User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3921 Ratings

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  1. Jan 19, 2013
    9
    Just started the series all over again for the third time and having a blast, yes this game is that good, great story great characters great everything, if you didn't try it yet you are missing something
  2. 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.
  3. Aug 7, 2012
    9
    I really liked this game. The story was excellent and I liked the RPG elements of the characters and equipment. I personally thought this was a much better game than Mass Effect 2 or 3 which I found disappointing due to the lack of RPG elements. The environments and space races were detailed, exciting and believable. I would say this is the best space game that I've played since star-wars.I really liked this game. The story was excellent and I liked the RPG elements of the characters and equipment. I personally thought this was a much better game than Mass Effect 2 or 3 which I found disappointing due to the lack of RPG elements. The environments and space races were detailed, exciting and believable. I would say this is the best space game that I've played since star-wars. Considering its like 10 bucks on steam this game is simply a must have. Expand
  4. Feb 24, 2018
    9
    Recommended.

    What an insane game that created one of the best franchises. Lights ahead of its time.
  5. Jul 24, 2012
    9
    Though not without flaws, this game is just great. As one would expect from Bioware, the game puts you into an expansive world full of lore and interesting characters. Honestly, that is the game's strongest point. While not impressive, the 3rd-person shooter gameplay is fun (though far less polished than ME2 and ME3) and there is a big galaxy to explore, full of uncharted pirate bases andThough not without flaws, this game is just great. As one would expect from Bioware, the game puts you into an expansive world full of lore and interesting characters. Honestly, that is the game's strongest point. While not impressive, the 3rd-person shooter gameplay is fun (though far less polished than ME2 and ME3) and there is a big galaxy to explore, full of uncharted pirate bases and treasures guarded by monsters. While the inventory system is somewhat unwieldy and managing gear becomes more of a chore later in the game, it does provide one with plenty of options and opportunity to specialize gear for specific play styles, missions, and enemy types. The game's biggest flaw is its infamous vehicle sections, which are often a huge pain, but this is a small part of the game and one need not spend much time on these sections if they are bothered too much. All in all, this is a great space RPG which is well worth the time and money. If you spend time exploring the galaxy and doing side-quests, you can easily get 80 hours out of this game--not bad for the $10-20 it costs these days. Expand
  6. Aug 4, 2012
    9
    This game is one of the best science fiction games up to date. It's a mix of RPG, Action (not the best though) and dialogue. Starting with the good things about this game. The epic storyline is truly worth going through and hopefully the trailer didn't spoil too much. Your character doesn't say a sentence that you don't choose. Bioware uses it's notoriously perfect dialogue wheel. DuringThis game is one of the best science fiction games up to date. It's a mix of RPG, Action (not the best though) and dialogue. Starting with the good things about this game. The epic storyline is truly worth going through and hopefully the trailer didn't spoil too much. Your character doesn't say a sentence that you don't choose. Bioware uses it's notoriously perfect dialogue wheel. During some very original missions you will be making hard choices that effect the story. The characters are a gold mine for Bioware. The RPG elements are there some may be exaggerated, but still fun. There are a lot of tweaks for weapons and armors. You can fully characterize your Shepard with looks, classes, even his scars and history. Mass Effect is an unpolished diamond and isn't perfect. There are three issues in the game. Auto-Save will rarely happen and it's a discipline to keep quick saving, make sure you holster your weapon and revive your squad mates or you won't be able to quick save. Another issue comes from long exploring and the tank Mako missions those could get really boring, but it's possible drive trough combat as long as the shield holds. Usually players will consider the combat the biggest problem, but remember when this game was made combat didn't get great as this. Your squad mates will be useful especially cause of their abilities. And with the RPG element combat gets interesting. However the AI can sometimes crash, talking about crashing there is a popular overheating bug for weapons at certain locations. If you manage to get trough the combat issues you will enjoy the wast galactic adventure. Expand
  7. Sep 22, 2012
    9
    A marvelous introduction to an epic series. When Mass Effect launched it brought us a visually stunning sci-fi action role-playing game that was unlike any other experience. I really enjoy how the original has more RPG elements than later titles, with more story line choices and customization, and squadmates have an inventory. The weapon/armor choices and upgrades are the best the seriesA marvelous introduction to an epic series. When Mass Effect launched it brought us a visually stunning sci-fi action role-playing game that was unlike any other experience. I really enjoy how the original has more RPG elements than later titles, with more story line choices and customization, and squadmates have an inventory. The weapon/armor choices and upgrades are the best the series has to offer. The only thing that sets the original back from the second and third is the combat. Mass Effect's battles don't feel as smooth, especially aiming and the use of skills. Also, having unlimited ammo actually makes the game feel less realistic. It is although important to mention that the first is the most challenging in my opinion, where I found myself dying even on normal difficulty. Overall if you skipped Mass Effect 1 for any reason or think that it may not be as good as the others, do yourself a favor and play this game because to this day it is amazing. Expand
  8. 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.
  9. Sep 13, 2012
    9
    The non-ammo weapons make a refreshing combat style, removing much of the treasure (ammo) hunting style tedium for other traditional shooters. Although the weapon mods were difficult to comprehend until way past the mid-game, most people completed much of the game before realising they could install upgrades into their kit. Some of the side missions were a bore and the "dungeons"The non-ammo weapons make a refreshing combat style, removing much of the treasure (ammo) hunting style tedium for other traditional shooters. Although the weapon mods were difficult to comprehend until way past the mid-game, most people completed much of the game before realising they could install upgrades into their kit. Some of the side missions were a bore and the "dungeons" repetitive as hell, but the game overall was a pleasure both gameplay wise and narrative wise. Expand
  10. 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.
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  11. 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!
  12. 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
  13. 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).
  14. Dec 24, 2012
    9
    This game has almost everything. Story and gameplay are great and it's immersive. The world is huge and there's a lot to do in it. Exploring does get a little boring an repetitive, but then again you're not forced to do it. It's very visible that the controls and interface are tailored for consoles. Especially the menus aren't always perfect to navigate, but it's good enough and doesn'tThis game has almost everything. Story and gameplay are great and it's immersive. The world is huge and there's a lot to do in it. Exploring does get a little boring an repetitive, but then again you're not forced to do it. It's very visible that the controls and interface are tailored for consoles. Especially the menus aren't always perfect to navigate, but it's good enough and doesn't affect the gameplay too much. Expand
  15. 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
  16. Jaz
    Feb 24, 2013
    9
    A great space RPG with compelling story, believable characters, immersing world and space exploration. Combat was ok as well the controls. But the strong point of this game -and the most important for me-was that you really felt that you were the hero who would save the Galaxy.
  17. Jun 21, 2013
    9
    am not a big fan of galaxy and universe games or shows and when this game came out i wasn't interested at all until i saw that it got really high scores so i decided to give it a try and am glad i made that decision cause this game is just amazing it made me feel like the fate of the whole universe rests in my hand with amazing story and gameplay and great graphics but i didn't give itam not a big fan of galaxy and universe games or shows and when this game came out i wasn't interested at all until i saw that it got really high scores so i decided to give it a try and am glad i made that decision cause this game is just amazing it made me feel like the fate of the whole universe rests in my hand with amazing story and gameplay and great graphics but i didn't give it 10 because of some bugs like i have to save every time the game doesn't save until u finish the mission so if i died in the middle of the mission i had to play it from the beginning and the mako car was sometimes frustrating but other than that it is so amazing and i could easily get over these issues i can't wait to play the rest of the series Expand
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
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  20. 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.
  21. 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
  22. Mar 16, 2018
    9
    Игра тех времен, когда из BioWare еще не поуходили все талантливые сценаристы.
  23. 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.
  24. Oct 1, 2014
    9
    This was a very solid start for a series with a rich lore although cliche'd story. The combat system was thankfully overhauled in the sequels, and while it wasn't terrible, it did feel very 'casual' and the inventory system was a mess. The side missions tend to be bland and drag a bit, but overall it's a great experience and gives you a thrill ride from start to finish. You'll findThis was a very solid start for a series with a rich lore although cliche'd story. The combat system was thankfully overhauled in the sequels, and while it wasn't terrible, it did feel very 'casual' and the inventory system was a mess. The side missions tend to be bland and drag a bit, but overall it's a great experience and gives you a thrill ride from start to finish. You'll find yourself missing some of the diversity present in the first game with the alien races, and giving yourself the option to save or sacrifice major characters makes this a worthwhile experience. The dialogue is well written and the voice work is some of the best in video games. Definitely worth playing if you can find it. Expand
  25. 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.
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  26. Sep 9, 2014
    9
    Mass Effect was, and still is, groundbreaking for its time of release. It truly is an epic science-fiction story which will provide you with many "aha-effects" if you are familiar with the popular science-fiction TV shows and movies.

