Games of 2010: No.3

Mass Effect 2.

Choosing our favourite games of 2010 was no easy task, with arguments, witchcraft and mathematical equations all being used to take hundreds of games and whittle them down to just 10. Read on for our thoughts on why each game deserves its place and head to our Game of the Year 2010 hub for access to video features and loads of other content.

Martin Gaston, Staff Writer

I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favourite game on the Citadel.

Neon Kelly, Deputy Editor

Is there any other developer in the world today, in the West or otherwise, that can match BioWare's knack for crafting RPGs? Blizzard is one contender, but there certainly aren't many. If you're wanted to be picky, you might argue that ME2 isn't really an RPG at all, but rather a third-person action adventure with strong role-playing elements. Whatever you call it, there's no disputing that this is one of the very best games of 2010. Personally, I came to this without playing the original, and frankly I was amazed at how quickly I was drawn into the plot - despite the fact that I'd effectively stumbled in halfway through. As countless other critics have observed, ME2's main strengths are its fantastic dialogue system, and the sheer confidence with which it portrays its intergalactic societies. There's a mess of racial tensions between humans, Turians, Salarians, the Asari, Krogan and all the other wonderful races, and this prejudice and imperfection makes the universe incredibly easy to believe in. I'll admit that the more linear design aspects do grate with me from time to time, but when the rest of the game is this good, I'll happily follow BioWare's yellow brick roads. Oh, and Mordin is the best NPC we've seen all year.

Jamin Smith, Staff Writer

I love a good space opera, me. Right before I got stuck into Mass Effect 2, I had just finished watching the stupendous Battlestar Galactica, and so my love for space stations, ethical robots and colonising new planets was at an all-time high. My ecstasy was heightened by the fact that Tricia Helfer (Number 6) and Michael Hogan (Saul Tigh) lend their vocal talents to an already stellar cast. In terms of characters, dialogue and genuinely interesting conversation (you know, the stuff you normally try to skip in other games), Mass Effect 2 is hard to flaw. The Mass Effect universe – and I can use that word literally here – is utterly convincing. Quite how BioWare is going to top it with the third game remains to be seen, but I have every faith that it will.

Emily Gera - Staff Writer

It's one of the best RPGs of all time. Mass Effect might be incredibly linear, but it makes up for it by offering some of the most beautiful and varied planet-cities that help to give the impression of exploring a vast universe. Making up each world are some of the most memorable characters Bioware has come out with - each of them managing to one-up the last. From Grunt to Garrus to Mordin to Jack, Mass Effect 2 proves to be a true character-driven story inside a gorgeous sci-fi world.

For more end of year content, head over to our Game of the Year 2010 hub. Amongst other things you'll be able to watch videos in which we talk about each game in the Top 10.