Mass Effect 2 elevator change explained

BioWare has said that loading screens providing "interesting visuals and information" are Mass Effect 2's alternative to the first game's divisive elevator sequences.

As those of you who played the game at the Eurogamer Expo already know, the elevators ("lifts" in old money) were replaced for that demo with stylised neon wireframe animations.

And judging by comments from BioWare's Thomas Roy, writing on the developer's forum (thanks Kotaku), that's your lot.

"The elevators were made in ME1 so we didn't have to show boring loading screens," Roy wrote. "However there were a lot of complaints, so we've gone back to loading screens and movies. We still have elevators in ME2, but you don't wait inside them. We'll cut to a loading screen instead.

"We've tried to make the loading screen more interesting this time by adding interesting visuals and information.

"The elevator conversations had some funny moments, but hopefully people will enjoy this new system better than the old one!"

Inevitably, Roy's comments prompted lots of people to moan about BioWare taking out the elevators and specifically the loss of the random conversation between the other two members of your in-game party. Can't win, see.

Check out our first Mass Effect 2 preview and more recent hands-on to see what the developer has in store for the game's 29th January release on PC and Xbox 360.

Last week the studio said the game would come on two discs due to the intensity of its awesomeness.