    Playing this game I am often reminded of Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Starship Troopers, Farscape and even Stargate to a certain
    Mass Effect was, and still is, groundbreaking for its time of release. It truly is an epic science-fiction story which will provide you with many "aha-effects" if you are familiar with the popular science-fiction TV shows and movies.

    Playing this game I am often reminded of Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Starship Troopers, Farscape and even Stargate to a certain extent, because the gateway-like conduit/relays are reminiscent of Stargates, or perhaps the jump gates from Babylon 5. The universe of the game is diverse, it is a story about co-existence, but also problems between humanity and alien races who have tried to establish a status quo on a huge, city-like space station called the Citadel.

    You start out with a character creation screen - and I do recommend you play the female Shepard, because the voice acting is so much better, and it simply is visually more appealing - and craft your own character just the way you like it. From here on out you're making decisions, forging relationships, decide whether you want to use diplomacy or force, and based on your chosen path the methods by which you achieve the mission goals (and the difficulty with which the game unfolds) the outcome might be different. You should also choose wisely who of your squad members you take on a mission, because sometimes having a higher tech ability might be more useful than combat strength. The customization option in terms of armor, weapon loadout and add-ons are also mindboggling. Make sure you keep your squad in good shape!

    I can honestly say that I've never before felt this connection to a virtual group of people in a single player experience, nor has it ever been that hard in a game to make a choice between who lives, who dies, who gets hurt by your choice, and who will become a close friend. The excellent voice acting (Lance Henricksen and Dwight Schultz to name only a couple of famous actors) does much to create immersion. The side quests in this first installment are a little repetitive, granted, but the story arch makes up for it, never mind the epic end-battle which truly happens on a cinematic scale and quality.

    If you like sci-fi, RPGs and action-adventure games that give you a lot of freedom given a linear story line (and take one or the other cliche), this is for you. And given the fact that you can continue using your character throughout the sequels, do start with this first episode of the trilogy. You will feel far more connected and familiar playing with a Shepard having already over 40 hours under their belt when embarking on the next journey.
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  27. 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.
  28. 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.
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  29. 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.
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  30. 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!
  31. Jun 17, 2015
    9
    A great game that introduced the world to a fascinating new science fiction setting, Mass Effect was a triumphant game for Bioware. The shooter mechanics were unfortunately a slight bit rough and would subsequently be improved in both Mass Effect 2 and 3, but there is an indelible charm to the first Mass Effect game and I still have nostalgia for the first time I discovered the wonderfulA great game that introduced the world to a fascinating new science fiction setting, Mass Effect was a triumphant game for Bioware. The shooter mechanics were unfortunately a slight bit rough and would subsequently be improved in both Mass Effect 2 and 3, but there is an indelible charm to the first Mass Effect game and I still have nostalgia for the first time I discovered the wonderful setting and was introduced to some of the great characters like Wrex, Tali, Liara, and Garrus. Expand
  32. Nov 12, 2014
    9
    "Simply one of the best RPG you will ever play"

    Mass Effect is the best role playing game of all time, it easily pleases
    any RPG fan out there, the game does get repetitive for any non RPG fan
    but in the end, the final payoff is epic in scale!
    ----------------------------------------------
    GAMESCORE: 9.3 "SUPERB"
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  33. 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.
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  34. May 20, 2014
    9
    Cons:
    Pacing can be slow at times, programming is not as good as it is on the sequels, EA published.

    Pros:
    Great characters, great story, nice decision system, fun gameplay, immersive atmosphere, great sci-fi universe, real RPG feel, politically charged & nice classes to choose from.
  35. 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.)
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  36. 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.
  37. 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
  38. 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 :)
  39. Jul 30, 2016
    9
    Recensione temporanea da sostituire non appena disponibile quella definitiva. Recensione temporanea da sostituire non appena disponibile quella definitiva.
  40. 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.
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  41. 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
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  42. 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.
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  43. 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...
  44. 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.
  45. 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.
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  46. Sep 9, 2016
    9
    One of the best PC Games I've ever played (Played it on the Xbox as well), and I've been gaming since I was 7. The plot was awesome, with as much extra content as you could possibly want. The choices lead to soul searching and the combat interface was pretty good. If it didn't have the stupid rover I would have loved every part of it.

