I had the chance to play through Mass Effect more than a year ago, but I sidelined it in favor of other titles at the time; Fallout 3, Fable 2, and others. RPGs, especially those that deviate from the typical turn based gameplay often put me off. I think it has something to do with the “insurmountable journey” you are about to embark on when you start an RPG. Most of the decent titles have 50 or more hours of gameplay in them; there is some degree of risk when you begin an RPG with unfamiliar or unconventional gameplay mechanics.  So you can imagine my hesitation with giving Mass Effect a try, but the Platinum Hits edition’s $20 price tag gave me little reason to say no.

This was my first Bioware game, so the conversation mechanics and full voice acting were the first features to impress me. So many games claim to have revolutionary decision mechanics, but end up strongly polarized…your character is either good or bad, never both (InFAMOUS is a great example of this). Mass Effect, on the other hand, is much less concrete on the morality of its decisions.  While you might decide “I want to play a good character” in Mass Effect, the path to this disposition is not always clear.  I found myself weighing the choices in conversations, and considering the consequences of my actions.

The importance of these decisions by the player is compounded by the epic plot, spanning a masterfully crafted world with a memorable ensemble of characters. The powerful visuals and captivating score both stood out as well.
Unfortunately, the whole experience can occasionally come to a grinding halt. Mass Effect’s combat, for example,  while ambitious, just doesn’t quite work all the time. Your dimwitted teammates and a non-existent targeting system can lead to some frustrating moments. The side missions, which often lead you to distant star systems and planets, are exciting at first, but the experience wears off after exploring the fifth rocky planet with a total of two robot infested structures on it. I certainly agree with Joystiq’s Chris Grant when he said (on the Joystiq Podcast) that the game really doesn’t offer to show you how it should be played, and you are sometimes left struggling to figure it out as you go.

While there are some standout instances in Mass Effect that can hurt the experience, I am more than willing to look past them, because the rest of the game is just so well done. With a sequel approaching on the horizon, now is the perfect time for you to give Mass Effect a playthrough or two. Even amidst the crowded fall lineup, I expect I will play through the game at least a few more times. Really, its that good.

–Jeff (Decksathron)