Yes I realize that this is basically a retro review, but when have I ever said that I would do only the new games?
Mass Effect is a role playing game/third person shooter from Bioware. They gave us a slew of Dungeon and Dragons games for the PC and another of my favorite games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
The story is set in the year 2183, 35 years after humanity uncovered some ancient ruins on Mars. This lead to the discovery of the Mass Effect Field which in turn allowed us to finally break the light speed barrier. We entered into a new age of space exploration and colonization, it also allowed us to finally join the myriad races of the galaxy in a galactic government. You play as Commander Shepard, a member of the special forces N7 division of the Earth Systems Alliance military. Without spoiling the story for those who have not had the pleasure of playing the game, you're sent on a mission to stop a rogue Spectre (a special group of people who protect galactic stability by any means necessary, they answer to no law enforcement agency only the leaders of the government.) from using an advanced synthetic race known as The Geth, from wiping humanity from the galaxy. Only to find that there is a far more sinister threat waiting for it's chance to return to the galaxy.
So, as I said you play as Commander Shepard, but what would a modern RPG be without choices? Yes that's right you get to choose what Shepard looks like, even his/her name. There is enough facial customization that really no one will have the same face, unless you use the standard face (but what fun is that?!). The only real thing you can't customize is body type, but seeing as you're a soldier this is understandable. There are the standard RPG classes to choose from as well, you've got your Soldier(Warrior), Biotic/Engineer(Spellcaster) and...well there's not really a rogue class. I'll break down the last two since it's really not fair to call them spellcasters.
Biotics are people with the ability to use Mass Effect fields with what's known as Eezero (Element Zero, a new element that allows for the creation of Mass Effect Fields.) They have a range of abilities, from lifting their opponents off the ground, to opening a minor singularity to cause massive damage. Though this power comes a cost in combat, as most biotics aren't trained to use more than a pistol.
Engineers are specialists that use technology to help them gain a tactical advantage on the battlefield. They too have some special techniques that they can use, from overloading the shield matrix of their opponents, to using decryption to open "chests" to gain the goodies inside.
Now, this wouldn't be a proper sci-fi game if there weren't new races to see and learn about, and there are plenty to learn in this game. So many that I'm only really going to touch on the ones that will be following you through your adventures.
There's the Asari, a race of blue skinned females, yes you read that right the entire race is female (insert immature, lesbian joke here). With the ability to "mate" with any species and gain some of their genetic material and also a mostly Biotic race. They are one of the founding members of the galactic government, and have a member on the Citadel Coucil. The Citadel is a "space station" left by a technologically advanced race that lived over 50,000 years ago but went mysteriously extinct.
The Quarrians a technological race who created the Geth to help make life better for them, instead the Geth gained sentience and after a war forced the Quarrians off their home planet. Life evolved differently on their planet, and as a consequence they have a weakened immune system and rely on environment suits. They now wander the galaxy in a Flotilla of ships, planning for the day when they would once again see their home world of Rannoch.
The Turians, a military race, another member of the council and founders of the galactic government. They were one of the first races encountered by humans when we first started exploring the galaxy. Unfortunately first contact did not go smoothly and because of our aggressive nature, and their military nature it ended in what was known as The First Contact Wars. That has since been resolved, and Turians and Humans work together for the benefit of all the races, though some on both sides still harbor grudges.
And finally The Krogan. A tribal race that was used by the Council to fight against an insectoid race known as The Rachni. After the Rachni Wars the Krogan began to expand their territory and as such rebelled against the Turians and Salarians who helped to make them a space faring race. Because they reproduced in large numbers, and the sheer tenacity that they showed, the Salarians came up with a virus known as The Genophage, which rendered The Krogan nearly infertal. Only one in a thousand babies born would survive. The Genophage was released by The Turians, and because of that The Krogans harbor resentment and hatred of the Salarians and Turians to this day.
A Salarian, only because I menioned them...no I don't have a pic of the Rachni. (Sorry)
So with this crew in tow (with a couple of other human's thrown in to round out the group) you set off in the most advanced ship in the Alliance. The SSV Normandy, built by a combined effort from the Turians and Humans. You're charged with bringing Saren (the spectre) back to the Council to face judgment for his actions throughout the galaxy, all the while visiting various alien planets and leaving your mark on the galaxy as well.
The SSV Normandy. The most advanced ship in the Alliance Fleet.
Saren Arterius. Evil mastermind, or puppet?
Phew never thought I'd get done with that...lot longer than I expected, now for the gameplay and graphics.
There's two types of controls you'll be switching between throughout the game, what I call the RPG controls and the shooter controls. Switching between them is seemless and natural. RPG is basically where you don't have your weapon drawn, the camera is farther out and you can see more of your surroundings which helps for exploring. Shooter mode is as it sounds, you have your weapon drawn and ready. In this mode the camera is closer allowing you to focus on the enemy. You access your powers via the right bumper (Xbox 360 controlls, R1 for PS3, and I'm unsure what you use for the PC sorry.), and your various weapons with the right. You can control in these menus what your squad's weapons and what powers they use and when, don't worry you can in the options set them to use whatever they weapon they are trained for, and what powers to use if you would rather just focus on Shepard or are lazy.
The RPG elements are your standard fare, kill enemies, complete quests, gain XP and new abilities. You're abilities are determined by what class you chose from the beginning of the game (obviously) and you can level all the way up to level 60, though it took me almost 100+ hours to finally get obtain said level.
The Shooter elements work as you would expect as well, place crosshairs over enemy, pull triger, dead enemy. There's alot of tactical aspects to it as well, you can combine powers together with various results, some work better than others and others work on specific types of enemies.
The graphics here still hold up well, and with the various nebulae you'll be exploring, they can be rather breathtaking. Though the Mako sections of the game are fairly bland and dull (exploring uncharted planets in a rover like tank) but for me this is probably the most fun aspect.
All and all this is a fantastic game and a great start to what is one of my favorite game trilogies. If you haven't played it by now you can pick it up in a special Trilogy Edition which features all 3 games in a single box set. (Depending on the platform you buy you'll get most of the Downloadable Content.) You shouldn't pass this up if you're a Sci-Fi, RPG or Shooter fan.
Next time I'll tackle Mass Effect 2. I apologize if there's a fan reading this and I screwed something up somewhere.
Till next time kiddos,
-Vangle
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