There's no denying that Mass Effect 2 is universally acclaimed, and I can seriously see why. The game has high production values, excellent dialogue, and a good combat system. The game earned a number of GOTY awards and is considered by many to be in the upper echelon of games for this generation. 

I, however, have struggled with this game since I beat it last year. I can see that it is good, but I fail to see why it is GREAT. Mass Effect 2 is so many things, and I believe it succeeds only marginally in any of them. As a TPS it is a little stale, as a RPG it is shallow, and as an adventure it is fairly predictable. So, while I enjoyed the game, Mass Effect 2 always seemed to be "watered down" for my tastes. One of my biggest qualms with the game is it's narrow locations. It feels like a theme-park ride, where you are "pushed through" from point to point, accomplish a task and get pushed through to the next point. In stark contrast to Mass Effect 2 is the Metal Gear Solid franchise, wherein every problem allows for multiple solutions.

 
Granted, some of my complaints are grounded in my personal preference: I am increasingly bored with games that "guide" me, and Mass Effect 2's branching storylines and conversation trees only serve to highlight the dissapointingly linear combat. Perhaps a deeper customization system would've helped, or implementing some stealth combat, or larger venues for combat with many possible paths to take. We are given many choices in the game, but as a gamer I want those choices to be in gameplay FIRST, then in narrative.

I may be alone in this, but Mass Effect 2 was not a revelation, nor a truely great game. It is a good game presented very well. 
 

Now please tell me how wrong I am below... and I will attempt to defend myself.

There's no denying that Mass Effect 2 is universally acclaimed, and I can seriously see why. The game has high production values, excellent dialogue, and a good combat system. The game earned a number of GOTY awards and is considered by many to be in the upper echelon of games for this generation. 

I, however, have struggled with this game since I beat it last year. I can see that it is good, but I fail to see why it is GREAT. Mass Effect 2 is so many things, and I believe it succeeds only marginally in any of them. As a TPS it is a little stale, as a RPG it is shallow, and as an adventure it is fairly predictable. So, while I enjoyed the game, Mass Effect 2 always seemed to be "watered down" for my tastes. One of my biggest qualms with the game is it's narrow locations. It feels like a theme-park ride, where you are "pushed through" from point to point, accomplish a task and get pushed through to the next point. In stark contrast to Mass Effect 2 is the Metal Gear Solid franchise, wherein every problem allows for multiple solutions.

 
Granted, some of my complaints are grounded in my personal preference: I am increasingly bored with games that "guide" me, and Mass Effect 2's branching storylines and conversation trees only serve to highlight the dissapointingly linear combat. Perhaps a deeper customization system would've helped, or implementing some stealth combat, or larger venues for combat with many possible paths to take. We are given many choices in the game, but as a gamer I want those choices to be in gameplay FIRST, then in narrative.

I may be alone in this, but Mass Effect 2 was not a revelation, nor a truely great game. It is a good game presented very well. 
 

Now please tell me how wrong I am below... and I will attempt to defend myself.

You lost me at "good combat system."

I thought it was one of the best games this generation. I really got into the setting and I was more interested in what characters had to say than any game I have ever played. I agree with your points about the combat feeling sort of boxed in but it didn't really bother me that much. The combat was sort of filler for me and I just wanted to get through it so I could do some more talking. I expect you to receive some hate for your post though. Ready your shield.

Choice is overrated.

Man, I was worried we weren't going to meet the weekly quota for "I dislike ME2" threads, but thankfully we pulled through OK.

You lost me at "good combat system."

The game is almost two years old. Why are is this crap coming up again, for the thousandth time?
The community spotlight already has it's Mass Effect 2 sucks story, so your not going to get in that way.

@emkeighcameron:

Tell me about it, i was getting real scarred reading this thinking "Oh god, this one might not be the same thing as all the others, oh no!", but i quickly realized this guy's just saying what all ther others say over and over, only this guy kept his shorter....

The problems with the Mass Effect series right now is the illusion of choice, linear character development, and lack of banter between squadmates- it's just you and them, not him and the others. I want that to change.

This sums of this and all future Mass Effect 2 threads.
  

Your accusation comes down to personal taste. A dislike for linear gameplay is an argument that many people use to justify their belief that a game is bad, an argument that is really starting to get annoying. Mass Effect is amazing because of its narrative, and the way it presents that story is utterly unique to games. The dialog options, while not ultra-extensive, allow the player control over the development of Shepard's character, and over just enough elements of the plot to let the player feel truly involved, while still telling a well-structured story. The characterizations, especially when the conversations are fully explored, are excellent. The fiction is expansive, and the game's structure allows the player to be immersed in that fiction in a way that more passive entertainment media can't hope to match.  The gameplay isn't the best, certainly. But it's competent, and the differing shields, barriers, and powers allow for enough tactical considerations to keep the shootouts interesting. Also, let's all admit it, Mass Effect 2 isn't a goddamn RPG. It's a shooter. ME1 and ME2 are utterly different games. The argument that ME2 is a poor RPG could be reversed and applied to the first Mass Effect. What I mean is, I could call ME1 a shitty shooter, but people would respond "It's an RPG, the poor combat is just a result of that."  Mass Effect 1 isn't judged as a shooter, Mass Effect 2 shouldn't be judged as an RPG 
 
In short, Mass Effect 2 is amazing, and you are wrong

@kingzetta: yes, delete every game-specific forum of games which are older than a year, GB could save some money that way, excellent idea.

