Games of the Decade: Mass Effect 2 gave me characters I will cherish forever Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Games of the Decade: Mass Effect 2 gave me characters I will cherish forever Squad goals. Feature by Malindy Hetfeld Contributor Updated on 26 Nov 2019 81 comments To mark the end of the 2010s, we're celebrating 30 games that defined the last 10 years. You can find all the articles as they're published in the Games of the Decade archive, and read about our thinking about it in an editor's blog. I count myself lucky to have played Mass Effect 2 prior to Mass Effect. As good a game as that was in its own right, had my first exposure to the Mass effect universe been elevator loading screens and Mako drives, I wouldn't be talking to you right now. But gosh, that Mass Effect 2 intro. As a Star Trek fan of several years, the elements of it were just immediately familiar - the hustle and bustle on a huge ship, people using tablets for everything, before suddenly a surprise attack shatters that tranquillity forever. There aren't many other game intros I remember that clearly for their apparent love for their respective genre tropes - Uncharted, certainly, Far Cry, Until Dawn perhaps. But as you can see from that list, a bombastic intro gives you an idea of the lengths a game will go to pull all the stops and ensnare you. Epic is still the first word that comes to mind when I think of Mass Effect 2, and that goes both for how its action scenes made me gasp and how its power fantasy overshoots into cringe territory at times. With Mass Effect 2, my dearest gaming wish had come true - finally, a good space game. Of course, being a game, it wasn't interested in the diplomatic nuances of Star Trek quite as much so it could still get you to shoot enemies in the face, and of course the actual goal of the game was quickly overshadowed by the possibility of getting one of the unexpectedly attractive aliens to take a very close look at your captain's quarters. Maybe that was the actual goal all along. Of course careful critical study has revealed several flaws with Mass Effect 2, but I still think there isn't a single game with characters that grew on me to the degree the crew of the Normandy did. Whether it's Mordin Solus' Gilbert and Sullivan renditions, Garrus doing some calibrations or my feverish desire to romance Thane, the sexiest alien of them all thank you very much, the characters filled an otherwise pretty familiar sci-fi world with a life of its own. I as the hero could choose to help not some easily forgettable villagers, but my friends, the people who talked to me of their problems when I visited them in their rooms or who wanted to share their feelings on our progress. Thanks to Mass Effect, I will always remind you of the importance of great characters, because God knows no one talks about what a great cover shooter it is. Thanks to Mass Effect 2, I started to really pay attention to the work of game writers and voice actors, and I had always hoped it would establish the space opera in games canon right next to the high fantasy setting. That hasn't happened, and the way the franchise developed down the line is a shame. Never the less Mass Effect 2 is enduring, not least because like many games of various Games of the Decade lists, it just sticks with you for the sheer scale, polish and yes, how utterly epic it is. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More Features Digital Foundry Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: a new level in graphics performance The Digital Foundry video review - and how the new GPU champion delivers for 4K 120fps gaming. 14 Feature Evercore Heroes wants to wind people up the right way "There's less rage at them, because they didn't end your fun." Feature What games get wrong about horses And what they could do about it. 34 Feature Shout out to all the Overwatch supports - where would we be without you? Merci. 55 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store