Mass Effect

"A MASSively Sucessful Title"

What happens when you mix a shooter/ action game with an rpg? You get the phenomenal hybrid know as Mass Effect. But this game is not like any other role playing game out there on the market; Mass Effect is one of the few games created that redefines what role playing games should be. I have never played any of BioWare's games before writing this review, so be prepared for a completely unbiased review. The scores wil be listed from best to worst.

Graphics: 9/10

Mass Effect is easily one of the best looking 360 games available. Each level design was created magnificently and every little thing you can imagine (from clothing to waves in the ocean) are very realistic, showing that the game designers were extremely attentive to detail. Nothing looks incomplete; you can tell that BioWare took there time creating this game. Most characters look so realistic, that at times you'll feel like you're watching a movie: and that's what Mass Effect is; an interactive movie. But more on that in the gameplay section. There are a few problems with the visuals though..Apart from the occasional frame rate drops, some things in this game look generic. The wide assortment of weapons in this game (there's 4, no joke) all look similar to one another. Even the upgraded guns resemble the kinds you would find in the game Crackdown. All the aliens of the same race look very similar. In fact in one mission, you won't be able to find the difference between your partner and one of the councilmen. But aside from poor choices of weapons, the visuals are equally as well as a blue ray movie...

Sound: 9/10

I'm not the kind of person that feels that music is that big of a deal in a game, but after experiencing this game, I think I might have to change my mind. Voice acting is top notch; all characters sound believable and the emotions characters show when in a dramatic situation are nothing shy of phenomenal. Lip syncing is not exactly perfect, but it matches the corresponding voice most of the time. As for music...well I really never paid attention to any music except for the Galaxy Map theme: That song is just amazing and belongs in every sci-fi game created. It is shame though that there's no music in the elevators, especially if you consider their laughable wait times. But overall, the sound in Mass Effect is great. If only there was more music in the game to enjoy...

Gameplay: 8/10

The main point of the review; gameplay. This category can make or break a game, and in Mass Effect, it makes it, but with some flaws here and there. So I divided the categories into pros and cons for this game to thoroughly note all the major aspects of gameplay...

Pros:

Third Person perspective works perfectly for this game. Controls are brilliantly responsive and easy to remember: You might get adjusted to playing as soon as you pick up the controller. The story is so engrossing- it is remarkable and pulls you in right off the bat, and you will be disappointed when the story ends because it is unlike any other story ever told: To put it short, this is why you will play Mass Effect. The game is also so involving, that you control every single action your character takes because of this decision wheel. When initiated in conversation, you will control what your character will say, which can lead to death or saving someone's life. At one point of the game, you must make a choice of which character you will kill off depending on your previous actions in the level. This new concept makes the game even more engrossing and makes the game flow the way you want it to. You can be a bad-ass or a savior: Again, you choose how you want to play. The level up concept lets you decide which major skills you want to increase in your characters, which is a nice feature to have.

Cons:

You can issue commands to your party using the directional pad, but I never found myself using it just because it is ineffective. Unlocking Achievements doesn't make you feel like you have achieved anything, because they're easy to get. Elevators...Every single storyline planet has elevators. The Citadel (The main planet you'll be visiting) has three. Every time you walk into an elevator, everything goes quiet, your characters stand still like statues, and you ride the elevator at a snails pace for as long as 45 seconds. You might think it's a one time deal, but you'll soon find yourself riding elevators for half of the game. I think elevators are used to load another area instead of watching a loading screen, but I'd rather stare at a loading screen for a few seconds instead of riding elevators for half of the game. If there is a sequel (which I'm sure there is going to be based on the ending) there should be no elevators. Stores are a waste of space as everything for sale is extremely expensive, not to mention you can find better items in crates outside of the stores in other levels. There are plenty of planets to find on the galaxy map (how you reach levels) but you can only land on about of a fourth of the planets you find, the other half you can survey and the other fourth you can't do anything with at all. Those planets would have been great locations to explore and could have made this game even more exciting to play. But unfortunately the planets are just for show...**sigh**

Re-Playability: 8/10

The storyline missions are short; I clocked in 11 and a half hours on veteran mode the first time I played, but there is a heaping load of side missions to keep you satisfied for another 20 or more hours. But finding the missions are tedious and sometimes downright useless. Also, more than half of the missions require extensive talking in conversations which you find everywhere, so you never really know when you finish most of the side missions until you get the achievement for completing them. There's also a downloadable asteroid level from xbox live, but it only provides another hour of play time and is not worth your money...

Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Gameplay:8/10
Re-Playability: 8/10
Overall: 34/40 = 8.5 rounded up to 9

If your looking for a game other than Call of Duty 4 or E.S. IV: Oblivion, then Mass Effect is for you because it effectively combines both of those games elements into one great game.

So the bottom line is rent it or buy it. You should definitely buy Mass Effect: worth every penny paid. It provides an experience unlike any other game you'd find for the 360. This game is without a doubt, the best role playing game you can buy for the xbox 360. It should appeal to shooter fanatics, star trek fanatics, and rpg fanatics. So go pick up a copy of this game or at least rent it. You will be surprised by how much this game offers. Soon, you'll find yourself playing this game for the fourth time, as I did myself.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/22/08

Game Release: Mass Effect (US, 11/20/07)