clog in Mass Effect 2's Cerberus Network DLC pipeline. Though the promised bonus mission is still available, the deadly, rugged and elaborately scarred mercenary Zaeed has been held up until tomorrow or Thursday on the Xbox 360, according to a BioWare spokesman writing on the company's official forums. You could spend time being sad about the delay or you could spend time playing Mass Effect 2. We think the choice should be pretty clear. Just pretend his space luggage got lost or something. [Thanks, Theresa]

I was an unlikely choice to review Mass Effect 2. Unlike most of the Joystiq staff, I wasn't in love with the first entry in the series. Oh, I could see the promise, but I had a hard time getting past the clunky combat, the terrible vehicle sequences and a damnably irksome inventory system. But in a weird way, I was the very best person to review the sequel, because BioWare has gutted the original framework, doing away with everything that didn't work and replacing it with something vibrant, something engaging. All the while, the developers have expanded on the sweeping yet personal scope of the first game that made such an impression on so many. The resulting concoction is the best game BioWare has ever made and the best action RPG in history.

The sequel to Mass Effect is finally here. Does it boldly go places where its predecessor dared not tread?

Shepard musters all of his might and Vanguard powers to topple the giant and heavily armed mech suits in his way.

Shepard uses unique Vanguard powers to deal with the Geth threat in this cavernous side-mission gameplay.

Shepard takes on the Eclipse Pirates as a Vanguard in this side-mission gameplay for Mass Effect 2.

Shepard returns for BioWare's finest 30 hours.

EA must be feeling pretty good that it's got the top three best-selling games currently on Steam. It must feel even better that said games haven't even been released yet, but gamers have already paid in full to pre-load them onto their PCs ASAP. Specifically, this week's highest grossing title on Valve's digital distribution service is Battlefield: Bad Company 2, which doesn't release until March. Mass Effect 2, which hits tomorrow, occupies the number two and three slots -- the Digital Deluxe and Standard editions, respectively. Modern Warfare 2 and Company of Heroes Complete Pack round out the top five. The latter came out last October and is certainly in some pretty good company. Just missing the cut? BioShock 2, which is currently on sale for $5 off the $49.99 (virtual) sticker price. [Via BigDownload]

For a price, this old war vet will join the fight with Shepard and open a can for the sake of old times. Massani comes as free DLC for those buying new copies of Mass Effect 2.

Here's the deal: We're not going to be the least bit clever or amusing in this post. 1. It's just past 7 a.m. and Uncle Joystiq got a little ... silly last night and do these lights have to be so bright? and 2. We don't want you to waste a second reading when you could be grabbing all the Mass Effect 2 DLC that's currently on Live. You'll find links after the break. Is it supposed to be up yet? Will it be free forever? There's no earthly (or spacely, for that matter) way of knowing. But do you really want to be the guy that missed out? [Update: OK, it looks like all have been pulled now, except the Collector's Weapons and Armor.] [Thanks, Ryan Gan]

[Image credit: Danny McL] "Huh?" you say, confused by the very prospect of the Mass Effect trilogy getting the film treatment. Don't worry buddy, we're right there with you. The BioWare space RPG may be getting said treatmentt, though, according to Mass Effect 2 project director Casey Hundson in a recent interview with MTV. "Obviously we have a tremendous amount of interest from people in Hollywood to make a major motion picture about Mass Effect," Hudson said. Thankfully, Hudson followed up his statement with a conditional position for the possibility of a Mass Effect film. "The most important thing for us is, we don't just want to see a movie get made ... we want to see a great movie get made, if it's going to get done at all." We have but one humble request should a movie ever be made of the series: it goes fully 3D -- if only for text trees in the third dimension.

Here's the deal: We're not going to be the least bit clever or amusing in this post. 1. It's just past 7 a.m. and Uncle Joystiq got a little ... silly last night and do these lights have to be so bright? and 2. We don't want you to waste a second reading when you could be grabbing all the Mass Effect 2 DLC that's currently on Live. You'll find links after the break. Is it supposed to be up yet? Will it be free forever? There's no earthly (or spacely, for that matter) way of knowing. But do you really want to be the guy that missed out? [Thanks, Ryan Gan]

Preorder bonuses look to be live by mistake.