Bioware has delivered new information on Mass Effect 2 at today's EA Gamescom press conference. The first information of note is the inclusion of recruitment and loyalty systems to the game. Players will be able to choose which of the game's NPC characters can be added to their party. Once they're in, you'll have to maintain their loyalty in order for them to operate effectively. According to Bioware CEO, Ray Muzyka, "The characters Commander Shepard recruits are not only pivotal to the storyline but essential to the players overall success.”
Also introduced at the show is a new character, an Krogan named Grunt who is described as being, "violent and unpredictable." You can see more on him in the trailer after the jump.
Sounds exciting. The new features and changes in control are making me want to actually finish the first one so that I can carry the decisions made in my story over to the sequel. How about you? Does the loyalty thing have you as intrigued as I am?
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
Likes
Mega Man 2, Arcade Games, Books about games, Board games, Having cultural interests that aren't games
Meet the rest of the team
Fuck yes! For all the things iffy about ME1 I still fell in love with it. I finished the game again doing everything I had done the first time and now I am patiently waiting.
I think the loyalty system will add interesting plot dimensions. Haven't seen the trailer yet. I'm hoping we get a more comical character like the droid from KOTOR. Someone who can match the dark tone of ME2 but still provide the chuckles.
@MountainGorilla: That header image, as well as all the images in the gallery, were grabbed from the livestream of EA's press conference. So, it's likely ME2.
I don't really care about this Grunt guy, to be honest. He sounds and talks like an idiot. I'm importing my ME1 story for some serious Wrex action.
The loyalty system does sound quite nice, though.
It's been pretty much confirmed over at the Bioware Forum that NONE of your ME1 party will be available to be permineant party members in ME2. They will be limited to cameo apperances and possibly ablet to join your party on a very short term basis.
Grunt is an aggressive member of your squad, but he responds to orders just like any other squad member. As you can see in the video, he's got a powerful charge ability. He's got a lot of personality, I think you'll like him!
Actually, the races in Mass Effect are not capitalized in-game, i.e. krogan, hanar, elcor, batarian, turian, asari, quarian, human.
Mass Effect was one of my favorite games, and I played through it at least a dozen times. My level 60 character alone played through roughly five times.
I hope this new krogan is as cool as Wrex was. I made a point to always take Wrex on every mission because he was my favorite character.
I hope so, Christina. You know, an endorsement from Wrex might help . . .
"Yo Shep, this is Grunt. You two are gonna get along real well."
"BWWWAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!" *chest-bumps Shepherd through a wall*
Seriously though, I know you guys kind of have to market the action side of things. I'm sure Grunt has as deep a backstory and dialogue as anybody else.
Dammit I hope the fact that Wrex died doesn't affect whether this guy joins my squad. Irrationaly violent sounds like just the kind of person I want fighting for me!
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
10:49 AM on 08.18.2009
| 
I think the loyalty system will add interesting plot dimensions. Haven't seen the trailer yet. I'm hoping we get a more comical character like the droid from KOTOR. Someone who can match the dark tone of ME2 but still provide the chuckles.
<Lean Forward>
I guess so.
<Relax>
And isn't that title picture of Wrex? Is that from ME2?
Yeah the race was Krogan.
Wrex returns for me.
The loyalty system does sound quite nice, though.
Grunt is an aggressive member of your squad, but he responds to orders just like any other squad member. As you can see in the video, he's got a powerful charge ability. He's got a lot of personality, I think you'll like him!
Mass Effect was one of my favorite games, and I played through it at least a dozen times. My level 60 character alone played through roughly five times.
I hope this new krogan is as cool as Wrex was. I made a point to always take Wrex on every mission because he was my favorite character.
"Yo Shep, this is Grunt. You two are gonna get along real well."
"BWWWAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!" *chest-bumps Shepherd through a wall*
Seriously though, I know you guys kind of have to market the action side of things. I'm sure Grunt has as deep a backstory and dialogue as anybody else.
brb dead