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. HolgerM.
    Jun 14, 2008
    9
    One of the Best RPG-s of late. Everything is pretty close ot perfection. Drawbacks are a somewhat short storyline compared to Bioware's other epic RPG-s and the similar side-quest that pop up on several worlds. The story is excellent and while it's far from unique(See Freespace 1&2 for almost the exact same story) it's very captivating from start to finish and flows One of the Best RPG-s of late. Everything is pretty close ot perfection. Drawbacks are a somewhat short storyline compared to Bioware's other epic RPG-s and the similar side-quest that pop up on several worlds. The story is excellent and while it's far from unique(See Freespace 1&2 for almost the exact same story) it's very captivating from start to finish and flows extremely well. Obviously Bioware is planning for the sequels to finish the story cause Mass Effect only leaves you wanting for more. Having completed what I guess is 90+% of all the quests in the game I clocked in at 32 hours. Which isn't bad but doesn't even come close to NW or BG. The main storyline could easily be completed in half the time. Hopefully a sequel will add a longer story, given that Bioware no longer has to work on an engine, creation of an entire new universe and more.. I experienced ZERO techinal difficulties with this game. It only crashed once and that I believe was a small bug which can happen like only on one planet and has no showstopping power. It runs perfect. My rig: Q6600, GeForce 9800GTX, 3gb ram, Vista Home premium 32 bit. Check this game out. It's worth it!… Expand
  2. MatthewN.
    Jun 25, 2008
    10
    This game is simply the best I've ever played in my whole life. /Music: Awesome - it sounds very similar to Half Life, it's more dynamic and futuristic. /Video: People who rate it down because of video problems should check their PCs first. Graphics are stunning, it's like watching an interactive movie with virtual actors. /Gameplay: I had fun, without any problems in the This game is simply the best I've ever played in my whole life. /Music: Awesome - it sounds very similar to Half Life, it's more dynamic and futuristic. /Video: People who rate it down because of video problems should check their PCs first. Graphics are stunning, it's like watching an interactive movie with virtual actors. /Gameplay: I had fun, without any problems in the fight, classes are well planned, there are some tiny bugs - unworthy of mentioning. /Story: It's unlike anything you've ever seen, not so deep as KotOR, but still very interesting. /Overall: I could rate this game 1000/10 if I could (add this option for me please!).… Expand
  3. AaronF.
    Jun 29, 2008
    10
    By far the most entertaining and engrossing RPGs I have ever played, Bioware certainly outdid themselves from KotOR with this absolute gem of a game. Anti-RPG-ists will certainly love this game, stemming from the perfect melding of a film, an RPG and a third-person shooter. You feel like you are playing a movie. Amazing!
  4. Mark
    Aug 19, 2008
    8
    Utterly fascinating at first. Mesmerises with its brilliant vision of a diverse cosmos, three-dimensional protagonist and plausible alien races. But the initial fascination being gone, you inevitably discover the repetitiveness of the game - the role playing element brought to minimum in favour of the incessant shootouts, impossibly long elevator rides and only partially controllable Mako Utterly fascinating at first. Mesmerises with its brilliant vision of a diverse cosmos, three-dimensional protagonist and plausible alien races. But the initial fascination being gone, you inevitably discover the repetitiveness of the game - the role playing element brought to minimum in favour of the incessant shootouts, impossibly long elevator rides and only partially controllable Mako vehicle. Great potential, but if you play on PC, you MASS EFFECT is clearly a game better suited for X360 than ordinary desktops.… Expand
  5. DanJ
    Jun 15, 2009
    10
    Very enjoyable. One word that definitely describes this game perfectly is balance. The game excels in giving you a sense of choice and control within a brilliantly conceived game world through masterful storytelling. Excellent blend of action and RPG character development and use of Unreal Engine 3 helped to make the game look beautiful. While the character building elements are probably Very enjoyable. One word that definitely describes this game perfectly is balance. The game excels in giving you a sense of choice and control within a brilliantly conceived game world through masterful storytelling. Excellent blend of action and RPG character development and use of Unreal Engine 3 helped to make the game look beautiful. While the character building elements are probably not the most detailed (you choose weapon and ammo loadout, skills and abilities, and your squad characters) with experience points automatically assigned throughout the course of the action it was the perfect cross-over for this reviewer who is mostly an FPS gamer. This game has wonderfully rich dialog and character/story interaction that isn't boring nor contrived and seemed to flow well regardless of the dialog choices made. In fact, I don't remember being bored playing this game at all. I mean, you can choose to run around a space station or planet for hours if you want and talk to everyone you can and you may get bored due to the distance travelled (tip: there is no achievement for this) but following the storyline cues makes this game an extremely enjoyable experience. If you want and like to explore, you can do that too, and some exploration is encouraged and essential. I didn't expect much from this game but was very impressed. One of the best single player experiences I've had for a while.… Expand
  6. DavidR
    Nov 12, 2009
    10
    This game has 2, and only 2 big faults (at least in my opinion). 1: Too many items and a poor inventory managment menu lead to constant micromangeing of equipment. 2: The side missions are a little cookie-cutter like and mostly forgettable. Still, this game has some of the best voice acting, immersive world and an excelent story. That's is one of the most important parts of any RPG This game has 2, and only 2 big faults (at least in my opinion). 1: Too many items and a poor inventory managment menu lead to constant micromangeing of equipment. 2: The side missions are a little cookie-cutter like and mostly forgettable. Still, this game has some of the best voice acting, immersive world and an excelent story. That's is one of the most important parts of any RPG and bioware nailed it. Also: A thumbs up to demiurge for the excellent port-work. Porting a game designed from the ground-up to work with a console is difficult, but the PC version has better controls, better menus and feels like the diffinitve version of the game. Well done. :)… Expand
  7. tsabszy
    May 29, 2013
    10
    i love this game. i have played it through about 6 times. in love wih the desing, feeling and storytelling! the gameplay is ok, i mean the fighting was far from perfect, but still i have played more with this game than with it's sequels together
  8. dosse91
    Jan 29, 2011
    9
    this is by far one of the best games i've ever played! all role playing games should be like this. i mean, most rpgs take place in fantasy worlds that make no sense, while this one throws you in this futuristic galaxy. and that's what i like of it: it's believable, realistic (mostly), and shows off many aspects of the same culture: you see the citadel, which is some sort of "golden cage",this is by far one of the best games i've ever played! all role playing games should be like this. i mean, most rpgs take place in fantasy worlds that make no sense, while this one throws you in this futuristic galaxy. and that's what i like of it: it's believable, realistic (mostly), and shows off many aspects of the same culture: you see the citadel, which is some sort of "golden cage", where everything seems to be going well, and nobody believes you when you say they're in danger, and it's up to you to save the galaxy; then you see colonies that are being attacked, meet a "dark side" made of mercenaries, poor people being bullied by some sort of intergalactic mafia, and everything fits in into the story perfectly. another thing i loved was the fact that you can import your saved data into the second game: that means that 90% of your decisions in this game (and there's plenty of them) has some sort of result in the second game: you might meet again some people you've helped, you can hear about what you did in the first game almost everywhere, and that makes the already excellent atmosphere of the game, even better.
    however, apart from its excellent story and outstanding atmosphere, bioware ruined this masterpiece with some things: first, a technical complain: the old version of the unreal engine 3 used in this game sucks ass. why the hell did you use that piece of crap? what was wrong with the aurora engine used in other bioware games like the witcher? or even better, why didn't they use the cryengine2, it would've made this game PERFECT! the ue3 causes nothing but trouble, badly pixelated shadows and ingame loadings! second, some things should have been better, like the covering system (improved in mass effect 2), and the AI (both friendly and enemy). another thing that kinda sucks are the side quests: most of them get boring and repetitive pretty quickly and most of them look the same.

    in conclusion, all i can say is that this game is GREAT, but not perfect
    graphics 7/10
    sound 9/10
    controls 8/10
    story 10/10
    replay value 9/10

    overall, i'd give this game a 9.25/10    … Expand
  9. Ra-Qin
    Dec 4, 2012
    10
    While being years old, and now part of a recently release trilogy bundle, this game still holds it's own. Graphics are stellar (pardon the pun), and the storyline maintains the above par standards BioWare is (or was) known for when under the leadership of the good Dr's Zeschuk and Muzyka.

    The Good: Fluid controls, excellent mix of characters, 6 different classes to chose from, fully    While being years old, and now part of a recently release trilogy bundle, this game still holds it's own. Graphics are stellar (pardon the pun), and the storyline maintains the above par standards BioWare is (or was) known for when under the leadership of the good Dr's Zeschuk and Muzyka.

    The Good: Fluid controls, excellent mix of characters, 6 different classes to chose from, fully voiced NPCs, and an array of weaponry and talents exceeded only by MMOs or Borderlands. The Bad: No XB360 controller support, difficult to apply the DLC (to my Steam version at least), and hard to configure for those wishing to play on 16:10 displays.

    Overall - One of the reasons I did not play Mass Effect when I bought it in 2008 was that the story seemed to drag. Aside from the fact that I was hip-deep in WoW, I would have gladly played the game if it got off to a bang (like ME2 does; BioWare took notice of this flaw and fixed it in the second installment), but the game does not move or begin to make any sense until you are about 3 hours into it and taking your first mission away from Citidel Station.

    The greatest appeal for me was the ability to play he lead role of Commander Shepard as a female with a fully voiced role, supported by BioWare's multipathed conversation selections. I felt a connection with the character, and was able to see the galaxy from her eyes. It was also impressive that BioWare created an opportunity for the character to enter an emotional/physical relationship with with either male or female members of the crew. The male relationship can be meaningful or trite, and the female relationship was well written and classy; it did not come off as a twenty-something male's **** More than likely BioWare consulted women of experience to write those scenes. Mission play is great, with some missions affecting the main storyline of Shepard's pursuit/investigation of Saren, and other will designed side-missions to assist you with character development (more levels, money, guns, and skills are earned this way). Missions can vary in length from 10 mins (if you whiz though it) to 4 hrs. Additionally, DLC missions are available from BioWare's site; Bring Down the Sky is free and lasts 3 hrs, while Pinnacle Station costs $5, and allows you to develop your character in a holo-training environment. Both DLC packages are side-missions with no effect on the main story; you don't have to get them, but they are worth the $5. Aside from it's global appeal, Mass Effect has earned a rightful place in my personal gaming hall of fame. If you don't have it, go get it. If you do have it, take the time to do EVERYTHING the game has to offer...the stories and content are well beyond that of 99% of the games that are out there.    … Expand
  10. DRUNKCANADIAN
    Sep 22, 2010
    9
    Game play was generic, but the story, environment and creativity was top notch. Certainly a better space epic than Halo or Gears despite the odd hybridization of gameplay/design elements from those two games. The story and the ability to really make the story your own and simulate the feeling of existing in this universe wins it a 9 alone. Few games this day can come out there with a goodGame play was generic, but the story, environment and creativity was top notch. Certainly a better space epic than Halo or Gears despite the odd hybridization of gameplay/design elements from those two games. The story and the ability to really make the story your own and simulate the feeling of existing in this universe wins it a 9 alone. Few games this day can come out there with a good story and create a believable world. With enough lore to make you want to read the small texts documents, and do all the side quests.

    Only downfalls I will mention is there were some serious bugs that shouldn't have made it into the final product, that and as mentioned the gameplay/combat could use some work to make it more original, as is it isn't bad but nothing superb.    … Expand
  11. user1234
    Sep 25, 2010
    9
    I haven't replayed any single player game so many times ever. Several minor flaws (as any human-made thing) prevent the Universe from collapsing and submit this game a score of 9/10.

