While GamesCom 2009 may have already ended, the news just keeps on coming. The staff from Kotaku managed to get some hands-on time with BioWare's Mass Effect 2.
Fortunately, Mass Effect 2's combat system feels much improved—from what I recall—thanks in part to a more familiar control scheme. The game's gunplay and combat just gives one the impression that they're playing a mechanically sound third-person shooter, less of a role-playing game with some shooting action bolted on. Hopping in and out of cover, sticking to objects with A, felt natural and familiar.
Our squad felt a bit easier to control as well, with the Xbox 360 controller's D-pad remapped to make a bit more sense in that particular situation. According the controller map presented on-screen before our demo, up was set to "group attack," down set to "rally" and left and right set to squadmates one and two respectively, having them move or attack based on the current context.
After wrapping up our battle, we entered another dialogue situation. Again, the digital actors performed admirably among a gorgeous set, with moody retro sci-fi music adding a beautiful tone to the scene. Among the dialogue tree selections was an on-screen indicator that popped up for a fraction of a second, instructing us to react. Unfortunately, I missed that cue and therefore missed out on what that split-second reaction event would have done.
More from Kotaku's Mass Effect 2 hands-on preview can be found at none other than Kotaku. Mass Effect 2, slated for the Xbox 360 and PC, will be released early in 2010.
Our squad felt a bit easier to control as well, with the Xbox 360 controller's D-pad remapped to make a bit more sense in that particular situation. According the controller map presented on-screen before our demo, up was set to "group attack," down set to "rally" and left and right set to squadmates one and two respectively, having them move or attack based on the current context.
After wrapping up our battle, we entered another dialogue situation. Again, the digital actors performed admirably among a gorgeous set, with moody retro sci-fi music adding a beautiful tone to the scene. Among the dialogue tree selections was an on-screen indicator that popped up for a fraction of a second, instructing us to react. Unfortunately, I missed that cue and therefore missed out on what that split-second reaction event would have done.