<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
in	O
2010	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
in	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
second	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
series	O
and	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
within	O
the	O
Milky	O
Way	O
galaxy	B-Application
during	O
the	O
22nd	O
century	O
,	O
where	O
humanity	O
is	O
threatened	O
by	O
an	O
insectoid	O
alien	O
race	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Collectors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
exclusive	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
the	O
developers	O
opted	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
plot	O
where	O
optional	O
missions	O
had	O
as	O
much	O
intensity	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
mission	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
composer	O
Jack	O
Wall	O
returned	O
to	O
compose	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2s	I-Application
music	O
,	O
aiming	O
for	O
a	O
darker	O
and	O
more	O
mature	O
sound	O
to	O
match	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
mood	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
also	O
supports	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
,	O
ranging	O
from	O
single	O
in-game	O
character	O
outfits	O
to	O
entirely	O
new	O
plot-related	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Notable	O
packs	O
include	O
Kasumi	B-Application
–	I-Application
Stolen	I-Application
Memory	I-Application
,	O
Overlord	B-Application
,	O
Lair	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
Broker	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Arrival	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
to	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
presentation	O
and	O
cinematography	O
,	O
diverse	O
and	O
complex	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
improved	O
combat	O
over	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
considered	O
a	O
significant	O
improvement	O
over	O
its	O
predecessor	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2021	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
remastered	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
single-player	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
in	O
which	O
the	O
player	O
takes	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Commander	O
Shepard	O
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
may	O
choose	O
to	O
import	O
a	O
character	O
from	O
a	O
completed	O
saved	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
or	O
start	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
a	O
new	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Importing	O
an	O
old	O
character	O
allows	O
several	O
decisions	O
the	O
player	O
made	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
to	O
impact	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
grants	O
the	O
player	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
starting	O
bonuses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
overworld	O
is	O
a	O
galaxy	B-Application
map	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
explore	O
to	O
find	O
and	O
complete	O
quests	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combat	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
squad-based	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
maximum	O
of	O
two	O
squad	O
members	O
may	O
accompany	O
the	O
player	O
on	O
the	O
battlefield	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
controls	O
Shepard	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
controls	O
the	O
squad	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
where	O
weapons	O
overheat	O
if	O
fired	O
continuously	O
for	O
prolonged	O
periods	O
,	O
the	O
weapons	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
have	O
a	O
finite	O
magazine	O
and	O
must	O
be	O
reloaded	O
after	O
a	O
certain	O
number	O
of	O
shots	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Powers	O
do	O
not	O
require	O
any	O
expendable	B-Application
resource	I-Application
;	O
they	O
only	O
have	O
a	O
global	O
cooldown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
conversations	O
with	O
characters	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
employs	O
a	O
radial	O
command	O
menu	O
called	O
Dialogue	O
Wheel	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
dialogue	O
options	O
depend	O
on	O
wheel	O
direction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
introduces	O
a	O
context-sensitive	B-Application
interrupt	O
system	O
,	O
allowing	O
players	O
to	O
interrupt	O
the	O
conversation	O
with	O
direct	O
actions	O
at	O
certain	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
set	O
within	O
the	O
Milky	O
Way	O
galaxy	B-Application
during	O
the	O
22nd	O
century	O
,	O
where	O
interstellar	O
travel	O
is	O
possible	O
through	O
mass	O
transit	O
devices	O
called	O
Mass	O
Relays	O
,	O
a	O
technology	O
believed	O
to	O
have	O
been	O
built	O
by	O
an	O
extinct	O
alien	O
race	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Protheans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
conglomerate	O
body	O
of	O
governments	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Citadel	O
Council	O
controls	O
a	O
large	O
percentage	O
of	O
the	O
galaxy	B-Application
and	O
is	O
responsible	O
for	O
