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.






Editions of the Game (Standard/Collectors'):

Cinematic Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeCSkR5F3sc

Party Members:

(click pictures to visit information page; pictures taken from Mass Effect 2 website and Mass Effect Wiki)

"The Dirty Dozen"


Miranda Lawson - Human Officer





Jacob Taylor - Human Operative





Thane Krios - Drell Assassin





Grunt - Krogan Mercenary





Subject Zero - Human Biotic Test Subject





Tali'Zorah vas Normandy - Quarian Machinist





Mordin Solus - Salarian Scientist





Samara - Asari Justicar






Garrus Vakarian - Turian Agent





Legion - Geth Infiltrator





DLC Party Member(s):

Zaeed Messani - Human Bounty Hunter





Kasumi Goto - Human Master Thief





Classes:

(pictures and descriptions taken from Mass Effect 2 website)

The Engineer is one of 6 classes available in Mass Effect 2. They are tech specialists, the only class able to employ combat drones on the battlefield. Summon combat drones to harass enemies, knocking them out of cover and drawing fire away from you. Additionally Engineers can hack mechanized opponents turning deadly enemies into powerful allies. With the ability to use tech powers to manipulate combat, they turn difficult battles into victories.. Upgrade your drones, giving them a powerful energy blast or turn them into a deadly bomb. Additionally Engineers have potent offensive capabilities including Incinerate and Overload.

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The Adept, outfitted with L5x implants, is a biotic specialist, capable of disabling and killing enemies with raw biotic power. With their unique talents, Adepts are the only class able to deploy the Singularity power, a lethal biotic trap capable of snaring multiple enemies. When enemies hide behind cover Adepts are able to Pull them, exposing them for a deadly follow-up attack. Additionally Adepts are able to throw the opposition with their Push ability, making cliffs and ledges lethal opportunities. While they lack advanced combat training, Adepts are the best class at defeating enemies without firing a shot.

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Sentinels are unique, bringing both tech and biotic abilities to the battlefield. They are versatile and always equipped to deal with any situation. After overloading an enemy shield, Sentinels have no trouble throwing the opponent with their biotic powers. Additionally when battles become too heated, they can Cryo Freeze an enemy buying the Sentinel precious time eliminate foes or take cover. Sentinels are also equipped with the most advanced Tech Armor to keeping them safe in hostile situations. If overloaded, the system discharge and stun all enemies within a short distance.

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Infiltrators are tech and combat specialists and the only class able to cloak themselves from detection. They are deadly at any range, with a wide variety of weapons, equipment, and powers that can take down even the most fortified of defenses. With their training in Sniper Rifles, Infiltrators can eliminate foes from safety before moving in. Additionally, with a combination of ammo types at their disposal Infiltrators can handle both organic and synthetic enemies with ease. When combat gets heated, Infiltrators are able to deploy a Tactical Cloak and evade enemies before rejoining the battle and disposing of any remaining opposition.

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Vanguards are outfitted with a L5n implant giving them powerful biotic capabilities; coupled with their weapons training, they become lethal at close range. Vanguards are capable at closing the distance instantly on an enemy with their unique Charge ability. Gathering immense biotic power, Vanguards will Charge toward an enemy, passing over chasms and through obstacles where upon they collide with their target, sending them flying through the air. Additionally Vanguards are able to release an explosive Shockwave, tossing enemies and knocking them from cover. If Vanguards find themselves in trouble, they are also able to use their Charge ability for a quick escape to safety.

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Soldiers are outfitted with an ocular synaptic processor allowing them fire with heightened focus at their targets. Weather they are picking off Geth at long range, or disposing of a pack of Vorcha up close with a shotgun, Soldiers can overcome any obstacle with sheer firepower. They are the only class capable of wielding assault rifles, and are masters of all other forms of weaponry and ammunition types. When Soldiers utilize their Adrenaline Rush ability, they seemingly slow down time around them giving them precious moments to eliminate foes with lethal accuracy. Additionally when battles get heated, Soldiers can deploy an explosive concussive shot to knock down multiple enemies.

