When I first played Mass Effect, something about the game failed to engage me - from the cookie-cutter characters to the clunky controls, I felt I couldn't stick it out to the end, so I quit. But after returning, I soon realised that was a mistake. What this game lacks in those qualities, it makes up for in its mesmerising world and narrative craftsmanship. By the midpoint of the story, it had me absorbed. The game isn't narratively perfect or devoid of cliches, but among a sea of generic sci-fi stories, it's refreshing to see something so well thought out. I can't wait to see where the story goes next.