Mass Effect 2 Preview
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Thankfully, the questioning opened up with the query I was most interested in having answered: "In what ways has combat substantially changed since Mass Effect?" The short answer is: in every way. Mr. Hudson made it clear that Mass Effect 2 is a far more stable game, and it has benefitted greatly from a big budget with a strong foundation. As such, the developers were able to build a sequel that improves upon the original in nearly every facet. In other words, rather than focusing on building the setting, the team could now concentrate on smoothing out the rough edges, such as the frame rate and improved texture loading. This new, ultra-smooth Mass Effect makes it possible to vastly improve the camera and combat controls as well as speed up load times. The hugely improved camera and aiming system is something of which the devs seem to be particularly proud. Furthermore, the infamous elevator segments are more interactive now, and they are accompanied by mapping schematics so you can see where you are headed - think of it as a glorified progress bar.
Another area where players will notice great improvement is in the feel and function of weaponry. Weapon aiming and feedback are far more responsive, and there are many more weapon classes from which to choose. Hudson sees players picking weapons that feel the best to them, rather than just getting railroaded into a specific firearm because of class selection. Also, instead of players becoming proficient through the use of arms over time, you'll be able to jump right in and score headshots due to the new location-specific targeting. This is where many of the RPG-minded players out there might get worried, but we were assured that combat is far more intuitive and rewarding this time around, and that the tactical elements of the original have actually been enhanced and made more user-friendly; they haven't been done away with.
