There are some games that have the hype to define a genre and even fewer that do so. Mass Effect might be the definitive Space RPG of this or any generation. It is a rarity that we see a game that can blend both intuitive gameplay along with captive storytelling that pulls the gamer into a universe that they may never want to leave. Bioware does so many things right this time around and have solidified themselves as a juggernaut in the RPG world. Read on to hear about this amazing achievement.

Presentation and Graphics: The key to designing a great RPG is to make a story engulfing enough that will warrant the gamer to put in the hundreds of hours needed to fully appreciate all the tasks and quests laid out before you. This is an instance where you don’t want the story to end. You are so intrigued by the role set before you that you may even believe that this could be real and if that can be attained the game developers have done their job to the fullest. As for the graphical aspects, the game design is almost unparalleled in the background textures and character design. The only issue here is that there is some framerate slowdown during combat. Also, sometimes characters get stuck on things. If not for some flaws in either the game’s engine whereas it is buggy or cannot run perfectly on the Xbox 360, this would have be perfect. 4.75 of 5

Sound and Music: Its hard to get real quality voice over work in gaming these days because its just expensive and often developers try to cut the fat when it comes to who will be doing the ever important sound work. Mass Effect has set the bar for future RPGs. When you don’t notice the voice acting in a game, thats the key. The characters don’t have cheesy lines or talentless personalities. So many games fall short of being perfect because voice acting just sucks(Assassins Creed?). Here, it just stands out. It plays and sounds like a real Sci Fi film. If you close your eyes when you hear the way the characters sound, you can visualize what they should look like and they often fit the bill. The music is a perfect mix of suspense and always crescendos when a climax is on the way. 5 of 5

Gameplay: This is the only place in the review that you will find some serious criticism from me and albeit its a very important one. Don’t get wrong, the game plays very, very well, just not great. The combat system can be flawed at time because you need to remember, this is an RPG first and shooter second. Your team AI is not as good as you would like. You do use squad commands to help fight your way through some battles and many a time they act as if they should be on the short bus. There are not many tutorials at all in Mass Effect. Some people live and die by these things and more veteran gamers would like to figure it our for themselves. Some instruction would have been nice because it takes a few hours to really get the combat system down.

However, the game does shine on in many areas. First of all, is the characters. They all play very differently. You will notice that the combat is a little easier as a soldier, but thats expected. The other being the Biotic and Engineer. Each has its ups and downs and I’ll let you figure those out for yourself. All are equally strong though and its not like choosing one will really hurt you 30 hrs into the game.

Bioware has also made famous their “decision” feature. In Jade Empire, you had Open Palm and Closed Fist. The first being the more peaceful of the two. Here you have Paragon and Renegade. Each one will let you complete the game but morality has a lot to do with how you succeed. The game plays on your morality and you will have to choose who lives and who dies in your immediate party. You will grow to adore some characters then decide which one needs to be sacrificed in order for your team to survive. The game will not change depending on your morality(no bonuses either way), but it will determine how the game plays out. 4.25 of 5

Lasting Appeal: If you are in the market for a game that you can just play for an hour here and an hour there, Mass Effect might not be the best bet. This is an RPG in the truest sense. The game will take months to beat if you play it at a normal pace. Some of Bioware’s previous RPGs were criticized for being too short such as Jade Empire. This is not the case. You will be playing this game for a long time and for true RPG fans, this is a dream come true. Fellow editors are still exploring Oblivion and that game came out almost 2 years ago. There will be expansion packs and updates for this on the way which should make the lifespan that much longer. 5 of 5

Final Word: This is the best RPG on the Xbox 360. Unless you are a devout fan of the middle ages, this is your choice over Oblivion. A rare combination in story, acting, gameplay, and longevity, this will be the first RPG experience for many on the next gen and its a great one. Mass Effect may have been hidden behind many of the frontline titles this holiday season, but with the lull coming up for the beginning of 2008, this is a game to bide that time and bide it well. Mass Effect is a game you need to buy because renting it makes no sense. If your on the fence, trust me on this. If you’re looking for a great space adventure, come no further. Mass Effect has arrived.

Overall: 4.5 of 5

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