if you get this, make sure to download the DLCs:
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/origin/origin/download-dlc-for-classic-origin-games/

Since all the ME2 Servers seem to be offline and you can't even access the cerberus network, you cannot activate the DLC.
But the fan patch listed below has a prerequisite listed under "installation" that unlocks the DLCs.
As it unlocks all DLCs, make sure you only download the DLC listed under "Cerberus Network Downloads" on EAs site, as those are the free ones. You wouldn't want the other ones without paying, that would be very naughty.
Not that I'd even know how to pay for them as the ingame links are all broken.

Anyway, said fan patch that fixes quite some bugs as well: ME2 Recalibrated - https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect2/mods/169
EDIT 2023: The creator of the mod deleted all his mods. Oh well. Less sneaky but google masseffect-binkw32 and take the first result, it's on github.

Also, if you want better textures, try ALOT: https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect2/mods/68
The anderson overhaul texture from ME2 Recalibrated can just be dropped into ALOT then, no need to screw around with ME3 Explorer

played on ps3, pc and love it to death but........


EA BRING THE DLC'S TO STEAM........ ffs!!!

this needs a dlc bundle like the ME3 version.

I think many that level bad scores and a list of complaints at Mass Effect 2 have fallen into the trap of looking at games purely as a collection of mechanics. Sure, it's another cover shooter, which taken alone is merely decent. They're right that the RPG elements are simple and at times are obtuse and too black and white. You can, at least partially, break the upgrade system by grinding resource collection. Given all that it would seem there is no reason to even play this game but you'd be wrong. This game, and the whole series, is trying to be more than just mindless entertainment. It's trying to to tell a deep, rich story, trying to get you to really care about it's characters, and it's trying to get you to think beyond the mechanics, beyond the game even. By no means is this just a story with some game attached, but the story and how your decisions effect it and it's characters are a huge part of this game.

When you play this game, because to be clear, you should play it, I would urge you to try and actually role play the choices. This game brings up some pretty serious issues in some of it's choices. Issues that should stop and make you think, not just about how this will effect your game but about how you would actually feel about this in your everyday life. You can always go back and play it again and make all the "good" or "bad" choices but at least once you should really put yourself in Cmd. Shepard's shoes, make the choices you would be comfortable making outside the game. Don't worry about what the game says your moral score is, play it to learn something about yourself.

DO NOT BUY IF YOU WANT THE EXPANSIONS!

The Deluxe Edition does NOT come with any of the major expansions (Lair of the Shadow Broker, The Arrival, Stolen Dreams, etc) If you want them you have to buy the game on Origin. Don't be fooled by EA like I was, forced to buy the same ♥♥♥♥ twice, just a fair warning as they've intentionally mucked this up for confusions sake.

Did you know there’s a game where you can come back from death, blow up prisons, take on three factions of mercenaries, deal with wars between species, survive a Suicide Mission and get in a relationship with the hot alien you want? Nominated as the best game of the generation, winning 150 awards of Game of the Year of 2010 and building so much hype that its sequel couldn’t be more than disappointing, Mass Effect 2 is a game you have to play.
Even if you didn’t play the first one, you won’t be left in the dark, people will tell you what’s the deal and the codex has all the extra details. If you played the first one, then you’ll enjoy the fact that your choices carry over and have some weight on what’s happening.
The combat involves 3rd person camera, using your class specific abilities and guns and giving commands to your squadmates and it has an interface made for PC. There are 6 classes and each of them are varied enough for every playthrough to feel like a fresh experience. Some are more power based, other weapon focused, but all of them do damage and are awesome and you’ll definitely find your type, whether you like to make shockwaves in the enemy lines, hack the robots, pull them in a singularity, cloak yourself and shoot them in the back or simply slow down time to shoot them while they wonder what’s happening with them. There are difficulties that vary from casual from insanity, so whether you play games for their story or want to dominate the dominators, you’ll find what you want.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=312867227 Many will say the story is great. I say it’s a good one, but that its characters make it to be one of the best. 80% of it you recruit team members and gain their loyalty(only if you want to). They all prove themselves to be interesting and you’ll have enough dialogue options to find out what makes them tick. On your ship, there is going to be the hyperactive mad(ish) scientist, the hot secretary, the crazy all powerful ♥♥♥♥♥, the assassin with regrets, the best friend who took a rocket in his face and is 99% of the time in the middle of some calibrations, a lizard hulk who calles himself “Grunt”, the gun expert that does 663 abs each day, the cute engineer whose face you’ll never see and some more. You’ll have the options to get involved in their lives. Some of them will argue and you’ll be the one to settle the conflict.
Depending on your gender, some of them are available and open to ideas.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=308178738

The last mission a.k.a. The Suicide Mission is what makes everything in the game pay off. It’s the place where the catharsis is unleashed. The place where your love for this game will be cemented. Whatever you’ve done, there will be consequences and by that time, you’ll care. If you’ll fail hard, you’ll cry hard. But if you’ve upgraded the ship and made the smart choices throughout the game and in the last minutes, you’ll be overjoyed and feel like you’ve won 1 million dollars.

All in all, Mass Effect 2 is a great experience, when you’ll play it you’ll live your second life, one where you’re saving the galaxy you enjoy being into.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=311505611

I would give both my legs for the chance to play this franchise for the first time again. No other game has moved me in such a way that mass effect has. It is just. Unbelievable. I have 42 playthroughs, one being on pc, the others being on my 360. This game is the best game I have ever had the pleasure of playing. And I can't thank Bioware enough for such a beautiful ride.

Then we get to mass effect 3. EA, you complete wankstains. You endorse good games, (I'm EA Games, and this is a game to ruin on the internet) and you help produce them wonderfuly, until it gets to the end sequence, then your money instincs kick in and you want it finished in an unfinished state. So for that, ♥♥♥♥ you. But apart from that, if you're considering buying this wonderful franchise. Do yourself a lemon and buy all 3 on Origin. All 3 games in one place.

I hope you all enjoy the beautiful ride as much as I have.

>I have a poster of Garrus framed on my wall. The only poster I own.

If only I could press the recommend button more than once.

I love Mass Effect, and Mass Effect 2 has to be my favorite one in the franchise.
But GOOD LORD, EA really just doesn't care about their Steam playerbase! Honestly I can't believe they decided to increase the prices of Mass Effect games, especially since ME1 and ME2 sold on steam don't even include all of the DLCs.
You have no choice but to buy the DLCs on Origin and install them manually into the Steam version of the game. Like for the love of god, at least include the full DLC bundle on Steam, I will literally buy all of the DLCs again if you do, since currently it's a real pain in the ass to get the full experience on the Steam.
I also hate that I have to log in to my EA account every time I start the game to activate my DLCs, since apparently the "servers are not responding", every time I start the game.

I'm not asking much, please bring the DLCs to Steam and fix (or preferably remove) the forced EA login.

On Origins for free right now.!! 1/14/17

FOR the DLCs
Add the game to origin via CD keys given by steam(you will get the cd keys for dlcs too)
In origin verify the game at steam's folder (so you don't have to install it again) and install the dlcs from there
I know that's troublesome but its EA.

EDIT: Thanks to ColMustard
you can now get the dlcs without origin
Link: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1756389625