Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is a science-fiction role-playing action game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. Released for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3, it is the second installment in the Mass Effect trilogy, following Mass Effect and preceding Mass Effect 3. Known for its deep narrative, character-driven gameplay, and immersive universe, it continues the story of Commander Shepard.

For a detailed walkthrough, refer to the Mass Effect 2 Guide.

Release

Mass Effect 2 was released in January 2010, with specific dates and prices varying by region and edition:

• Standard Edition: Available globally for Xbox 360, PC, and PS3.
• Collectors’ Edition: Included exclusive items, available at select retailers.
• Digital Deluxe Edition: Offered additional digital content.
• PlayStation 3 Edition: Released January 18, 2011 (North/South America), January 21, 2011 (Europe), and January 27, 2011 (Australia/New Zealand).

Mass Effect 2 is part of the Mass Effect Trilogy boxed set, released November 6, 2012 (Xbox 360, PC) and December 4, 2012 (PS3) for $59.99 USD. In 2021, Mass Effect Legendary Edition remastered the trilogy, enhancing graphics, gameplay, and consolidating most downloadable content (DLC).

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Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2

Retail Bonus Items

Retail bonuses varied by edition and retailer:

• Blood Dragon Armor: Available with Dragon Age: Origins purchase or PS3 edition.
• Terminus Assault Armor and M-490 Blackstorm Projector: Exclusive to specific retailers (e.g., EB Games, Gamestop).
• Inferno Armor: Included in Collectors’ and Digital Deluxe Editions.
• Collector Armor and Assault Rifle: Exclusive to Collectors’ and Digital Deluxe Editions.
• Incisor Rifle: Included in Digital Deluxe and PS3 editions.

All bonus items are included by default in Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

Promotional Bonus Items

Through a 2010 Dr Pepper/7-Eleven promotion in the U.S., players could redeem codes from specially marked bottles or cups for:

• Umbra Visor
• Recon Hood
• Sentry Interface

These items, downloadable via the Cerberus Network, are now freely available on Origin and included in Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

Details

Mass Effect 2

• Players: 1
• Resolution: Xbox 360/PS3: 720p/1080i/1080p; PC: Screen & card dependent
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Developer: BioWare
• Format: 2x DVD (Xbox 360, PC), 1x Blu-ray (PS3), Digital Download (PC, PS3)
• Rating: ESRB M (Mature), MA15+ (Australia), BBFC 15 (UK), PEGI 18+ (EU), USK 16 (Germany)

PC Version

Released January 26, 2010 (North America, Europe, India), January 28, 2010 (Australia), and January 29, 2010 (New Zealand).

System Requirements Mass Effect 2

Notes:

• Requires latest video/audio drivers.
• Laptop/mobile video cards (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce 7300, ATI Radeon HD3200) are not officially supported.
• Dual-core processor required; Intel/S3 video cards unsupported.
• Post-June 15, 2010 NVIDIA driver issues may require rollback.

PS3 Version

Released in January 2011, using an updated game engine based on Mass Effect 3. Available on disc or via PlayStation Network.

Included Content

Mass Effect 2

• Full Mass Effect 2 game
• Blood Dragon Armor
• Kasumi – Stolen Memory DLC
• Overlord DLC
• Lair of the Shadow Broker DLC
• Cerberus Network activation code

PS3 Downloadable Content

Additional DLC includes:

• Terminus Weapon and Armor
• Recon Operations Pack
• N7 Complete Arsenal Bundle
• Mass Effect: Genesis (interactive comic for Mass Effect backstory)

Save File Corruption

Early PS3 versions faced save file corruption, requiring console restarts. A patch released February 21, 2011 resolved this issue. BioWare recommended periodic game restarts to avoid corruption pre-patch.

Plot

Mass Effect 2 follows Commander Shepard, who, two years after stopping the Reaper invasion, faces a new threat abducting human colonies. Shepard partners with Cerberus, a pro-human organization, to assemble an elite team and command the Normandy SR-2 to confront this danger. The mission is deemed a suicide mission, but Shepard aims to defy the odds.

Shepard’s Fate

The final mission’s outcome depends on preparation (team loyalty, ship upgrades). Inadequate preparation may lead to Shepard’s death, squad losses, or total party wipeout. If Shepard dies, the save cannot be imported to Mass Effect 3, and deceased characters do not return.

Characters

Mass Effect 2

Squad Members

Up to 12 recruitable squad members:

• Garrus Vakarian
• Grunt
• Jack
• Jacob Taylor
• Kasumi Goto (DLC)
• Legion
• Miranda Lawson
• Mordin Solus
• Samara or Morinth
• Tali’Zorah vas Normandy
• Thane Krios
• Zaeed Massani (DLC)

Loyalty missions are critical for squad survival.

Returning Characters

Surviving Mass Effect characters who may appear (non-recruitable, except Liara via DLC):

• Kaidan Alenko
• David Anderson
• Helena Blake
• Doctor Chakwas
• Nassana Dantius
• Fist
• Admiral Hackett
• Harkin
• Khalisah al-Jilani
• Jeff “Joker” Moreau
• Gianna Parasini
• Navigator Pressly
• Shiala
• Liara T’Soni
• Rana Thanoptis
• Conrad Verner
• Donnel Udina
• Ashley Williams
• Urdnot Wrex
• Emily Wong

Locations

New locations include:

• Omega
• Illium
• The Migrant Fleet
• Freedom’s Progress
• Horizon
• Tuchanka
• Collector Cruiser
• Derelict Reaper
• Collector Base
• Zorya (DLC)
• Bekenstein (DLC)
• Aite (DLC)
• Hagalaz (DLC)
• Aratoht (DLC)
• Project Base (DLC)

Returning location:

• The Citadel

Save File Transfer

Mass Effect 2

Players can import Mass Effect saves, carrying over decisions like Virmire survivor, Council fate, and romance. Character level and abilities reset, but morality and appearance are acknowledged. Players can choose a new class or appearance (major changes only; minor tweaks like hairstyles are not possible). Facial scars from Mass Effect are replaced with new ones.

