Mass Effect 2 Xbox 360
User Score
8.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2582 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,328 out of 2582
  2. Mixed: 55 out of 2582
  3. Negative: 199 out of 2582

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  1. StevenB
    Jan 29, 2010
    10
    Bioware has managed to improve upon their first offering in every possible way. The graphics, game play, storytelling, atmosphere, music, dialogue and player investment are greater than the first Mass Effect. This game could quite probably be game of the year.
  2. RyanK.
    Jan 29, 2010
    10
    It's an absolute masterpiece. Having played the original, the experience is even more compelling. That being said, I HIGHLY recommend that people play though the first before the sequel. There are so many references and connections you will make to the decisions you made in the 1st game.
  3. MichelleP.
    Jan 31, 2010
    9
    Where do I start? The game picks up from the first one, there's new squadmates, new love interests, new enemies... You're still the same Shepard and the story is still mindblowing! The only cons of this, in my opinion, is that mining the minerals is a pain in t he ass and it's turned out to be more of a shooter than an RPG. Certain squadmates aren't needed to hack or bypass certain objects because you're able to do it yourself. You also need to pick up ammo for your guns. To the person who gave it a 0 because he has two kids: I share a 360 with my brother. He used the Cerberus code on his account and I thought I wouldn't be able to get the DLC either. You do, you just have to work to earn your DLC by playing.… Expand
  4. JaredR.
    Jan 31, 2010
    10
    By far the best game I have played so far. Truly astonishing game play and a very intriguing storyline. It will draw you in, and you will play for hours. I have never written a review for a video game before, because I never took the initiative to. But after playing this game, I felt almost as if I had to. BioWare put a lot of work into it, and it shows.
  5. RyanH.
    Jan 31, 2010
    10
    This is my first video game review. This game deserves a review...Its amazing. The best game I've played on the 360 since its launch. The best way to play the game is by importing your save file(if you have one) from the first game. The transfer system is amazing, little details and giant plot points are all tweeked in the sequel by transferring over your save file... Its an amazing experience and full brings in those devoted to the original game... I have yet to beat the game and have over 30hrs into my first playthrough... Game of the year... all the way… Expand
  6. davidshepard
    Jan 31, 2010
    10
    best game ever
  7. SamuelG.
    Jan 31, 2010
    10
    This is rounded up. There is no such thing as a perfect game, but I have never seen a game get so close before. Mass Effect 2 completely redefines what video games are capable of as an interactive storytelling medium, and is quite possibly the best game I have ever played in my life.
  8. RPG
    Feb 11, 2010
    7
    While a good game Mass Effect 2 is by no means a great game. The cinematic effects are very good and immersive but cannot hide the downside that many parts of the story are inconsistent or just incompetently designed. Faster in tempo than ME1, its predecessor, and somewhat more blend. Still a fun game.
  9. JaceN.
    Feb 11, 2010
    6
    An ineresting story...but thats about it! Fewer areas to explore, spasmic over excitable combat akin to "juggling ten plates on poles while fist-fighting a bear", excellent upgrade system from ME1 replaced with "you used some resources you found to make everyones stuff betterer...now go away", disc swapping thanks to outdated "Bink" video cutscenes chewing up easily 12Gigs of disc space, voice actors phoning it in and almost no stuff to buy in shops. Keep up this trend and ME3 will be thinner than EA's 1991 space RPG "Starflight".… Expand
  10. TrevorG.
    Feb 12, 2010
    10
    This game is as close to perfection for an RPG as can be. Amazing grfx, music, much improved shooter action and team control and more streamlined inventory management. This is a must play for any RPG enthusiast.
  11. PatrickB
    Feb 14, 2010
    10
    Action? Check. Drama? Check. Phenomenal Graphics and Gameplay? Check and Check. I could go on and on but that really is my opinion of Mass Effect 2 in a nutshell. It's intense, engaging and non-stop deep adventure with nearly limitless re-playability as all of your decisions from Mass Effect 1 and 2 shape the future of not only your Commander Shepard, but of the entire franchise itself. The game is out there, ready to pull you in and never let go.… Expand
  12. ChrisR
    Feb 15, 2010
    9
    When I play a game, I usually play it for the storyline...hoping that I can actually become enthralled in the characters and submersed into a world completely unknown to me. This is exactly what happened with Mass Effect and subsequently, Mass Effect 2. The characters are all likable and the loyalty missions prove to be a great asset for insight into each character. When I happened to make a choice that backfired, I actually felt genuinely sorry for doing it. If you like games with deep storylines and a rich setting then this game is for you. Definitely one of my favorite games I have ever played.… Expand
  13. Mickus
    Feb 18, 2010
    10
    Mass Effect 2 gets my vote because i just love to come home and sit down and play this game for a few hours because it effortless. This game for me is just great fun deep story. This game has Great graphic Great game play and a really Great story. if you don't already have it get to the store NOW and buy it!!!!!