maintaining	O
law	O
and	O
order	O
among	O
races	O
of	O
the	O
galactic	O
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
alien	O
races	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
include	O
the	O
reptilian	O
krogan	O
and	O
drell	O
,	O
the	O
environmental-suited	O
quarians	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
hostile	O
race	O
of	O
networked	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
called	O
geth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
a	O
geth	O
army	O
attempted	O
to	O
open	O
a	O
portal	O
for	O
the	O
Reapers	O
,	O
a	O
highly	O
advanced	O
machine	O
race	O
of	O
synthetic-organic	O
starships	O
that	O
are	O
believed	O
to	O
eradicate	O
all	O
organic	O
civilization	O
every	O
50,000	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2183	O
,	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
the	O
SSV	O
Normandy	O
,	O
while	O
patrolling	O
for	O
geth	O
resistance	O
,	O
is	O
attacked	O
by	O
an	O
unknown	O
vessel	O
,	O
forcing	O
the	O
crew	O
to	O
abandon	O
ship	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shepard	O
is	O
brought	O
to	O
meet	O
the	O
Illusive	O
Man	O
,	O
who	O
reveals	O
that	O
entire	O
populations	O
of	O
human	O
colonies	O
have	O
disappeared	O
all	O
over	O
the	O
galaxy	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shepard	O
is	O
also	O
given	O
command	O
of	O
a	O
new	O
starship	O
,	O
the	O
Normandy	O
SR-2	O
,	O
piloted	O
again	O
by	O
Joker	O
and	O
equipped	O
with	O
an	O
onboard	O
AI	B-Application
named	O
EDI	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shepard	O
visits	O
a	O
derelict	O
Reaper	O
and	O
acquires	O
an	O
IFF	B-Device
necessary	O
to	O
travel	O
through	O
the	O
Omega-4	O
Relay	O
safely	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Shepard	O
and	O
the	O
squad	O
leave	O
in	O
a	O
shuttle	O
,	O
the	O
Normandy	O
SR-2	O
integrates	O
the	O
IFF	B-Device
into	O
her	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
scene	O
shows	O
the	O
Reapers	O
awakening	O
in	O
dark	O
space	O
and	O
descending	O
upon	O
the	O
galaxy	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
and	O
directed	O
by	O
Casey	O
Hudson	O
,	O
who	O
previously	O
led	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
exclusive	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
Hudson	O
explained	O
that	O
BioWare	O
was	O
interested	O
in	O
a	O
plot	O
where	O
optional	O
stories	O
had	O
as	O
much	O
intensity	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
and	O
decided	O
that	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
recruiting	O
people	O
and	O
making	O
them	O
loyal	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
so	O
that	O
they	O
could	O
survive	O
a	O
suicide	O
mission	O
allowed	O
to	O
explore	O
these	O
possibilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
BioWare	O
had	O
no	O
experience	O
with	O
shooter	O
games	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
spent	O
roughly	O
three	O
months	O
tuning	O
how	O
combat	O
would	O
work	O
using	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
as	O
a	O
basis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
more	O
options	O
were	O
added	O
to	O
assign	O
different	O
abilities	O
to	O
the	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
for	O
real-time	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
explained	O
that	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
offered	O
"	O
too	O
many	O
choices	O
that	O
were	O
n't	O
particularly	O
representative	O
of	O
how	O
they	O
would	O
impact	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
levelling	O
options	O
were	O
pared	O
down	O
and	O
made	O
more	O
descriptive.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
inventory	O
management	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
received	O
criticism	O
,	O
designing	O
a	O
new	O
inventory	O
system	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
concerns	O
during	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
planetary	O
exploration	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
revamped	O
entirely	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
goal	O
was	O
to	O
encourage	O
players	O
to	O
keep	O
exploring	O
the	O
galaxy	B-Application
by	O
changing	O
their	O
expectations	O
about	O
what	O
they	O
could	O
find	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
context-sensitive	B-Application
interrupt	O
system	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
initially	O
meant	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
feature	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
was	O
introduced	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
to	O
help	O
blend	O
the	O
dialogue	O
better	O
with	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
action	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
series	O
was	O
envisioned	O
as	O
a	O
trilogy	O
from	O
its	O
inception	O
,	O
work	O
on	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
started	O
shortly	O
before	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
initially	O
developed	O
exclusively	O
for	O
the	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
platforms	O
with	O
the	O
same	O
level	O
of	O
dedication	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
each	O
version	O
features	O
different	O
user	B-Application
interfaces	I-Application
and	O
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
