Mass Effect 2 information released

[D_987]

Subscribers of OXM have recently been getting their copies sent through the mail of their June issue, we can now bring you plenty of info from the upcoming OXM cover game, Mass Effect 2.

We're going to chalk all this down as a rumour for now, simply because we haven't been able to verify it with our own eyes, but considering the thread was allowed to continue and the odd programmer and even Community peacekeeper Chris Preistly came into correct the information, makes it seem legit. Get ready though, there is a LOT of info. Right, here goes nothing *takes deep breath*.

- One of the new races (the one seen in the pre E3 video) is called the Drell and Thane, a member of that species, has the possibility of hooking up with your party. The Drell look amphibious and Thane is described as smooth and suave.

- This is apparently the main Cerberus outpost.

- Players get the chance to visit Illium, an Asari planet that is full of skyscrapers (the planet we saw in the GDC clip some time ago).

- For those familiar with the novel Ascenscion, the Mass Effect 2 prequel, you'll be pleased to know that we get to visit Omega, a lawless planet full of crooks. The planet is in fact a hollowed out asteroid with maze like streets for all those interested.

- We do get to play as Shepard for at "least a decent chunk" of the game which is a little ambiguous. It will be Shepard's job to investigate the human colonies that are going missing and the mission is described a "suicide" mission.

- The galactic community will still be fending off the reapers but this chapter deals with Cerberus and their enigmatic leader, AKA, The Illusive Man, who was also the main bad guy in the Mass Effect 2 prequel, as Saren was in the Mass Effect 1 prequel.

- If you are extremely paragon or renegade in Mass Effect 2 you would get extra special endings.

- Joker will return in Mass Efect 2 (and we presume Seth Green will be voicing as well.) Joker however is not the only returning character, although no specifics were given.

- There will be a new Krogan character called Grunt.

- There will be the chance to accept a Salarian into your ranks in Mass Effect 2, a tough but clever scientist who is the "Clint Eastwood" of scientists.

- There are new weapons (as confirmed by the pre-E3 clip). Apparently one that turns enemies into dust and a "nuke gun" that unleashes room-clearing nuclear fire.

- The Elcor and Volus actually move around this time making things a bit more interesting according to Casey Hudson.

- The magazine showed a Quarian dressed in medium or heavy armour. A new addition to the series.

- Casey Hudson on Uncharted Worlds - "We decided to really improve a lot of the points of interaction throughout that experience. We'll be showing this at E3, but there's more [going on] when you're in orbit, looking at [a planet], scanning, and riding down to the surface. And there's a much stronger focus on a really rich, interesting set-piece location."

- At E3 they plan to show a.) whether Shepard is dead, b.) the new transit system, c.) uncharted worlds exploration, d.) who you ultimately play as, and e.) more info on Thane.

- The "new transit system" is replacing the old elevator loading segments.

- We could be getting a new ship, or at least a revamped Normandy, as a new interior quarters is described that is bigger than the Normandy quarters and even has a small model of the old Normandy in it.

- The Mako now is a different vehicle and it moves in a different way. No specifics given at this moment.

- The game will no longer suffer with texture pop-up.

- There is a totally revamped inventory system.

- Choices are being flaunted as more meaningful, and there is apparently a real risk that major support characters can and will die.

- Mass Effect 2 could feature a Geth ally, party member or main character? The user quotes a BioWare developer, "he's a specific character you probably recognize him from the trailer, also people will really connect with him and his slick animations, like flaring his lens cover in surprise make him really appealing."

And in closing ...

- "Substantial" Mass Effect DLC is being worked on as we speak and something should be announced real soon. This will be the last piece of content before Mass Effect 2 is released.

OXM's June issue is out real soon. To get the full scoop and a good look at all the pictures, pick it up ... I know I will.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-2748-Mass-Effect-2-Info-Leaked-From-Latest-OXM.html

This is the video released by Bioware regarding E3:

 

[WrongSprite]

So Shepards gonna die half way through?

 

[Johnn Johnston]

New mako. New transit system.

*punches air*

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I'm a little nervous on how you only play Commander Shepard for part of the game, does that mean all the skills and abilities you picked up apply to only part of the game?

 

[Andy_Panthro]

More choice and consequence would be nice, it will be interesting to see how much of this list comes true...

 

[plastic_window]

Very ambigious about Shepard... Don't like the sound of that. If you poured a lot of yourself into it like I did, it sounds like Bioware just want to kill you off.

Although I like the sound of having a Salarian on board the team. Finally!

Do you play as this Geth ally? Is he perhaps Shepard's replacement? Do they programme his personnality into it? That sounds sci-fi enough.

