Finally, a game that gets me! It's been too long since a game has so thoroughly and
effectively glued my butt to a couch and my eyes to a screen. But, before I have a joy-
gasm just thinking about it, let's "Tarantino" the story just a bit. (Yes, that's a Dane Cook
joke...)

Recently, my husband and I convinced ourselves that an Xbox 360 would be worth the
investment. I, finally admitting to myself that the third installation of Katamari Damacy was
not likely to be released for Playstation 3 any time soon, had begun mulling around the idea
of getting a 360. As soon as I mentioned this thought to my husband, I was immediately
bombarded with an onslaught of puppy-dog eyes and six-year-old Christmas morning glee.
How could any decent and loving gamer-wife say "no" to that? Soon, the question of which
version of the 360 to get became the question...followed, of course, by which games to
take home that first day. My vote, as you may have guessed, went to Beautiful Katamari.
My husband's game of choice was a game that I had seen him play briefly at a friend's
house called Mass Effect...



It looked mildly entertaining...But, how good could it be, really? I watched disinterestedly
as my husband played through the beginning of the game...Meh, I guess I could get into
that. Then the fateful moment came, when he extended the controller to me and asked,
"Do you want to try making a character?" "Sure, I'll give it a shot...," I say without much
in the way of enthusiasm.

Twenty minutes later, Commander "Phoenix" Shepard is ready for action. She is a spacer,
war-hero Navy brat. Not a thing like me, except, maybe, phenotypically-speaking...So,
doubtfully, I launch myself into the game...and I get my ass kicked. WHAT?! Oh, hell no!
Stupid, third-person shooters! Stupid Xbox controllers with their analog sticks in weird
places! But...I can't put it down! I'm already too attached to my character. The story has
reeled me in and refuses to let me go. (I'm not sure, because I couldn't tear my eyes
away from the screen long enough to check, but my husband probably had a look of dread
on his face at this point. A look of horror that his XBox had just been taken over mixed
with fear that he might never "get any" again...Nah. It was probably just a look of proud
admiration that his wife was a nerd.)

So, not only did Mass Effect grab my attention, but it kept it, too. At every opportunity, I
was at the helm of the Normandy, flying through the Milky Way on some mission or
assignment. Bioware out-did itself this time, I have to say. The only complaint I have in
regards to this game is the loading time, and that is due to the limitations of the Xbox. (:(
Don't get me wrong, I love our Xbox... But, sorry, Xbox fan-boys, you have to admit that
Sony's PS3 has wins out with it's real-time processor...)The amount of detail in this game
floored me. There are several clusters, containing numerous systems, housing a
surprisingly varied amount of planets. The alien species are as varied and unique as one
could wish. The art and architecture blew me away. But, the Mass Effect team didn't spend
all its time on the setting. There is the intricate story within which you find yourself. But,
best of all, is the fact that you, the gamer, choose what will happen next. Your story is as
unique as you are. All other story lines will seem suddenly more contrived and less
personal. Things happen if and when you say they happen. Granted, this is not the first
game to give you said options; however, it seems to be, in my opinion, the only one that
does so at such an extreme level, all the while entrancing you with it's beautiful graphics
and extensive setting. I will admit to being pulled into the romantic sub-plot, as well.

As I was finishing my first play through of Mass Effect, I sat tense and attentive in our
recliner, watching to see what the outcome of all my 43 hours of play would be. My
husband, looking at me in amusement and chuckling, says, "Look at you nerding out over
there..."



"YES! It was everything I thought it would be and more! Haha!"