Mass Effect

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3921 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,338 out of 3921
  2. Mixed: 443 out of 3921
  3. Negative: 140 out of 3921
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  1. DonyDoNya
    Sep 9, 2023
    6
    I played the Legendary Edition Mass Effect 1. Good graphics but there's no detailed regulations of it in settings. Poor face expressions, a lot of frame looses on dusty planets (on RTX 3050, xeon 2666) but playble still.
    Gameplay is decent shooter, appreciate the rpg element with different guns and modifications. But the problem is you can't switch guns easily and it takes long to do it.    I played the Legendary Edition Mass Effect 1. Good graphics but there's no detailed regulations of it in settings. Poor face expressions, a lot of frame looses on dusty planets (on RTX 3050, xeon 2666) but playble still.
    Gameplay is decent shooter, appreciate the rpg element with different guns and modifications. But the problem is you can't switch guns easily and it takes long to do it. There is no upgrade to do switch guns faster, and also no upgrade to make stamina of run bigger or replenishing faster. What makes it different from other shooters you can use skills which adds tactics to fights, enemies also can do that. I would like to have more skills though
    You can be a hero or bad guy. Nice rpg element. But there are not a lot of such moments where you can really feel the difficulty of your choice. And dialogues vary is not very creative. Its always either 1) good guy, 2) not concerned guy 3) Bad guy.
    Big minus is the boring story. Big enemy just wants everyone dead, its just the thing it does... Its not hungry, it doesn't want money, power, sex, etc. And its your menace, seriously. Apart from this the other big thing of the story is to prove that human race is cool and ready to serious bussiness in cosmos politics which is bollocs because other races are doubting in humanity because its younger than others and aliens didn't know that humans have deduction (first dialogue of Shepard with Council)! Everything in Mass Effect is about race, race, race. Its clearly just racism problem that story writer finds as interesting theme. But most of the races that you see are not very different. Why player would even think about hating or respecting or even care other races? But story writer puts you in front of all these choices when you either hate or respect some race. It makes me think that story writer is a dummy    … Expand
  2. Naked_Snakee
    Apr 7, 2023
    7
    Just text (crutch) to save the game to the list. Such things. Maybe I'll do a review later.
  3. JustinForgueims
    Mar 2, 2023
    6
    Really disappointed with this game and its great expectations.
    Is a good movie but a bad game.
    It has a good story, not the best ever seen but solid and deep, specially with the epic ending. The narrative is good same as the NPCs development and the side missions. Out of this everything else related to the game needs big improvements: - The combat is not smooth. It's not a FPS    Really disappointed with this game and its great expectations.
    Is a good movie but a bad game.

    It has a good story, not the best ever seen but solid and deep, specially with the epic ending.
    The narrative is good same as the NPCs development and the side missions.

    Out of this everything else related to the game needs big improvements:
    - The combat is not smooth. It's not a FPS neither a tactical combat. It's something in between that's not working at all.
    - The locations are just boring. Out of a couple of history related locations, everything looks the same. Same planets with stupidly steep mountains, just with different colors. All the bases, caves, buildings, ... with exactly the same interior design and rooms.
    - The driving sections are a nightmare. You have a dummy car that bounces like an air balloon regardless of the planet gravity. The camera and controls are a real mess, not responding to the directions you're commanding.
    - The "opening things" minigame is annoying as hell. Not because it's difficult but because you have the same minigame over an over for everything: opening boxes, investigating minerals, searching bodies, ... You really don't need minigames for quite basic actions and absolutely not a kind of decoding game when you're doing any activity that's not related to electronics at all.
    - The inventory management sucks. Long lists of items without any other distinction than text stats. So many sections and nothing you can equip/unequip/compare dynamically.
    - No one can understand how an elite space marine can only sprint 2 meters and then has fatigue during a long time. Same with the car that has only a few seconds boost that does not even serve to climb the smallest mountain.
    - There's no point on most of the dialogue options. Regardless of your selection, its tone and meaning, Shepard always says the same and most of the time not what you're expecting because of your selection.
    - Taking into account the amount of dialogues in the game, more language translations would be appreciated.    … Expand
  4. JornoWiesel
    Feb 28, 2023
    6
    It is really good for the first part of a series and the positives out weight the negatives. You can see that the potential is there for a great game. Highlights are the dialog, dialog option system and the world building. Most of the design is also very excellent and the graphics have not aged to bad. The negatives lie with the weapon collection system, the mako sections and theIt is really good for the first part of a series and the positives out weight the negatives. You can see that the potential is there for a great game. Highlights are the dialog, dialog option system and the world building. Most of the design is also very excellent and the graphics have not aged to bad. The negatives lie with the weapon collection system, the mako sections and the repeating level structures. Most of the time you find way to much different weapons that are not different from each other and the selling part is very tedious. The mako sections are so boring and overly stretched. Most of the main missions had to have a mako part, which is very unnecessary. Mostly the side missions are very repetitive in building structure and design, which leads to boring side missions.
    Overall a very promising start to a franchise. Sadly doesn't hold up that well for multiple play troughs, but it was nice as a one time experience.    … Expand
  5. vova22379
    Jan 15, 2023
    5
    ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  6. Giero
    Jan 4, 2023
    6
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  7. Hyperfailure
    Nov 27, 2022
    7
    (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
    ┻━┻ ︵ ヽ(°□°ヽ)