    Anne J
    On YouTube as Tatianna Anne Jindra
    Badfantasyrx
  47. Jan 26, 2020
    9
    Original Mass Effect is one the most special experiences i've had in gaming. The game isnt perfect by any means, no freakin game is period, but when it comes to the journey you take, the universe it has, the lore, the characters, there are little or second to none games that compare to Mass Effect. It just totally engrossed me on my first play through. Im probably in minority in MassOriginal Mass Effect is one the most special experiences i've had in gaming. The game isnt perfect by any means, no freakin game is period, but when it comes to the journey you take, the universe it has, the lore, the characters, there are little or second to none games that compare to Mass Effect. It just totally engrossed me on my first play through. Im probably in minority in Mass Effect fandom, but i do think this first game here is where Mass Effect is at its best, but only just, as Mass Effect 2 is an amazing game aswell.

    While i think the overall game is truly amazing, i do want to get a a few gripes out of my way that i have with the game and which hold me to honesty in why i cannot give the game a 10/10. One of which is the AI, both enemy and companion. They tend to act erratic and even suicidal during combat. In some side missions, there are massive difficulty spikes, where the enemy AI simply swarms you and annihilates you, such as the the one on Earth's moon. On anything higher than the Normal difficulty setting, these missions are basically a masochist's treat. I can see some people rage quitting due to these and cursing the name of Mass Effect for the rest of their lives. Your companions tend to be a mixed bag, sometimes they can take out enemies, but many times they cant hit their targets. Even leveled up they cant take reasonable damage and get knocked out quickly under enemy fire, even Wrex, often leaving you alone to deal with groups of enemies.

    The combat itself, while lacking polish, i actually quite like, i enjoy its RPGness, how each class requires a different approach to it, and i was disappointed how it was severly dumbed down in the sequel. Entering combat requires you to play smart and employ tactics, smartly use, combine your and your teams abilities and gear. Speaking of gear, i have another gripe to mention, and its the loot management. If youre the type of player who collects everything, inventory management will overwhelm you, as you'll be collecting duplicate items constantly and outdated items will take up a lot of space. On the other hand, if you like micro management, it can be kinda of fun, or even immersive, as i kinda of like, at the end of missions, to manage my and my crew's inventory, sell unneeded items and buy something new.

    While the game can easily take over 35 hours to complete if you let your self loose in it, i do feel that the game could've had atleast 1 more major mission, because there arent that many of them frankly.
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  48. Mar 29, 2017
    9
    Closely echoing the scifi genre of the 1970s. Mass Effect gives you a view into another world full of galactic civilizations such as the Asari, Turians, Salarian, Krogans, Quarians, Elcor, Bolus, and of course the Humans. All with well written back stories and cultures. Although ME takes many of it's ideas from other Scifi stories, it successfully creates it's own unique world, story,Closely echoing the scifi genre of the 1970s. Mass Effect gives you a view into another world full of galactic civilizations such as the Asari, Turians, Salarian, Krogans, Quarians, Elcor, Bolus, and of course the Humans. All with well written back stories and cultures. Although ME takes many of it's ideas from other Scifi stories, it successfully creates it's own unique world, story, and characters. You see through the eye of Commander Shepard, a character and main protagonist with an already established reputation and backstory. As Commander Shepard, you experience the world of Mass Effect both in the story and interactions with characters. The characters are so fleshed out with their facial expressions, emotions, their own unique personalities, and backstories that they will not only bond with Shepard, but they will bond with the player as well. Top that with a good story and a plot twist, Mass Effect will not only immerse the player into the game's story, but it undoubtedly creates a life-like and believable world that's bigger than the game itself. The only drawbacks to an almost perfect game is in it's bugs, glitchy graphics, and combat system. However, the characters, story, and, world outshine Mass Effect's set backs and contribute to it's greatness! 9/10 Expand
  49. Dec 23, 2020
    9
    The gameplay mechanics are clunky as hell compared to later games, BUT when it comes to the story, atmosphere, soundtrack, mystery, it's easily the best of the trilogy.
  50. May 9, 2018
    9
    Quiza en estos tiempos el juego se sienta algo viejo, un poco lento y mecanicas algo pasadas, pero lo que lo hace grande es la gran historia, el comienzo de la trilogía ME, lleno de emociones y grandes momentos, sencillamente un openning maravilloso a una trilogía épica.
  51. Feb 12, 2018
    9
    A visually good game, with an amazing self altering and shaping story in a futuristic galaxy. Pretty decent game-play. But all together it was a very well built coherent game. On of a kind!
  52. Apr 15, 2018
    9
    ¿POR QUÉ ¿POR QUÉ? ¿Por qué se me ha hecho tan corto? ¿POR QUÉÉÉÉÉ?

    Esta es la sensación que he tenido tras terminarme mi primer gran RPG de Steam. Una OBRA MAESTRA. El único gran error que he cometido con esta compra es que no le he dado la bola suficiente para seguir explorando el infinito universo que nos ofrece para seguir haciendo tareas e ir demasiado a saco con la historia
    ¿POR QUÉ ¿POR QUÉ? ¿Por qué se me ha hecho tan corto? ¿POR QUÉÉÉÉÉ?

    Esta es la sensación que he tenido tras terminarme mi primer gran RPG de Steam. Una OBRA MAESTRA. El único gran error que he cometido con esta compra es que no le he dado la bola suficiente para seguir explorando el infinito universo que nos ofrece para seguir haciendo tareas e ir demasiado a saco con la historia principal creyendo que iba ser más larga. NO HE PODIDO EVITARLO, el tramo final estaba demasiado emocionante para estar con otras cosas XD. Este error se corregirá cuando compre su secuela.

    Citaré principalmente los detalles más positivos del juego: de momento los mejores diálogos que he visto en un videojuego...cojas la respuesta que cojas, el comandante Sheepard lo expresará de una manera superépica y carismática; sistema de combate shooter en tercera persona táctico superentretenido; misiones secundarias con tramas decentes, buenos personajes y un villano a la altura. El único inconveniente que he encontrado serio ha sido la conducción del tanque que es...LAMENTABLE, se supone que es un vehículo superpesado y tiene unas físicas que parecen de vehículo teledirigido de 300 gramos y de verdad que he tenido serios problemas para intentar conducir ese cacho de chatarra XD.

