Mass Effect 2 Previews

As Mass Effect 2 has a presence at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, we'll probably be seeing another torrent of hands-on previews.  This first wave consists of three articles...

IGN starts us off:
The mission takes place in the depths of darkness -- well beyond the Terminus sector and out of grasp of Alliance control. A giant space station, the Omega, has fallen victim to a deadly plague that's killing off the population at a rapid pace. It's up to you to infiltrate the enormous structure, track down a scientist rumored to have developed a cure, and ultimately save the day.

The scientist is professor Mordin Solis, a Salarian whose moral compass swings all over the place. He's a relatively good guy, but he's driven by results and sometimes the consequences of his actions -- even killing, if necessary -- run distant second to his primary goal, which is, of course, the cure.

Another (tiny) preview is up at Orange:
Of course, those who didn't play the previous game, or keep a save from it, will be catered for with just as much care and attention. There are so many roads to go down in this sequel: the story sees Shepard take on new enemies and continue on to save humankind in what could well be a suicide mission. This time round you'll have 10 teammates to choose from, each with their own special skills. You yourself will be able to develop new skills, and even if you're using a save from the last game, you'll be able to diverge off into other classes that you didn't play as before. Combat has been overhauled so it's much smoother and more engaging, and you'll get a bunch of new weapons to play around with.

And then we have a "characters list" on Video Games Blogger:
8. Jacob Taylor (voiced by Adam Lazarre-White)
Formerly an Alliance Marine, Jacob Taylor is a valuable member of Commander Shephard's squad and is a key protagonist of Mass Effect 2. A human biotic, he is extremely skilled in combat and works alongside his informant, Miranda Lawson. Very skilled in the use of Assault Rifles, Heavy Weapons, Biotic Abilities and Tech Attacks. Jacob resigned in his position as an Alliance Marine after surviving the Geth attack on Eden Prime, where he worked under Major Derek Izunami.

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19. Thane Krios
A cool but calculated Drell assassin, Thane Krios likes to get up-close and personel before offing his targets. Even though he keeps his cool, he experiences extreme guilt over his job as a hired killer and always says a prayer for himself after his hit has been completed. He believes so strongly in his act of penance that he will ignore everyone and everything around him to clear his conscience.