Mass Effect

[Shadow Fire]

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/ME1.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Casey Hudson<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Richard Jacques<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Mark Meer, Jennifer Hale, Kieth David, Marina Sirtis, Fred Tatasciore<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/4-5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Plot</u></b><br />The year is 2183 A.D., and humanity is still taking its first steps in the galactic stage, in which contact with aliens is an everyday occurrence. Interstellar travel is made very easy thanks to the wonderous Mass Relays. A young Commander of the Earth Alliance, Shepard is sent to the distant world of Eden Prime to oversee the recovery of an ancient artifact, belonging to the Protheans, an alien species 50,000 years extinct. Shepard's mission is overseen by a Turian known as Nihlus. Nihlus is a Spectre, a law-enforcement officer who is given power to exceed the law. Shepard's performance on this mission will determine whether a human will be given the honour of becoming a Spectre.<br /><br />Unfortunately, all does not go well. Eden Prime has been attacked by cybernetic creatures called Geth. These fully sentient cyborgs are breaking through the colony in an attempt to find something. When Nihlus goes ahead to investigate, he runs into another Turian Spectre called Saren. As the two talk, Nihlus is quickly killed by Saren, who before long, finds what he was after. The newly discovered Prothean Beacon, a mystical device which lifts him into the air with a magical force, and sending images through his head. The geth he is controlling are ordered to set up charges and destroy any evidence of their presence.<br /><br />Their schemes are foiled by Shepard, a human male named Kaidan Alenko, and a female soldier known as Ashley Williams. Shepard is unable to stop Saren from escaping, and is also subjected to the Beacon's power. The Beacon is then rendered useless. Returning to the majestic stealth-fighter Normandy, Shepard reports the findings. Nihlus is dead and Saren has gone rogue. Captain Anderson orders the Normandy back to the Citadel inside the Serpent's Head Nebula, to discuss the findings with the Citadel Council.<br /><br />The Council disavow their belief that Saren has gone rogue, but it soon is discovered that evidence exists to Saren's betrayal. Shepard manages to secure this evidence, obtained by a Quarian woman known as Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. Thanks to her evidence, Saren is exposed, and Shepard is made the first human Spectre, immediately sent on a mission to apprehend the rogue Turian. Quickly promoted to Captain, Shepard is given command of the Normandy and immediately sets out to find Saren. Many worlds are in the vast galaxy, all with dangers unlike any other. Can Saren be stopped in time before his evil ambitions, whatever they are, become reality?<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Review</u></b><br />Created by Bioware, Mass Effect brings many genres together. RPG, Third-person shooter, action/adventure, strategy... I could continue. The game is handled wonderfully, and I find it to be a stunning and very enjoyable game. You are given the chance to select your own character, including their gender, appearance and background story. You can also choose what his/her first name is.<br /><br />Graphics are pure awesomeness. Thanks to an advanced system, the environments are able to quickly be displayed as a realistic setting, while often minimising load times and lag. The game uses the same style of cutscening all the way through, although this is one of the game's many strengths. Characters show moods on their faces, and have many postures to complement their feelings. Music is limited in respect to the amount of tunes that play in the game. However, it doesn't suffer as one would expect, because they are all a great way to immerse yourself into the universe.<br /><br />The combat system on this game matches that of a third-person shooter, mixed with a role-playing game. Shoot enemies with your arsenal of weapons, or attack them with your biotic powers. Your armour and shields will help you manage damage you take, however the further into the game, the increasingly more difficult it becomes, especially on a higher level setting. When you land on planets, you are in control of a makeshift automotive known as the Mako. This is where the game loses a point, because it is extremely difficult to perfect the vehicles weapon-aiming system. However, the Mako can more often than not drive up extremely steep slopes. When you gain enough experience, your squad levels up, allowing you to select which attribute can be upgraded.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Overall</u></b><br />Mass Effect is a game that all sci-fi lovers should give a chance. Aliens, spaceships, saving the galaxy from total annihilation? What's not to love? While the storyline isn't too vast, and can be completed in a matter of hours, there is a multitude of alternate assignments that can be unlocked, making for days of fun to be had. Play this game now. Trust me, you won't regret it.