  14. soumavac
    Feb 21, 2010
    9
    No game's perfect so there is no way i can give it a 10 but it's really close. With ME1, Bioware literally created a whole universe (if you actually bothered to read every codex entry). pretty impressive. ME1 fell short mostly due to the annoying texture mapping and side missions and the elevators. ME2 got rid of these things and put everything in place and added much, much more. You won't get a kick out of the story, i mean it's pretty much what you'd expect but i doubt that there's any other game out there that tells it better than ME2 does. What i mean to say is that it is still pretty darn compelling. it's darker and you feel that ur choices actually mean something. the firefights are all the more epic and not short lived (like in ME1) thank God. all in all, another great game by Bioware, certainly living up to its hype. and to anyone who's reading all the user ratings, don't listen to k.… Expand
  15. niconline
    Oct 29, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 2 is the poster child for non-linear storytelling. With perhaps the finest cast of characters in gaming, and tons of replayability, Mass Effect 2 is an epic sci-fi adventure that shouldn't be missed.
  16. FinalFantasyFan
    Aug 12, 2010
    5
    Wait i just found out that it has no online. That doesn't matter but it would be better if it had online. I like Mass effect and the way that it changes the ending is very good but i thought the game would change more than the ending.
  17. Susano
    Jan 26, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect was...pretty good. But the level design and planet exploration sections were pure dump, and so BioWare had something to improve on. So they did. And they improved everything else as well, just for good measure. ME2 is a fantastic tale, using the traditional Dirty Dozen formulae and making it work. Each character is brilliantly realised, each location fullly immersive, each battle exciting and frantic. ME2 has only one flaw, which is the weak shooting. Guns just don't feel good, and as solid as other aspects of the combat are, the shooting just ain't up to scratch. But that's a minor complaint really, because ME2 is, in many ways, amazing.… Expand
  18. Pixarlover
    Nov 14, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 2 is a game meant for people who want an experience, and not just "play" a video game. You live the game and saviour every single second of this magnificent space opera. This game is one of the few modern games that has a classic gaming feel to it. It is also like "Science Fiction Porn"; there are so many things that are "spacey" and future-esque some hardcore nerds would probably **** in their pants. If that wasn't erotic enough for fan boys, there's also romantic relations you can start with your crew, even the aliens.

    The story may not have the surprise of the first one, but it certainly lives up to it. The first Mass Effect was more about soaking in the story and the feel of living in the future. This one has stronger character relationships and has more intense side missions than the first one. Mass Effect 2 is more an action game than Mass Effect 1, but it is still very involving action.

    Mass Effect 2 is not a video game; it is a piece of art.    … Expand
  19. muzziklover
    Jan 23, 2012
    10
    Lookback Review: Since Mass Effect 3 is only 2 months away and it might as well be or will be one of the greatest games ever made and the game that has completely consumed me with hype and anticipation since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, I'm going to look back into Mass Effect 2, my first ever game review on this site. It's been two years and I still consider Mass Effect 2 to be the greatest Xbox 360 game I have ever played up to now (The Mass Effect series was born on the 360 and it plays better on the 360 so it's a 360 game to me) and one of my all time favourite games ever. To sum up the whole series itself, The Mass Effect series, in my opinion, is one of the greatest Science Fiction series ever made and it is up there with Star Wars, Dr. Who and Star Trek. Its mythology and settings are imaginative and well thought out, the story is amazingly compelling and superbly written,its characters are unforgettable and endearing and the greatest thing about it; you decide how this story goes and ends. If Star Wars had a choice mechanic, I would've shot Jar-Jar straight away. I'm digressing. Mass Effect 2 delivers better than the first Mass Effect with a darker, higher stake story, better written script, a cast of amazing and interesting characters, intuitive combat mechanics, more accessible yet still complex RPG elements and better visuals. Another great thing about this game is that you can transfer your Mass Effect save file and this is the thing that made Mass Effect 2 great and the thing that cemented the series as one of the greats in my opinion. If you want to experience Mass Effect 2 in full effect, save your Mass Effect game file. The result will be one of the most personal gaming experiences. The choices that you make in Mass Effect makes a huge impact on how Mass Effect 2's story will go and the same with Mass Effect 3 when it finally comes out. If you are planning to get Mass Effect 3, get Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 first and spend your 2 months playing through those games and preparing any story you want for Mass Effect 3's final climax. What more can I say about this game and this whole series? Mass Effect 2 is a triple A title brimming with absolute sci-fi and gaming heaven. The Mass Effect series is one of the best gaming franchise to come out of this generation and in my opinion, one of the greatest sci-fi series ever made.… Expand
