Mass Effect Reviews
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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.
The review at TeamXbox gives the game an overall score of 9.6/10:
All of these elements (the audio, visuals, writing, etc.) combine to make Mass Effect one of the most cinematic games of all-time. We've heard that term bandied around for years, but this is one of the few times when you'll actually feel like you're playing a movie. It wasn't surprising to learn that the development team consulted with a number of machinima veterans while making the game, as everything from the camera angles to the soundtrack feels like it was inspired by the movies.
Despite it's flaws, there's no denying that Mass Effect is one of the best games of the year, and is certainly the best RPG on the Xbox 360 (sorry Blue Dragon fans!). It's also one of the most cinematic games of all-time, something that's definitely helped by a fantastic story, great writing, movie-quality direction, and strong voiceover work. We can only hope that it really is the first part of a trilogy, as we can't wait to see where the story goes next. We've heard people say that Mass Effect could be Star Wars for a new generation. If the first chapter is any indication of what BioWare has planned for the future, the sky's the limit.
And the video review at GameTrailers gives the game an overall score of 9.6/10.