DLC Information:
*coming soon*



Mass Effect Universe:

Books:

(pictures and descriptions taken from Mass Effect 2 website)


Mass Effect Revelation

Every advanced society in the galaxy relies on the technology of the Protheans, an ancient species that vanished fifty thousand years ago. After discovering a cache of Prothean technology on Mars in 2148, humanity is spreading to the stars; the newest interstellar species, struggling to carve out its place in the greater galactic community. On the edge of colonized space, ship commander and Alliance war hero David Anderson investigates the remains of a top secret military research station; smoking ruins littered with bodies and unanswered questions. Who attacked this post and for what purpose? And where is Kahlee Sanders, the young scientist who mysteriously vanished from the base - hours before her colleagues were slaughtered? Sanders is now the prime suspect, but finding her creates more problems for Anderson than it solves. Partnered with a rogue alien agent he can't trust and pursued by an assassin he can't escape, Anderson battles impossible odds on uncharted worlds to uncover a sinister conspiracy . . . one he won't live to tell about. Or so the enemy thinks.

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Mass Effect Ascension

When they vanished fifty thousand years ago, the Protheans left their advanced technology scattered throughout the galaxy. The chance discovery of a Prothean cache on Mars allows humanity to join those already reaping the rewards of the ancients' high-tech wizardry. But for one rogue militia, the goal is not participation but domination. Scientist Kahlee Sanders has left the Systems Alliance for the Ascension Project, a program that helps gifted "biotic" children harness their extraordinary powers. The program's most promising student is twelve-year-old Gillian Grayson, who is borderline autistic. What Kahlee doesn't know is that Gillian is an unwitting pawn of the outlawed black ops group Cerberus, which is sabotaging the program by conducting illegal experiments on the students. When the Cerberus plot is exposed, Gillian's father takes her away from the Ascension Project and flees into the lawless Terminus Systems. Determined to protect Gillian, Kahlee goes with them... unaware that the elder Grayson is, in fact, a Cerberus operative. To rescue the young girl Kahlee must travel to the farthest ends of the galaxy, battling fierce enemies and impossible odds. But how will she be able to save a daughter from her own father?

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Mass Effect Retribution

Retribution is set in the universe fans know well from the video game and novel series—one in which humanity has explored the very farthest reaches of the universe, only to discover the ruthless Reapers, a race bent on extinguishing all organic life. One man is bent on discovering the Reapers' secrets, the mysterious Illusive Man, the leader of a pro-human, black ops group, Cerberus. And he's devised the perfect plan: implant a human subject with Reaper technology in order to study the enemy. He also has the perfect test subject—Paul Grayson, an ex-Cerberus operative. Grayson betrayed Cerberus in order to save his daughter. So when Grayson is kidnapped and made the subject of Cerberus' evil experiments, the Illusive Man will finally have his revenge...

Comics:

(pictures and descriptions taken from Mass Effect 2 website and IGN)


Mass Effect Redemption

Dark Horse Comics, famed publishers of Star Wars, Hellboy, and other amazing comics are teaming up with BioWare to produce Mass Effect Redemption. A new comic book series set in the events following the Reaper's desperate assault on the Citadel: Shepard has gone missing since destroying Sovereign and preventing the Reaper invasion, but Liara T'Soni is intent on finding the Commander.

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Mass Effect Evolution - January '11

"Evolution is a story from the early days of the Mass Effect universe, not long after the discovery of the Mass Relays connecting our solar system to the galaxy," Miller revealed to IGN. "It shows us one of those important moments when humanity realized just how dangerous that galaxy was. Yes, there's wonderful opportunity out there, but there are also perils; as our story opens, we're in the middle of the First Contact War with the alien turians. We don't know much about the enemy, and they don't know much about us — and, as we'll find out, there's a lot more at risk than losing a starship or a colony." "One of the questions we asked ourselves when developing the Illusive Man for the game was who was this guy and how did he get here," Walters said, when asked to detail why Bioware chose to focus in on the Illusive Man. "How does someone come to have this much power and view this world the way he does? And really there's no way to explore that in the game otherwise he wouldn't be illusive! So the opportunity to explore him [made sense to us]." But who is the star of this series? Who is the Illusive Man? We asked Miller for his sense of the character. "I look at the Illusive Man as a searcher, someone plumbing the mysteries of the galaxy — but with a specific mindset to his approach," Miller told us. "He's sure there's a darker side to some of the great things humanity's discovered, and he's rushing to find what that is before it's too late. His adventures force him to be a jack-of-all-trades — part xenobiologist, part intelligence agent, part archaeologist. "As to how he changes — and is changed — over the course of the series, well, that's a big part of the story. Let's just say it's impossible to come into such close contact with the mysteries of the universe without being changed by them..."

Web-comics:


Mass Effect Incursion


Mass Effect Inquisition

Can't wait. The 1up RPG blog had an interesting take on the possible reality of what is stated in the teaser trailer (being careful not to spoil anything). I just think it's going to be awesome. Both in story and technical aspects.

