Mass Effect: Genesis 2
2013
- visual novel
- action
- science fiction
- drama
- single player
The story
Mass Effect: Genesis 2 is an "interactive backstory comic". It is an updated version of Mass Effect: Genesis, which was originally created for Mass Effect 2. Genesis 2 fills the role of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 for new players to the series, introducing them to the story of the first two games in the Mass Effect trilogy and allowing them to make some of the major plot decisions that players could make by playing through the previous games. The player is prompted to begin Genesis 2 after character creation, but using it is optional. There are two versions of the comic, one each for a male and female Commander Shepard.
What it’s like
Panel-by-panel comic art in the Mass Effect house style, with clean ink lines, sleek metallic greys and cool blue sci-fi light, and dramatic framing that shifts between tight close-ups on faces and wide shots of starships and alien cityscapes. Narration and occasional voiced lines carry the pace, so reading feels like a briskly paced animated recap rather than a wordy text adventure. The mood is earnest and brisk, with a steady undercurrent of tension and a few quieter, character-driven moments between the big set pieces. Some combat and sci-fi action appear in the panels, with violence kept stylised and mostly bloodless. Choices arrive at key moments and sit lightly within the story. It suits a rainy afternoon on the couch, a comfortable evening catch-up before a new instalment, or an hour of low-pressure reading between other things. It is for newcomers who want the Mass Effect story and tone in short form, and for returning players who like revisiting the saga's characters and the shape of their earlier decisions.
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