    Así que teniendo en cuenta todo lo citado, esta es mi conclusión: IMPRESCINDIBLE para los fans e incluso para los no fans del RPG.
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  53. May 10, 2018
    9
    на самом деле это очень детская история, впрочем Музычка и Карпишин на лавры Саймака и Гаррисона не претендовали.
    Это современная космоопера, с бластерами и прекрасными инопланетянками.
    Со всем этим в глаза бросаются нестыковки, от воинских приветствии "под козырек " у турианцев до практически тотальной зависимомсти от командора Шеппард. Практически Галактический Иисус, это наивно, если
    на самом деле это очень детская история, впрочем Музычка и Карпишин на лавры Саймака и Гаррисона не претендовали.
    Это современная космоопера, с бластерами и прекрасными инопланетянками.
    Со всем этим в глаза бросаются нестыковки, от воинских приветствии "под козырек " у турианцев до практически тотальной зависимомсти от командора Шеппард.
    Практически Галактический Иисус, это наивно, если вам не 12 лет и вы немного знаете об окружающем мире.
    Теперь вы поняли, почему это детская история. Что не отменяет интересной игровой основы и завораживающего чувства причастности. Причастности к звездам.

    Это общий маст хэв, не без своих минусов, для поклонников Sci-Fi.
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  54. Jun 16, 2018
    9
    This is by far my favorite entry in the series. I have beat this game 12 times. This game is a painful reminder of how far Bioware has fallen. Sure the game is a little dated, but I love how sidequests actually are more than just fetch quests. I prefer this game's combat, in that I hate thermal clips. Not to mention Mass Effect one on PC feels like they worked on making it feel right forThis is by far my favorite entry in the series. I have beat this game 12 times. This game is a painful reminder of how far Bioware has fallen. Sure the game is a little dated, but I love how sidequests actually are more than just fetch quests. I prefer this game's combat, in that I hate thermal clips. Not to mention Mass Effect one on PC feels like they worked on making it feel right for PC, the later games feel more like ports, I have to spend a lot of time rebinding the keys for those games.

    Sure the game isn't perfect, the Mako sucks, and most side quests reuse interiors A LOT, if you do all the side content you will have gone through the same bunker (with the furniture moved around at least) like 20 times.
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  55. Oct 2, 2021
    9
    Человечество освоило сверхбыстрые полеты в галактическом пространстве. Новые технологии привели нас к другим цивилизациям, с которыми капитан Шепард (он или она) отправляется исследовать млечный путь. В процессе первого полета мы узнаем, что Шепард с командой гонится за Сареном — изменником и предателем человечества и остальных союзных рас. Но по пути мы встречаем давнего врага технологииЧеловечество освоило сверхбыстрые полеты в галактическом пространстве. Новые технологии привели нас к другим цивилизациям, с которыми капитан Шепард (он или она) отправляется исследовать млечный путь. В процессе первого полета мы узнаем, что Шепард с командой гонится за Сареном — изменником и предателем человечества и остальных союзных рас. Но по пути мы встречаем давнего врага технологии Mass Effect — Жнецов — фракцию разумных машин, которая развивалась последние миллионы лет. Expand
  56. Jul 7, 2020
    9
    Mass Effect has its flaws, but as a starter of a trilogy this game is nearly perfect.
  57. Mar 20, 2020
    9
    Very good even by 2020 standards. Not as good as ME2, shooting mechanic is the weakest part, but manageable. Plot is thick and tenable.
  58. Nov 15, 2018
    9
    I was a very late player when it came to the game Mass Effect, I never even bothered to look into them until after the trilogy was finished, I first heard about it when there was outrage over the ending of Mass Effect 3, and I wondered why people were so outraged over this game, I learned more about the game and I always had a fascination with space and Sci Fi space stuff (still not a fanI was a very late player when it came to the game Mass Effect, I never even bothered to look into them until after the trilogy was finished, I first heard about it when there was outrage over the ending of Mass Effect 3, and I wondered why people were so outraged over this game, I learned more about the game and I always had a fascination with space and Sci Fi space stuff (still not a fan of Star Wars though) I looked into it and it look interesting, so I went and bought the trilogy down at my local game store not long after, and I didn't know if I was going to like them, so my expectations were pretty low, and as I started playing it I got more and more into, I absolutely loved the RPG element, that you can say whatever you want to say, make good decisions and evil decisions and I loved how you choose to play, and paragon or renegade, overall, I was very impressed with the first game, and was super excited to start the second game, but it was a brilliant introduction to the trilogy, so 9/10 for me. Expand
  59. May 15, 2019
    9
    This was a love from the first sight. Very cool rpg fight mechanics. Ending was superb just superb. But it had it's few problems.
  60. Sep 19, 2021
    9
    ====================IIIIIIIIII GAME SCORE : 91 IIIIIIIIII====================
  61. Feb 13, 2021
    9
    This games marks the very beginning of an amazing franchise. Immersion is perfect. The lore of game is complex and well explained and illustrated. Environments are gorgeous. Acting and dubbing are examplary. Characters' design is awesome, colourful and never too much. Developping empathy for these characters is almost effortless. The wheel of dialogues is fantastic as it allows you toThis games marks the very beginning of an amazing franchise. Immersion is perfect. The lore of game is complex and well explained and illustrated. Environments are gorgeous. Acting and dubbing are examplary. Characters' design is awesome, colourful and never too much. Developping empathy for these characters is almost effortless. The wheel of dialogues is fantastic as it allows you to answer almost exactly how you want it. Original score and sound atmosphere are terrific.

    Scenario is not really original but still iconic. The pace of the game is great. Missions are varied, interesting and attractive. Side quests bring even more variety and rewards. The choices you will have to do during your gameplay are draconian. As a mercenary and the toy of multiples sources of power you will have to do some sacrifices. (No spoil) The ending climax is insane and the intensity of the scenario will not stop until the very end.

    The feeling of progression is omnipresent as we are constantly levelling up. Trees of skills are amazing and the abilities you can learn help you getting through the game while trying different strategies.