People rate it so highly because many are putting narrative over mechanical excellence in importance, instead of giving them both their due as necessary for a quality game. Bioware didn't succeed at making a good RPG or shooter, so Mass Effect 2 is not the generational game it's made out to be.

Maybe you didn't like the game as much as other people but that doesn't mean it isn't good. I pretty much dislike all Blizzard games, I realise they are good but they are just not my cup of tea.

bet you guys the op has never played the game on insanity as a vanguard. I highly recommend watching xcalizorz lets play on youtube, very entertaining and shows you a very unique and awesome way to play on insanity!

you lost me at "excellent dialogue".

Yay yet more Mass Effect 2 threads!

Your opinion is different than my opinion on this.

Weird how two different people can can have two different thoughts on the game.

I had fun with the game. RPG was stripped down, maybe too much but I loved the characters, Thane and Samera are great additions to a fantastic team (except jacob, he is boring) THe progression of the game is very stilted and feels planned all the ay through which I liked. Shepard needed to accomplish a goal and knew the steps needed to attempt it.

Also, some of your complaints appear like they will be answered in the third game from the look and sound of it.

This sums of this and all future Mass Effect 2 threads.
  

I must say, Mass Effect 2 is one of my favorite games ever. I can't wait for Mass Effect 3!

@astrodoggy said:

and if you people are sick of these posts, why are you in here reading and posting on one??? go wack off to the sims or something

This is probably the best way to foster intelligent discussion.

Its great, but it could have been a hundred times better in my opinion.
It satisfied the ME itch, but it took away some of the grander aspects of ME1.
 
Now I won't say its a bad game, hell, I cried while playing the intro, I was so into it, it felt so amazing to see the Normandy and Shep go down, really hit a note.
But I will say that some of the freedom (no matter how fake that freedom in the  end turned out to be) was lost in the way ME2 handled the missions and companions, it was still an awesome game with an awesome universe and I will not compare it to anything else since I just can't.
 
Game's one of a kind, one of my favorites, just the knowledge that it could have been a little different is all that's bugging me, a little.

@kingzetta said:

This sums of this and all future Mass Effect 2 threads.
  

HEY YOU GUYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC?

@marlow83 said:

In short, Mass Effect 2 is amazing, and you are wrong

Your accusation comes down to personal taste.

I sometimes wonder if Giant Bomb is almost entirely made up of hipsters.

Nothing against hipsters, but there's more "good things are bad" and "bad things are good" on GB than anywhere else.

@Rolyatkcinmai said:

I sometimes wonder if Giant Bomb is almost entirely made up of hipsters.

Nothing against hipsters, but there's more "good things are bad" and "bad things are good" on GB than anywhere else.

@marlow83 said:

In short, Mass Effect 2 is amazing, and you are wrong

Your accusation comes down to personal taste.

@marlow83 said:

@Infininja said:

@marlow83 said:

In short, Mass Effect 2 is amazing, and you are wrong

Your accusation comes down to personal taste.

No, I made the argument that when the quality standards for semi-linear third person shooters, and for storytelling in games are taken into account, Mass Effect excels for the most part. And I don't feel like continuing this conversation. I posted that two god damn weeks ago. So feel free to fuck off, I'm really not in the mood.

That was a rude response.

Problem with Mass Effect 2 is that it has no idea how to pace the combat or make the player engaged throughout the game. It fails almost completely to do that, resulting in gameplay which becomes tired long before the game ends. To be frank, I feel they need to learn a thing or two from Starcraft II in how to keep missions feeling unique in gameplay.

I wish I cared enough about your opinion to refute you, but I honestly don't.

I would question why people feel the need to write a dissertation on why their opinion is more valid than someone else's, but I'll probably just put that down to idiocy and get on with my life.

@marlow83 said:

@Infininja said:

@marlow83 said:

In short, Mass Effect 2 is amazing, and you are wrong

Your accusation comes down to personal taste.

No, I made the argument that when the quality standards for semi-linear third person shooters, and for storytelling in games are taken into account, Mass Effect excels for the most part. And I don't feel like continuing this conversation. I posted that two god damn weeks ago. So feel free to fuck off, I'm really not in the mood.

That was a rude response.

Awesome!!! another thread about why we are wrong about liking a game!!!  Is there a quest for starting one of these threads? 

I've always though that Mass Effect was a disappointing game. I completely agree with the lackluster shooting mechanics and the dumbed down rpg elements lending to an overall far less than amazing game in combination with a basicplot that wasn;'t as good as the original

I am TheDudeOfGaming, and i approve this blog!

You really know how to format a article.