    For what they are, the used elements feel right. They just stick together. If you don't get what the hell is going on, RTFC (C = Codex). Also, if you plan to skip cine, plan to skip this game too. The    I haven't replayed any single player game so many times ever. Several minor flaws (as any human-made thing) prevent the Universe from collapsing and submit this game a score of 9/10.

    For what they are, the used elements feel right. They just stick together. If you don't get what the hell is going on, RTFC (C = Codex). Also, if you plan to skip cine, plan to skip this game too.

    The immersion is so big, you'll feel like divided by zero. The inventory is a little clunky. The planets could have more scenery. But aren't we just asking too much? For what it is, big bang for the buck.    … Expand
  12. Krud
    Oct 27, 2010
    9
    There isn't much I can say about Mass Effect that hasn't already been said dozens of times here. But for me the most telling sign that I'd just finished a good game was that I was immediately eager to hear info about Mass Effect 2. Which I wouldn't care about if the first one had sucked. I'll admit that I was wary at first, not only because it was a console port, but also because I keptThere isn't much I can say about Mass Effect that hasn't already been said dozens of times here. But for me the most telling sign that I'd just finished a good game was that I was immediately eager to hear info about Mass Effect 2. Which I wouldn't care about if the first one had sucked. I'll admit that I was wary at first, not only because it was a console port, but also because I kept hearing about "tactics" and the shooter aspect of it, leading me to think it might not be my cup of tea. (Or almost but not quite entirely unlike tea. [Apologies to Adams.])

    I have since started to play Mass Effect 2, and the rush of nostalgia I've felt at various points reminded me how much I enjoyed the first one, particularly its characters. Yes, the interface was mildly cumbersome at times, and yes, the side quests could have used a bit more variety. And yes, there were times when I thought, "Really? Is this battle still going on?" But for the most part I manage to suspend my disbelief enough during the game to the point where I actually CARED what happened to my companions. And the fact that those events carry over into the sequel is a nice touch (but admittedly has less to do with the first game.)

    I get why some people have issues with this game, particularly where the install limits were concerned, but I'm glad I eventually gave this game a chance.    … Expand
  13. zombiehampster
    Oct 28, 2010
    9
    Mass Effect is a game about choice. Having played the original game about a year and a half ago on the Xbox 360, I decided to try it on the PC in response to Mass Effect 2 so I could play them both back to back. I have to say that even after this length of time, factoring in the other games that have been released in the meantime, that this game still holds the fascination that I onceMass Effect is a game about choice. Having played the original game about a year and a half ago on the Xbox 360, I decided to try it on the PC in response to Mass Effect 2 so I could play them both back to back. I have to say that even after this length of time, factoring in the other games that have been released in the meantime, that this game still holds the fascination that I once had for my initial play through on the 360. In fact it has probably improved in the transition. I say this for the additional use of hot keys, the keyboard in general, the slight redesign of the interface, and the ability to use the familiar WASD/mouse scheme. To me, these are probably one of the biggest selling points for me to purchase the game on PC. Everything else is pretty much the same as the console versions, with the exception of shorter load times in general, and apparently less of the texture problems (although I can't say I remember how bad they were on the consoles). I feel the graphics are definitely well done, with many of the visuals/locations/atmosphere standing out dramatically. Bioware's games definitely reek of quality and immersion, and Mass Effect is no exception. Few rpgs that I can think of really make me feel lost in their worlds, but this game definitely succeeds in many ways. From the well designed locations, piles of data in the codex, and massive amounts of back-story/history, you can tell they put thought not only in the game play, but also the agreed upon fiction of their universe. The game play of Mass Effect is solid, but most importantly fun, as I never get tired of rushing into combat, driving the Mako (I know, I know a lot of people hate it) and blowing stuff up, or even just "interrogating" my crewmates. The AI is pretty competent in their behavior, although it has it's moments of brilliance and stupidity, which is to be expected, but overall can give a good challenge unexpectedly, causing a torrent of cursing from me. That's a good thing. Repetition is kind of a problem for the various Assignments in the game, as you will be doing a lot of planet scanning for minerals or seeking something to land on. The former is for the various fetch assignments while the latter allows you to drive the Mako planet-side. While driving on the many planets sometimes seems like a chore, I felt that it was tolerable enough and it allowed me to enjoy driving around some barren landscape. While this might not seem so much fun, a lot of it had to do with just taking in the beauty of the area around you, along with the thrill of not being guided by the linear corridors of the main quests. Mileage will definitely vary in regards to that, but thankfully the assignments are all at-will and you can choose to do as many as you see fit, which helps make it much more tolerable. Probably one of the most important aspect of this game is the story. My god, the amount of clichés and tropes in this game serves as a sort of sci-fi/popculture reference machine, and for some reason...all those things aside, I absolutely love the storyline. To me, this game pumped some much needed blood into a stagnating genre and made me love rpgs all over again. One of my biggest complaints of previous games was that I very rarely cared about the characters I was interacting with/playing, but Bioware has managed to bring something very compelling into how they unfold/tell the characters tales. I think this separates this game from the pack most of all. It also goes to serve a reminder that knowing how to tell a compelling, yet stereo-typical story, can make all the difference. When all is said and done, Mass Effect is a definite classic and does have elements for many different types of gamers. That being said it tells a very compelling and human story where you have the freedom to work out just who you want your character to be, within the limits of the story frame, of course.… Expand
  14. WangSulah
    Dec 28, 2010
    10
    I played through this game twice, which is rare for me. A slow starter, as I recall having trouble getting into it the first time, but definitely worth sticking it through. Compelling story, good cast, awesome environments, especially on the planets, and plenty of things to see and do if you're an obsessive completionist like I am. Without a second thought, I give this game a 10, andI played through this game twice, which is rare for me. A slow starter, as I recall having trouble getting into it the first time, but definitely worth sticking it through. Compelling story, good cast, awesome environments, especially on the planets, and plenty of things to see and do if you're an obsessive completionist like I am. Without a second thought, I give this game a 10, and look forward to playing the two sequels.… Expand
  15. zlesna
    Jan 6, 2011
    9
    I don't mean to sound whiny, but while this game was more epic then the entire star wars universe alone, it was too epic. The rpg part of the game stood up like a golden statue of something erect... However, with so many things to do I had little time to play other games that were on my list. This game was a black whole of game time. But I can't say the game was BAD. It wasn't. I loved it.I don't mean to sound whiny, but while this game was more epic then the entire star wars universe alone, it was too epic. The rpg part of the game stood up like a golden statue of something erect... However, with so many things to do I had little time to play other games that were on my list. This game was a black whole of game time. But I can't say the game was BAD. It wasn't. I loved it. I just would not suggest this to everyone. Many apologies to all of the fans of this one, but I still give it a 9 for bringing to the table gameplay elements that would have worked in an mmo(like the massive universe that is almost completely explorable) but were more fun in a single player setting. I liked the fact that it has a replay value higher then any other game ever. Ever time you play through this game you can try a new strategy, a new romance, be evil, etc. In the end having so much to do seemed like a strength and a weakness of the game.… Expand
  16. SuperTakashii
    Jan 22, 2011
    8
    Once you break the surface of Mass Effect, you'll love it to bits. The presentation of story is clean and sensible. The combat is responsive and clean. The graphics are gorgeous; the film grain and motion blur turn this game into a beautiful interactive environment, but this game falls down at the beginning.

    There are a lot of games that take a bit of getting into, but this one has the    Once you break the surface of Mass Effect, you'll love it to bits. The presentation of story is clean and sensible. The combat is responsive and clean. The graphics are gorgeous; the film grain and motion blur turn this game into a beautiful interactive environment, but this game falls down at the beginning.

    There are a lot of games that take a bit of getting into, but this one has the thickest skin I've ever encountered. This game would benefit so much from having a more gradual, more thoroughly explained introduction to the complicated layout, because when you get thrown into the game everything is a little confusing. You're not quite sure how to do certain things. You forget how to control Shepard efficiently if you play for less than a few hours in your first sitting, as the game never reinforces controls at any point, simply telling you the controls and expecting you to never forget them again. You have immediate access to a complicated menu of buttons when you're not quite sure what all of them do. The array of controls are vast and complicated: easy to forget. The story hits the ground running, but unfortunately the gameplay doesn't. You spend your first hour wandering around confused and wondering what to do. If you leave and then play again the next day you'll lose all sense of direction and spend ages wandering around, completely bored. This all makes the story disjointed and clunky at times, where lots of stuff goes down in a minute long cutscene, then you wander for another 30 minutes 'til you get more.

    Once you break the skin of Mass Effect, it will be an incredibly enjoyable game that's difficult to put down.    … Expand
  17. The_Gooser
    Mar 12, 2011
    10
    Simply a great game, I had way too much fun playing this game. If you are a fan of role playing games, then please go out and purchase this right now.
  18. mazzaneo
    Apr 20, 2011
    10
    Overall an amazing game with a rich and compelling story line. It truly feels like a movie that you are in complete control of. The controls take some getting used to but work very well. If you have not played Mass Effect 2 yet i thoroughly recommend you start with this and then move to 2, especially now that it is a budget title!
  19. Kondorr
    May 21, 2011
    10
    BioWare games had for years a very similar narrative... an elite task force (Grey Wardens, Jedi, Spectres, Spirit Monks) recruits a new cadet, who will take on an epic journey to save the day from an apocalyptic evil, while recruiting colorfull characters to his team.

    Although the gameplay mechanics are lesser to Mass Effect 2, I believe this game is the best version of the above told    BioWare games had for years a very similar narrative... an elite task force (Grey Wardens, Jedi, Spectres, Spirit Monks) recruits a new cadet, who will take on an epic journey to save the day from an apocalyptic evil, while recruiting colorfull characters to his team.

    Although the gameplay mechanics are lesser to Mass Effect 2, I believe this game is the best version of the above told story... and therefore it is the best BioWare game... In MY opinion. The political plot, the immersive galaxy, the amazing characters, the beautiful locations and the uber epic finale make this game an unforgettable tale.

    I have to mention one other aspect... this game has the most tasteful sex scene ever... and yes, I have played Heavy Rain, all Mass Effects, all Dragon Ages and all Witchers... (and all God of Wars... but these were not exactly what one would call tasteful :D ).

    While there are many locations which are simply copy-pastes, and the Maco is not exactly the easiest to control vehicle I could not say, that these things bothered me (where as the copied locations in DA2 did bother me.. what can I say... opinions are subjective).

    Besides the gameplay mechanics I have to mention the cut-scenes... which are AMAZING... on the level of the best sci-fi epics in movies. The music is stunning, the editing is perfect, the set pieces are beautiful and the camera angles are on spot.