    This game (as every game) has its own flaws. Firstly, it is a semi-open world and this completely goes on the opposite of the choice of living in space. As a reminder space is believed to be infinite. This breaks the immersion when you can't stop hitting invisible walls while trying to explore a bit. Secondly the story is quite short. If you focus on it you will need less than ton to fifteen hours to finish it. Phases with the Mako vehicule are both funny and terrible as its controls are really bad. Eventually some levels are quite confusing as the mini-map can't handle the different levels of the stages.
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  62. Aug 22, 2019
    9
    So, the beginning of the epic RPG/TPS science-fiction trilogy.
    If you try to browse the net researching about Mass Effect franchise, you might find a couple of not-so-favorable words about the first entry. After you actually play it though, the thought you typically get is: "What sort of masterpieces the other games are if THIS is considered the weakest entry in the series?" Yes, by many
    So, the beginning of the epic RPG/TPS science-fiction trilogy.
    If you try to browse the net researching about Mass Effect franchise, you might find a couple of not-so-favorable words about the first entry. After you actually play it though, the thought you typically get is: "What sort of masterpieces the other games are if THIS is considered the weakest entry in the series?" Yes, by many this is considered the weakest entry, although there is a small group of people who think it is the best (as with any game in any franchise).
    About the good parts first. This the most RPGish game in the trilogy. Here you actually had to choose which weapon skills to max out, or try to max protection. If you want to be able to diplomatically solve various situations you have to level persuasion for good guys and frightening for bad guys. By the max level you will have only about a half of it covered. Leveling-up really matters here.
    The plot is another thing that makes the game shine. If you look at plainly the main plot, it might be the best in the trilogy. The way of introducing the whole universe to the player is introduced is executed very well. The side quests aren't exactly shiny, but decent.
    The graphics is a different topic. At times you will be feeling like you are playing a 2010 game.
    One of the main problems of the game was combat, which was the primary reason for people not to like this game as much as the following ones. It is sort of weird, but lets not forget that this is Bioware's first attempt at creating an action combat system. A good classic RPG with fine action combat is rear thing itself.
    There were other problems, like a rover that didn't seem to know of physics laws, most planets were just squares with pretty much same terrains and a little bit different textures. Yet none of them can make such a great game bad. It is totally worth trying, and if you are looking to get into Mass Effect franchise, do not skip the first game.
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  63. Sep 24, 2019
    9
    Good game, but struggling to drive up mountains & selling items taking forever & dialog skipping oversight & slow running & driving & limited sprint means a game+ playthrough is definitely not an option.
  64. Oct 11, 2021
    9
    Mass Effect is a 2008 sci-fi action RPG video game, a first piece of the very successful Mass Effect trilogy and in a way, a first page in a new chapter for BioWare. The game is set in a freshly created universe, in the not so distant future, in which humanity encounters intelligent alien life and discovers the secrets of faster than light space travel. The world of Mass Effect has got anMass Effect is a 2008 sci-fi action RPG video game, a first piece of the very successful Mass Effect trilogy and in a way, a first page in a new chapter for BioWare. The game is set in a freshly created universe, in the not so distant future, in which humanity encounters intelligent alien life and discovers the secrets of faster than light space travel. The world of Mass Effect has got an undeniable appeal right from the start, one that is only enhanced by the relative plausibility of the science involved, something that is often missing in similar sci-fi worlds. In its core, the story is the same old "save the universe" template, but it does not matter, because it is excellently written and full of the unexpected. It beautifully sets up the entire trilogy. The game allows you to make a great number of choices, some of which are very important in the long run and even in the rest of the trilogy. You can choose to be an orthodox good guy, by-the-book bore, cold hearted opportunist or even an outright evil badass, the range of the choices is fantastic. The gameplay is also amazing, the third person perspective allows you to have a better overview of the battlefield, which helps to promote the new companion/squad system. Six companions join you in your endeavors, each with a distinct personality and a personal agenda. Of those six, you can always choose two at will to accompany you on your missions. Then between missions, you can chat up and interact with all of them on you spaceship. This system has proven to be crowning jewel of the entire trilogy and also of the Dragon Age trilogy. The graphics is very nice, considering the 2008 release date, of course. The exploration of the distant worlds in your spaceship and in the Mako rover could have been fun, but it is mostly very repetitive and the Mako handling is infamously bad. Music is well chosen and nonintrusive. The game font is interesting and suits well the sci-fi setting of the universe. Beside the last point, there is not much I would held up against this game. Maybe the loot/economy system which is clearly imbalanced. You get too much loot, which will make you reach the currency cap of 10M quite early in the game, with nothing to spend it on.

    A great start of the trilogy, Mass Effect was a revelation back in the day, and it still makes for a fantastic play today. Final Verdict: 87%
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  65. Aug 10, 2020
    9
    Mass Effect | Aug. 9, 2020 | [★★★★]

    I started this game with a high expectation and finished it satisfied. It established a very deep world not because they show it visually but because they explained it too well. NPC's have a lot of information to fill you in more than you asked, Creating a well existence of Culture/Histories of creatures that you'll eventually know. The gameplay
    Mass Effect | Aug. 9, 2020 | [★★★★]

    I started this game with a high expectation and finished it satisfied. It established a very deep world not because they show it visually but because they explained it too well. NPC's have a lot of information to fill you in more than you asked, Creating a well existence of Culture/Histories of creatures that you'll eventually know.

    The gameplay rely heavy on being a Tactical Cover Shooter. At first, I thought the mechanics would be closer to Dead Space but turns out it was more like Spec Ops: The Line. Overall the game is great. The story is out there with the best. I can't believe the game doesn't have a TV series yet.
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  66. Jan 3, 2022
    9
    The gameplay is a bit dated, but not bad overall.
    The story and immersion / role-playing is breathtaking, and this game is just so captivating.
  67. May 14, 2020
    9
    One of the best RPGs ever made and the best part is the story. Or rather the presentation of the story. It still hasn't been matched. The fact that it is mostly a shooter I did not like very much, nor did I enjoy the vehicle sections, but at least they were not as boring as scanning planets for resources. Decisions you make feel more impactful than they are, but that's what will stick withOne of the best RPGs ever made and the best part is the story. Or rather the presentation of the story. It still hasn't been matched. The fact that it is mostly a shooter I did not like very much, nor did I enjoy the vehicle sections, but at least they were not as boring as scanning planets for resources. Decisions you make feel more impactful than they are, but that's what will stick with you the impressions and how it made you feel. Expand
  68. Jun 6, 2020
    9
    you feel like the galaxy overlord/saviour at the end. best space adventure series
  69. Jun 20, 2020
    9
    This game is the pedestal of a grate trilogy, The story is top notch, the gameplay could be better but not bad and your choices really matters, some of the minor choices having effect in the final game.
  70. Jun 22, 2020
    9
    mass effect is one of the most extraordinary scifi game franchises that you will ever play. the soundtracks are beautiful and will forever bring back memories that will cause your heart to drown in nostalgia. excellent gameplay. the decisions you make in this game will carry repercussions til the very end of the trilogy. you will get to fall in love with a lot of memorable characters. thismass effect is one of the most extraordinary scifi game franchises that you will ever play. the soundtracks are beautiful and will forever bring back memories that will cause your heart to drown in nostalgia. excellent gameplay. the decisions you make in this game will carry repercussions til the very end of the trilogy. you will get to fall in love with a lot of memorable characters. this game will offer you a great story in a sandbox with multiple places to visit whenever you want. it also offers a great index full of information about the different alien species, their cultures and their evolutionary history. also there is a lot to read about planet's compositions and the marks left by ancient battles and the ruins of species forever lost in history. not to mention you get to read about the particular technologies used by the galactic community. this is a game that almost certainly will make you a fan.

