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TDouglass's Mass Effect (360)
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| [February 7, 2008 09:44:46 PM]
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Gameplay
After having some more time with Mass Effect, I am very pleased with this game as a whole. It has some pivotal RPG elements combined into a shooter game, and it works well. There was never a dull moment while I was playing, whether during some of the intense fighting sequences or some of the longer dialogues, because you are in complete control the whole time. You can really shape your experience with the game through conversation, and many of your choices affect the rest of the plot hugely, so that you can feasibly replay the game multiple times and never have the same end result.
Design
From a design perspective, I am completely thrilled with Mass Effect. The incorporation of two distinct genres into a functional title is a rare feat, and yet Mass Effect has no flaws as far as I can tell. The experience system for leveling up is interesting, and characters are customizable as much as one could expect. Having 6 different possible party members makes for many possible combinations of skills that directly affect combat, and I am really looking forward to going back and trying some of the combinations that I missed the first time through.
Mass Effect, simply put, works. It is an exceptionally ambitious title that makes very bold claims: an open, customizable world that combines both RPG and shooter elements seamlessly makes for a great tagline, but is significantly difficult to execute. Bioware accomplishes this handily, and Mass Effect comes out with both an incredibly strong and engaging storyline as well as fast-paced combat that keeps players on their toes between battles. This game is evidence that there is still room for innovation in games, and it opens new doors for possible combinations of other genres in the years to come.
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| [February 6, 2008 08:32:34 PM]
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Summary
Mass Effect is an expansive role-playing game akin to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (and sequel). The player controls Commander Shepard, and can dictate Shepard's personality via an initial set of descriptors and dialogue throughout the game. Shepard gains allies and progresses through levels in a 3rd person shooter style play with the ability to use skills outside of standard shooter parameters, dubbed Biotics. Mass Effect hinges on its flexible storyline, and play is determined by the choices players make as they progress.
Gameplay
My first experience with Mass Effect was very enjoyable. Immediately after starting, I noticed the parallels between it and Knights of the Old Republic, but can’t complain since I really enjoyed that game when it was released. The combat is simple enough to not be frustrating while challenging enough to stay interesting, a hard combination in role playing games.
I am not sure that I can classify this experience as a Shooter or an RPG, it acts as a fusion of the two really. While the combat from my style has been mostly shooting, the story elements and customization of characters alongside the leveling system with XP add too many RPG elements for me to say that it is simply a shooter with some RPG twists. Really, Mass Effect looks like a combination of my two favorite kinds of games, and I am really looking forward to playing more of it.
The story also looks incredibly complex based on my first session with the game. I can already tell that it will be a long game, and anticipate several interesting twists along the way. Because I am familiar with the function of these kinds of games, I have been carefully making my decisions to craft the experience I want out of it, but am definitely already looking forward to going back and seeing where making different choices will take me. After only an hours of Mass Effect, I am hooked and ready for more.
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TDouglass's Mass Effect (360)
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Current Status: Playing
GameLog started on: Wednesday 6 February, 2008
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