Mass Effect Review (360)

Out of this World!

Mass Effect is a game different from most on the current market, simply because its greatest strength is something that so many games overlook – conversation.

If you remove the conversation system, Mass Effect is a reasonable Action-RPG title with some great graphics and a truly cinematic story. However, by adding the conversation system, developers Bioware have made their title stand out from the current generations crowd of titles.

The thing that is so incredible about the conversation system is that it has an incredible effect on how the game will be played with each player. Basically, every time you speak with Sheperd, your character, you are able to chose his dialogue. You start with three speech choices, with the ability to add some more as your character levels up. These range from hostile phrases to more diplomatic ones, and you will end up using all the choices given to you by the games finish. This may seem like nothing revolutionary, and it isn’t until you replay the game and chose different dialogues. It’s then that you realize the impact your words have on the game, and the way you play it.

The gameplay itself is solid, though not to the standards of something such as Halo 3. The combat system is reasonable, as is the cover system, which is a replicant of Gears of War. The leveling up system is very addictive, and I personally found it more enjoyable if you leave the leveling of your squad up to the computer, as you can focus more on your own character rather than your team mates. However, if having total control is your thing there is an option to turn this off and have your squad in your own hands. Overall, Mass Effect’s gameplay is solid, with reasonable combat and cover systems backed up by an addicting leveling up dynamic.

Mass Effect’s story, along with its great graphics and fresh conversation system, is what sets it apart from the crowd. You play as Commander Sheperd. At the beginning of the game you can choose whether to play as the custom character, John Sheperd, or create your own, choosing from a broad range of facial and body types to create your own customised character. You then go on to choose your background. You can choose from a range of selections, all of them changing the way people react to you in the game. Last but not least you choose your character’s

…wowed by some of the most incredible graphics this side of Assassins Creed

class type, from six choices – Soldier, Engineer, Adept, Infiltrator, Sentinel and Vanguard. The Soldier is a weapons expert, the Engineers are tech experts and Adepts use biotics for things such as mind control. Infiltrator, Sentinel and Vanguard are combinations of the first three, with Infiltrators being a combination of soldiers and engineers, Sentinels are a combination of Engineers and Adept and Vanguard is a Soldier-Adept combination. Once you have chosen your class you start the game. You begin on the SSV Normandy, where you discover that the human colony Eden Prime is under attack. You and your small squad go along with a Spectre, which is a high-ranking inter-galactic peace agency, named Nihlus, who is on the Normandy to evaluate Sheperd and see if he is fit to become a Spectre. Your squad and Nihlus split up on Eden Prime. Nihlus then comes across another Spectre, Saren, who kills Nihlus and escapes Eden Prime. From then on you embark on a inter-galactic battle against Saren, desperately trying to stop him from destroying the entire universe. The story is very well written, and there are times when it’s almost tear-wrenching, which is rare in games. By having such a great story Bioware has elevated its game onto a platform that many others try to achieve, but often fail.

The graphics within Mass Effect are, simply put, incredible. There are some instances of lag and level repetition, but none of that matters when you come across an open space and are literally wowed by some of the most incredible graphics this side of Assassins Creed. Combined with a solid soundtrack which fits the game perfectly, as well as the other features I have mentioned, Mass Effect places itself as one of the top games of 2007. Roll on Mass Effect 2!

The Good: Great Graphics; Excellent Conversation system; Good story depth; Good length; Lots of freedom; Excellent Voiceovers; Lots of side missions
The Bad: Can lag at times; AI not incredibly intelligent; ;


Mass Effect Mass Effect Mass Effect Mass Effect Mass Effect 


Gold Y AwardGold Y Award
4.5 4.5 / 5

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.