    ┻━┻ ︵ ＼( °□° )／ ︵ ┻━┻

    ┬─┬ノ( º _ ºノ)

    (ﾉಥ益ಥ）ﾉ ┻━┻

    ┬──┬ ¯_(ツ)

    ┻━┻ ︵ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ︵ ┻━┻

    ┻━┻ ︵ ¯(ツ)/¯ ︵ ┻━┻

    (╯°Д°）╯︵ /(.□ . )

    ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ ︵ ┻━┻
  8. IronWolfFang
    Sep 30, 2022
    7
    Hard game to enjoy now but still not bad, and this game lead to the creation of the best game of all time
  9. BenzoSt
    Jul 12, 2022
    6
    I think this game takes a tremendous amount of inspiration from Star Trek. This game features a fresh new science fiction universe with richly detailed descriptions of alien species, futuristic technologies, spaceships, and so on. The plot, characters, and dialogue are also exceptionally strong features. The action, however, is simple and boring, and inventory management is a tedious painI think this game takes a tremendous amount of inspiration from Star Trek. This game features a fresh new science fiction universe with richly detailed descriptions of alien species, futuristic technologies, spaceships, and so on. The plot, characters, and dialogue are also exceptionally strong features. The action, however, is simple and boring, and inventory management is a tedious pain in the buttocks if you insist on optimizing your equipment.… Expand
  10. ProfAmateur
    Mar 12, 2022
    7
    ENGLISH & GERMAN Review and I played the remastered version.
    -> Game time with some side quests: approx. 25h
    + Great story - Big universe with some planets to explore. Some planets offer many shootouts, others diplomatic quests. + The (background) story can be explored in more detail in the various dialogs. But you don't have to if you don't want to. + The side quests are not simply    ENGLISH & GERMAN Review and I played the remastered version.
    -> Game time with some side quests: approx. 25h
    + Great story - Big universe with some planets to explore. Some planets offer many shootouts, others diplomatic quests.
    + The (background) story can be explored in more detail in the various dialogs. But you don't have to if you don't want to.
    + The side quests are not simply all marked on the map and just as often the goal is not. You have to listen carefully and if necessary read up on where exactly you have to go.
    - The dialog options are mostly just a gimmick - with no real effect on the dialog or its outcome.
    - Sprint bar is used up so quickly. The slow movement speed is annoying.
    - Shooting experience feels rather stiff.