built	O
using	O
Epic	O
Games	O
 '	O
Unreal	O
Engine	O
3	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
a	O
framework	B-Architecture
that	O
BioWare	O
specifically	O
developed	O
for	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
most	O
of	O
these	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
technologies	O
were	O
already	O
developed	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
focused	O
on	O
adding	O
new	O
content	O
and	O
perfecting	O
new	O
features	O
rather	O
than	O
creating	O
them	O
from	O
scratch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Technical	O
improvements	O
included	O
better	O
memory	B-General_Concept
management	I-General_Concept
,	O
larger	O
textures	O
,	O
a	O
higher	O
frame	O
rate	O
,	O
and	O
better	O
lighting	O
scenarios	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
contains	O
voices	O
from	O
90	O
voice	O
actors	O
who	O
play	O
546	O
characters	O
and	O
speak	O
over	O
25,000	O
lines	O
of	O
dialogue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Voice	O
recording	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
took	O
twice	O
as	O
long	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
using	O
it	O
on	O
the	O
first	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
game	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
programmers	O
were	O
already	O
familiar	O
with	O
Unreal	O
Engine	O
3	O
,	O
so	O
they	O
did	O
not	O
need	O
to	O
communicate	O
with	O
Epic	O
Games	O
for	O
support	O
constantly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
primarily	O
developed	O
at	O
BioWare	O
's	O
Edmonton	O
studio	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
team	O
of	O
30	O
people	O
was	O
set	O
to	O
work	O
at	O
EA	O
Montreal	O
in	O
March	O
2009	O
to	O
supplement	O
the	O
teams	O
already	O
working	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
over	O
roughly	O
two	O
years	O
and	O
more	O
than	O
150	O
people	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
these	O
factors	O
,	O
Hudson	O
described	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
successful	O
"	O
on	O
time	O
,	O
on	O
budget	O
,	O
and	O
exceeding	O
quality	O
goals.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Lead	O
writer	O
Mac	O
Walters	O
considered	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
a	O
very	O
quick	O
project	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
the	O
team	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
much	O
time	O
to	O
second	O
guess	O
themselves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
,	O
BioWare	O
denied	O
that	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
in	O
the	O
works	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
this	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
reported	O
that	O
the	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
featured	O
lines	O
of	O
code	B-Application
referencing	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
BioWare	O
responded	O
that	O
the	O
Unreal	O
Engine	O
3	O
is	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
is	O
why	O
it	O
includes	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
code	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eventually	O
,	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
a	O
year	O
later	O
than	O
the	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
uses	O
a	O
modified	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Unreal	O
Engine	O
3	O
called	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
engine	O
,	O
the	O
same	O
engine	O
BioWare	O
used	O
for	O
the	O
then-upcoming	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
this	O
newer	O
version	O
,	O
character	O
models	O
were	O
slightly	O
improved	O
,	O
and	O
controls	O
were	O
updated	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
controller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
option	O
which	O
allowed	O
to	O
switch	O
back	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
controls	O
layout	O
was	O
also	O
added	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
primarily	O
composed	O
by	O
Jack	O
Wall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
previous	O
work	O
with	O
BioWare	O
was	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
composer	O
for	O
Jade	B-Application
Empire	I-Application
and	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
the	O
composers	O
aimed	O
for	O
a	O
darker	O
and	O
more	O
mature	O
sound	O
to	O
match	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
mood	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
incorporates	O
orchestral	O
and	O
classic	O
sci-fi	O
arrangements	O
,	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
of	O
the	O
1982	O
film	O
Blade	B-Application
Runner	I-Application
and	O
music	O
by	O
German	O
electronic	O
group	O
Tangerine	O
Dream	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
harmonic	O
structure	O
of	O
Wendy	O
Carlos	O
's	O
Tron	B-Language
soundtrack	O
also	O
represented	O
significant	O
influences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Around	O
180	O
minutes	O
of	O
music	O
were	O
composed	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
which	O
totalled	O
more	O
than	O
700	O
assets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
song	O
"	O
Callista	O
"	O
by	O
video	O
game	O
music	O
composer	O
Saki	O
Kaskas	O
,	O
who	O
