Mass Effect 2 is an action role-playing video game developed by BioWare
and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in
2010 and PlayStation 3 in 2011. It is the second installment in the Mass
Effect series and a sequel to the original Mass Effect. The game takes
place within the Milky Way galaxy during the 22nd century, where
humanity is threatened by an insectoid alien race known as the
Collectors. The player assumes the role of Commander Shepard, an elite
human soldier who must assemble and gain the loyalty of a diverse team
to stop the Collectors in a suicide mission. Using a completed saved
game of its predecessor, the player can impact the game's story in
numerous ways.
For the game, BioWare changed several gameplay
elements and further emphasized third-person shooter aspects, including
limited ammn and regenerable health. In contrast to the exclusive focus
on the main story of the original Mass Effect, the developers opted to
create a plot where optional missions had as much intensity as the main
mission. Mass Effect composer Jack Wall returned to compose Mass Effect
2's music, aiming for a darker and more mature sound to match the game's
mood. Mass Effect 2 also supports a variety of downloadable content
packs, ranging from single in-game character outfits to entirely new
plot-related missions. Notable packs include Kasumi – Stolen Memory,
Overlord, Lair of the Shadow Broker, and Arrival.