Multiple Mass Effect playthroughs create separate importable Shepards. Save files cannot be transferred between Xbox consoles directly.

Gameplay Changes

Combat

• Weapons: Six classes (Heavy Pistols, Submachine Guns, Shotguns, Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Heavy Weapons).
• Thermal Clips: Replace automatic weapon cooling; clips are universal and found in environments.
• Weapon Skills: Limited to class-specific weapons initially; one additional weapon type can be unlocked.
• Targeting: Headshots and limb shots add tactical damage.
• Cover System: Manual cover entry, with improved accuracy (except shotguns/heavy weapons).
• Storming: Slower sprint with restricted camera movement.
• Health System: Auto-regenerating health/shields; Medi-gel revives squadmates via Unity power.
• Console Controls: Powers mapped to shoulder buttons for quick access.

Powers

New powers include:

• Biotic: Charge, Dominate, Pull, Reave, Shockwave, Slam
• Tech: AI Hacking, Combat Drone, Cryo Blast, Energy Drain, Geth Shield Boost, Incinerate, Neural Shock, Overload, Tactical Cloak, Tech Armor
• Combat: Adrenaline Rush, Concussive Shot, Fortification, Unity, Ammo Powers (Armor Piercing, Cryo, Disruptor, Incendiary, Shredder, Warp)
• Returning: Barrier, Singularity, Stasis (DLC), Throw, Warp

Power changes:

• Global cooldown (3-9 seconds) after using any power.
• Auto-locking biotic/tech powers, some arc around cover.
• Bonus powers unlocked via achievements.

Advancement

• Level cap: 30 (1,000 XP per level).
• Powers require increasing points to upgrade, with specialization at max rank.
• Shepard gains 2 squad points per level (max 51 with bonus power).
• Squad members gain 2 points per level (1-5), then 2 every two levels (5-19), and 1 every two levels (19-30).
• Health/shields unchanged by leveling.

Inventory

• Weapons selected pre-mission, swappable at lockers.
• Modular N7 armor customizable via Normandy SR-2’s armor locker (aesthetics, helmets, visors).
• Research terminals unlock weapon/armor mods with scientist recruitment.

Dialogue and Cinematics

• Persuasion based on Paragon/Renegade scores, not Charm/Intimidate skills.
• Interrupts: Paragon (heroic) or Renegade (hostile) actions during conversations.

Navigation

• Galaxy Map shows Normandy in cluster/system views; manual navigation burns fuel.
• Area maps limited to hubs; missions use objective markers.
• Planet scanning mini-game replaces Mako exploration.

Mini-Games

• Bypass: Match circuit nodes to unlock.
• Hacking: Match code fragments.
• Planet Scanning: Locate minerals/anomalies.

Demo

A free demo was released June 14, 2010 (Xbox 360, PC) and December 2010 (PS3). It includes early missions (Prologue: Save Joker, Prologue: Awakening, Dossier: The Convict or Dossier: The Professor, Freedom’s Progress). Save progress transfers to the full game.

Downloadable Content

Cerberus Network

Free with new copies (or $15 for used/rented copies, now free on Origin):

• Zaeed – The Price of Revenge: Adds Zaeed Massani, missions, heavy weapon.
• Normandy Crash Site: Explore SSV Normandy wreckage.
• Cerberus Weapon and Armor: Assault Armor, M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.
• Arc Projector: Heavy weapon.
• Firewalker Pack: 5 Hammerhead hovertank missions.

Paid DLC

• Alternate Appearance Pack 1: Costumes for Garrus, Jack, Thane.
• Kasumi – Stolen Memory: Kasumi Goto, missions, Locust SMG.
• Equalizer Pack: Capacitor Helmet, Archon Visor, Inferno Armor.
• Overlord: 4 missions, rogue VI, 2 achievements.
• Aegis Pack: M-29 Incisor Sniper Rifle, Kestrel Armor.
• Firepower Pack: M-5 Phalanx Pistol, M-96 Mattock Rifle, Geth Plasma Shotgun.
• Lair of the Shadow Broker: Shepard/Liara mission, 5 achievements.
• Alternate Appearance Pack 2: Costumes for Grunt, Miranda, Tali.
• Arrival: Reaper-focused mission linking to Mass Effect 3.
• Mass Effect: Genesis: Interactive comic for Mass Effect choices.

All DLC is included in Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

Patches

Current patch: Version 1.02.

Mass Effect 2 Action Figures

DC Unlimited released Series 1 figures in May 2011 ($15.99 each):

• Commander Shepard (6.75″, M-8 Avenger, removable helmet)
• Thane Krios (6.8″, M-4 Shuriken)
• Grunt (6.8″, M-300 Claymore)
• Tali’Zorah nar Rayya (6.8″, M-23 Katana)

Series 2 (Garrus, Legion, Miranda, Mordin) was planned but canceled by DC Direct due to poor sales. Big Fish Toys re-released Series 1 and 2 in 2011, but figures are no longer available on the BioWare Store (as of January 2014).

See Also

Development

For more on Mass Effect 2’s creation, see BioWare’s official documentation.