    BE WARNED! all three games have important story dlc's and may not be on the some pc online stores! make sure you get them.
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  71. Apr 14, 2022
    9
    A Fantastic Space Opera asks the Question if Star Wars was set in the Distant Future of our Modern World also great characters while some of the mechanics are clunky its story and mechanics makes it great also a similar to Star Wars(1977) has a smaller story with Galactic Stakes
  72. Jul 29, 2020
    9
    I love Mass Effect universe and can't really say that any other part that came out after the first one surpassed the original.
  73. Nov 7, 2020
    9
    This game is a rough diamond in some ways - like the combat. Also, if you played KOTOR or some of the other earlier Bioware game you know what to expect and it's all set in a vast universe.
    The best part about this game for me is the atmosphere that is unmatched in the ME series and it is the thing that always pulls me back.
  74. Jul 3, 2021
    9
    An absolute masterpiece! I have never played any mass effect game before an even in 2021 it still is a really really good game! Totally recommend it.
  75. Dec 12, 2020
    9
    Fantastic game that set up many standards for me. The main NPC characters and your relationship with them is great.
  76. Apr 25, 2021
    9
    Mass Effect is a brilliant video game that showcases the industries strongest features. It offers satisfying gameplay, beatiful vistas, compelling characters and a very structured story. A must-play for sure.
  77. May 20, 2021
    9
    Mass Effect was one of the very first games that i played on PC. it had a very big impact on me and changed my opinion about video games. I was so interested in the characters, the world and their interactions. the gameplay was solid and fun (a bit flawed in some aspects) and the journey was one of the most immersive experiences that I had with video games.
  78. May 9, 2022
    9
    Great RPG with a beautiful setting and memorable characters. You really get absorbed into the story as Commander Shepard commanding his crew.
  79. Aug 29, 2021
    9
    Самый что ни на есть трушный Масс Эффект, это классика, это зарождение великой серии.
  80. Dec 8, 2021
    9
    I played this game for the first time in 2018 or 2019 and i kinda got let it unfinished after doing 3 or 4 main missions. I replayed it in 2021 and actually finished it. The story is still good as it was the first time dont get me wrong, i was focusing on some sides that were too hard the first time. But with the new legendary edition it was ok, i managed to finish those section, theI played this game for the first time in 2018 or 2019 and i kinda got let it unfinished after doing 3 or 4 main missions. I replayed it in 2021 and actually finished it. The story is still good as it was the first time dont get me wrong, i was focusing on some sides that were too hard the first time. But with the new legendary edition it was ok, i managed to finish those section, the virimire mission is actually really cool. But yeah other than that the game does everything really good: the plot, the rpg, the characters, exploration. It s a 8.5 game for me even for 2008 but maybe some people might not like nowdays witch is too bad because mass effect 2 and 3 really hold up well compared to this one in terms of gameplay Expand
  81. Aug 6, 2023
    9
    "Mass Effect," the beginning of an incredible saga, is an iconic game that holds a special place in the hearts of many fans. Before diving into the review, it's essential to note that there's another version available, "Mass Effect: Legendary Edition," a fully remastered compilation of the first three ME games. While some OG fans might have preferences due to visual differences, the"Mass Effect," the beginning of an incredible saga, is an iconic game that holds a special place in the hearts of many fans. Before diving into the review, it's essential to note that there's another version available, "Mass Effect: Legendary Edition," a fully remastered compilation of the first three ME games. While some OG fans might have preferences due to visual differences, the remaster surpasses the original in several aspects, including visuals, gameplay, and bug fixes. The remaster also includes one of the two ME1 DLCs without external installers. Although the original has an additional DLC, it's not a compelling reason to choose it over the remaster. The remaster offers the complete ME trilogy and its DLCs at a significantly lower price than the originals combined.

    For newcomers or players looking to experience one version of the first Mass Effect game, I highly recommend checking out the remaster. Both versions hold their charm, but I personally prefer the remaster for its enhancements.

    While I'm unsure of the game's state at launch, there are apparent issues that affect the experience. Thanks to PCGamingWiki and dedicated Mass Effect fans, there are ways to enjoy the game despite these problems. Following a comprehensive guide before playing is crucial to avoid potential problems. Check mine out. The game's stuttering issue, especially for AMD users, can be persistent, but overall patches and updates have improved the experience.

    Now, onto the game itself. "Mass Effect" captivates players from the start with its outstanding narrative and world-building. The story, characters, and alien races are fascinating, immersing players in a captivating cosmos. Engaging character hubs, conversations, decisions, and consequences shape a personalized Shepard journey, forging a deep attachment to the protagonist.

    While the gameplay might not be groundbreaking, it remains great. The combat mechanics are solid, and the RPG elements are well-executed, contributing to the game's allure. Though the squad mechanics might be an acquired taste, they add depth and strategy to the experience.

    Exploring planets in the iconic Mako might be divisive, as beautiful visuals clash with monotonous environments. Yet, landing on these planets remains a breathtaking experience with awe-inspiring landscapes and skies.

    A key point to keep in mind is that "Mass Effect" lacks post-game exploration and side-mission completion after finishing the final main mission, setting it apart from other RPGs.

    One minor disappointment is the absence of in-game achievements on Steam, regardless of earning all 49 of them. It's unfortunate that others won't witness these achievements.