So many questions still remain! That's it for me, though. I'm not going to look at any more Mass Effect 2 press releases. I want to find out the rest for myself in the final game. For Dead Space, I looked at every single press release, and it ruined nearly everything about the game for me. I honestly think I would've liked that game a whole lot more if I'd just stayed away from the over-abundance of spoilers in the Dev Diaries and the like.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

I cannot wait for this game...at all. I don't even care if Shepard dies, I just want it...nao!

On a more serious note, i'm looking forward to the depth and darkness added to the story of ME2

 

[ShotgunSmoke]

They're just teasing us about Shep's death. They can't just kill him off. He's the saviour of the galaxy, there's no one else to play as.

 

[D_987]

They're just teasing us about Shep's death. They can't just kill him off. He's the saviour of the galaxy, there's no one else to play as.

How so, its a third person game, so its not like you can't just control another character.

 

[-Seraph-]

hmm...now if the story holds up I will be satisfied, I'm still bitter about how the first game was so terribly average but these improvements have given me some hope.

 

[WeedWorm]

Cant fucking wait for this.

 

[ShotgunSmoke]

They're just teasing us about Shep's death. They can't just kill him off. He's the saviour of the galaxy, there's no one else to play as.

How so, its a third person game, so its not like you can't just control another character.

I've spent an hour creating him and I'm really attached to him. And I'm not the only one.
I don't want to play as a different character. This is Shepard's story. Many people would be extremely upset about his death.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

They're just teasing us about Shep's death. They can't just kill him off. He's the saviour of the galaxy, there's no one else to play as.

How so, its a third person game, so its not like you can't just control another character.

I've spent an hour creating him and I'm really attached to him. And I'm not the only one.
I don't want to play as a different character. This is Shepard's story. Many people would be extremely upset about his death.

GONNA SPOIL THIS WHOLE PLOT RIGHT NOW.

Garuntee you, Shepard is killed and brought back as some kinda cyborg geth thing. Think about how it's depicted. Corporal Shepard- KIA.. And then you see the Geths face. Something happens, his brain gets downloaded into the Geth. Perhaps he becomes a new Geth leader and splits their loyalty to the reapers.

 

[p1ne]

Cant fucking wait for this.

+1

To my tastes, Mass Effect has the perfect design for a storyline-driven singleplayer game. I would happily play sequels as long as they're making them.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I'm a little nervous on how you only play Commander Shepard for part of the game, does that mean all the skills and abilities you picked up apply to only part of the game?

They will probably transfer over to the next guy, you use.

That's what I was thinking but that would be kind of weird, "oh hi, I'm not Commander Shepard but I have all the skills he had and coincidentally the same weapons as well..."

 

[scnj]

Am I the only guy who chose to play a female Shepard? Gaming is dominated my male leads, so when given the choice, I tend to go female for a bit of variety. That, and if I'm looking at an arse for 20 hours, might as well be a woman's arse.

 

[Thunderhorse31]

Am I the only guy who chose to play a female Shepard? Gaming is dominated my male leads, so when given the choice, I tend to go female for a bit of variety. That, and if I'm looking at an arse for 20 hours, might as well be a woman's arse.

I played as a women for my 3rd playthrough, after reading somewhere that the female voice-actor for Shepard did a great job. And yes, the character is easier on the eyes.

That said, the real Shepard is still a dude to my mind.

 

[D_987]

GONNA SPOIL THIS WHOLE PLOT RIGHT NOW.

Garuntee you, Shepard is killed and brought back as some kinda cyborg geth thing. Think about how it's depicted. Corporal Shepard- KIA.. And then you see the Geths face. Something happens, his brain gets downloaded into the Geth. Perhaps he becomes a new Geth leader and splits their loyalty to the reapers.

Must I point you to the article in which it claims:

Mass Effect 2 could feature a Geth ally, party member or main character? The user quotes a BioWare developer, "he's a specific character you probably recognize him from the trailer, also people will really connect with him and his slick animations, like flaring his lens cover in surprise make him really appealing."

 

[scnj]

Am I the only guy who chose to play a female Shepard? Gaming is dominated my male leads, so when given the choice, I tend to go female for a bit of variety. That, and if I'm looking at an arse for 20 hours, might as well be a woman's arse.

I played as a women for my 3rd playthrough, after reading somewhere that the female voice-actor for Shepard did a great job. And yes, the character is easier on the eyes.

I think it was Jennifer Hale. She's pretty consistent in her acting.

 

[Brotherofwill]

They'll go much more into action? Doesn't sound good.