    ___

    -> Spielzeit mit einigen Nebenquests: ca. 25h
    + Tolle Story - Grosses Universum mit einigen Planeten zum Erkunden. Einige Planeten bieten viele Schiessereien, andere diplomatische Quests.
    + Die (Hintergrund)-Geschichte kann in den diversen Dialogen genauer erforscht werden. Man muss dies aber nicht, wenn man nicht will.
    + Die Nebenquest sind nicht einfach alle auf der Karte markiert und ebenso wenig häufig auch das Ziel nicht. Man muss gut zuhören und allenfalls nachlesen, wo man genau hingehen muss.
    - Die Dialogoptionen sind grösstenteils nur eine Spielerei - ohne wirklichen Effekt auf den Dialog oder dessen Ausgang.
    - Sprint-Leiste ist so schnell aufgebraucht. Das langsame Fortbewegungstempo nervt.
    - Shooting-Erfahrung fühlt sich eher steif an.    … Expand
  11. Dnische
    Oct 7, 2021
    5
    pure **** This game killed belief in vidya inside me. RPG/action fusion accomplished in the worst way possible. I regret about wasted time, i wish i haven't played this game.
    5/10
  12. FirstSpawn
    Aug 8, 2021
    7
    Игра действительно крутая конечно, тем более для 2008 года, но есть в ней косяки, которые лично меня сильно отталкивают. Например: мини локации под копирку; дубовое управление и местами непроходимость из-за мелких объектов. И что самое худшее, развитие сюжета и погружение в атмосферу, примерно первые 20% игры, на две головы выше чем при дальнейшем прохождении.Игра действительно крутая конечно, тем более для 2008 года, но есть в ней косяки, которые лично меня сильно отталкивают. Например: мини локации под копирку; дубовое управление и местами непроходимость из-за мелких объектов. И что самое худшее, развитие сюжета и погружение в атмосферу, примерно первые 20% игры, на две головы выше чем при дальнейшем прохождении.
  13. FRIST_008
    Jun 14, 2021
    7
    игра, в которую я не смог себя заставить играть, из-за однотипных второстепенных миссий
  14. SomberMitsuki
    Jun 8, 2021
    5
    I've recently started replaying this sci-fi classic. I had originally played on the whichever xbox it was out on at the time. At first it was fun to relive a bit of that Nostalgia. The grand music scores, the expansive rich story full of lore for so many different alien races. Even the old jankyness has it sort of charm. However my joy faded sooner than anticipated as i've had to repeatI've recently started replaying this sci-fi classic. I had originally played on the whichever xbox it was out on at the time. At first it was fun to relive a bit of that Nostalgia. The grand music scores, the expansive rich story full of lore for so many different alien races. Even the old jankyness has it sort of charm. However my joy faded sooner than anticipated as i've had to repeat a question over and over anytime combat starts. Were the squadmates always so...flimsy and unresponsive?

    Over and over i've had to one many army fights because Garrus would immediately all over dead at the slightest sneeze and the fearsome sight of our foes sent Ashley fainting. At first i thought maybe it was the gear we were using, maybe the armor was just not stury enough so i upgraded but no. Lo and behold every combat situation as soon as it starts my squadmates go down.

    Even if they do last long enough for me to be able to issue them directions to get into cover most times they will stand there, unmoving like "Nah, I got this, watch me catch their bullets with my teeth." It's gotten to the point that i can only play the game in hour at most bursts because of the frustration caused the teammate a.i drains any fun from the game.    … Expand
  15. 4ya5h1
    Jun 7, 2021
    6
    worst game in ME triology but still pretty good. now, in 2021 this game feels a little old, but anyway mass effect is must play, and i would recommend at least try this version, not remastered
  16. jeidoz
    Jan 26, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Як для гравця із 2021го, інтерфейс є доволі складним і не зразу привичним. Сюжет і варіативність діалогів просто епічна як для гри 2007-2008го року. РПГ система на висоті: ти можеш страдати і намагатися вбити боса, а можеш просто відговорити його фразами Героя чи Відступника; Ти можеш зберегти життя набридливої тобі Ради Галактики, чи пожертувати ними ради збереження життів мешканців Цитаделі; Можеш обрати хто буде представляти сторону людства в Раді: військовий Адмірал чи старий політик, що підтирався до минулої ради (якою, ти в свою чергу, вже подертвував). Відчуття загалом задовільні. Мінус пару балів за кривуватий порт із коробки на ПК (текстури мильні, анімації персонажів інколи хаотично перепригують, обриваються фрази діалогів, не дуже зрозуміла механіка бігу, і пздц довгий перегрів зброї, да й вобще хрін поньмеш де гранати відновити, аби колоністів не вбивати на вашій сюжетній місії, коли ти по тупості скинув цілебні гранати в мобів, що не рахувались зараженими колоністами). А так за музику, атмосферу, РПГшність і можливості на 2008 заїбісь.… Expand
  17. kultigin
    Jan 3, 2021
    6
    Tried to play it in 2021 after reading all these great reviews, but had no fun out of it. Gameplay mechanics are very bad, after each dialogue, the cutscene ends and a new one starts and you feel it which makes the game unrealistic. It should be great at times but not today.