wrote	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
five	O
Need	B-Application
for	I-Application
Speed	I-Application
games	O
,	O
was	O
used	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Afterlife	O
Club	O
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
BioWare	O
released	O
the	O
main	O
soundtrack	O
album	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
:	O
Original	O
Videogame	O
Score	O
,	O
on	O
January	O
19	O
,	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2s	I-Application
score	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
Best	O
Original	O
Music	O
at	O
the	O
7th	O
British	O
Academy	O
Games	O
Awards	O
and	O
Best	O
Soundtrack	O
Album	O
at	O
the	O
9th	O
Annual	O
Game	O
Audio	O
Network	O
Guild	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
Legacy	O
,	O
an	O
album	O
composed	O
mostly	O
of	O
tracks	O
written	O
for	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
but	O
not	O
used	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
by	O
Big	O
Giant	O
Circles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
formally	O
unveiled	O
at	O
the	O
Game	O
Developers	O
Conference	O
on	O
March	O
17	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
teaser	O
trailer	O
declared	O
Shepard	O
"	O
killed	O
in	O
action	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
announcement	O
confirmed	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2009	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
presented	O
at	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
confirmed	O
that	O
Shepard	O
would	O
be	O
alive	O
and	O
playable	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
but	O
the	O
character	O
could	O
die	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
could	O
also	O
redeem	O
codes	O
on	O
specially	O
marked	O
Dr	O
Pepper	O
products	O
for	O
one	O
of	O
three	O
pieces	O
of	O
headgear	O
and	O
registered	O
copies	O
of	O
Dragon	B-Application
Age	I-Application
:	I-Application
Origins	I-Application
for	O
a	O
new	O
armour	O
set	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
initially	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
on	O
January	O
26	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
on	O
January	O
29	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
featured	O
a	O
different	O
packaging	O
,	O
an	O
artbook	O
,	O
bonus	O
in-game	O
content	O
,	O
a	O
behind-the-scenes	O
DVD	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
issue	O
from	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
:	O
Redemption	O
comic	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
month	O
,	O
it	O
became	O
the	O
second	O
best-selling	O
game	O
of	O
January	O
2010	O
with	O
572,100	O
units	O
sold	O
,	O
behind	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
New	B-Application
Super	I-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
Wii	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
after	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
font	O
size	O
and	O
colouring	O
were	O
criticized	O
for	O
being	O
too	O
difficult	O
to	O
read	O
on	O
some	O
standard-definition	B-Device
televisions	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2010	O
,	O
BioWare	O
released	O
a	O
patch	O
that	O
addressed	O
minor	O
issues	O
such	O
as	O
crashes	B-General_Concept
and	O
long	O
load	O
times	O
on	O
single-core	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Gamescom	O
2010	O
,	O
BioWare	O
announced	O
that	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
in	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
responded	O
to	O
the	O
announcement	O
that	O
,	O
despite	O
losing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
exclusivity	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
was	O
still	O
the	O
most	O
appropriate	O
console	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
game	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
compatibility	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
only	O
available	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
at	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
January	O
18	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
on	O
January	O
21	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
some	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
players	O
reported	O
that	O
their	O
save	O
files	O
can	O
become	O
corrupted	O
if	O
the	O
game	O
crashes	B-General_Concept
unexpectedly	O
,	O
BioWare	O
released	O
a	O
patch	O
designed	O
to	O
combat	O
save	O
bugs	O
and	O
crashes	B-General_Concept
experienced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
version	O
accounted	O
for	O
more	O
than	O
10%	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
overall	O
sales	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
April	O
2011	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
reported	O
that	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
and	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
combined	O
had	O
sold	O
more	O
than	O
seven	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
game	O
purchases	O
are	O
provided	O
with	O
a	O
one-time	O
use	O
card	O
granting	O
an	O
access	O
code	B-Application
that	O
unlocks	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Cerberus	B-Application
Network	I-Application
,	O
an	O
online	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
and	O
news	O
service	O
that	O
enables	O