    Yes, I believe, that despite its flaws, that Mass Effect 1 is indeed the best BioWare game to date (followed very closely by Mass Effect 2)!    … Expand
  20. Thradar
    May 2, 2011
    10
    One of the most immersive, well acted, and well written action/RPGs I've ever played. One my third playing of ME1 and ME2 to prepare for ME3 this fall.
  21. Yann
    May 6, 2011
    10
    [FR] Un jeu d'une qualité exemplaire. Un jeux qui mélange jeu de tir à la première personne et jeu de rôle où chaque décision prise influence intégralement l'avenir de votre personnage... et se répercute dans Mass Effect 2, puis Mass Effect 3. Se doit d'être[FR] Un jeu d'une qualité exemplaire. Un jeux qui mélange jeu de tir à la première personne et jeu de rôle où chaque décision prise influence intégralement l'avenir de votre personnage... et se répercute dans Mass Effect 2, puis Mass Effect 3. Se doit d'être joué par tout amateur de jeu de tir!… Expand
  22. Thothistox
    Jan 1, 2013
    8
    THE GOOD: Mass Effect is an SF RPG/shooter, with an immersive story, a large and diverse set of maps, cool art and Bioware's trademark cinematic story-telling at its best. So far I've only done one playthrough so I can't tell for sure, but it probably also has plenty of C&C. Your character is given motivation. He or she is put in difficult moral situations and has to overcome theTHE GOOD: Mass Effect is an SF RPG/shooter, with an immersive story, a large and diverse set of maps, cool art and Bioware's trademark cinematic story-telling at its best. So far I've only done one playthrough so I can't tell for sure, but it probably also has plenty of C&C. Your character is given motivation. He or she is put in difficult moral situations and has to overcome the misperceptions of others. Moral ambiguity is what makes an adult RPG, and you get your share here. THE BAD: Here is where I take off points.

    -1 The game crashes frequently, especially during the driving sequences. I'm probably running into the problems people have when running the game on a quad. It crashed so frequently it was unplayable on a 9:16 resolution, and I had to switch to 3:4 which warps everything on my monitor but was more stable.

    -1 The lore. Now you might rightfully criticise me for playing something in a genre that I don't like, but hear me out. I take my SF very seriously, which is why I don't like Hollywood movie SF. There must be a smarter way of portraying other "races" of intelligent creatures than with anthropomorphic English-speaking space aliens. I like to keep my aliens completely alien in the way of Stanislaw Lem.

    -1 The combat. You have limited control over your team and there is relatively little need for tactics. Your promotions are mostly add a few percentage points here or there, such as to health or gun power. The talents are a bit silly. How is it a talent to be able to shoot your gun really quickly?

    I won't take anything away for other flaws. The dull romance you get with Ashley, the dialog options for persuasion and intimidation that make NPCs magically do what you want, your NPC team mates being a bit dull generally. I'll forgive all that because of the story.

    In spite of its flaw ME1 is a good game, and it was a good way to spend my New Year's weekend.    … Expand
  23. xZippy
    Mar 29, 2013
    8
    I made that classic mistake of playing Mass Effect 2 & 3 before playing this one, and I thought that would spoil the experience for me, and thankfully that wasn't the case. At first, I was just curious to see what things would carry over from this game to the other ones, but I got some good gameplay and atmosphere to go with that which kept me playing until the end. No, it's obviously notI made that classic mistake of playing Mass Effect 2 & 3 before playing this one, and I thought that would spoil the experience for me, and thankfully that wasn't the case. At first, I was just curious to see what things would carry over from this game to the other ones, but I got some good gameplay and atmosphere to go with that which kept me playing until the end. No, it's obviously not as good as Mass Effect 2, but it paves the way for a top notch series. The most prominent turn off for me was the gear/weapons system. It was too much and I didn't want to put the time in managing all that gear for myself AND all of my squad mates, so I just kept it all as "middle ground" as possible so I could go on with the game.… Expand
  24. AlienSpaceBats
    Jan 27, 2013
    8
    A unique (for its time, at least), well executed RPG/TPS hybrid much in the same vein as BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic. Sometimes more enjoyable to watch (cut-scenes, conversations) than to play (combat is not the game's strong-point).
  25. OmnipotentGamer
    Aug 5, 2013
    8
    A Truly amazing RPG with potential in so many un-tapped areas, the best game in the series in terms of RPG-feel and decisions. I've played through this game 3 or 4 times and enjoy it every time. Non-Biotic combat leaves for something to be desired, but aside from that and not following through on some areas that could've potential been amazing Mass Effect is a great game and a must playA Truly amazing RPG with potential in so many un-tapped areas, the best game in the series in terms of RPG-feel and decisions. I've played through this game 3 or 4 times and enjoy it every time. Non-Biotic combat leaves for something to be desired, but aside from that and not following through on some areas that could've potential been amazing Mass Effect is a great game and a must play for those craving a space opera style game.… Expand
  26. Nandi
    Mar 21, 2022
    10
    Masterpiece, a breath of fresh air, unique universe with fantastic characters and a very intriguing story line. Sadly ruined by third installment which ruined Prothean mystery and Reapers.
  27. Palfrei
    Jul 28, 2013
    9
    To begin with let me tell you the following: I played both the Xbox and PC versions and I can tell you, must tell you to get a 360 controller for your PC to play it. Mass Effect has been designed to be controlled with a game pad.

    The game looks fantastic; I got it running at 1280x768 px in full-screen mode -all settings in medium and no dynamic shadows- on a AMD Phenom II X4 920 at 2.80    To begin with let me tell you the following: I played both the Xbox and PC versions and I can tell you, must tell you to get a 360 controller for your PC to play it. Mass Effect has been designed to be controlled with a game pad.

    The game looks fantastic; I got it running at 1280x768 px in full-screen mode -all settings in medium and no dynamic shadows- on a AMD Phenom II X4 920 at 2.80 GHz with 4 GB of RAM and a Nvidia GeForce 210 card with 1Gb of DDR2 RAM. I only experienced some hiccups when the engine threw at me lots of fogging and heavy water effects. If your computer is even worse than mine, you can drop the resolution to 1024x768 on the windowed mode and it'll do pretty good. For a 3 year-old game it still looks amazing: water surfaces, reflections, textures and the lightening are terrific.

    The gameplay is reminiscent of Gears of War with RPG elements thrown in as our squad members can access their abilities either passively by means of battle menu or actively using the keyboard short-cuts. We control commander Shepard that can either be female or male and whose face we can design to our own liking; Shepard is the only character we can fully control as the rest of them, members of our squad, are semi-automatic. Our active squad is composed by three party members and they can be ordered to move forward, backward, attack or defend and we can also access their skills through the passive battle menu. These skills come in the form of biotic powers, mainly telekinetic abilities such as pull, push, force shield and space distortion: biotics are Mass Effect's gameplay core and a lot of fun. Apart from shooting and using biotic skills in a back third person perspective there are several missions that require vehicle driving and shooting: the Mako. These missions usually are pretty straight-forward however fun; the Mako is equipped with a rail gun and a cannon and both will heat and shut down temporarily after repeated and heavy use: the Mako will also take damage that can be repaired using omnigel paks. The Mako will also serve to explore the different planets that will be visited, on which resources and secrets can be found to progress the story, unlock features and improve the equipment. There are more RPG elements than using biotic powers, weapons and armours can be purchased and upgraded and the game is heavily scripted as well with multiple conversation choices to pick leading to different results.

    Even though I suggested getting a console controller to play it, using the keyboard-mouse combination has its advantages because we can assign more than two buttons to the special abilities. The mouse is used to target and move the camera around as well as the Mako turret, the left button is for shooting and the right button is for precise targeting. The space bar is for bringing up the passive battle menu and the shift key for running like in Gears of War. Fortunately, the control setup allows mouse inversion and tweaking for all the key assignments.

    The sound quality of the game is really good but not impressive overall however its voice acting is terrific and this is where this aspect of the game shines.

    The musical score is futuristic and serves its purpose wonderfully yet it is not memorable with the exception of the end-titles song.

    The story is really engaging and well written with several plot twists. Each team member has their own and we get to know them by means of the several conversations available through the course of the game. The best part of the scripting is how much detail Bioware put into the universe to make it plausible: they went to the extent of adding an encyclopaedia with all the game scientific and biological terminology as well as planetary information and entries on the alien races' civilizations. There is so much thought put into this universe unlike most of the other sci-fi games released except the Xenosaga series, which is even more complex. The whole universe sustains itself in a wonderful and believable way thanks to the writer's wit that allowed them to come up with technology and scientific concepts not far away from our current reality and what we might consider possible.

    The art is not impressive in a complicated way: its functional, it suits the universe and serves to sustain the fictional world of the script yet it is not original. Some planets are beautiful and breath-taking and the Normandy has been wonderfully designed. There is a lot of simplicity put into the art design that fortunately highlights the overall impression rather than making it dull nonetheless most planetary surfaces and facilities are repetitive with the same type and distribution of elements within them.

    All in all, Mass Effect is one of the best games ever released: it has wonderful graphics, a fantastic voice acting, entertaining gameplay and a very well written and cohesive fictional world; there isn't much else that anybody can ask for a good game to be good and Mass Effect covers all of these aspects superbly.

    Graphics: 10

    Control: 8

    Gameplay: 10

    Sound: 9

    Music: 7

    Story: 9.5

    Art: 8,5

    ///------TOTAL: 9 [rounded]------///    … Expand
  28. DrownedDrone
    Aug 7, 2012
    10
    It might suprise you, since I gave this game a 10/10, but DO NOT play this game. This is a great action/RPG game with one of the best, if not the best, non-linear story driven campaign that can really put you in the atmosphere of this epic world, with its long but intresting background history. I am not a big fan of replaying games but this game has the best replay value I ever seen in aIt might suprise you, since I gave this game a 10/10, but DO NOT play this game. This is a great action/RPG game with one of the best, if not the best, non-linear story driven campaign that can really put you in the atmosphere of this epic world, with its long but intresting background history. I am not a big fan of replaying games but this game has the best replay value I ever seen in a game, giving second and third playthrough additional expirience. I am not talking about the obvious morale decisions- which you can find in every game, but on the small things you only find out if you pay attention- from unlocking missions by investigating your squed crews (Only some of them, of course) to the brief talks your crew memebers have in the elevator, and to how by selecting different members you effect the ongoing of specific core-missions and side missions. Despite everything, this game is the first of three games and the sucking of the next two leave it incomplete. To be honest, I haven't even bought the third one, but I trust the reviews (User reviews, not the bribed Meta Score) so I advice you- don't get this game- you will get sucked into what seems like a great game but turns out to be a black hole… Expand
  29. JBurnes3
    Nov 12, 2019
    9
    Still holds up fairly decent in 2019. I would recommend graphical mods on PC of course to give it a little extra polish. However even though the combat is still a bit clunky it doesn't detract from what makes Mass Effect great which is the story, lore, and of course the characters.

    Mass Effect was a great game when it released in 2007 (2008 on PC), and it's still a great game 12 years later.
  30. PictoPirate
    May 17, 2017
    8
    A super space romp with some interesting characters epic battles and a big chunk of space exploration thrown in. I can't wait to see how the story develops over the next couple of games.
  31. addie_ho
    Nov 1, 2013
    8
    Great RPG, great story, good background music, fun battle. Driving the tank and explore in planets is trouble somehow. There are too many mountains to climb. I think there should be more side quests about Sheperd's companions, it would be interesting and fun. Don't expect much If you are looking for a good shooter game. Mass Effect is a more of a RPG.
  32. inktomi
    Jul 30, 2014
    10
    Mass Effect is a classic. I would put it up with my top 10 Must Play Sci-Fi Games of all Time list. I don't need to tell you why it's good, just that it was the beginning of a great franchise for Bioware. The main story is 24-30 hours long, depending on how thorough you are with side missions and all that. There is a lot to do in Mass Effect, so you will not be bored. The main story isMass Effect is a classic. I would put it up with my top 10 Must Play Sci-Fi Games of all Time list. I don't need to tell you why it's good, just that it was the beginning of a great franchise for Bioware. The main story is 24-30 hours long, depending on how thorough you are with side missions and all that. There is a lot to do in Mass Effect, so you will not be bored. The main story is well paced and plays well. Graphics are excellent and the controls even work will on PC's mouse and keyboard setup.

    If you can catch the trilogy on deep sale, I think it is a great investment all around. Over 100 hours of gameplay through the three games.

