Mass Effect 2 Preview

Should you pay a visit to NowGamer this evening, you'll find a fresh hands-on preview of BioWare's sci-fi action RPG sequel.

Our recent hands-on not only highlighted the ramp-up in visual fidelity, but also how this new muscular grunt has affected gameplay. Basically, our demo consisted of a gun battle sandwiched between two classic conversational cut-scenes. More on the combat later (it's looking good), but now let's discuss what made the original Mass Effect so memorable, namely talking.

Shepard loves to chat. Absolutely loves it. Depending on how you play the game, he or she can be a smooth-talking charmer, or a stoic no-nonsense hero. Or a massive prick, of course. The problem with the original's conversations, though, was how static everyone was. It's all well and good having dramatic dialogue and tense, consequential banter, but when everyone's standing like they've got a rod jammed where the artificial sun doesn't shine, it tends to shatter the illusion somewhat.