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Does anyone know if we would be able to use save data from the first game on the new one?

I can't wait. I've played the First Mass Effect like 7 times already...

Originally Posted by bjstucker Does anyone know if we would be able to use save data from the first game on the new one?

Didn't the person that started blogging here from Bioware say we "should" keep our file? I'm pretty sure.

I can't wait for this game. I saw the trailer the other day and loved it. I'm playing through Mass Effect again now, simply because I needed an ME fix after watching that trailer

This cant come soon enough for me guys. I might actually buy this one instead of renting it.

I am so excited about this. Mass Effect to me was the first true "Great" game of the next generation. Developers have said that actions in the first game will carry over to the next. My question then is this.

I played the game 3 times through. Each time I made different choices to see how the game played out. Which of those three games will Mass Effect 2 choose to carry over? The first time through the game for me was the way I "wanted" to play the game, and I would hope that would be what carries over, but something tells me the last play-through will be what the game chooses.

Also, can we all agree there will be at least one slow elevator joke in this one?

Depends on if you have separate save files. If you do, i'd move the ones from your 2nd and 3rd playthroughs to a memory unit so that the f1st playthrough that you wanted is the most recent game save...

Updated the OP with the informal announcement of additional DLC rumored to be named "Fight Club".

Originally Posted by chubbyninja1319 Can't wait. The 1up RPG blog had an interesting take on the possible reality of what is stated in the teaser trailer (being careful not to spoil anything). I just think it's going to be awesome. Both in story and technical aspects.

I think I read the same blog you mentioned, as well as some things from IGN, and it seems like the future of Mass Effect is limitless.

Originally Posted by bjstucker Does anyone know if we would be able to use save data from the first game on the new one?

If they were to pull off the idea of having your decisions in ME transfer over to ME2, then yes they would have to have that function in the new game.

Why did a moderator delete the last posts of this thread?

...Ugh. I want this sequel more than world peace and explicit sexual relations with Kerry Washington. I'm still on the "Geth isn't Shepard" side of the near endless debate stemming from the teaser. ME was the ONLY game I've ever played where I actually felt guilty for neglecting it in favor of others even after multiple play-throughs. Next year is so damn far away but I honestly doubt this sequel will shape up to be anything less than worth the wait.

Originally Posted by foxdvd I played the game 3 times through. Each time I made different choices to see how the game played out. Which of those three games will Mass Effect 2 choose to carry over? The first time through the game for me was the way I "wanted" to play the game, and I would hope that would be what carries over, but something tells me the last play-through will be what the game chooses.

Agreed. I'd assume unless you've stored different saves for each play-through the last of them would remain dominate. Hence why whenever I play with my original I always try to make the same decisions. Otherwise... (for now) it wouldn't make much sense for the sequel to force a player into loading their most recent profile if they've stored multiples on their hard drive.

Whatever they decide I'd totally go through and play the game over again while doing what I want from ME to be carried over to ME2. ^^ I highly doubt that Shepard is killed. I just finished reading the first ME book, Revelation, gotta purchase the second one now or maybe wait after the game like I did with the first book.

Originally Posted by Spybreak8 Whatever they decide I'd totally go through and play the game over again while doing what I want from ME to be carried over to ME2. ^^ I highly doubt that Shepard is killed. I just finished reading the first ME book, Revelation, gotta purchase the second one now or maybe wait after the game like I did with the first book.

Go ahead and get the second book. It's good. It basically goes off on a side story that doesn't really affect anything with the story of the game. It would be cool if ME2 referenced it though. I don't want to give any spoilers.

Updated the OP with 2 more artworks and a leaked gameplay video of ME2 (being shown in its developmental stages) that were recently released. The two pictures seem to be a mass relay station and a bar/cantina. Hopefully we'll continue to get more information (aside from pictures) as days go by! 2010 can't come quick enough

A.I seems dumb. But then again, compared to the last game, about the same.

The AI was pretty unremarkable in ME1, but didn't suck too bad...Every now and then they'd go and die quickly, but you got the ability to revive them so they weren't ever a huge liability.

I'm really looking forward to this game, just hope there's a CAG-worthy deal for it at launch.

Things that need to be fixed for ME2:
1) fighting in the Mako: if I can aim at it, I should be able to shoot it.
2) a little more variety in the hacking/unlocking minigame (if you can call it a minigame)

New pre-e3 teaser up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWlzyZdXu_o

Notice the beginning screen, Shepard is listed "MIA", not "KIA"