When Mass Effect 2 released early last year on the Xbox 360 it was met with critical acclaim from fans and critics alike. Unfortunately PlayStation 3 owners were left out at the time, but this is no longer the case.

It has made it to PS3 and even though it was a bit late to the party, PS3 users arguably get the most complete and definitive version available.

The player once again takes control of Commander Shepard in the year of 2183. Entire human colonies are disappearing throughout the galaxy and it is up to Shepard to recruit a team, figure out what is going on and how to stop it.

A big draw of the games is the ability to import your character from game to game. The choices made in the original Mass Effect can and will drastically Mass Effect 2 and future sequels, specifically Mass Effect 3.

Mass Effect 1 never made it to the PS3, so in its place is a digital motion comic that is meant to fill the void. All the critical choices that were made in the first game are still present and made within the comic itself. It won’t get the player as caught up or as invested in the story as playing the original game, but it’s the next best thing.

In the game, the player can tell their squad what abilities to use, or where to take cover if necessary. Otherwise they will just operate on their own AI and most of the times back you up like pros, as you take down the galaxies worst.

It is unique in the sense that while combat is a big part of the game, the player will likely spend just as much time talking to other players as they will be playing the game. Dialogue trees allow the player to be any type of Shepard they want. The option to be a sinister rouge or a benevolent protector is well implemented and the player will legitimately feel good or evil, depending on the path they choose.

What makes the game so incredible is its method of story telling. The player is Shepard and the decisions made as this character alter the story for each player, ensuring nobody has the exact same tale to tell.

Shepard’s teammates each have their own unique personality and motivations for doing what they’re doing. It’s genuinely interesting to talk to them between missions and uncover their past.

Many of the crew are different alien species that populate the Mass Effect galaxy, but that doesn’t stop them from being more human and relatable than most other human characters in video games today.

It is possible to fail missions and keep on playing, failure does not immediately equal a game over. The consequences could be severe later on though.

In the end Mass Effect 2 is every bit as engaging and entertaining as it was when it debuted on Xbox 360. As a bonus, PS3 users get all the downloadable content that Xbox 360 players had to pay and download later right out of the box, making what is already a sizable game even bigger. One of 2010’s best games is also one of 2011’s as well.

Jonathan Posch can be reached at 581-7944 or

[email protected].