bit-tech Shopping: Microsoft Mass Effect (Xbox 360)

• 1080i (HDTV)
• 1080p (HDTV)
• 720p (HDTV)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 6 Weeks

Strengths: Great story, good graphics afetr editing the settings, great combat system after you learn the game.

Weaknesses: Inventory management, And a long learning curve that can throw you off.

Summary: Let me add about my title "Not for Everybody" is because not everybody plays RPG's and this one has a longer learning curve compared to Bioware's past game Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic. This isn?t a bad game but let me start on the Negative factors.1. The learning curve was longer then other games, I was ready to sell the game but I just couldn?t believe the game was bad, I stuck it out and now I love the game2. Knowing you way around the place isn?t all that great, I am often in the menu trying to navigate3. The game is a power hog and starts to slow down over time, you need to give the console a breakWith that out of the way let me tell you why you will like this game1. The combat system works amazingly good in this game when you learn how to use the controls effectively2. All your allies have a unique balance of strength?s and weaknesses. Using the squad as a team is very tactical in higher levels when you understand the game and have all the ability?s to use in great tactical battles3. Not many games have a good storyline these days and were used to it, when a game like this with a great story comes we appreciate it allot, a good story fuels the moment and adds replay value to play it again and again.4. The interaction with other characters is very good in this gameTo sum it up, this game has lots of strength?s and will affect the way the industry makes RPG's to compare and compete. This is a must have for anybody who likes RPG's and a good start for newcomers who are willing to deal with the learning curve in the beginning of the game.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Days

Strengths: Graphics, Story line, Action, overall game play

Weaknesses: Elevator

Summary: This was the best game I have played in a very long time no question about it. The graphics were amazing and the story line was even better. The way the game ends just keeps you wanting more, and I love how they made it so you can chose what you want to say in your conversations, which can impact the rest of the game, and impact the following game whenever it comes out. Even after i beat the game, I still went back and played the game again, because even though you already beat it, you can still make a different guy and have a different attitude throughout the game, which will change the whole game around, so its like you're still following the same story line, but everything else happens differently, for example. There was one guy I was fighting and the first time after I got don't talking to him we fought, but the second time I played I decided to change up my dialog and after we talked he killed himself, so no matter how many time you play it, each time is different. The only things I didn't like was whenever you got into an elevator, it took forever to get anywhere on it. After the game ended I averaged up how much time my guy actually spent on the elevator alone and it turned out to be around 30 minutes. Also one more thing I didn't like was the fact that every planet you went on to do a side mission, all those bases seemed to be exactly the same, but with minor changes to them. Well thats all I have to say about this game, and my last word to you is going to be if you haven't played this game, or don't own it, then go out right this very second and buy it because you will have an awesome time playing this game.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 10

Strengths: Story

Weaknesses: Linear gameplay, short

Summary: I'll start off by saying Mass Effect was one of my most anticipated games ever. I love what BioWare does, and hoped that Mass Effect would be just as good. I was slightly disappointed, but it is still a great game. The story is very good, and the cutscenes are flat out amazing. The problems are that the game has a linear story design and it is very short, it only took me 13 hours to beat. But it is still a very good, just not exactly what I expected.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: 3rd person action RPG with a great story

Weaknesses: More action than RPG

Summary: Mass Effect is a great third-person shooter/RPG hybrid from Bioware, the makers of the classic Star Wars RPG Knight of the Old Republic. While I was somewhat skeptical of the more real-time combat aspect vs the previous game I actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit even though I wouldn't call this an RPG in the strictest sense. You play as Commander Shepard (who you can customize as either male or female) and find yourself thrust into the middle of a cataclysmic event for all the sentient species in the galaxy. The story is engaging and fully voice-acted which is pretty impressive. You will end up with various human and alien crew members and you can have 2 along with you while exploring. Each one will make different comments and they will interact with one another as well - a really nice touch. Your character can be one of 3 main classes (or various hybrids): a soldier with all the weapon skills, a biotic user who can use various "force-like" powers such as throw and lift, and an Engineer who can hack mechanical enemies. Each of the sidekick characters is a specialist in one of these classes too so you can take ones along on missions that compliment your skills. While there are certainly role-playing elements to this game (character levels, different weapons, etc) the pseudo-real time combat and somewhat limited exploration aspects make it seem more like a straight-up action game. There are RPG-like missions to do while exploring the one main city area (called The Citadel) and once you obtain a ship you can explore the galaxy at will. Each system you can travel to will have a bunch of planets but just one you can land on. In general, each will have a sidequest associated with it. However, these can get repetitive as you will find the installations on these planets fall under a handful of categories (mine, warehouse, bunker, etc). Also, beyond the single point on the planet where the mission is located, the vast spaces on the rest of the planet (that you explore with a rover vehicle) are mostly empty with just minerals and other various collection sidequest items to find. The main game will take you about 30 hours if you try to complete most of the sidequests and there is certainly replay value in that you can play as different classes, at higher difficulty levels, and as either paragon (good guy) or renegade (bad guy). To get all the achievements will take you at least 4 playthroughs (1 each in 3 different classes plus at least a second playthrough of one of the same characters to hit the level cap). Once you know how the game works and where the sidequests are located subsequent playthroughs can be done in much less time though. There will also be new planets to explore available via downloadable content.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: (1) Great graphics and life-like animation, very beautiful (2) Great story, you really feel like you are "in" the Mass Effect universe (3) Very creative character, alien, vehicle and planet designs

Weaknesses: (1) The complexity of the menus, tech and biotic powers and weapon selection/upgrades demands a lot of time to get a handle on (2) The Mako rover/tank drives very poorly and erratic.

Summary: First off, Mass Effect is probably the game that has delivered the most epic and immersing experience to date. I credit its success to the hyper-realistic graphics and animation and amazing depth of the conversations with other characters. There are also many well-thought out sub-plot lines (though, some minor side quests do seem to be unfinished experiences). At first, I found the combat to be god-awful because the guns you have early on in the game overheat after a couple of shots (why are guns in the future so much worse than the guns in the present?) and I had a hard time running and gunning because it was difficult to aim. In time, I acclimated to aiming the crosshairs and acquired better guns (or upgraded them) so I stood a better chance. Also, before I had access to (or mastery of) biotic/tech powers, I had no way to keep the enemies at a distance. They would often charge right up on me and kill me, however, if I were to attempt this I would die quickly. BUT, I kept playing because the story and dialogue portions were so good and eventually came to really like the combat. HERE'S WHY: As stated earlier, I equipped better weapons and also learned that I can aim while pausing the action in the Weapon selection mode. This strategy is essential for very quick moving, wall-clinging enemies. I did not have to use this technique all the time, though, and against many of the enemies I could take cover and pop out to shoot much like in Gears of War. The tech and biotic powers are where the real fun comes in, though. Once you (or your party members) have access to these powers you have much more interesting options available to you (take out an enemy's shields, turn one enemy on another, push/throw an enemy, create a mini-black hole, etc.). You acquire additional human and alien party members are you progress - their interesting stories and motivations are revealed as the game is played. I really enjoyed the level of immersion and the depth of the characters as well as the creative and detailed environments. I've put about 30 hours into this game and finished all the main missions and side-quests. Many of the optional side quests lack a unique, polished story and reuse structures but there is plenty of original and amazing content (about 20 hours worth) in the main storyline. Overall, this is a great, one-of-a-kind game and I cannot wait for the sequel.