    People claim the story is great, so you can play it for that maybe. I don't think the money you should pay    Tried to play it in 2021 after reading all these great reviews, but had no fun out of it. Gameplay mechanics are very bad, after each dialogue, the cutscene ends and a new one starts and you feel it which makes the game unrealistic. It should be great at times but not today.

    People claim the story is great, so you can play it for that maybe.

    I don't think the money you should pay (%50 discount still after 13 years, WTH!!!) will worth it. My score is this bad because of the price. Otherwise, I wouldn't even post a review.    … Expand
  18. kevin32
    Oct 28, 2020
    7
    It's all for ME2 and ME3 but it's quite enought, too. why jane CAN'T romance with Ashley?
  19. Alentejano
    Aug 19, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Really interesting game that was ahead of its time.
    All the characters are great and interesting and the voice acting for everyone (including NPC's) is amazing and realistic. Besides that, the worldbuilding is perfectly planned out and this universe is well put and connected to the characters and in-game alien races.
    The story isn't anything new but it's good enough. There are some problems like: the villains are taken out of the game and don't interact with the main characters for half of the game; the shooting isn't anything spectacular but gets more interesting in the final sections of the game; the vehicle physics are incredibly stupid and have really sensitive controls; these sections are really boring, they are just running around and trying to control the vehicle while constantly shooting enemies...and the music is just decent in these parts and the game as a whole; there is some awkwardness in cutscenes: characters are being attacked and feeling pain but there is no reaction; the RPG elements and upgrades are a bit annoying.
    Even though there are a lot problems this game is something special because of the characters and a great universe and that's what is important in this game.    … Expand
  20. EsteticBomzh
    Jun 24, 2020
    7
    Отличная игра с точки зрения лора, сценария, персонажей, режиссуры роликов и т.д. Но геймплей у игры всегда был довольно устаревшим и довольно спорным. В целом я люблю эту игру, но всегда ради сюжета приходилось терпеть скучную стрельбу. В целом серии mass effect необходим ремейк.Отличная игра с точки зрения лора, сценария, персонажей, режиссуры роликов и т.д. Но геймплей у игры всегда был довольно устаревшим и довольно спорным. В целом я люблю эту игру, но всегда ради сюжета приходилось терпеть скучную стрельбу. В целом серии mass effect необходим ремейк.
  21. GraysonUA
    Mar 31, 2020
    7
    Цікавий світ та сюжет, різноманітні персонажі, можливість будувати з ними відносини. Але механіка бою храмає, не відчувається імпакт зброї.
  22. Corefitz
    Feb 15, 2020
    5
    Too much focus on loot in a RPG game.