    Enjoy.    … Expand
  33. Sunfire
    Mar 30, 2014
    9
    Awesome game,just buy it!
    Great story,fun gameplay.,rewarding interactions.
    WARNING!IF you played(or will play this) play the other ones as well,it is sooo satisfying.
  34. alanbessa
    Feb 24, 2018
    9
    Recommended.

    What an insane game that created one of the best franchises. Lights ahead of its time.
  35. PencilShank
    Jan 1, 2013
    10
    This is possibly one of the best games i have ever played. I have never felt more involved in an RPG ever. The connections you gain with all of the characters make it all the more personal. The combat for this game is very well done each fight you do feels like a scene from a movie. Every piece of dialogue in the game feels epic and important. The choices you make deeply effect the game'sThis is possibly one of the best games i have ever played. I have never felt more involved in an RPG ever. The connections you gain with all of the characters make it all the more personal. The combat for this game is very well done each fight you do feels like a scene from a movie. Every piece of dialogue in the game feels epic and important. The choices you make deeply effect the game's story and makes everything more involved. This is a must buy for any RPG fan.… Expand
  36. faceless-1
    Jul 13, 2013
    9
    This game is awesome. Great characters, great world and very good story (well some parts are a bit cheese but it wont matter). When i started playing i could not stop.
  37. Auriell
    Jan 26, 2014
    9
    Top notch material, if you're into the style. Even if you aren't, its totally worth a try. Honestly. A true classic. I just finished the game and all I can say is whoa. What. A. Blast. I just wish I had this kind of experience with half the games I played in my entire life. They really hit the stars with this one. From the gameplay to the cutscenes and voice acting/music. CongratulationsTop notch material, if you're into the style. Even if you aren't, its totally worth a try. Honestly. A true classic. I just finished the game and all I can say is whoa. What. A. Blast. I just wish I had this kind of experience with half the games I played in my entire life. They really hit the stars with this one. From the gameplay to the cutscenes and voice acting/music. Congratulations to the team involved in this magnificent game!

    The only reason I'm not giving this game a 10 is just because theres some sort of micro managing involved in gearing up constantly your character and your companions. The companion AI is kinda lol but still pretty doable. Nothing that kills the game though, but you gotta make sure you're up to date with the gear aspect to make it more efficient when you're fighting the enemies.    … Expand
  38. Klewer
    Feb 1, 2016
    8
    I do think this is a brilliant game. There aren't many games that you play for 15 hours, it finishes and you get that feeling it was over so quickly.
    Has a great story and universe to get involved in and play through. Well wroth it in that alone. Sadly the combat and mechanics while solid enough are a little clunky and at times frustrating.

    Well worth playing and the start of a great series.
  39. Ensaabahnur
    Mar 8, 2019
    9
    Great game ,amazing story and characters, gameplay is a bit underwhelming but it's an eleven year old game so i can forgive it that. Highly recommended!
  40. TURJAN
    Aug 8, 2023
    9
    Phenomenal world building and main plot. Excellent side characters/companions. Planet exploration tend to be a bit boring after a third or fourth one, collectibles are unnecessary fillers, they translate to one additional dialog in the 3rd game and a dozen of points so don't bother with collecting them. Ending is incredibly satisfying and brilliantly written. Remember though that its aPhenomenal world building and main plot. Excellent side characters/companions. Planet exploration tend to be a bit boring after a third or fourth one, collectibles are unnecessary fillers, they translate to one additional dialog in the 3rd game and a dozen of points so don't bother with collecting them. Ending is incredibly satisfying and brilliantly written. Remember though that its a space opera. It has very bombastic style of narration. Expect long speeches and epic music. Overall: very good classic and one of the few games everyone should play at least once in their lifetime.… Expand
  41. tiho
    May 17, 2015
    9
    I was pleasantly surprised by the fact it really is an RPG, much more than a shooter. The story is captivating and it`s tons of fun to play, besides a few cumbersome & repetitive parts (planetary exploration and inventory management notably).
  42. Frioniel
    Jun 6, 2013
    10
    An Instant Classic. Mass Effect Is a WRPG like none other. This took the groundwork from KOTOR I and II and improved in just about every way. This game has a lot of amazing features, in many ways it's a more mature take on Star Wars. One of the first full voice acted 3d WRPGs. You create your own Commander Shepard, you decide the gender, what he or she looks like, his/her service history,An Instant Classic. Mass Effect Is a WRPG like none other. This took the groundwork from KOTOR I and II and improved in just about every way. This game has a lot of amazing features, in many ways it's a more mature take on Star Wars. One of the first full voice acted 3d WRPGs. You create your own Commander Shepard, you decide the gender, what he or she looks like, his/her service history, and psychological profile. You make many choices, who to let on your crew, who you become romantically involved in, morality choices, and ultimately the fate of the galaxy. Perhaps the most amazing feature is your Shepard and all his/her choices carry throughout the series, with good repercussions and bad. Don't miss this experience.… Expand
  43. Bloov
    Feb 17, 2019
    8
    Интересный сюжет и персонажи, но немного топорная стрельба, разбавленная неплохими классами с интересными способностями.
  44. ErrorTheRealist
    Jan 23, 2013
    10
    I was brought into the series at Mass Effect 2 ended up slaughtering most of my crew because I was noob. So I decided to migrate to Mass Effect, and realized it was even better than two. I say the following honestly. One of the best games ever; and if you play it, you'll think so too.
  45. notsolittlejon
    Jan 31, 2013
    9
    A real step-forward in RPG's for its time. The conversations felt much less scripted and more life-like than most RPG's I've played, not to mention you feel much more in control of your character's dialogue and actions. The leveling system is deep and rewarding, the gameplay and storyline are fulfilling, and knowing that all the decisions you make will carry over into future installmentsA real step-forward in RPG's for its time. The conversations felt much less scripted and more life-like than most RPG's I've played, not to mention you feel much more in control of your character's dialogue and actions. The leveling system is deep and rewarding, the gameplay and storyline are fulfilling, and knowing that all the decisions you make will carry over into future installments of the series gives a deeper sense of immersion.… Expand
  46. wintersonline
    Aug 4, 2013
    10
    One of the best game I have ever played! It has a fantastic story, and gameplay. It has plenty background information, If you want to read more, you can!
    I recommend to patch it to your language, You can understand it faster.
    Bads: - When on side quests, the bases has similar internal structure, it was boring. - When a character was speaking and you choose your answer, the character's    One of the best game I have ever played! It has a fantastic story, and gameplay. It has plenty background information, If you want to read more, you can!
    I recommend to patch it to your language, You can understand it faster.
    Bads:
    - When on side quests, the bases has similar internal structure, it was boring.
    - When a character was speaking and you choose your answer, the character's head and face was stuck, or lag a bit, it was not fluent.
    Goods:
    - I felt myself right in the character's role, that is the most powerful property of a role playing game I think.
    - You have to make the decisions -and they matter-, because you are the commander!
    - The gameplay was well divided into storytelling, logical, action parts.
    - I have played only once, but it has plenty variations how the story takes shape.
    - I loved all seconds I played with it, I felt I must had to know what is the next step in the story.    … Expand
  47. Setsudo
    Feb 7, 2013
    10
    Who loves SF will love this game. Story, caracters, actions, adventure... That's a package to true pleasure. The amazing thing is that you keep your caracter to the next chapters of the saga.

    Graphisms are today old but doesn't kill your pleasure and curiosity. This is a must to have
  48. drakenseng
    Feb 24, 2013
    10
    Story is great, kinda typical save the world story but its all the stuff in between. Gameplay is more like a 3rd person shooter, although you can pause combat for more tactical approach. Graphics are great for its time of release, i have no problems with it. Sound is great with execellent voice overs,music, and sound effects. Overall, a masterpiece game. I can't think of another sci fi rpgStory is great, kinda typical save the world story but its all the stuff in between. Gameplay is more like a 3rd person shooter, although you can pause combat for more tactical approach. Graphics are great for its time of release, i have no problems with it. Sound is great with execellent voice overs,music, and sound effects. Overall, a masterpiece game. I can't think of another sci fi rpg like this for the pc so it deserves a top score.… Expand
  49. valentino
    Jan 10, 2014
    8
    Great story, great characters, good voice acting/mediocre gameplay, mediocre graphics. If you like a good story, you have to play this game and the not so great things about this game can be ignored. ME2 is where it really becomes legendary.
  50. LXQUICKJUSTICE
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    PC gamers need to get the "MEUITM" texture mod to properly enjoy this game in 2015 and beyond, but it would be epic without the enhancements. I resisted playing mass effect for years because I was told by others that it was just another gears of war clone, but man was I wrong. I was SO wrong... This game's story is beyond awesome, and it turns out that playing third person in an action rpgPC gamers need to get the "MEUITM" texture mod to properly enjoy this game in 2015 and beyond, but it would be epic without the enhancements. I resisted playing mass effect for years because I was told by others that it was just another gears of war clone, but man was I wrong. I was SO wrong... This game's story is beyond awesome, and it turns out that playing third person in an action rpg can be very satisfying. I couldn't believe how good the voice acting and plot was, and still can't while writing this review. I just finished ME3 and now am deciding which of the 3 games in the trilogy I want to keep playing because they're all good. The first one will always be the best in many ways because it's all so new. Normally laser beams and space aliens turn me off because they're not realistic, but this thing manages to keep it together with some of the most impressive voice acting you will ever hear in a video game. Female Shepard is, hands down, the BEST character I've ever played in any game next to Garrett from the Thief series. (Garrett from the real thief games-not that reboot abomination.) A game hasn't sucked me in like this for years. If you've never played a Mass Effect game you'll need to start here, because the story builds with each installment, but you're only hurting yourself if you miss out on this wonderful journey.… Expand
  51. PStakhiv
    May 16, 2013
    9
    It's an absolutely ground-breakin project, never before the player's actions has such an impact on the universe of the game! Dialog wheel is a genius decision, outstanding voice acting, addicting leveling, well written main plot, interesting missions! And sure it's not perfect gun shooting isn't good, boring side quests! But overall it's must own if you like sci-fi or RPG.
  52. Herbis
    May 9, 2013
    9
    By far my most favorite from the trilogy. It brought something fresh, something that's not generic, and it made me interested and invested in it. I mean, I have spent at least 60 hours trying to explore every little bit of the game, and there is much to explore. Even though the Mako controls might feel awkward at times, it's still much better to have those portions of the game, to exploreBy far my most favorite from the trilogy. It brought something fresh, something that's not generic, and it made me interested and invested in it. I mean, I have spent at least 60 hours trying to explore every little bit of the game, and there is much to explore. Even though the Mako controls might feel awkward at times, it's still much better to have those portions of the game, to explore the game world, visit the planets with it. It was quite intriguing just driving around various deserted planets, with the feeling that there's nothing here, and you're all alone, but then eventually finding something, like a probe, with information in it.
    Another part of the gameplay I enjoyed was no ammo, but your guns could overheat. No longer I had to worry about how many bullets I spend, and then looking for more in random places, or where conveniently placed. Instead you would focus on how to time your shots so that you dont overheat your guns.
    Best part of the game is probably the story and the choices you make. I was never into Sci-Fi much, but this game made it work for me. The character interactions, the dialog options, many choices, all made me like the game more and more.
    One part that could have been done better is upgrade management..there were just too many of them, and my inventory got full quite often. Managing your own upgrades, plus your squad mates upgrades, took too much time. Then again, you do have the choice of not even bothering with it.
    I can't recommend this game enough, it is very very good.    … Expand
  53. AJCk19
    May 6, 2023
    9
    Some mechanics are a little clunky and it could need some quality of life changes. But dang is it good, you get so entrapped into the gameplay and story. Even if you don't care about stories, this one makes you care.
  54. paulraised
    Nov 12, 2018
    10
    A true masterpiece from beginning to end. The only thing I would criticize is the lack of additional content. The game could have expanded a bit to offer more playtime.
  55. jcasetnl
    Jul 7, 2013
    8
    Like many I got on the Mass Effect train with ME2. So you're probably wondering if it's worth it to play the first one. Short answer is 'yes'.