  20. GearHead15
    Dec 5, 2011
    10
    This game is amazing. People will complain about its supposed "lack of RPG elements" but the series keeps all of the ones that actually matter. The only elements that are scrapped were armor/weapon customization and some planet exploration. The side missions are not as ridiculously similar as ME1 and the combat mechanics are greatly improved. Characters and dialogue are more interesting, weapons cooler, and classes are fleshed out and much more interesting. I have completed 8 playthroughs of this game. Ive been the archetypical chivalrous hero and I've experienced the rebellious renegade **** who gets the job done. A great game from start to finish.… Expand
  21. TheOutlawXanadu
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    Mass Effect 2 is not only the best game in the ME trilogy; it's the best game I've ever played. It's not a perfect game but it comes about as close as a game of its ambition can. Essentially, the game is about the ME universe and involves the player developing personal relationships with characters from all over the galaxy. It is an extremely personal experience that sucks you into its world and makes you forget about yours. Some people have complained that the main story is not focused enough, that the RPG elements are too streamlined, that the level design is too simple... Look, those people have a point, but what's more important than specifics is the overall experience, and the overall experience of Mass Effect 2 is unparalleled.… Expand
  22. Snipestrifer
    Sep 13, 2012
    10
    How DARE the haters rate this game down! This is a truly fantastic game with a meaningful story with brilliant dialogue and characters, and improves on the first game in every way. Some of the best graphics, no, the best graphics I've ever seen from a game! Great combat, and plenty of replayability. The best part though is probably the ability to import your first character form the first Mass Effect, and all the choices you made in the first effects this one! So my advice to you is to play the first Mass Effect, which was great, and then play the 2nd one, which is perfect.… Expand
  23. TheQuietGamer
    Jun 28, 2011
    9
    The first Mass Effect game was a truly spectacular game with an amazing world, lovable characters, and game changing mechanics like the spectacular conversation wheel, but suffered from frame-rate issues and glitches, and serious combat issues, and a pain in the butt inventory, and Bioware has improved those flaws but has also created some more, the combat system has been completely redone, the controls are as smooth as butter, aiming is better do to a better reticle, and the cover system finally works, also the frame-rate issues are also completely gone, and there are some very hard to notice glitches, but they don't detract from the experience, and the inventory has been completely removed for more helpful load out systems, and the story is awesome once again and really sets the pace for Mass Effect 3, and also along side the conversation wheel Bioware has included another game changer in the form of allowing you to import you character from the first Mass Effect, which means all your choices carry over, and there are tons of references to your previous adventure, and makes this a more personal experience do to dialog with characters, and they also added another cool feature where during sequences with the pull of a trigger you can instantly make a Paragon or Renegade choice, which make a sweet and touching moment, or a evil and hilarious moment, and the new loyalty missions make connecting with your teammates more enjoyable, and Bioware FINALLY!!!! included free-roam in one of there games which is something I was hoping they would start doing in there games since the first Mass Effect, but this game isn't without it's flaws, while most of the new characters are fantastic and live up to the expectations set by the first game, some feel incomplete and dull, like Miranda and Jacob for instance, Jacob seems to lack any emotion or personality outside of one line of dialog, and it feels like they just left out most of Miranda's character, she just seems incomplete, so the most enjoyable characters are the ones that return from the first game, and they took more of a story based approach which left out a lot of player choice, which means you never really get the feeling your making a huge impact on the world other than just saving it, I mean there are one or two moments where you have to make a big choice near the end of the game but then it just seems to late, but you still do have the choices during character interactions so it's not all bad I just expected more epic choices like those that made the first game so awesome and set it and Bioware apart from the pack, I just expected more from Bioware judging from there other titles, and you will run into some random load times while exploring, but the epic story, enjoyable characters, beautiful world, better combat, free roam, the ability to import characters from the first game, and just the signature Bioware charm, insures that this is an experience you'll never forget.… Expand
  24. Shtiggy
    Jan 19, 2011
    6
    Limited range of movement and interaction on levels makes this very frustrating. I do like the dialogue options and gameplay is fun, other than what was previously mentioned. This leaves a lot to be desired and I think it is very overrated.
