Mass Effect is a game that , much like the Pacific Ocean and Jesse Jackson, will divide people until the end of time. So varied are the responses to it, one would think it was the equivalent of a pixelated rorschach: if a person wants to see an underwhelming, incompetent, and boring game, they certainly will. On the other hand, there can also be seen, if looking through a rosier-colored monacle, a Venus de Milo of video games; flawed, but no less beautiful because of it. This is the category I tend to fall into.

For every clever quip and rancorous remark that the game recieves, I can match with a redeeming quality. You say "frequent load times, textural pop-in," and I say "punching a reporter in the face." You say "combat A.I. is computarded, and team members stand in front of me," to which I reply "Use them as human shields if they don't move. Then you won't die so much." Lastly, you say "hours of endless dialogue that take away from the action." I say "blue ass."



No other game that I have played delivered the overall feelings of sheer epicness, consequence, and freedom like Mass Effect, and I am glad I bought an XBox this time around because of it. That being said, my only real complaint is that they just didn't make enough of the damned game, but I believe that complaint is always said in regards to any truly great, engaging title (except Oblivion).

My score:

9.8/10