Mass Effect 2 Collectors' Edition: Prima Official Game Guide

by Catherine Browne, Prima Games

• Full walkthroughs for every mission.
• Exclusive maps created especially for this guide. Fully labeled to make sure you see it all!
• Every special assignment detailed so you won't take a wrong step.
• Power evolution trees to make unstoppable heroes.
• Complete planetary database to help you mine elements smarter not harder.
• Mass Effect: Redemption comic book preview!
 
Collectors' Edition Bonus Content:
• Art section to get a look at how the game design evolved!
• Exclusive conversations with the Mass Effect 2 team! Find out how it all comes together!
• Art poster included!

Genres: Reference

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2010

Reviews

[jzmcdaisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mass Effect 2 the game is a five out of five, but its strategy guide is a four out of five. I own a few strategy guides for reference more than for actual strategy. This game is one of my favorites and I wanted its story to stand among the others that I keep on my shelves. The Collectors vaporize the Normandy and leave Shepard to be reincarnated by an old enemy. However, your counterattack isn't exclusively executed by big guns and smart tech. You need to get to know your crew and heal their most vulnerable wounds in order for them to commit to your mission. Old fan favorites like Garrus and Tali return with new dilemmas, and new characters like Thane, Jack, Mordin and Grunt have their own tales to tell.

Mass Effect's lore has inspired my writing quite a bit. I've spent long nights brainstorming ideas for my current story based on my in-game experiences with its sprawling universe. I've even considered making my own D&D campaign but with aliens, decisions and character development from Mass Effect's story. Unfortunately, the guide doesn't contain any of the DLC. Kasumi's conquest for her lover's memories and Zaeed's quest to wipe out ex-colleagues are fun stories. Both of them, like all the others, ask you to make a decision with challenging ethical implications. Arthur's story in the Overlord DLC is also a fun story about the limits of understanding the Geth. Their backgrounds are some of the strongest in the squad. I was sad when I didn't find them in the guide. I did read some of the planet guides though. Never would've guessed that some planets are Elcor tourist traps.

I've played ME2 several times thanks to Bioware's solid writing, but knowing how to balance a team helped you experience the story on Insanity difficulty. This guide details all the major plot points and the decisions you can make throughout the game, along with where to find upgrades and weapons. I never thought to build teams exclusively with tech or biotic powers, and I challenged myself by using some of them in game. Kudos to the author for refreshing one of my favorite experiences. All of the planets are here and all of the main story is here, but the guide lacks a walkthrough of the fun sidequests the DLC has to offer.

[Brett Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really disappointing strategy guide outside of the maps.