bonus	O
content	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
users	O
who	O
bought	O
a	O
used	O
copy	O
would	O
have	O
to	O
pay	O
for	O
the	O
Cerberus	B-Application
Network	I-Application
separately	O
if	O
they	O
wanted	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
BioWare	O
online	O
development	O
director	O
Fernando	O
Melo	O
revealed	O
that	O
11%	O
of	O
all	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2s	I-Application
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
revenue	O
came	O
from	O
the	O
Cerberus	B-Application
Network	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
policy	O
attracted	O
criticism	O
from	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
fan	O
community	O
,	O
who	O
have	O
criticized	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
as	O
being	O
overpriced	O
and	O
an	O
incentive	O
for	O
developers	O
to	O
leave	O
items	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
initial	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
a	O
compilation	O
featuring	O
the	O
three	O
main	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Trilogy	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
,	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2016	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
list	O
of	O
backward-compatible	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
games	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2021	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
remastered	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
Legendary	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
supports	O
additional	O
in-game	O
content	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
released	O
from	O
January	O
2010	O
to	O
May	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Major	O
releases	O
include	O
Lair	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
Broker	I-Application
and	O
Arrival	B-Application
,	O
which	O
are	O
vital	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Lair	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
Broker	I-Application
,	O
Shepard	O
helps	O
former	O
squad	O
member	O
Liara	O
T'Soni	O
to	O
find	O
an	O
information	O
dealer	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Shadow	O
Broker	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Arrival	B-Application
,	O
Shepard	O
investigates	O
evidence	O
of	O
a	O
Reaper	O
invasion	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
events	O
that	O
bridge	O
to	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
plot-related	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
include	O
the	O
loyalty	O
missions	O
Zaeed	O
–	O
The	O
Price	O
of	O
Revenge	O
and	O
Kasumi	B-Application
–	I-Application
Stolen	I-Application
Memory	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Overlord	B-Application
,	O
which	O
adds	O
five	O
new	O
missions	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
versions	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
includes	O
the	O
Kasumi	B-Application
–	I-Application
Stolen	I-Application
Memory	I-Application
,	O
Overlord	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Lair	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Shadow	I-Application
Broker	I-Application
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
the	O
first	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
game	O
was	O
originally	O
not	O
released	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
BioWare	O
released	O
Genesis	O
,	O
a	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
pack	O
that	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
impact	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
major	O
plot	O
decisions	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Genesis	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
17	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
were	O
well-received	O
by	O
critics	O
and	O
nominated	O
for	O
Best	O
DLC	B-Protocol
(	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
)	O
at	O
the	O
Spike	O
Video	O
Game	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
from	O
video	O
game	O
publications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
reviewer	O
Erik	O
Brudvig	O
called	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
a	O
personal	O
game	O
with	O
much	O
emotion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
reviewer	O
Kevin	O
VanOrd	O
remarked	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
more	O
detailed	O
and	O
darker	O
than	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewer	O
Adriaan	O
den	O
Ouden	O
of	O
RPGamer	O
credited	O
the	O
conversations	O
and	O
cutscenes	O
for	O
featuring	O
better	O
cinematography	O
than	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
it	O
's	O
hard	O
to	O
imagine	O
them	O
becoming	O
much	O
better	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VanOrd	O
praised	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
possessing	O
an	O
identity	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
something	O
that	O
its	O
predecessor	O
lacked	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
GameSpys	O
Gerald	O
Villoria	O
observed	O
that	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
"	O
walked	O
the	O
line	O
between	O
RPG	O
and	O
shooter	O
 [ ... ] 	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
become	O
a	O
much	O
more	O
focused	O
shooter	O
experience	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
reception	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
similar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Colin	O
Moriarty	O
of	O
IGN	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
,	O
most	O
complete	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
available	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
upgraded	O
game	O
engine	O
and	O
the	O
extra	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
packs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
,	O
VanOrd	O
criticized	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
the	O
character	O
Kasumi	O
Goto	O
from	O
the	O
Kasumi	B-Application
–	I-Application
Stolen	I-Application
Memory	I-Application
pack	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
she	O
never	O
fits	O
in	O
with	O
her	O
more	O
fully	O
developed	O
cohorts.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
remarked	O
that	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
suffers	O
from	O
technical	O
issues	O
such	O
as	O
frame	O
rate	O
inconsistencies	O
,	O
graphical	O
glitches	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
minor	O
bugs	O
,	O
mostly	O
present	O
in	O
the	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
sections	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
reviewer	O
Joe	O
Juba	O
reacted	O
negatively	O
to	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
save	O
importation	O
from	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
initially	O
not	O
released	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
pointed	O
out	O
that	O
the	O
decisions	O
made	O
in	O
the	O
Genesis	O
comic	O
"	O
have	O
practically	O
no	O
context	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
criticism	O
,	O
he	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
equally	O
as	O
good	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
as	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
numerous	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
awards	O
for	O
its	O
writing	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2010	O
Spike	O
Video	O
Game	O
Awards	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
won	O
the	O
Best	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
Game	O
and	O
Best	O
RPG	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
14th	O
Annual	O
Interactive	O
Achievement	O
Awards	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
won	O
awards	O
for	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
Role-Playing/Massively	O
Multiplayer	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
and	O
Outstanding	O
Achievement	O
in	O
Story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
2011	O
Canadian	O
Videogame	O
Awards	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
awarded	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
Best	O
Console	O
Game	O
,	O
Best	O
Game	O
Design	O
,	O
and	O
Best	O
Writing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
continued	O
to	O
receive	O
attention	O
years	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamer	O
editor	O
Rick	O
Lane	O
described	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
a	O
darker	O
,	O
warmer	O
,	O
and	O
overall	O
more	O
human	O
game	O
than	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
noting	O
that	O
it	O
is	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
responsibility	O
to	O
make	O
sure	O
these	O
characters	O
are	O
prepared	O
for	O
the	O
final	O
mission	O
,	O
or	O
they	O
will	O
die	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
explained	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
long	O
quest	O
that	O
"	O
works	O
towards	O
an	O
epic	O
climax	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
when	O
it	O
arrives	O
there	O
,	O
"	O
it	O
does	O
n't	O
disappoint.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
been	O
cited	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
by	O
multiple	O
publications	O
,	O
including	O
Slant	O
Magazine	O
in	O
2014	O
,	O
IGN	O
in	O
2015	O
,	O
Polygon	O
in	O
2017	O
,	O
and	O
Game	O
Informer	O
in	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
sequel	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sequel	O
begins	O
on	O
Earth	O
with	O
Commander	O
Shepard	O
having	O
been	O
detained	O
following	O
the	O
events	O
in	O
the	O
Arrival	B-Application
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
pack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
influenced	O
by	O
decisions	O
the	O
player	O
made	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
and	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
if	O
Shepard	O
dies	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
character	O
cannot	O
be	O
imported	O
into	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
BioWare	O
stated	O
that	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
ends	O
Shepard	O
's	O
story	O
arc	O
and	O
that	O
future	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
would	O
feature	O
a	O
different	O
context	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
3	I-Application
features	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
cooperative	O
mode	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
single-player	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
