Mass Effect 2 seems to be the sequel that every Mass Effect fan wanted.  It not only improved combat significantly, but also expanded the universe, made exploration a lot more fun, and delivered an unforgettable story that managed to trump the last game’s.  All these innovations have led to near universal fan acclaim and critical response that’s been just as positive.  An EA press release today let us know that the game’s commercial fortunes have been just as strong, with Mass Effect 2 shipping 2 million copies in its first week.

With 40 perfect scores and the (tied for) second highest rating of any Xbox 360 game ever on Metacritic, the game’s commercial success shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.  The 2-million in a week plateau is a pretty impressive one, and one that has been reached by some memorable entertainment launches, like Beatles Rock Band, Gears of War 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and the Susan Boyle album.  Honestly, I wish I had more to say about the excellent sales of the game, but I’m too distracted at the thought of going home and actually playing it, so that’s what I’m going to do.

Press release follows;

BioWare's Mass Effect 2 Hailed as 1st Blockbuster of 2010 Game Earns Rave Reviews, Sells 2 Million Units in Week One

EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan 29, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 40 perfect scores. 2 million units. One pop culture phenomenon. BioWare(TM), a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced today that Mass Effect(TM) 2 has sold-in over two million units worldwide in its first week of release^*. Lauded for its intense shooter gameplay and deep, hand-crafted story, Mass Effect 2 has earned an average review score of 96^** -- making it the second highest rated game of all time on the Xbox 360(R) platform^***. Mass Effect 2 has earned 40 perfect scores, amassed over 30 editor's choice awards and has donned the covers of 45 magazines worldwide. On launch day, the term "Mass Effect" was in the top 10 trending topics on Twitter and most searched on Google News. MSNBC.com said, "Mass Effect will go down as one of the most influential video game series of all-time."

Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA said, "Mass Effect 2 is poised to be one of the biggest games of 2010. We could not be more proud of the game's universal acclaim and early commercial success."

Mass Effect 2 launched this week hot on the heels of BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins, the studio's dark fantasy RPG which shipped in fall 2009. Dragon Age: Origins has earned an average review score of 91^****, making it the highest rated original intellectual property from EA in the last year. Mass Effect 2 follows in BioWare's tradition of delivering excellence on every front: gameplay, story, character development and visuals. Mass Effect 2 is an epic shooter/RPG set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, leading a crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it's potentially suicidal. Featuring intense action, a rich storyline, space exploration and engaging character interaction, Mass Effect 2 delivers an unparalleled gaming experience.

Mass Effect 2 is available for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and the PC and is rated 'M' for Mature by the ESRB and '18+' by PEGI. For more information, follow the development team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect2 or visit http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

* According to internal EA data.

^** On Xbox 360 platform according to Metacritic.com.

^*** Mass Effect 2 is tied for second place according to Metacritic.com.

^**** On PC according to Metacritic.com.