    ME1 is less polished but more intelligent than ME2 and 3. Your decisions and interactions seem to alter the story more. Combat is less forgiving (at first). You're thrown into more moral dilemmas. Speaking of combat, if you have FPS    Like many I got on the Mass Effect train with ME2. So you're probably wondering if it's worth it to play the first one. Short answer is 'yes'.

    ME1 is less polished but more intelligent than ME2 and 3. Your decisions and interactions seem to alter the story more. Combat is less forgiving (at first). You're thrown into more moral dilemmas.

    Speaking of combat, if you have FPS experience definitely play this one on hard or you'll find the combat getting repetitive and boring. Additionally, once you get some skills boosted, some of the combat mechanics are easy to abuse for the guaranteed win. The higher difficulty really pushes you to think about your skill choices and approach combat situations strategically.

    Bottom line, this ME is "different but good in its own way."    … Expand
  56. EliteAmatuer
    Jun 20, 2013
    9
    Mass Effect is a Bioware futuristic space RPG (but you probably already knew that). This game is more of a traditional RPG with lots of somewhat confusing menus, leveling up system, etc. For people who like action games more should probably look to ME 2. because the combat mechanics aren't very polished. Having said that, it's one of the most engrossing and beautiful stories in any gameMass Effect is a Bioware futuristic space RPG (but you probably already knew that). This game is more of a traditional RPG with lots of somewhat confusing menus, leveling up system, etc. For people who like action games more should probably look to ME 2. because the combat mechanics aren't very polished. Having said that, it's one of the most engrossing and beautiful stories in any game before or since it's release.… Expand
  57. gracjanski
    Dec 26, 2015
    8
    The big plus of this game is the universe, they created. A masterpiece on the same high level as Morrowind or Baldurs Gate. The graphic is great, there are some mods, that enhance it, so it looks like a game from 2012 more or less. The sound is immersive too.
    BUT there is one big mistake that is really sad: the gameplay is far too easy: The dialog system is so simple, you dont have many    The big plus of this game is the universe, they created. A masterpiece on the same high level as Morrowind or Baldurs Gate. The graphic is great, there are some mods, that enhance it, so it looks like a game from 2012 more or less. The sound is immersive too.
    BUT there is one big mistake that is really sad: the gameplay is far too easy: The dialog system is so simple, you dont have many options to consider and the enemies are so easy. A pity, I am still sad, that I dont want to lose my time in playing the second and third part, that are even more action orientated. This is not RPG, it is mainstream.    … Expand
  58. iddqd4
    Mar 16, 2018
    9
    Игра тех времен, когда из BioWare еще не поуходили все талантливые сценаристы.
  59. lutteres
    Jul 29, 2013
    8
    The Good:
    Main quest story
    The characters
    Voice acting
    Character Models
    Excellent Re-playability

    The Fair:
    Combat system
    Overall visuals

    The Bad:
    Boring and repetitive side quests
    Copy paste maps
    Boring mini-games
  60. cidgrad01
    Dec 30, 2013
    10
    This and Dragon Age: Origins will probably go down as the last, great Bioware RPGs. While I liked Mass Effect 2 & 3, this one was the best and the sequels fell short of what I had hoped for.

    I liked everything best in this game: story, dialogue, characters, gameplay, exploration, etc. Even its flaws, like the eternal elevator rides, have given us nostalgic humor to refer back to. And    This and Dragon Age: Origins will probably go down as the last, great Bioware RPGs. While I liked Mass Effect 2 & 3, this one was the best and the sequels fell short of what I had hoped for.

    I liked everything best in this game: story, dialogue, characters, gameplay, exploration, etc. Even its flaws, like the eternal elevator rides, have given us nostalgic humor to refer back to. And Mako driving, while admittedly tedious during subsequent playthroughs, was fun the first time around. I liked how they built it into story missions and exploring new planets with it, never knowing what you’d find, was enjoyable. The vehicle sections in the sequels were okay but felt contrived.

    Some have knocked the combat & leveling system in this game, but I thought it was superior to those found in parts 2 & 3. The graphics were not as nice since it was an earlier game, but combat was the most fun here despite some of the rather, um, feminine-looking armors for Shepherd.

    There isn’t much else I can say about it that hasn’t already been said elsewhere a thousand times. It’s a classic piece of video game history and one that may never be duplicated.    … Expand
  61. boshi
    Feb 2, 2014
    8
    a very good story, with likable characters. however the gameplay feels awkward and a little bit boring, especially the vehicle sections. i like how dynamic the choices there are to help shape your character's personality. constant freezing is also a problem with this game, as well as glitches like when i go through the floor and have to reload the save, or wait to die.
  62. jseph1234
    Dec 18, 2022
    10
    One of the BEST RPG's of All-Time...PERIOD! I just completed my First Ever playthrough of Mass Effect Trilogy and this was just an INCREDIBLE Experience from Start to Finish!

    Beautiful Characters, poignant and meaningfful scenarios and just some of the best 60 hours I have ever spent playing a video game or anything! 100 / 100
  63. LairdEJM
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    A true masterpiece which sets up a Universe so utterly absorbing that you will be compelled to pledge yourself to the trilogy. The customisation of Shepard and his/her character and your ability to direct the story yourself gives you the feeling of an alter ego living another life in the future.

    Combat and items are very enjoyable, but the conversation wheel system which has gone on to    A true masterpiece which sets up a Universe so utterly absorbing that you will be compelled to pledge yourself to the trilogy. The customisation of Shepard and his/her character and your ability to direct the story yourself gives you the feeling of an alter ego living another life in the future.

    Combat and items are very enjoyable, but the conversation wheel system which has gone on to feature in many other games is a true stroke of genius.

    Playing this game makes you genuinely care about the characters and the plot to such an extent that addiction is almost inevitable.

    Is this my favorite game ever? Certainly a contender. PLAY IT!    … Expand
  64. Lucif3r
    Jun 1, 2020
    9
    Bought this with no expectations and must admit had an great time. And i prefer this over the sequels. Has an unique atmosphere and i do enjoyed driving the MAKO which many complained was one of the weakest parts. Which i disagree.
  65. Munkey
    Feb 16, 2015
    10
    The sci-fi opera masterpiece which is Mass Effect is one of the best games in the history of games. It has it flaws but the whole content of the game is pure brilliance.
    First of the world is so believable because of the effort put in the creation of it and the content of the in game Codex which explains everything to the player. History of each of the race, polotical structure, trade and    The sci-fi opera masterpiece which is Mass Effect is one of the best games in the history of games. It has it flaws but the whole content of the game is pure brilliance.
    First of the world is so believable because of the effort put in the creation of it and the content of the in game Codex which explains everything to the player. History of each of the race, polotical structure, trade and military system and so on. The amount of detail put in the Codex and world building is huge. Everything feels so in place and real.
    Then are the NPC's. Written and played so well you can relate to them. My personal best are Garus and Wrex. The banter between does two is so funy to listen. Each NPC has its own story and purpose in the world. Each NPC in your team has a specific role to fit.
    The world to explore is very big. Yes it gets sometimes repetetive but the freedom to explore and some unique planet mission makes up for it. You can gather resources for cash and xp. Each planet has it description and some facts about it.
    The most important thing still to cover is the dialogue. Lots of options and everything is so perfectly voiced. Jokes, romance, threats and banter. It feels so natural. You can solve some of the quests just by dialogue.
    The only thing what isn't up to pair is the clunky combat. But it's a console port what do you expect.
    Played the game five times start to finish. Just love it. Ten out of ten!    … Expand
  66. Gingerbread_Man
    Nov 20, 2013
    9
    One of my favorite story-laden games of all time. I never become engrossed in RPGs due to the combat, and ME's combat certainly wasn't a strong point (slightly clunky). However, it didn't get in the way enough to annoy me- which is usually my criterion for judging it. The RPG character/item customization was raw but gave plenty of options (if a bit clumsy to navigate). The charactersOne of my favorite story-laden games of all time. I never become engrossed in RPGs due to the combat, and ME's combat certainly wasn't a strong point (slightly clunky). However, it didn't get in the way enough to annoy me- which is usually my criterion for judging it. The RPG character/item customization was raw but gave plenty of options (if a bit clumsy to navigate). The characters felt real and engaging- banter ranged from serious to humorous. The plot was fantastic- without giving too much away, I bought into the world. I bought into the history of civilizations previous, and the dire situation of the future. Brought together by a great combination of writing and voice acting. Choices felt like they mattered.

    Near perfect execution. Only a bit off for the combat/vehicle stuff which felt a little clunky.    … Expand
  67. Genezi
    Jun 10, 2017
    9
    Great game. i have spent a lot of time on this title. It has a great story with memorable characters. Good gameplay with lots of possibilities during missions and best cut scenes with good dialogs.
  68. Circadia
    Feb 14, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game blew my mind when I first played it. It was the first game to truly make me believe that video games could be used to tell a compelling narrative with characters that provoked an emotional attachment. In essence, Mass Effect, and the work done by BioWare was revolutionary in demonstrating how video games could be used to create an interactive story. In having to make a choice between one character's life or another about half-way through the adventure, I found myself genuinely sorrowful at the death of a character, just as I would be in film, television or literature. Very well done, BioWare.

    Only point I would make as a critic of the game was that it was almost over-scored. The soundtrack for the game is absolutely brilliant. But nearly every environment has a song that is constantly playing in the background. At points, I found this actually distracting from the storyline.    … Expand
  69. Ninja_Se7eN
    Jan 25, 2016
    9
    Disclaimer:
    I've never played a Mass Effect game before. I've played other BioWare titles before such as Knights of The Old Republic and Dragon Age: Inquisition and I enjoy a good RPG.
    I've purchased the trilogy on Origin. Intro: Mass Effect is a Sci-Fi RPG and it has most of the clichés you'd expect: laser guns, space ships, aliens. The game throws you into a universe where mankind    Disclaimer:
    I've never played a Mass Effect game before. I've played other BioWare titles before such as Knights of The Old Republic and Dragon Age: Inquisition and I enjoy a good RPG.
    I've purchased the trilogy on Origin.

    Intro:
    Mass Effect is a Sci-Fi RPG and it has most of the clichés you'd expect: laser guns, space ships, aliens.
    The game throws you into a universe where mankind is one of the most recent species to have achieved space travel.
    This means that there are a whole bunch of alien species who've been exploring the universe a lot longer than humans and also means there's a whole intergalactic government established that you must cope with.
    As commander Shepard you're tasked with proving mankind's worth to these aliens and save the entire universe while you're at it.

    What I liked:
    - The combat system: the combat system was a bit weird for me and not at all what I was expecting from an RPG. It's a third person Borderlands with skills/powers you can activate. The combat is fast paced but it falls short when comparing to actual third person shooters (e.g. Uncharted). Still, for an RPG it was very enjoyable.
    - The story: it's nothing you haven't seen before but it's well made and keeps you motivated to finish game. There are some intergalactic politics in the mix and some choices to make. Most of the choices are trivial but there was at least one of them that stopped me right on my tracks and I had to seriously think about it. Overall it has a highly enjoyable plot and got me hyped to play the second game.
    - Facial expressions: it's been nearly 8 years since this game launched and the facial expressions in this game still managed to impress me! Seriously, at a certain point in the game my romantic interested gave one of the sexiest looks I've ever seen in a videogame while telling me we could talk somewhere more private.

