Critic review: Mass Effect

[lovekeiiy]

Video Game Talk: 4.5/5

Mass Effect certainly has flaws, but it’s easily the most enthralling space adventure that’s ever been created for a video game platform. It honestly makes the Halo narrative look like amateur hour. Much of the credit goes to a writing staff that incredibly created this world with nothing more than pure imagination. While Mass Effect isn’t a revolutionary step for Bioware, it’s certainly evolutionary. Combining the elements that made KOTOR so entertaining with a combat system that’s much more accessible to the teeming masses of shooter fans will make for a highly successful combination on the Xbox 360. I can’t imagine anyone being without a copy of Mass Effect this holiday season.

Gamespot: 8.5/10

All told, Mass Effect is a great game with moments of brilliance and a number of small but significant obstacles that hold it back from reaching its true potential. But in the end, if you like RPGs and want to spend some time in an absorbing sci-world populated with a bunch of unique inhabitants, you'll definitely have plenty of fun with this one.

Gamespy: 5/5

It's a rare thing when a game comes along with the power to move a player emotionally. Warts and all, you'll want to experience Mass Effect if you have any interest at all in enjoying one of the greatest efforts that modern videogaming has to offer. Mass Effect takes interactive entertainment to breathtaking new heights and is wholeheartedly recommended. This is one of the best games of the year, and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest games ever made.

IGN: 9.4/10

In a year that has seen the Xbox 360 library finally round itself out with a series of quality Japanese RPGs, BioWare has shown just how far ahead of the curve it is with Mass Effect. The cinematic design is nothing short of masterful. This is a game that takes the aspects of film that make cinema so compelling and crosses it with the interactivity of games with unprecedented success. Linear storytelling feels quaint by comparison.

Mass Effect is game that is greater than the sum of its parts. Technical issues abound, but the majority of Mass Effect is so expertly delivered that it can transcend its weaknesses. Applying number ratings to a game like this doesn't do it justice because there is no way you can ignore its technical flaws. Simply put, Mass Effect is a game that must be played. Then it must be played again. Don't pass this one up.

Gametrailers: 9.6/10

Game Trailers Video

Involving, ambitious, and beautifully executed, Mass Effect is a powerful experience that has a lot to offer anyone who plays games as more than a casual diversion. A typical run through will take well over 20 hours depending on how closely you stick to the core missions, but it’s well-paced and has hours of completely optional--but still interesting--content if you want to see everything it has to offer. It's certainly not perfect, but the minor performance issues and needlessly complex menus are like tiny specks in a celestial sea of awesomeness.

Other (non link reviews)
GameInformer: 9.75/10. reveiw date11/1/07
Electronic Gaming Monthly: 9.17/10 review 12/25/07
Official Xbox Magazine: 10/10 review 12/25/07
Hardcore Gamer Magazine: 4/5 review 12/1/07

[Lord Geoff]

nice!

[lovekeiiy]

bump bump

[NPYYZ]

Graphics
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At first glance, Mass Effect is an absolutely stunning example of the raw graphical power of the Xbox 360. Similar to Gears of War, the sheer level of detail will impress anyone within visual range of the high definition television it’s being displayed upon. The facial appearance, especially on the aliens, is top notch and brings each character vividly to life. The lighting effects for the biotic powers are brilliant and illuminate the area with gorgeous purple plasma power. The character animations are absolutely fluid and react appropriately with rag doll physics to changes in the environment.

There is a downside to pushing the 360 to these limits though. The frame rate can slow to a chug during the large scale battles, especially with lots of talent powers flying around. It’s enough to affect the gameplay and become annoying during a fight. It also can happen when you turn your character around too fast. The game pauses for a few seconds to load before you can continue. When you move too fast though an area or conversation, textures won’t load quickly enough and you may be staring at a blur until it finishes. I also had problems with the rover land vehicle on planets and the last few levels. Specifically when taken off a steep jump, the front hull of the rover would become embedded in the ground and I couldn’t move or exit the vehicle. I can’t imagine it’s designed to force reloading an old save, so it must be a problem with the hit detection system.

Interestingly, Bioware gives you the option to turn off the film grain and the motion blur effect. On a high definition display, the film grain really makes the image pop with realism. I found turning off the film grain brings out the flaws in the facial visuals, namely sections around the mouth and eyes that become spotty. Turning off the motion blur wasn’t as big of a difference, but it will make the visuals appear more like a video game rather than a 23-hour science fiction movie. It does help the troubled framerate though.

[lovekeiiy]

This is not something new. I had slow down during some of my intense battles in GRAW1. It was kind of trip; also brought back memories of the NES days.

[lovekeiiy]

updated: added more reviews

[The Milk Man 09]

Cool this makes me think that I wont be diving in headfirst hoping its as great as they say anymore.