Well, my main gripe with the game is that its too similar to Dragon Age, and I liked Dragon Age more and I played Dragon Age later. Dragon Age is also longer.
Everything else I can live with, DA and ME 2 have almost the same story, DA imo had way better RPG elements and gameplay. It was also unique (kinda) unlike Mass effect which feels a lot like gears of war (it does!). Yeah you have biotic powers but the gameplay even then feels like gears of war.
I don't see the huge deal with this game. I would rather play the lowly polished and terribly animated, glitchy Dragon Age, than play this highly polished, but lacking in gameplay variety ME 2.