    In conclusion, "Mass Effect" is a remarkable and memorable game with a captivating story and enjoyable gameplay. Though it faces some challenges, it remains a masterpiece and the gateway to an unparalleled video game series. If you're ready to embark on a thrilling intergalactic journey, Mass Effect is the game for you.
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  82. Aug 12, 2022
    9
    The great beginning of the legendary trilogy! To this day, the game is the best space opera in this genre. Everything looks very interesting and exciting, from the character creation screen and its story to the ending, which depends on your decisions throughout the game. The game gives a sense of the event's scale and importance. The depicted universe is well developed and detailed. It isThe great beginning of the legendary trilogy! To this day, the game is the best space opera in this genre. Everything looks very interesting and exciting, from the character creation screen and its story to the ending, which depends on your decisions throughout the game. The game gives a sense of the event's scale and importance. The depicted universe is well developed and detailed. It is interesting to reveal its secrets and the depth of history. Each character you interact with has an interesting background and can develop in their own way depending on your decisions. All these details add depth and intrigue to the plot.
    The gameplay is varied and dynamic, combining different weapons and abilities. The exploration of distant planets is usually not very exciting. Mostly, it all comes down to finding resources and hidden bases in almost empty monotonous locations. A large amount of resources can create problems because after the missions to sort out endlessly deep baggage.
    The graphics are suitable for their time. The musical accompaniment is wonderful and atmospheric.
    The game can be played multiple times.
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  83. Sep 4, 2022
    9
    Wonderful game that sets up the trilogy perfectly. They dropped the ball with ME2 story wise (the characters and gameplayimprove though).
    Great world building, choices that have an impact on the character (very well handled considering the amount and that they're working within a fixed story) and wonderful characters. Just fantastic.
  84. Jan 20, 2023
    9
    One of my favorite games. Incredible world development and pretty good fiction tho. Must play for all (preferably with the ME2 and ME3).

    Advantages:

    + Great fiction
    + Interesting characters and interaction with them
    + Very well developed world
    + Morality and choices system

    Disadvantages:

    - Pretty old gameplay
    - Slow action

    Old but gold ❤
  85. Jun 9, 2023
    9
    One of the best RPGs of all time. A gripping space opera set in a shockingly well realized future among the stars. A heavy emphasis on character interactions and responsive choice means Shepard leaves a big impression on the player. The combat is seriously lacking but the worldbuilding, exploration, and narrative writing are at their peak in this entry of the franchise. This is the onlyOne of the best RPGs of all time. A gripping space opera set in a shockingly well realized future among the stars. A heavy emphasis on character interactions and responsive choice means Shepard leaves a big impression on the player. The combat is seriously lacking but the worldbuilding, exploration, and narrative writing are at their peak in this entry of the franchise. This is the only game where being a spectre feels like more than being a soldier. Expand
  86. Aug 8, 2023
    9
    Fantastic RPG and a must play

    What it gets right- The universe is incredible I haven't been so sucked into a gaming world period. The story is very well done and interesting the whole way through never felt bored and was excited for each new main quest and all of the companion quests Companions are unique and each of the alien companions are extremely memorable The gameplay is tight
    Fantastic RPG and a must play

    What it gets right-
    The universe is incredible I haven't been so sucked into a gaming world period.
    The story is very well done and interesting the whole way through never felt bored and was excited for each new main quest and all of the companion quests
    Companions are unique and each of the alien companions are extremely memorable
    The gameplay is tight and feels very solid. Unlocking more powers for you and your team leads you to cause mayhem across multiple galaxies without being confusing or difficult to control your squad even when you all have every ability being cast on cooldown.
    Character creation. while the options are limited compared to how much customization most games have now creating a character that you will take through three whole games gave me a level of connection with my character that I've never had with a custom character even in games that I have spent ten times as much time with

