BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 demonstration at E3 2009 floored us. It was flush with intrigue and action, and showcased inventive in-game abilities and new stirring ways to interact with others in the universe. It was also dripping with drama. We watched the SSV Normandy’s hull being pounded by an unknown threat, witnessed the glib protagonist Commander Shepherd act brutishly, and began to understand the meaning behind Mass Effect 2’s now-fabled “suicide mission.”

And now you can see it all, too -- the shift in tone from the original, the stunning visuals and even the gameplay we observed. Below the fold are two videos, both with footage from the demonstration we watched behind closed doors at this year’s E3. The first video is a teaser, a condensed version with little narration. The second video is essentially a gentle walkthrough of the presentation (pre-E3) led by the developers. 

Mass Effect 2 is looking like it will live up to its predecessor in every possible way. It’s slated to hit at some point in early 2010 for the Xbox 360 and PC. After you finish wiping the saliva off your chin (post-video drooling, naturally), drop us a line and tell us what you think.

[Update: There's a third video in the wild, the post-reveal E3 trailer. Hit the break for it as well, courtesy of Joystiq.]

(As Joystiq notes, too, the first and third have light spoiler content, but be advised everything mentioned in the second video will probably end up being used as promotional material; you’ll undoubtedly be exposed to this at some point if you’re going to follow news or marketing for the sequel.)