    That pretty much describes what Mass Effect 1 was for an experience to me.
    Played it once to get the story.
  23. jared1209
    Feb 7, 2020
    6
    Whilst fun and a good time, this game is a little bare bones. The story is interesting but overexplained. The huge amount of dialogue in this game is both impressive and redundant. The script needs editing and dialogue scenes need something more visually interesting to be happening. It needs different shot sizes, camera movement and character action. I hope you enjoy 3 recycled shots thatWhilst fun and a good time, this game is a little bare bones. The story is interesting but overexplained. The huge amount of dialogue in this game is both impressive and redundant. The script needs editing and dialogue scenes need something more visually interesting to be happening. It needs different shot sizes, camera movement and character action. I hope you enjoy 3 recycled shots that look exactly the same for all dialogue scenes because thats 60% of the game.
    This game takes forever to get going with a very long winded opening that feels like a walking simulator for the first few hours.
    Massive fail not allowing you to play the game past the end mission.
    2nd play-through wasn't worth it as the difference between classes and dialogue choices are not interesting enough to keep you playing.    … Expand
  24. yota71
    Jan 10, 2020
    6
    Maybe in the 2007 this was a good game, but i have played it in the 2016 and let me say this game hasn't aged well, a pretty **** AI, companion that are blocked behind a wall, incapable to escape from an elevator and so on and so on, ME2 is a way much better
  25. Vanco
    Jun 4, 2019
    7
    Great worldbuilding with lots of things to explore. Great main storyline. Side missions are pretty lackluster.
  26. CoreGamer1408
    May 17, 2019
    7
    Interesting science fiction space exploration ARPG game. The execution was not so great, but a lot of great concepts and ideas all in one package. More fun that fail for sure.
  27. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    5
    This game is a mixed bag. Sure, it has an interesting story, but what else? The gameplay is tedious, the speed of our character is a joke. I saw turtles running faster than Shepard. I played the game using a trainer, so I could run faster and guess what... did 100% of the game and finished it in 20 hours. I don't even wanna know how much time I would lose with that snail running the gameThis game is a mixed bag. Sure, it has an interesting story, but what else? The gameplay is tedious, the speed of our character is a joke. I saw turtles running faster than Shepard. I played the game using a trainer, so I could run faster and guess what... did 100% of the game and finished it in 20 hours. I don't even wanna know how much time I would lose with that snail running the game has. And most of the game is just about movement. Developers do not respect our time. Stop making games with slow running, because I'm tired of looking for solutions for this. The story kept me going and there were not many decisions to choose from as the game advertised. This is not Fallout New Vegas my friends. I won't call this a waste of time, because I really enjoyed the story, but it's not something I will play ever again by my own volition. I hope the second game is better. Pickens can't choose!… Expand
  28. kycokkycka
    Jan 8, 2019
    6
    не оч не оч не оч не оч не оч не оч не оч не оч не оч
  29. Inheritance92
    Nov 10, 2018
    7
    An obvious console port.
    Very short, terrible and clunky UI (buying/selling, travelling, quest log are a real torture), low poly environments. Even minigames are built for a controller. Prepare to see the same 2-3 dungeon layouts everywhere.
  30. Nerp47
    Aug 17, 2018
    7
    Mass Effect is a great RPG/Tactical Third Person Shooter with an interesting story and great characters.

    Pros: +Support for newer resolutions. +Well written characters with interesting backstories and realistic personalities. +Unlike most current gen RPGs, Mass Effect's side quests feel like stories, and are almost always well written and don't feel like they were tacked on just to    Mass Effect is a great RPG/Tactical Third Person Shooter with an interesting story and great characters.

    Pros:
    +Support for newer resolutions.
    +Well written characters with interesting backstories and realistic personalities.
    +Unlike most current gen RPGs, Mass Effect's side quests feel like stories, and are almost always well written and don't feel like they were tacked on just to have more content.
    +Well written and interesting lore and history of each and every race.
    +Exploring space is fun and the descriptions and details of planets is well made.
    +Ordering characters to use their powers is quick and simple and can lead to some cool combos.

    Cons:
    -Combat feels bland and lacks impact.
    -On higher difficulties you can't always tell you're being hit until you die.
    -Controls can feel clunky especially when moving in and out of cover.
    -Animations are bad even for it's time.
    -Sound quality for everything other than voices is pretty mediocre
    -Lack of anti aliasing

    Mass Effect is a badly aged but fun TPS RPG with a great story,great characters and interesting world
    While it is a Third Person Shooter, It's more of an RPG before it's a Third Person Shooter.On a side note, I really wish we could have more orders for party members.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best PC Game of 2008
6
#6 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
5
#5 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. GameSpot
    90
    Whether you're a seasoned Spectre looking to suit up again, or a newcomer who has never set foot on the Normandy, the refined PC version is your best choice for experiencing this excellent game.
    Read full review
  2. PTGamers
    95
    Mass Effect PC wasn't rushed, this version has clearly been thoroughly thought-out to exploit the advantages of this platform.
    Read full review
  3. G4 TV
    100
    Computer owners are getting everything found in the Xbox 360 game, including achievements and online leaderboards, but with better visuals, smoother action, and a more streamlined interface. That the game rings up at a lower retail price and offers the first expansion pack as a free download is simply icing on the cake.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »