The original Mass Effect is the best in the series by a longshot. Here is why I think Mass Effect 2 is vastly overrated:
1. Lack of Memorable Bosses
Besides a two-bit, giant Terminator knockoff as the end boss, what boss battles are there? Collector tanks with reinforcements that Harbinger takes possession of. Wow...Mass Effect had Benezia, the Thorian, and Saren. Mass Effect 2 falls into the new school realm of boss fights where they are unchallenging battle situations with enemy reniforcements. Lazy and completely unoriginal.
2. The Collectors
Anyone miss the Geth as the enemy? I sure as hell do. Instead we get Stewie head, bipedal insects who have about 3 varieties at most and are not very challenging.
3. One Big Recruitment
Anyone besides me feel that Mass Effect2 is nothing more than one long recruitment? Where is the beef? Oh, the devs must have thought we would find it in Zaeed's quest. Nope, didn't find anything besides vegetarian patties that have me craving and asking where is the beef? I didn't get it.
4. Jacob, Jack and Thane
Ugggh...This is more a personal critique than any. Jacob is a tool who would lemming himself off a cliff for Shepard. No individual initiative whatsoever. Just another soldier blinded by loyalty to who is giving the orders. Jack is a complete whacko and has an incredibly pathetic Biotic repertoire for who the Illusive Man describes as one of the galaxie's most powerful biotics. If Jack is so powerful, then how come I found Miranda on my team 90% of the time during my 4 playthroughs, while I put Jack on my team 10% of the time?The bottom line why I do not like Jack is that she "does not bat for the other team." Jack has been locked up half her life and never felt the urge to munch a rug? Unbelievable, my Renegade Shepard really wanted some of that Sinead O' Connor tuna, but you had to go and make Jack say "I don't bat for the other team."
Thane deserves his own paragraph because he is a fish and a cold, soon to be dead one at that. Thane is a cold-hearted, killer who has the audacity to justify his life of killing hiding behind some Bushido-esque code. Save me the self-loathing Thane! Accept yourself for the killer you are and revel in it. Nothing is more pathetic than an assassin who waxes poetic with remorse. You were a killer, are a killer and always will be a killer. Please take some enjoyment in it and live for it. No one wants to hear your "I feel regret for..." lectures, shut up and put that scope to your eye!
