Mass Effect 2 dated for January 26 @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on October 16, 2009

News: The second part of the Mass Effect trilogy is almost here.

Electronic Arts has announced that they have affixed a release date to the second part of the Mass Effect trilogy. Once again developed by BioWare, Mass Effect 2 will be released for the PC and Xbox 360 on January 26. EA has also opened up a pre-order program for their hybrid shooter/RPG game and promised that those who pre-order will receive download codes for some potent in-game gear.

?Our fans are in for a genuine thrill in the New Year with Mass Effect 2 ? the second installment in the trilogy will be of amazingly high quality,? said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. ?BioWare's fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this epic sequel, and we couldn't be more excited to reward them for pre-ordering by delivering some awesome bonus content!?

Those who pre-order from GameStop will receive a code to download the Terminus Gear pack, which will contain...

The Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo

The M-90 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.

For those who want to pre-order the game elsewhere, EA is offering a download code for Inferno Armor, which will allow players to receive a negotiation bonus for Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.

Will players need these kinds of bonuses to compete in Mass Effect 2? Maybe, as EA has described the mission the game's characters will undertake as "potentially suicidal":

The Mass Effect trilogy is an emotionally charged science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it's potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.