*VIDEO LINK AT THE BOTTOM*

World building like no other

Mass Effect puts story first. A big part of that is making the player believe the world the are in; they execute this flawlessly. Everything from the in depth (and narrated!!) Codex the outlines the game’s planets, races, governments, and more, to it’s perfect balance between combat and option-based dialog makes Mass Effect a gripping story.

As mentioned, there’s the Codex. The Codex is a collection of short paragraphs on various aspects of the Mass Effect universe. The level of world building that the developers created and catalogued in the Codex is not unlike the detail that J.R.R. Tolkien put into Middle Earth. Unlike other games where the available readings are often just fluff that can easily be ignored, the Codex is all relevant to the story and helps you EASILY gain a clearer understanding the the history and motivations of the world you are exploring.

On top of a vast number of planets and biomes to explore, M.E. is packed full of various races that all have a rich history and their own defining traits. This much information feels like it would make the game overwhelming, but somehow they pull it off. Within a few minutes of playing you feel like you have always been a part of this world and the history is second nature.

the plot

I don’t want to give too much away here because the game is packed full of wonderful twists and turns that shouldn’t be spoiled. All I will tell you is that you constantly feel like you’re in the driver seat of a story that has serious consequences. Not very often do I feel as though what I am doing in the game is of no importance. This is true even for the side quests, which is very uncommon in most games.

A large part of the subplots is the growth and decline of relationships with your crew mates. There’s opportunities to help people out, betray them, or even romance them. I’m constantly finding myself in tight spots when it comes to how I should respond to the issues of my crew and how angry I am going to make someone when I am secretly romancing two people at one.

Don’t just take my word for it

The great thing about Mass Effect is that the combat (while present and exciting) is kept to a minimum. When it is there, it’s full of cutscenes and important plot-furthering conversations. If all you’re after is a good story (most of us are), this makes the game just as much fun to watch as it is to play.

So, I invite you to come along with me on the journey of Mass Effect.