Mass EffectFive out of five starsDeveloper: Bioware Corp.Genre: Action/Role-playing gameRelease date: Nov. 20Rating: MPlatform: Xbox 360
The universe of gaming has come a long way since the days of pixelated space warfare.
Despite their infancy, games like Space Invaders sported a fairly standard plot: Kill the enemy, save the day.
It’s clear from Bioware Corp.’s newest title Mass Effect that this simple story line is no less exciting almost three decades after the introduction of the first arcades. But where the game succeeds most is in the details that construct this plot.
In Mass Effect, players assume the role of Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy, a highly advanced spaceship. Shepard’s task: Explore the galaxy looking for clues about an impending disaster that may wipe out every sentient species in the universe, then stop it.
The game places players into an incredible world of aliens and interstellar space travel set far in the future, where the bulk of advanced civilization relies on an alliance between three alien species.
The universe is a little more complicated than that. It’s so complicated in fact, that you can spend the majority of your time talking to game characters just trying to fill in the gaps.
Players control every aspect of Shepard, from the commander’s appearance to his or her gender, and the decisions players make will affect how other characters perceive Shepard. In Mass Effect, everything you do has a consequence, and that becomes abundantly clear as your options and gameplay are limited and expanded as you play.
Although this is a great aspect of the game, it’s nothing new.
Bioware put a similar similar system in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and it was one of the things that made that title such a standout game.
That seems to be a recurring theme with Mass Effect. It presents nothing new to the player. You equip and upgrade your squad much like Knights. Combat provides an exciting blend of methodical RPG-style actions with the real-time battle strategy of games like Gears of War.
But what makes Mass Effect great is its ability to improve these elements and combine them into an amazing package that, without a doubt, will redefine gaming.
In the more than seven hours I spent with this game, I was simply blown away by the shear amount of content. This game is immensely detailed, and that’s really what makes it shine. Instead of getting overwhelmed by everything in the game, learning more only serves to draw you further into the story. You want to learn more about everything: the characters, the technology, everything about how this universe works. All this information is there if you care enough to look for it.
Another thing that really sets this game apart is the shear size of the universe. With the Normandy, and its landing vehicle the Mako, players can guide Shepard to any number of planets across the galaxy. Although not every world is suitable for exploration, each adds a different element to the plot, even if it’s not a part of the main story line. As always, players can choose which parts of these side quests to pursue and their completion will again affect the end result.
Mass Effect doesn’t stop here. It complements this dedication to storytelling with a standard list of upgrades every gamer expects in games for next-generation consoles. The graphics are beautiful and it’s clear developers spent quite a bit of time turning these worlds into elaborate and photo-realistic environments that are almost characters in themselves.
Gameplay also provides a great blend of RPG and action. There’s a lot to take in as you battle aliens and other various enemies. You are forced to take cover, direct your squad and use powerful abilities all in real time. But the learning curve is sharp and eventually, taking down foes with your companions is almost intuitive.
Mass Effect is everything a player could want and with two more games in the planning stages, the franchise is sure to be a milestone in gaming history.