    What I didn't like:
    - Map repetition: There are very few enemy bunker/bases and you'll see repeated maps a lot outside the main quest.
    - Few quests in the main quest: It took me 39h to finish Mass Effect and while I enjoyed the story, I got the feeling there could've been more quests in the main story.
    - Conversation expression reset: Occasionally the character's facial expression would completely reset between each line they said. It was weird and broke immersion a bit.
    - Bugs and glitches: Enemies getting trapped in geometry, conversations about how we (Shepard's team) were nearly at the end of the main quest right after the first main mission after getting a ship, Shepard moving around while I was using the directional keys to hack something.

    Conclusion:
    Mass Effect is a good RPG and if you enjoy the Sci-Fi RPG genre you should definitely pick it up. Just bear in mind that it's not perfect and could really use more polishing.    … Expand
  70. HPSPhoenix
    Jun 30, 2014
    9
    Nothing at ALL short of a masterpiece. Besides the boring beginning and unbalanced classes, the game imposes on you tough decisions. You will find out a lot about yourself playing this game. I'm not going to spoil any of the choices you have to make, but they are horribly emotional. I almost cried at some of them.
    Play it. Play it. Play it. Play it!
  71. KaienShiba
    Aug 3, 2015
    8
    Would have given it a 10 except, there are a few flaws. 1) Doesn't matter which setting you have it on the scales still the same. 2) The programmers did love their mountains as a playtime extender, so instead of adding material to the game instead put mountains so you have to search for the best route. 3) Added senseless romance, which Bioware has been known to do. 4) Add exaggeratedWould have given it a 10 except, there are a few flaws. 1) Doesn't matter which setting you have it on the scales still the same. 2) The programmers did love their mountains as a playtime extender, so instead of adding material to the game instead put mountains so you have to search for the best route. 3) Added senseless romance, which Bioware has been known to do. 4) Add exaggerated amounts of xp just to get us to feel good, level 20 was more appropriate on 1st run through. 4) Maybe, never did answer the question about the Reapers who are they or why do they feel compelled to destroy galactic civilization.… Expand
  72. RyuuGP
    Jun 14, 2014
    9
    i play this game this game in 2014, and it's still a great game. i have played the 2nd and 3rd installment (not finished), and i have a feeling that the 1st one is the best. i didn't finish the 2nd and 3rd because they have.. get rid of what make mass effect 1 a great game, a lot of them in fact.. and that make the two games not enjoyable, i'm really really disappointed.

    the 1st mass    i play this game this game in 2014, and it's still a great game. i have played the 2nd and 3rd installment (not finished), and i have a feeling that the 1st one is the best. i didn't finish the 2nd and 3rd because they have.. get rid of what make mass effect 1 a great game, a lot of them in fact.. and that make the two games not enjoyable, i'm really really disappointed.

    the 1st mass effect game is really damn good, it can even be called a masterpiece.. the choice you can make as a character, the exploration, the story, they are very good, they are what you want from an RPG. even with those greatness, i give it 9 because it has.. many problems: it has many bugs (so be prepared by saving the game as soon as possible! and i advice you to have more than 1 save data); and one level design is used many times; planets designs need more details; your item list needs some kind of sort button; and probably more, but you will be satisfied if you can endure it until the end of the game.    … Expand
  73. smeeeee
    Jul 30, 2014
    9
    Summary: Mass Effect is quite interesting and very, very fun for those who love this kind of game. This game has numerous and interesting details, like side missions, squads that you get to command, an opportunity to explore the galaxy, and even getting to romance one of your people. That, coming from me, is very, very impressive for a 2008 game.

    How I determined the score: Graphics    Summary: Mass Effect is quite interesting and very, very fun for those who love this kind of game. This game has numerous and interesting details, like side missions, squads that you get to command, an opportunity to explore the galaxy, and even getting to romance one of your people. That, coming from me, is very, very impressive for a 2008 game.

    How I determined the score:

    Graphics = 2 points - I don't use an xbox or some other fancy game machine for playing these games, so I used a PC, which, by the way, is compatible with a game controller. Even with a not-that-great xbox or computer (like mine), the graphics are still very, very good, and they don't cause you too much trouble, either.

    Action/battle scenes: 1 1/2 points - Regular combat is very intense and challenging, the best I've seen out of a 2008 game. Your henchmen make it even better. A relatively new addition to hostile encounters is the use of biotic abilities, or simply awesome additional powers that can ruin your opponent's day. However, one thing I found was a pain in the neck is the tank used on some missions. I found it very hard to control, and kind of annoying- it is very hard to steer, and you often crash due to that- I mean, crash into a wall or something. It is still kind of fun in that tank, but its frustrating controls brought the score down a bit.

    Controls= 1 1/2 points- It is relatively easy to move around, take cover, fire, switch weapons, dash, use biotic abilities, and tell your squad mates what to do without fretting. However, as I said earlier, the tank is an exception to all of this, and brings the score down a bit.

    Dialogue/cut scenes= 2 points- One thing this game has that others don't necessarily have is that you get to choose what you want to say, and that effects what happens- it could start a fight, make someone love you, prevent someone or something from taking violent action, make someone be not-so-fond of you, or even get yourself a discount.

    Character development (it's one of these games)= 2 points- This isn't just skill points and unlocking abilities. Another thing this game has that many others don't is the option of being a paragon or a renegade- aka good cop or bad cop, in a way. What you do gives you paragon or renegade points, and develops what people think of you.

    (the way this works is each factor can be given a max of 2 points, and in the end, they are all added up to make the score what it is.)    … Expand
  74. Tomle1202
    Jan 22, 2016
    8
    Mass Effect is not large, yet people may be surprised to explore the depth it brings to the galaxy while being able to easily set a new standard to role-playing games.
  75. whitepawn
    Jul 1, 2014
    8
    A bit outdated but surprisingly good. I didn't like ME2 very much, but steam bundles are steam bundles so I tried this one next to see what the hype was all about. I get it now. Story & dialogue, though cheesy at times, is fun if you're into Class B horror and scifi...most of the tropes are represented here. The romance is more than a bit lame, but whatever, that's supposed to be aA bit outdated but surprisingly good. I didn't like ME2 very much, but steam bundles are steam bundles so I tried this one next to see what the hype was all about. I get it now. Story & dialogue, though cheesy at times, is fun if you're into Class B horror and scifi...most of the tropes are represented here. The romance is more than a bit lame, but whatever, that's supposed to be a literal LOL anyway. Conversation wheel is just getting warmed up, but it's a good start. Funny that the first DA didn't have a fully voiced protag when this game came first for Bioware, but I digress. Much thought went into this game.

    Port to ME2 will give you a bank account, Paragon/Renegade benefits, and your upgraded face kept close to the original (if you want to keep it).

    Leveling system is interesting in that it's on a logarithmic scale not just by exp earn requirements but the benefits received...you get 1/3 what you did at say L10 when you're in your 40s. You never really stop leveling that I could see (hit L49), but you definitely slow down. Even so, hard level caps are horribly annoying, and their methods make for a non-OP enjoyable approach.

    The upgrade system was hell on inventory but much more enjoyable than the crap in ME2.

    They offer a bypass to the minigame crap which they do not do in ME2.

    Biotics battle in ME1 is much more fun than in ME2

    Healing system is much better in ME1, too simplified in ME2

    I feel like with the polish and graphics upgrades of ME2, ME1 is still the superior game. Maybe it's a Bioware trend to make a solid first game and then to streamline battle but not put any effort into the rest of the game for the sequel, just look at Dragon Age Origins vs Dragon Age II, same diff with Mass Effect I think.

    CONS:

    -older graphics...but that's expected

    -cheese on the dialogue (which can be a PRO, depending)

    -"sticky" combat with the wall lean thing...such that the AI for your companions gets them "stuck" leaning on a wall for cover...and they won't leave, unto death

    -the untippable MAKO which should be renamed The KAT because it always lands rightside up, even after doing a Thelma & Louise off a mountain on some moon. Initially it's neat...rugged untouched terrain does not make for roads and they simply turn you loose with an untippable form of transport, but it gets old to the point of groaning when you see mountainous terrain and breathing a sigh of relief when you see a frigid, flat world

    -I favor the sniper rifles and this sniper rifle was ridiculous, fully upgraded, after 1/3 upgraded I never had to take it off...

    -no ammo, the weapons come with infinite ammo

    -The death screen. I get it, whoever designed it probably played an original FPS ( like DOOM) and wanted to rabbit foot that bit into this game, but it's annoying and forces you to sit through the entire early 90s gaming flashback instead of just getting to the load screen already.    … Expand
  76. ErenJaeger
    Jul 17, 2014
    9
    With meticulously crafted detail in a highly immersive universe, Mass Effect is perhaps one of the best experiences one could have in a sci-fi RPG. Despite its rather slow start and a few repetitive missions, it delivers, and it delivers well.
  77. rscl
    Jan 1, 2015
    8
    Though crippled by a flawed combat system and ridiculous follower AI, this game delivers beautiful storytelling and interesting characters and conversation.
    I would definitively recommend this game, but with the mindset that you're doing it for the story. Combat can be enjoyed in ME2/ME3. As a RPG, this is a must play.
  78. jelikey
    Sep 8, 2015
    8
    this game is great shooter and RPG mixed game. i like the view of world of this game. Although i want to give the score 9, because there is no controller support -1 score.
  79. wtfskilz
    Dec 30, 2014
    8
    I haven't read all the reviews, but one did rate this game at 0 and mentioned a save issue, I would like to address this. ME1 actually does let you save plenty, actually every moment you’re not in combat or riding an elevator or talking to someone in dialogue, I normally just save every 10 - 15 minutes, just in case I screw up a hack or more rare cases get killed.
    1. Cons: This game    I haven't read all the reviews, but one did rate this game at 0 and mentioned a save issue, I would like to address this. ME1 actually does let you save plenty, actually every moment you’re not in combat or riding an elevator or talking to someone in dialogue, I normally just save every 10 - 15 minutes, just in case I screw up a hack or more rare cases get killed.
    1. Cons: This game is buggy as hell, there are too frequently upgraded items, and you will be spending more time upgrading organizing, selling and buying than anything else.
    2. Another annoying issue is the first time you play this game you can only adjust difficulty to veteran this was extremely annoying, more than half of the game was very unchallenging, if it wasn't for the hacking I would only of used AutoSaves. Last 4 hours of the game I did exactly that as a way to try to add more challenge. Which actually helped some.
    3. Game doesn’t come with native surround sound I had to enable hardware and 3D mode to get independent channel 5.1 surround sound, audio and video issues regardless of any setting, mostly on cut scenes.