    The cons-
    No ammo big problem. Guns do not have ammo all running on heat meaning that there is never a situation in the game where you are low ammo scrounging around trying to make it to the next spot and grab that next pack of ammo. Instead all game I would find one gun that I liked and then use it 24/7 until finding a new stronger gun. with no ammo you are not forced to use any other guns that ones that you like because if you shoot and shoot and shoot all you have to do it was three seconds and you can shoot more and more no need to swap just give it a second and you are good again.
    Dated graphics. It looks better now than ever and still doesn't look very good while not ruining the game it defiantly does hinder the experience when everything else is borderline perfect
    Origin connection. While not as bad or clunky as it use to be this is a feature that needs to go on all games
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  87. Aug 23, 2023
    9
    Mediocre as a shooter, but excellent as an RPG, the characters are awesome and the lore behind the game is sublime. The story is excellent along all the title.
    Graphics&sound are beautiful but armor is little repetitive, they should have change the inventory mechanics, is terrible.
  88. MarkG
    Oct 30, 2008
    8
    If you're a fan of Bioware RPGs and especially if you're into sci-fi, you won't be disappointed by this most recent release if you overlook the few minor UI quirks - however, those against draconian DRMs, who like to feel that they actually own the game or tend to like a bit of variety in their side quests, may have to look elsewhere.
  89. ZO
    Jun 2, 2008
    8
    Not bad, but not really that great either. I found myself enjoying The Witcher much more, and ME seems kind of bland and shallow and the story is your typical cookie-cutter Bioware stuff (i.e. VERY predictable). Still, it's worth a playthrough atleast and would still recommend it.
  90. MatthewB.
    Sep 5, 2008
    8
    This is a fun game for sure but I don't think it's THAT great. It's really a very similar game to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel, though it lacks the same compelling story line. Still, it's a worthwhile play if you're looking for an action oriented RPG.
  91. EdwardR
    Aug 6, 2009
    8
    Far from a perfect game, but a very good one. It's strength lies in its storytelling and characters - you care about these people and what happens to them, and although the story is a bit generic and unimaginative, the dialogue and set pieces more than more up for it. (It's also worth nothing that the facial animation is excellent and it really immerses you into the game.) The Far from a perfect game, but a very good one. It's strength lies in its storytelling and characters - you care about these people and what happens to them, and although the story is a bit generic and unimaginative, the dialogue and set pieces more than more up for it. (It's also worth nothing that the facial animation is excellent and it really immerses you into the game.) The combat is fun (especially using the sniper rifle :3 ) but some of the abilities of your men and confusing to use and I couldn't figure out how to use the upgrades. Plus the item system was a bit confusing and annoying as well. In short, most of the RPG elements need stripping out and thought through again. Lucky really that you can for the most part ignore them. It's also worth nothing that the side quests are incredibly dull, but considering the playtime it's hardly a massive loss. I love this game, and you should play it, if only so you can get with an alien. Expand
  92. FotisJ.
    Jun 15, 2008
    8
    An interesting story told interestingly but some serious game design problems in the side quests (tasks too repetitive, worlds too similar) real damp the game experience. And after Bioshock there seem to be other ways around to tell a story instead of choosing dialogue options (makes replaying the game also quite boring).
  93. AshB.
    Jun 26, 2008
    8
    I thought that the only problem was the textures that still loaded slow and slow frame rate at some point in the game.
  94. MikeC
    Jun 29, 2008
    8
    All around it's a very solid game, but with some weaknesses. The gameplay is excellent, I really enjoyed chucking the enemies around with the game's physics based biotics powers while also blasting them with a shotgun, and the different powers and teammates and teammates powers you can choose makes for lots of tactical variations. The actual plot is a bit generic at times (great All around it's a very solid game, but with some weaknesses. The gameplay is excellent, I really enjoyed chucking the enemies around with the game's physics based biotics powers while also blasting them with a shotgun, and the different powers and teammates and teammates powers you can choose makes for lots of tactical variations. The actual plot is a bit generic at times (great ending, though!) but the characters, dialogue and back-story is top notch, with some very interesting stuff. The secondary quests and explorable worlds have a very generic design (identical designs for many bases!), there's nowhere near the attention to detail that games like oblivion and GTA show in designing large explorable areas. I never had a problem with it crashing. Despite some of the bland and generic design of secondary content, I had a blast playing it. Expand
  95. KyleB.
    Aug 20, 2008
    8
    This game is very fun, epic scenery makes it even funner! But lack of Co-op gameplay on Xbox Live makes it lose a few points. And Gameplay could get very confusing at some times for people new to these types.
  96. PatrickL.
    Nov 6, 2009
    8
    I would give Mass Effect an 8 because it has a really really great storyline, I really enjoyed it the time I played the game. I've spent alot hours playing through this game and I dont regret it. It has some nice classes and like in Knights Of The Old Republic you get a choice of doing things the good or the bad way. Now to the graphics. I gotta say I dont have a high end gaming PC I would give Mass Effect an 8 because it has a really really great storyline, I really enjoyed it the time I played the game. I've spent alot hours playing through this game and I dont regret it. It has some nice classes and like in Knights Of The Old Republic you get a choice of doing things the good or the bad way. Now to the graphics. I gotta say I dont have a high end gaming PC but it could take Mass Effect on Ultra High, and I gotta admit, the graphics are really nice. I especially like the effects of some skills. And additional free downloadable contents make this game even more enjoyable. After all it is a great game, sure worth playing and also worth the money spent on this game, give it a try! Expand
  97. 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
  98. Aug 17, 2010
    8
    The game isn't really great in terms of play, however the choices made are difficult at times and the story is just epic. There is tons of lore and immersion to this game. The big thing you have to do in order to enjoy this game, however, is to play the female Shepard. The male is okay if you like to listen to Keanu Reeves-like vocal styles for hours on end. The actor for the femaleThe game isn't really great in terms of play, however the choices made are difficult at times and the story is just epic. There is tons of lore and immersion to this game. The big thing you have to do in order to enjoy this game, however, is to play the female Shepard. The male is okay if you like to listen to Keanu Reeves-like vocal styles for hours on end. The actor for the female Shepard is amazing, especially during some of the intimidate options as a renegade. If only this game had better gameplay. Defiantly a favorite of mine. I would give it a ten in terms of how fun it is for me. But from a neutral point of view the gameplay is too repetitive for that. Expand
  99. Nov 20, 2010
    8
    Graphics? Very good, Scenario? Perfect, Immersion? If you like Sci-fi it is great. But to appreciate it you must take your time. No rush, explore, listen to the ppl around, dive into the story. The path you'll choose will impact the second opus.
    Some bad points ? yes. The inventory system is too heavy, to much items in too short times. And the secondary quests can become somehow boring,
    Graphics? Very good, Scenario? Perfect, Immersion? If you like Sci-fi it is great. But to appreciate it you must take your time. No rush, explore, listen to the ppl around, dive into the story. The path you'll choose will impact the second opus.
    Some bad points ? yes. The inventory system is too heavy, to much items in too short times. And the secondary quests can become somehow boring, a bit repetitive. But globally that game is a hit ! a Must have for all sci-fi, space opera, lovers.
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  100. Dec 21, 2014
    8
    I love the mass effect franchise, especially this game, but it has some annoyances that prevent me from giving it a perfect score. First, speaking of the good parts of the game. It is a role playing, third person, shooter with multiple interesting classes and the ability to defy physics with many abilities. The core game play is solid (even though I wish they would have included a reloadI love the mass effect franchise, especially this game, but it has some annoyances that prevent me from giving it a perfect score. First, speaking of the good parts of the game. It is a role playing, third person, shooter with multiple interesting classes and the ability to defy physics with many abilities. The core game play is solid (even though I wish they would have included a reload element... like they did in me2,) The storyline is gripping, the cinematic are damned good, the character progression is very nice, as well. There are some plot holes and lots of other elements but simply put, its great! There is a wide variety of items and modificiations in the game, which add to the enjoy-ability for those who like loot finding. HOWEVER! There are several complaints that I have, which prevents me from giving it a perfect score... The main complaint is the mako exploration and side planet geometry. Its very obvious they did not put any time or effort into the height maps they used for the side mission planet. They were sloppily done with lots of jagged edges and some dips in the geometry that the mako has difficulty getting out of... Not to mention trying not to bounce around like a bumper car ride gone horribly wrong!... They could have used the blur tool on photoshop, to eliminate half of the geometry issues. The second complaint is the inventory system, I cannot select multiple items to disassemble, hell even a full tier would have been NICE! instead, I must go through my full inventory, of 150 items, and manually break the items into omnigel or sell them manually. This process is tedious and detracts from the overall gameplay experience. On top of this, they introduced a "tier" system, for loot. After about tier 5, for weapon mods and armor mods, they started to combine many of the effects of two mods, but made them less potent. Its fine and all, make them more powerful as you level up... once you hit level 40 the gear is all the same tier, for the last 20 levels. At which point you already have max omnigel and max credits... and max inventory constantly hounding you to clear space... There are a lot of elements that make this a great game, and some very major annoyances. Worth a 60 dollar price tag... its down to about 10, right now. Pick it up when you get a chance, especially if you like sci-fi shooters combined with rpg elements. Expand
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. 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.
  2. Mass Effect PC wasn't rushed, this version has clearly been thoroughly thought-out to exploit the advantages of this platform.
  3. 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.