2. Mass Effect 2
The series that introduced us to the rest of the universe: the races that have established their dominance and the planets which vary between the populated and the isolated. BioWare have created a universe with life the various races have their own histories, littered with wars and stories. Its the various planets which steal the show but luckily you have the tools (and the ship) to explore them. Choosing between ME1 and its two follow-ups was a very tough choice. ME3 had a heavily criticised ending and some felt it was losing its RPG gameplay in favour of FPS elements pretty much ruling it out of contention. I felt that the second in the series kept the RPG foundations but improved the combat and exploration elements to provide a great experience. At the beginning of the opening cut-scene the game seems to follow from where ME1 finished. Within minutes your ship is being torn apart by a superior force and Commander Shepard is floating through space. The fate of your old squad lies in the dark. You are brought back by Cerberus a company you confronted many times in ME1 and the morally-questionable Illusive Man. Tasked with investigating some disturbances, your main aim is to create a talented team of misfits who can face and defeat the Reapers. Among those youll meet include a dangerous female convict and a chatty Salarian doctor. Mass Effect re-wrote the book sci-fi in video games. A living breathing universe filled with various races and cultures. We enjoyed the freedom to explore it.