    1. PROS: Even given the cons this game had a unique epic story that doesn't end with Mass Effect.
    2. I actually liked the upgrade tree a lot in this game I thought it was cool you could spend more points for better dialogue which helped save people, build Paragon or Renegade and helped your bartering skills tremendously
    3. I enjoyed the combat controls and squad strategy controls I felt like most of the time the AI players and I were fluid with our battle plans as long as they didn’t bug up that is.
    This is an unfinished buggy masterpiece if you aren’t a person to get frustrated from buggy AI or not afraid to have to reload the game because you somehow got teleported to an unreachable balcony and enjoy good story line and strategy games this is almost perfect for you.    … Expand
  80. VFerreira93
    Mar 21, 2015
    10
    I was... surprised, I admit it.
    I never thought that I would love this videogame as much as I do! I seriously have to thank my friends for their recommendation :)
    The story was brilliant and very well developed, it kept me at the edge of my seat until I finished it. The graphics were stunningly beautiful and the pacing of it managed to keep me interested in everything that was shown    I was... surprised, I admit it.
    I never thought that I would love this videogame as much as I do! I seriously have to thank my friends for their recommendation :)
    The story was brilliant and very well developed, it kept me at the edge of my seat until I finished it. The graphics were stunningly beautiful and the pacing of it managed to keep me interested in everything that was shown here. I didn't manage to complete a lot of side-quests but the ones I did were entertaining and quite funny, actually.
    The characters in general had a certain level of complexity that captivated me along the way and sometimes I would choose other options to just see them talk about things that happened in their past.
    But the most interesting aspect of Mass Effect was the capacity of making your own choices and deciding which dialogues your main character would say and how their ending was going to be. That, in my opinion, is what makes ME such a unique game in this industry.
    And because of all this, I have to give it 10/10. Such an amazing videogame and I can't wait to play ME2! :D    … Expand
  81. scorp332211
    May 17, 2021
    9
    This is the first time I’ve played the full game of ME1 in 2021- but I’ve played #2 & 3 many times in the past. I liked #1 quite a bit, although it’s a bit short. There’s only a few main missions. It definitely adds to the Mass Effect story. There’s a bit too much time in the Mako, and too many elevators. The gameplay is much improved to be close to #2 & 3. The graphics are better- exceptThis is the first time I’ve played the full game of ME1 in 2021- but I’ve played #2 & 3 many times in the past. I liked #1 quite a bit, although it’s a bit short. There’s only a few main missions. It definitely adds to the Mass Effect story. There’s a bit too much time in the Mako, and too many elevators. The gameplay is much improved to be close to #2 & 3. The graphics are better- except human’s faces in cutscenes. Overall I liked it pretty well- it was better than I thought. I will play it again the next time I want to experience the Mass Effect world.… Expand
  82. inkblowout
    Jun 24, 2015
    8
    The PC port of this game is a disaster compared with the other 2 games. (due to different studios working on the game at the time) And the PC port will never be fixed. I don't have many problems with the game. I think everything fits well into the entry. Like character development, exploration, and the story are prefect. The story is original as it gets, The story is pretty much a wildThe PC port of this game is a disaster compared with the other 2 games. (due to different studios working on the game at the time) And the PC port will never be fixed. I don't have many problems with the game. I think everything fits well into the entry. Like character development, exploration, and the story are prefect. The story is original as it gets, The story is pretty much a wild goose chase across the galaxy to stop a rogue spectre and to stop an attempted event to release the reapers. The squad members of the game are the best in the series. (but I think that's just my nostalgia talking.) But the character development is interesting, you get to learn about everyone's lifestyle, family, and their personal events and they usually tell a good moral about their action. (like garrus' past with c-sec and his willingness to just kill the enemy instead of showing mercy. and wrex's family life where he explains that his father tried to kill him.) And just in general, you can explore the milky way for rogue planets, to get side missions, to gain the extra levels and etc. Some planets aren't capable of landing, but it provides a nice description to show how much effort was put into this game.

    But my real problems are the technical problems in the pc port. I mean it's straight out bad, the excessive lagging in the presidium in the citadel destroys your framerate for some reason. combat heavy fights also drop the framerate and finally sometimes the framerates drops for some reason and I had solid hardware before upgrading to the r9 280x. (r7 250x and that was enough to play the game.) and not only that.. my computer refuses to play in full screen because it gives you a black screen of death. so fullscreen isn't an option. I swear I spent like 4 hours on the configuration window and on various tweaking websites before playing starting the game for the first time because the game couldn't show up on my screen for some reason. (and I wasn't the only problem with this.) Also There is the dreaded black textures bug which appears on the first building of peak 15 and the entire mission of Ilos. It's a unfixable bug which seems to target AMD graphic cards and just make a big mess of black pixelated textures. There is a fix of the bug but it's temporary and it screws up the lighting. So the only way to go through the mission is to play the fix with bad lighting and or just suffer through the horrible graphics. Bioware will never come with a fix for this bug as they have focused their shifts into newer projects.

    So all in all, I recommend this game. Because it does play an enormous part in the mass effect series but it's a nice experience. It is the short game in the series. (I've stretched 13 hours on my first play through with minimal exploration and the second play through with about 19-20 hours of the game play. Completing most side missions and the "Bring down the sky" dlc. ) Mass effect 1 is the most rpg out of all of them and the game provides you with an unforgettable experience.    … Expand
  83. Paciorr
    Jan 9, 2021
    9
    It's a bit clunky but still fantastic start of a beautiful journey that is the whole trilogy of Mass Effect games :)
  84. Nuker
    Jun 26, 2015
    8
    - Good: Story, Characters, Setting
    - Mixed: Atmosphere/Mood, Exploration, Writing, Gameplay
    - Bad: ---

    Very solid and enjoyable game, you should definitely play.
  85. Pendra
    Jan 16, 2017
    8
    Mass Effect is a solid dungeon crawler with a good story but not without fault. The biggest issue is the uneven quests and side-quests. You get like a million in the first 6 or so hours and then 3-4 more later in the game. It is hard to feel involved when you just happen upon the starting point of a long forgotten side-quest.
    The search quests are totally uninspired. There is no great    Mass Effect is a solid dungeon crawler with a good story but not without fault. The biggest issue is the uneven quests and side-quests. You get like a million in the first 6 or so hours and then 3-4 more later in the game. It is hard to feel involved when you just happen upon the starting point of a long forgotten side-quest.
    The search quests are totally uninspired. There is no great revelation or debriefing or anything. You get money and XP and be happy.
    The driving is crazy. I wish for a little less 80% hills and more rolling terrain.Those hills make the rather mundane task of driving in circles to find hidden stuff a time sink.
    The environments are nice, thou I wish for a little variance on the mine and ship interior design. All the side-quest mines and ships are the same.
    The story is pretty good and the twists and turns are nice. I found the Indoctrination to be a very cheap way to depict character motives. The writer can turn any character anytime without a good background explanation. He was indoctrinated, live with it. Also, some conversations are way beyond the suspension of disbelief. Like when a total drug addicts walks up to you and ask to get some stuff for him, in 3 conversation choices, you make him realize the seriousness of the issue so he goes to rehab. What? Or in the hijack situation, you take down the 90% of the terrorist team. You encounter the leader, pointing a pistol to the head of the hostage, who tortured them for years. The leader is poised with revenge and I suppose, infuriated by the death of his team, yet in 4 conversation choices, he will surrender and let his former tormentor walk free.
    The loot frequency is out of the world. I collected about 50 items per mission. I finished the game with maxed out money and gel. In this case, the less would be more.
    The characters are well developed and they mostly feel real and can crack some good one liners once in a while.
    All in all, it is a good game, worth playing, However, despite what others say, the replay value is low.Yes, you can play as good gut or as a massive a**. It will generate a somewhat different experience and plot line. However, why you would want to follow the adventures of a protagonist, who you can't stand because he is too good or too bad for you? Forcing yourself to play through as Paragon and Renegade will feel exactly that. Forced.    … Expand
  86. MenaBanana
    Jun 30, 2015
    10
    The best installment in the entire series. The game that started it all. The questions presented in this game will keep you hooked for the whole trilogy, and you will come to miss many of the RPG elements that 2 and 3 downsized.
  87. kyle20ellis
    Mar 10, 2022
    10
    Mass Effect has become one of the colossal cult-classics of video gaming; and rightfully so. The game has great level design, endless narrative possibilities thanks to its multi-choice format storytelling that made it become iconic in the first place. BioWare knew what the hell it was doing when it decided to use the experience they got from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic andMass Effect has become one of the colossal cult-classics of video gaming; and rightfully so. The game has great level design, endless narrative possibilities thanks to its multi-choice format storytelling that made it become iconic in the first place. BioWare knew what the hell it was doing when it decided to use the experience they got from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and decided to apply all that to an original IP for the company. And the result: a classic that forever changed gaming in 2007.

    Mass Effect can debate-ably be considered Canada's biggest important of the 21st Century; at least in multimedia storytelling which the franchise has since gone on to 'effect'.

    Commander Shepard, The Reapers, Garrus, Tali, Urdnot Wrex have all gotten well-deserved love and respect from gamers everywhere. Mass Effect is a special franchise that feels like it's always been there in the background.    … Expand
  88. Kubka4
    Aug 19, 2015
    10
    This game has a great thrilling story. Also characters are brilliant and they have deep personality. I loved to play along them. Just perfect game, which you must play.
  89. MrDaxter25
    Nov 7, 2015
    9
    Mit Mass Effect hat der kanadische Spieleentwickler BioWare ein weiteres Mal ein außergewöhnliches Rollenspiel herausgebracht, dass vor allen Dingen durch seine enorme Detailliertheit heraussticht.
    In seiner Komplexität übertrifft es meiner Meinung nach selbst Skyrim. Über die Story will ich hier nichts weiter verraten, es sei nur gesagt, dass sie extrem spannend, dicht und vor allem    Mit Mass Effect hat der kanadische Spieleentwickler BioWare ein weiteres Mal ein außergewöhnliches Rollenspiel herausgebracht, dass vor allen Dingen durch seine enorme Detailliertheit heraussticht.
    In seiner Komplexität übertrifft es meiner Meinung nach selbst Skyrim. Über die Story will ich hier nichts weiter verraten, es sei nur gesagt, dass sie extrem spannend, dicht und vor allem ausgefeilt (d.h. frei von Logikfehlern und tiefgehend) ist. Das einzige was hier zu beanstanden ist, ist das das Spiel insgesamt nur etwa 30 Stunden lang ist, was aber bei der Story und dem Preis durchaus angemessen ist.
    Die Grafik des Spieles war für 2007 sicherlich überragend, für die heutige Zeit allerdings eher zweitklassig.

    Insgesamt ist das Spiel in jedem Fall zu empfehlen und ich freue mich bereits auf den zweiten Teil.    … Expand
  90. RainbowDenix
    Jun 6, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Звёздные Войны от мира игр:часть первая.

    Сюжет 9,5/10 вкратце,рассказывает нам историю из далёкого будущего,когда человечество вырвалось в космос и встретила инопланетную жизнь(а людей кстати приняли поначалу не так уж дружелюбно,иными словами,открыли огонь).Но это только предыстория,а сам сюжет рассказывает о том как предатель СПЕКТР вместе с неизвестным кораблём напал на колонию людей чтобы найти древний протеанский маяк(пройдите лучше сами,в разы интереснее чем описываю я),дальше не буду писать,ведь слишком много спойлеров,а ещё мне лень.Графика для 2007 неплохо 7,4/10(хотя одежда через чур мыльная),диалоги 9,5/10,каждый интересно слушать и от них буквально невозможно оторваться.Система диалогов,тут всё не очень гладко ведь порой Шепард говорит,не совсем то что описано в колесе диалога(но это бывает редко) 8,5/10.Сайд квесты,есть интересные и есть обычная рутина типа-"Пойди найди все диски значки и ещё чё нить найди",8,5/10.Геймплей и боёвка наверно самое слабое звено,так как ME это шутер и шутер очень слабый,хотя если не играть за штурмовика,а выбрать биотика становится лучше 7,7/10.Звуки,музыка,атмосфера,решил кинуть всё в один пункт,с этим у игры в порядке на все 10/10.Сказал вроде всё,хотя стоп,нет,добавлю ещё то что все 3 ME "работают" лишь вместе и становится шедеврами,а по отдельности это просто отличные игры.Теперь точно всё итог:9/10    … Expand
  91. Nojbee
    Nov 29, 2015
    8
    Mass Effect's first episode is an excellent starting for a perfect trilogy. The combat system is bad, but the story and the characters are great so doesn't matter. When you start to play Mass effect, you can't stop playing. You see every corner you talk every NPC and bang the end of the weekend.
  92. ankittoms
    Jan 2, 2016
    8
    Amazing sci-fi story and reasonably good graphics especially with mods. Like playing Star Trek with your own ship.

