(Originally written for the "On the Contrary" community challenge, I couldn't post these until now due to some wonkiness with Bitmob's old editor. Now that it has cleared up with the awesomely new update, here's what I had come up with as one of two different views on Mass Effect 2 and what it might mean for the RPG genre.)

Mass Effect 2 is the new shiznit.

An explosive intro immediately asks the question that has dogged fans of Bioware's Mass Effect since the sequel had been announced: is Shepard dead?

The answer, it turns out, becomes one of the more unique ways in which to introduce newcomers to the galaxy as well as competently explain to veterans why they have to start out at first level. It's dramatic, well told, and start things off in a game that easily stands far above its predecessor in almost every way.