BioWare today announced that the shooter/RPG Mass Effect 2 will be on store shelves in New Zealand on January 29 2010.
In support of the launch, BioWare is releasing unique Mass Effect 2 pre-order incentives at retailers nationwide. Codes for downloading these items will be provided to players who have pre-ordered, usable when the game is released.
“Our fans are in for a genuine thrill in the New Year with Mass Effect 2 – the second instalment in the trilogy will be of amazingly high quality,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “BioWare’s fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this epic sequel, and we couldn’t be more excited to reward them for pre-ordering by delivering some awesome bonus content!”
GP: Can you give us a bit more of an idea about how the character transition will work between Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2?
Greg: Yeah absolutely! Well, I think we frightened a few people earlier in the year when we suggested that Shepard may in fact be killed in action, then we followed that up with the comments around keeping your saved game. So right from the beginning of Mass Effect we always intended to do a trilogy, and we always wanted you to be able to keep your character and your decisions for the entire arc. You have to have the right data structure in your saved games to be able to carry it all the way forward. So we planned to do that from the beginning, and the key things are who is alive, who is dead - these are the key events that happen in the game. Those are the things we keep track of. It will become more apparent when you play the real thing - at the moment we're being purposely dodgy about how it will all work because we don't want to reveal secrets. But the mechanic of how the game starts is pretty unique, we think, it's something that fans will dig. The key thing is, when you play the game, and you see the fruits of your labour, it's very exciting to have the sense that your personal story is continued.
EA and Bioware have released six new screenshots of Mass Effect 2, the sequel to 2007's hit action-RPG.
“We’re going to surpass the extraordinary gaming experience we brought our fans in Mass Effect by delivering intensified combat and expanded weapon options as well as increased depth of planet exploration, all while delivering a powerful, emotionally engaging story,” said Bioware head Dr. Ray Muzyka.
“Mass Effect 2 is shaping up to be an unforgettable RPG-shooter experience, taking players on a non-stop roller-coaster ride filled with stunning plot twists and no-holds-barred action.”
Two years after Commander Shepard repelled invading Reapers bent on the destruction of organic life, a mysterious new enemy has emerged. On the fringes of known space, something is silently abducting entire human colonies. Now Shepard must work with Cerberus, a ruthless organization devoted to human survival at any cost, to stop the most terrifying threat mankind has ever faced.
To even attempt this perilous mission, Shepard must assemble the galaxy’s most elite team and command the most powerful ship ever built. Even then, they say it would be suicide. Commander Shepard intends to prove them wrong.
Features:
Mass Effect 2 Strategy Guides.
- From the makers of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age: Origins, and Mass Effect comes the dark second installment in the thrilling Mass Effect Trilogy!
- Command a unique team of amazing characters on a perilous mission in the most dangerous regions of space.
- Players of the first Mass Effect can import save games to continue the story of their own Commander Shepard. New players will find a thrilling stand-alone adventure awaits them - a polished and action packed adventure that surpasses the first game in nearly every possible way.
- Take cover, command an elite squad with ease, utilize 19 weapon classes including heavy weapons, and unleash deadly powers against your foes with an all new and improved combat system.
- Increased intensity with precision shooter controls to let you control the action and overcome insurmountable odds.
- Featuring a new location based damage system: target key weak points, and blast off limbs, ignite enemies, or cripple and disable enemy troops.
- Visit familiar locales, such as the Citadel, and travel to deadly unknown new worlds to save mankind.
- Survey unique planets and embark on side missions to uncover more secrets in the Mass Effect universe.
- Robust Character Customizations
- Choose a player class, customize your appearance, and tailor your own abilities and strengths. As you progress so do Shepard's abilities.
- Control the conversation. Improved conversation system where you can take matters into your own hands - often with the liberal application of force.
