Games

IN IRELAND, the most common ‘mass effect’ is people falling asleep in church.

To BioWare it’s a term they coined for one of the most popular games of the current generation.

Mass Effect 2 (PS3; RRP €59.99) is the second of BioWare’s epic space operas, but the first to arrive on the PS3. While the original game is intrinsic to the plot of the second, PS3 owners are brought up to speed by way of a comic-book style introduction, complete with significant choices for the player that will affect how this sequel unfolds.

As sequels go, Mass Effect 2 was something of a disappointment on the 360. Much of what made the first game fun was removed, in favour of higher production values and more linear gameplay. The sense of exploration was all but nullified and the plot narrowed from something grand and mysterious to Halo-style action.

Ironically, none of that will matter to PS3 owners. While the shift in direction frustrated some 360 fans, the superb characters and hugely refined gunplay were still a treat to behold. There’s nothing like this on PS3 and, without the first game to compare it to, PS3 owners will probably love every second. In fact, while Killzone could be considered gritty science fiction, there’s an argument that this is the first truly sci-fi hit to arrive on the PS3. While the first game took a while to get going and open up, Mass Effect 2 jumps straight into the action, throwing players into an ongoing conflict between the alliance and the encroaching sentinels, a race of machines.

Mass Effect 2 is a great example of ‘Hollywood’ gaming. It’s big-budget, action-packed and extremely entertaining. While some of the first game’s intimacy has gone, PS3 owners will only see an instant classic.