  25. sh4dow
    Feb 28, 2013
    4
    A disgrace to what could have been. I played through the first Mass Effect over two times, for about 80 hours. I couldn't wait to finally play Mass Effect 2 and see how the story would develop. What magnificent new encounters would await me. What did I get instead? Ambush after ambush like a cheap Gears of War clone. Largely stripped of the role playing elements that made ME1 such a great game, ME2 feels like what a husk from ME1 must feel like a soulless shell of what used to be.… Expand
  26. billiam
    Mar 22, 2011
    4
    i don't like the game it just was boring and the game is so repetitive the game began to become a chore to play it is not worth buying maybe a rent...
  27. Ixziga
    Oct 17, 2011
    10
    The people who are giving this game negative reviews might as well be rating their own maturity, because I haven't seen a single negative review done with common sense rather than butt-hurt ranting and crying about review conspiracies and other bull **** Mass Effect 2 isn't "dumbed-down" as much as it is streamlined. All the changes they made were intended to give the player more time exploring and playing and less time searching through inventories and menus and waiting in elevators. The game won game of the year for a reason: it's simply one of the best - if not the best - singleplayer games ever created. The atmosphere and story create one of the most immersive and best experiences for sale anywhere. Everyone who **** about lack of depth or personality, or simply rants and hypocritically calls the rest of the world stupid are just people who didn't see what they wanted at the beginning, immediately made up their mind and populated their false ideas with made-up negativities and conspiracies, and refused to experience the rest of the game. In short: their just a bunch of trolls. I didn't think the quality of this game needed to be restated but after reading the absurdly ignorant dribble of particular users like OG and dtuner and others (but I couldn't possibly name them all), I had to drop one more 10 in the bucket, because this game earns it more than any other game I've ever played. I suppose there's always going to be a few basement-dwellers that insist on trying to **** on perfection, but case in point, if you're not a basement-dwelling troll and you play video-games, this one has to be part of your library. If it isn't already, then do so and I guarantee it'll be the best money you ever spent on a video game.… Expand
  28. wastelander75
    Nov 26, 2011
    9
    Needs more RPG cowbell. You can't have too much RPG cowbell. Yeah it's pretty, but it's not really an RPG anymore, more like a Third Person Shooter Lite. Still, a good game, but I miss the RPG cowbell.
  29. PevMaster
    Jul 13, 2011
    10
    BioWare's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic amazed me when i bought it. After being weaned in hardcore first-person shooters for years, it was one of those 'what's this?' moments when I started playing it. However, it hooked me in from the start, dragging me through a fantastic galaxy-spanning story populated by unique characters and amazing set-pieces. It really captured the Star Wars spirit. But there was one problem: the combat. While it was good enough, it lacked a sense of action or direction when you chose what attacks your player character performed and to be honest it felt quite weak and clumsy. When I picked up Mass Effect 2 at HMV, however, I wasn't just amazed: I was blown away. Mass Effect 2 irons out all the flaws in modern RPGs and takes the genre to a new level. In fact, it irons out the flaws in everything. The combat is perfectly balanced, the graphics are spectacular, the voice acting is tremendous (especially by Martin Sheen's exceptional performance) and it captures a true feeling of science-fiction. This is one of the best RPGs, let alone one of the best games, of all time. Buy it now.… Expand
  30. Revanchistexile
    Jul 19, 2011
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played. Some of the RPG elements may have been taken out but it doesn't diminish from the experience that you get out of it. The writing and characters are all top notch. The was Bioware makes you care for your squadmates leading up to the suicide mission is superb. Play Mass Effect 1 and then play Mass Effect 2, you'll be doing yourself a favor.
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
96 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 98 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 98
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 98
  3. Negative: 0 out of 98
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    95
    Mass Effect 2 overcomes its few gameplay weaknesses with a fantastic weave of dynamic combat, lavish presentation, and engaging character and weapon customization. But for all the myriad improvements that make Mass Effect 2's visuals so appealing and its combat so exhilarating, it's ultimately the way it moves us that makes it so memorable. [Feb 2010, p.56]
  2. games(TM)
    100
    Despite all of the ways Mass Effect 2 is more engaging to play and explore, after 35 remarkable hours it was the characters that stayed with us… Game of the year in January? Oh, go on then. [Feb 2010, p.112]
  3. X360 Magazine UK
    100
    Both an astonishing RPG and confident shooter, Mass Effect 2 is daring, shocking and often awe-inspiring in its use of choice. This is the future of storytelling in videogames. [Issue#, p.85]
See all critic reviews »