Editor’s note: This review was written by Kenneth Godbout, a 24-year-old undergraduate game design student at Full Sail University. Kenneth has been playing videogames since he was 4. The first system he owned was a Sega Genesis, and he has been hooked ever since. Kenneth is currently playing Mass Effect 2 and UFC Undisputed. One of the great things about Kenneth, he says, is that he is unbiased about games and systems and believes that all games are created equal.

What can I say about Mass Effect 2? Well let’s see ... let’s start with my overall experience. I had a great time playing the first game. My experience with the second game was even better than the first. The story in the first game is good, but the story in the second is better; that’s one reason I am so hooked. Here’s the thing with Mass Effect: The story is always changing.

Before I get into the story, let me talk about some of the improvements from the original. One of the big improvements is the look. One of the big problems with the first game was that the pixel count would drop. Not this time! The graphics are much smoother and cleaner. Another improvement is gameplay. It’s much easier to use your character’s abilities. You can now set three abilities to the Y, RB and LB. You no longer have to bring up the menu to use the ability. This really helps when you are in intense combat. Another thing fixed, and I’m glad it was because I think it brings more realism to the game, is ammo. In Mass Effect, you had an infinite amount of ammo — sort of. There really wasn’t an ammo gauge in the original game; it was more of an overheating gauge. With Mass Effect 2, you have to make sure you have enough ammo before you go into battle.

A new added feature I think is really cool is that during some conversations, you have the ability to choose how the conversation is going to end. For example, if you are talking to someone on top of a building, an icon for the renegade comes up, telling you to push the button. If you push the button, you push the other person off the building, but if you don’t push the button, you leave them alone. I just think that this just gives Mass Effect 2another dynamic and more control over your character and the story.

Let’s talk about the story of Mass Effect 2. I read the two books that Bioware made for Mass Effect, so I have a bit of a different take on things when it comes to the story. Warning: Spoilers below.

The beginning of Mass Effect 2 is very exciting. The opening scene is a shot in the illusive man’s office. It introduces you to the illusive man and another fellow character, Miranda. They talk about your accomplishments from the previous game. Then the game cuts to the Normandy cruising in space. You’ll see some of the familiar faces from the first game. Then — boom — out of nowhere, the Normandy is under attack. This is where your commander and the first bit of gameplay come in, as you try to put out fires on the Normandy and eventually try to save Joker. You don’t save everybody, though, and the ship blows up, and someone dies. I’m not telling you who dies, because that’s a really big spoiler.

I wanted to give you an example by telling you the opening scene. From the start, Mass Effect 2 is action-packed. And it doesn’t let up from there. The sequel stays true to the first game and to the books. You don’t have to read the books to get the story in the game. It just gives you a better appreciation for the environments you come across. Everything in Mass Effect 2 just seems to mesh perfectly. There is one part in the story that I didn’t get: When commander Sheppard left the ship, suddenly the ship was under attack and you take over as Joker. Then when the attack is over, the commander comes back to the ship. I didn’t get that part at all, and it just seemed to lack purpose. I can’t complain, though. I think that was the only bad part I found.

Mass Effect 2 is great. If you like having the ability to make choices for your character and change the story, this game is for you. Everything just works so much better in Mass Effect 2 as compared to the first game. If you’re thinking about buying this game, go for it.