    Graphics: 8
    Game play : 8
    World Design: 8
    Content: 9
    Immersion: 10
    Story: 10
  93. delegate
    Dec 9, 2015
    8
    Since Xbox One released backwards compatibility, I thought it would be a good time to play the first Mass Effect. I had never played the series before and after playing, I was mad at myself for not getting this on 360 sooner.

    Pros: Great, well-written, choice based dialogue. Very unique setting and environments. Good graphics (I thought they were pretty good, and I'm playing in 2015).    Since Xbox One released backwards compatibility, I thought it would be a good time to play the first Mass Effect. I had never played the series before and after playing, I was mad at myself for not getting this on 360 sooner.

    Pros: Great, well-written, choice based dialogue. Very unique setting and environments. Good graphics (I thought they were pretty good, and I'm playing in 2015). It is overall a very unique, role playing experience. The characters feel realistic and they all have a story to tell. You can make enemies, choose who to romance, or who to ally with, it is all up to the player. If you like Dragon Age, Fallout, or Oblivion, i'm almost positive you will like the Mass Effect series.

    Cons: The combat can be confusing and clunky at times. Firing your guns doesn't feel all that smooth and sometimes does not connect. Combat isn't the main focus here, but it could defiantly be improved. Tip: Save every time you get out of combat, because the auto save is not reliable at all. There is also a few bugs I came across that caused me to have to reload back a few minutes, but nothing game breaking.

    Like I said, I was mad at myself for not picking this up sooner with my 360. Now I will have to wait for ME 2 and 3 to become backwards compatible on the One. From what I hear, ME 2 and 3 only improve on ME 1. Since ME 1 is so great, I am excited to play the next two.    … Expand
  94. Mellow_Online2
    Mar 9, 2016
    9
    I never really hopped onto the train of Mass Effect fans when the Mass Effect series first got popular because I couldn't really see why it had so much popularity. I feel bad for doubting this game.

    Gameplay in Mass Effect is typical to any sort of RPG by Bioware. The gameplay is a blend of dialogue and talking to people, third person shooting and exploring tons of different planets in    I never really hopped onto the train of Mass Effect fans when the Mass Effect series first got popular because I couldn't really see why it had so much popularity. I feel bad for doubting this game.

    Gameplay in Mass Effect is typical to any sort of RPG by Bioware. The gameplay is a blend of dialogue and talking to people, third person shooting and exploring tons of different planets in tons of different galaxies. I was amazed by the shear size of Mass Effect, 8 different galaxies with around 5 or more in each and each planet feels unique and I don't think it is just a copy and paste of different planet. The character customization of Commander Sheppard, even though it's limited in some areas, I find is well done where you can customize your appearance to make him be as ugly as you want and you can even customize his backstory. What makes the character customization of backstories even better is that characters will have different dialogue responses depending on your choice of backstory. Most of the gameplay feature are good but I do have a couple of complaints. The third person shooting mechanics aren't that well done. They aren't terrible, they aren't on the scale of being unplayable but it feels like the third person shooter segments were just added in as an after thought and it took me a lot of getting used to. The second and final problem I have with the gameplay is the karma system. One thing that I'm not too fond of in RPGs (despite RPGs being my favourite genre of video games) is the karma systems some off these games have) I like to build my character, now knowing if the choice that I just made was good or bad, I like to make a bad choice if I'm in a bad or annoying situation without an affect on my karma. Because in these games I find it way too easy to be the good guy and way too easy to be the bad guy. I just like to be the character that I build my character up to be. Apart from those 2 complaints there aren't really any other complaints I have about the gameplay.

    The story in Mass Effect is that you play as the main character Commander Sheppard, who you can customize his appearance and even his backstory. He joins up with a crew lead by Captain Anderson. His crew is given a task to procure a military beacon on the planet Eden Prime. However, after a disaster, involving one of the crew mates dying by the hands of a rogue spectre, who are the protectors of the council, the crew ends u failing. After providing evidence to the council that this spectre has gone rogue,it is up to Commander Sheppard and his crew to bring the rogue spectre down to justice. This general idea of a plot has been done a lot but Mass Effect throws enough twists and turns in the story to make it seem unique.

    Graphics in Mass Effect are OK but could be better. While the game looks, in general, good, there are several graphical bugs and awful looking textures and slow loading textures which definitely hold the game back. Sound is really good. There are creative sfx for sci-fi related objects that I wouldn't have even thought of which fit in excellently.

    This game will have you consumed for hours, I'm still busy exploring the galaxy and discovering all sorts of new stuff. There is also replay value in this. You will want to play the game again and try different dialogue choices, try and see if you can solve a problem either calmly, declaring war or see if you can find another creative way to solve a situation.

    Mass Effect is a gem of a game that I recommend to literally anybody that enjoys either SC-FIs or RPGs and if u fit in this category, this game is a must have.    … Expand
  95. themars2011
    Jun 23, 2020
    10
    Mass Effect is one of the best games that have ever been created. I played through this game possibly hundreds of times (I stopped counting) and I still enjoy every minute of it. If you are a sci-fi fan and can bear some kinda outdated (-ish) gameplay, definitely play this game.
  96. INSI
    Mar 30, 2016
    9
    After 8 years Mass Effect proved itself as a all time RPG classic with its great narrative and story, which would start the arguably best gaming trilogy ever made...
  97. AbeMC
    Jul 10, 2017
    8
    If you ever dreamed of traveling a galaxy, exploring strange new worlds and interacting with other sentient species – combined with a choice-laden narrative – then Mass Effect is a dream come true in many ways. While older now and not without its faults, it has aged well and remains one of the best and greatest space RPG’s ever made. Recommended at full price.
    Total size on my hard drive:    If you ever dreamed of traveling a galaxy, exploring strange new worlds and interacting with other sentient species – combined with a choice-laden narrative – then Mass Effect is a dream come true in many ways. While older now and not without its faults, it has aged well and remains one of the best and greatest space RPG’s ever made. Recommended at full price.
    Total size on my hard drive: 10.1 GB

    + Great story. As the commander of a stealth frigate, stop a threat to the galaxy that only a few believe actually exists. Travel the galaxy in search of proof, encounter strange species and abandoned settlements, and discover the secrets of a lost civilization.
    + Great characters. From the stern Turian, Garrus, to the sympathetic blue Asari, Liara, to your ship’s crew (doctor, pilot, navigator), these are some of the best characters to come from BioWare.
    + A fully realized and crafted lore. There is a ton of backstory behind every structure and every species.
    + Many planets to explore. Explore a star system in the hopes of finding a planet to land upon and scour for resources, artifacts, pirates, slave traders, or anomalies.
    + Choices that matter. You’ll have to make some life-or-death choices (some of which can actually result in death of others). It is even possible to avoid one particular boss-fight via the correct conversation choices.
    + Great soundtrack. A synth-heavy approach melded with orchestral bits.
    + Graphics + facial animations are still superb. Yes, it’s an older game now. It’s a bit low-res and faces are often stiff. Mass Effect was ground-breaking at the time it launched (2007), and now, ten years later, it’s still better than many new games. (There is an HD texture mod which brings the textures up to date.)

    +/- Sparsely populated levels. A sign of when it was made, so not a negative, but sometimes the levels feel a bit empty.
    +/- Like Dragon Age (another BioWare franchise), there is a lot of conversation – easily a third of the game. I like it, and it’s easy to skip through if you don’t, but it is everywhere.
    +/- Combat tries to combine tactical and shooter elements (complete with tactical pause menu), and while successful, isn’t always fun. All guns have unlimited ammo. Enemy snipers can be one-shot game-overs.
    +/- The DLC is not included in the Steam download, but is available from EA for free.
    +/- There is a lot of hate for the Mako rover, which is used to drive around and explore planets. It’s fine, it works. It can get a little freaky with gravity, though…
    +/- Capped at 62fps. This can be unlocked in a config file.
    +/- The highest resolution I’ve played at (without altering config files) is 1440p. The Unreal 3 engine can handle 4k, but I haven’t tried running Mass Effect at 4k and have no idea if it would work without trouble.

    - If you were hoping for space combat, sorry, there is none. Any space combat occurs in cutscenes.
    - Some cringe-y dialogue. Despite the many AAA aspects of Mass Effect, sometimes the dialogue cheapens it to B-movie levels.
    - After the tutorial level, the game’s pace slows to a crawl as we’re left running around a station, completing RPG-style missions before heading back out into space. It’s an error in tempo that can (and has) caused many people trying Mass Effect for the first time to lose interest.
    - Horrible inventory management. You have a list of stuff that is grouped by level. And… that’s it.
    - Too much loot. Not as much of an issue if the inventory were easy to manage. There is lootable stuff around almost every corner.
    - Too easy to earn money. Half-way through, you’ll have a million credits from selling loot. Not impossible to have 10 times that by the end of the game.
    - Graphical issues on AMD cpus. Yes, cpus, not graphics cards, are the cause of the problem. Affected are any Bulldozer or Athlon chips. Phenoms are fine. Haven’t heard if the problem persists on Ryzen. It wasn’t until recently that I experienced the game with all shadows working correctly (switched to Intel).
    - Startup issues. Usually setting the compatibility mode to Windows XP gets the game to start.

    Issues aside, Mass Effect is still a good RPG, cursed with some odd controls and combat, but blessed with a great story and characters. That decisions made in this game can carry forward to Mass Effect 2 (and 3) via save imports is just the icing on this action-space-drama cake. An easy game to recommend, even now, ten years after its release.    … Expand
  98. FacundoCritics
    Jun 26, 2016
    9
    Excelente historia, gráficos muy buenos para la época, la jugabilidad muy mejorable. El peor vehículo que conduci en cualquier videojuego. Muy buena experiencia y todo lo que sea ciencia ficción es pura crema.
  99. lucaduende
    Jul 5, 2016
    8
    ELEVATOR!!!! AND VEHICLE SECTIONS!!!! THAT MAKE MARIO KART LOOK LIKE A MASTERPIECE. IT ALSO DOESN'T HAVE A WAYPOINT ON THE MAP SO U GON GET LOST. But oustide of that pretty good game and amazing story.
  100. JaapStam
    May 19, 2018
    9
    Enamorado de este juego, entre otras cosas, por el modo de combate. No se hace repetitivo como pasa en la siguiente entrega de esta saga y un argumento y libertad de elección sorprendentes. También hay que decir que el juego tiene muchos bugs.

    In love with this game, among other things, by the combat mode. It does not become repetitive as it happens in the next installment of this saga    Enamorado de este juego, entre otras cosas, por el modo de combate. No se hace repetitivo como pasa en la siguiente entrega de esta saga y un argumento y libertad de elección sorprendentes. También hay que decir que el juego tiene muchos bugs.

    In love with this game, among other things, by the combat mode. It does not become repetitive as it happens in the next installment of this saga and an argument and freedom of choice surprising. We must also say that the game has many bugs.    … 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.
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  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
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