Sy-Fy Channel original movie meets mediocre seventh-gen shooter. Mass Effect is a game that's largely carried by the strength of its worldbuilding, atmosphere, and cast of characters, though the latter still feels like a step down from the game's spiritual predecessor, Knights of the Old Republic (complete with a carbon copy knockoff of Carth, right down to the same voice actor, only with a far less interesting backstory). Having recently gone back and played a bit of KOTOR before this, it was interesting to see that despite how far BioWare managed to come in four years, there were still many details lacking. For example, even with the wider variety of much-improved animations available during conversations, Mass Effect's character interactions still feel far more robotic. This certainly wasn't helped by the creepy crazy-eyes everyone possesses.
From a gameplay perspective, Mass Effect shrines brightest during its downtimes. Immersing yourself in the Citadel, walking around learning all about these weird aliens and the society they've constructed, vibing to the fantastic soundtrack - these were all things I felt most at home doing. But then you head off on a mission and you're either shooting the same four aliens in cramped corridors over and over or exploring barren, rocky planets (only differentiated by their shade of color) in 2007's most mandated feature: the vehicle section. I can almost appreciate how bold and innovative they were trying to be here, but the exploration completely breaks down when the only thing you have to find are rocks, probes, and the same copy-pasted bunkers that all feature the exact same layout. In-between you're playing a thousand games of Simon to get loot you probably already have five copies of. It's a real bummer.
Also, despite claims I've heard over the years the first Mass Effect was the strongest from a role-playing perspective, even that side of the game comes off more than a little shallow. I didn't feel like my class or its abilities added much to the experience when every problem was so easily solved with the gunplay. The morality system - a holdover from Knight of the Old Republic - feels extraneous in a world that largely wants to play in shades of grey. In a Star Wars setting, it makes perfect sense - good and evil are tangible things thanks to the Force. But here, despite their attempt to rebrand it with different names, you often feel like you're punished for making sensible choices. Renegade can run the gamut of "cold but logical" decisions to "bloodthirsty and psychotic."
A decent game but one that's ultimately a product of its time.
From a gameplay perspective, Mass Effect shrines brightest during its downtimes. Immersing yourself in the Citadel, walking around learning all about these weird aliens and the society they've constructed, vibing to the fantastic soundtrack - these were all things I felt most at home doing. But then you head off on a mission and you're either shooting the same four aliens in cramped corridors over and over or exploring barren, rocky planets (only differentiated by their shade of color) in 2007's most mandated feature: the vehicle section. I can almost appreciate how bold and innovative they were trying to be here, but the exploration completely breaks down when the only thing you have to find are rocks, probes, and the same copy-pasted bunkers that all feature the exact same layout. In-between you're playing a thousand games of Simon to get loot you probably already have five copies of. It's a real bummer.
Also, despite claims I've heard over the years the first Mass Effect was the strongest from a role-playing perspective, even that side of the game comes off more than a little shallow. I didn't feel like my class or its abilities added much to the experience when every problem was so easily solved with the gunplay. The morality system - a holdover from Knight of the Old Republic - feels extraneous in a world that largely wants to play in shades of grey. In a Star Wars setting, it makes perfect sense - good and evil are tangible things thanks to the Force. But here, despite their attempt to rebrand it with different names, you often feel like you're punished for making sensible choices. Renegade can run the gamut of "cold but logical" decisions to "bloodthirsty and psychotic."
A decent game but one that's ultimately a product of its time.
PinkCheese
9 months ago