Product Description

In Mass Effect, you'll be assuming the role of commander Shepard, the leader of an elite commando unit, and going on a breathtaking adventure through infinite space. You can add personal touches to your hero while you explore this interplanetary universe and play a game where the ending is never the same!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #196 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Microsoft
• Released on: 2007-11-23
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Number of items: 1

Manufacturer's Description
Mass Effect is a science-fiction action and role-playing game (RPG) created by BioWare, the commercially and critically acclaimed RPG developer of Jade Empire and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Mass Effect delivers an immersive, story-driven gameplay experience with stunning visual fidelity. As the first humans on the galactic stage, players must uncover the greatest threat to civilization. Their job is complicated by the fact that no one will believe the truth, but the world must be convinced of the grave threat at hand.

Players will travel across an expansive universe to piece the mystery together. As they discover and explore the uncharted edges of the galaxy, they come closer to an overwhelming truth learning that the placid and serene universe they know is about to come to a violent end and that they may be the only people who can stop it.

On a distant planet an amazing discovery is made. Players must determine the fate of humanity as they lead an elite tactical strike force in an effort to stop an entity so malevolent that it threatens to tear apart the very fibre of galactic civilization. Mass Effect will take players to new depths for an action-RPG, where, unlike in most RPGs, they will be faced with morally complex decisions that have significant impact on the fate of all life in the galaxy. Players must succeed in their quest no matter what the cost.

In addition to the main story arc of the game, players will be able to visit a large number of uncharted, unexplored planets that are side quests independent from the main story. At any time during the campaign, a player can choose to explore one of these planets and have an opportunity to discover new alien life, resources, ruined civilizations and powerful technologies.

Mass Effect features a real-time, squad-based tactical combat system. Players will enjoy intense, challenging and exciting third-person action and squad-based combat. Players and their squad-mates will be able to engage the enemy with ranged weapons and covering fire, biotic powers and science-based magic, and technological powers all of which will be accompanied by amazing visual and physics effects that will add tremendous excitement and drama to the battlefield. Whether they use powerful biotic powers or the latest in military hardware, players will be well-equipped to take on whatever comes their way.

Mass Effect will feature a huge cast of incredibly realistic non-player characters, enemies and party members. Each of the characters encountered will have realistic facial and body movements. A revolutionary advanced dialogue and AI system gives them engaging personalities, creating individuals so realistic they will seem like the first true digital actors ever seen in a video game. The resulting experience is one in which players will feel as if they are part of a rich, living world.

Players will be able to choose from and customize a variety of stunning, photo-realistic character appearances at the start of the game, and can increase various statistics that will affect their performance during gameplay. The reward system in Mass Effect is deep, well-integrated and extremely engaging. New equipment, weapons and armour that are acquired during the course of the story will change the appearance of the characters. Mass Effect will give players a huge breadth of additional customization options for their characters, weapons and vehicles. Talents and abilities will be upgradeable, and advanced talent options will become available at higher levels. Weapons and vehicles will be customizable to include various effects, abilities and upgrades. Each character class will have unique talents and abilities that will increase in power as players progress through the game.

Mass Effect takes full advantage of the hardware of Xbox 360, providing players with exciting new experiences, including photo-realistic, high-definition graphics on an epic scale, and amazingly realistic characters who bring the world alive. Players will be immersed in a massive universe of unbelievable scale, meet characters that feel real and, most important, interact with them in ways that have never been possible before. As the future of gaming goes online, premium downloadable content and recognition of achievements will be available via the Xbox Live online game service.

Developer Information:
BioWare Corp. is a developer of computer and console video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Currently in development are Mass Effect (for Xbox 360) and Dragon Age (for PC), two brand-new intellectual properties created and owned by BioWare, with Mass Effect to be published by Microsoft Game Studios. BioWare's new studio in Austin, Texas, has begun work on a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, BioWare's first entry into the MMO space. BioWare's Technology Architecture Group is also developing the cutting-edge, next-generation BioWare Eclipse Engine technology for multiple platforms. Other previously published projects include the action-RPG of 2005 for Xbox, Jade Empire, the 2003 Game of the Year currently in development for the PC, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for Xbox and PC, the award-winning Neverwinter Nights series, and the genre-defining Baldur's Gate RPG series for the PC.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic
What a game. Graphicly brilliant, the story line is increadibe and the game play is great and has so much depth. The one criticism of the game would be that the action can be far inbetween sometimes, but for me this does not let the game down at all. Make a sequel, make a film, the whole lot.

Brilliant campaign but what next
Mass effect was truly a spectacular game. Great graphics and storyline. But after the campaign there is no free roam unlike Oblivion. You have to restart the campaign from scratch. Overall brilliant but needs free roam

Immensely enjoyable Action RPG of epic proportions.
This is one of the crowning jewels of the 360 and is to set the new standards in RPGs.

We live in the an age where video games have to be cinematically immersive nowadays and this game does it very well.
This game has a very exciting sci-fi cast that makes it easily earn the title of the Star Wars of the video games universe.
The cinematics looks great especially considering it's mostly game graphics.
The cast of characters seem very human too ( alot of these aliens will make you smile too, wrex is a riot and tali is adoreable ), despite their alien looks and this has got have the best voice acting and script in a video game so far. Half the fun is getting to know the characters and in their past.
They've certainly created a rich world of intergalatic politics, cultures and technology in this game, that one could easily appreciate and get lost in. Sometimes it feels more than a game.
You will enjoy working your way through the conversation trees of this game , it's easily one of the best things about the game and my personal favourite bit. Even some nice subtle humour thrown in to boot !

This might as well be a summer sci-fi blockbuster movie to tell the truth , except you can play it.
Another bonus is creating your own character at the start too , who will play the role of hero/heroine in this epic adventure.

Gameplaywise there's lots of equipping, menus and customisation as you expect from an rpg ... but what you wouldn't expect is that this game is half shooter !
This easily makes the RPG genre more accessible to the more action orientated gamers, which is what excites me that this is the new era of rpgs.

The shooter based combat system is fun once you get used to it, plus there's spells too.
But don't expect it will be as polished as your favourite grade A shooter titles on 360.

I have greatly enjoyed this game but wish it did last longer ..... kind of short for an rpg if you only do the main story missions .... a double / triple disc feature would have been nice .... but anyway this game is gonna be a trilogy so i will look forward to the next in the series.

There is still alot of replay value for the game , even after one playthrough , because you're not likely to see all the galaxy has to offer in one playthrough unless you take your time.
Plus that nature of the game allows you to make decisions that effect the plot / how you react to situation / people , so it might be interesting to play through again to see how things play out a second time.

There are a few things that let this game down such as a sometimes choppy framerate / jumpy camera and not being able to land on every planet you see is a bit of downer too. Although you'd probably need more than one disc for that.

The worst thing is this game is glitch central. This game is full of glitches that can halt your progress or are just plain weird and some freeze ups too.

Other than that it's a wonderful gaming experience any serious gamer should give a chance , especially sci fi fans and any gamers who like to meet some interesting characters for a change, instead of shoting them in the head as usual.

Well diamonds all have their rough edges , no ? But this still a great diamond none the less. A definite 360 favourite for me !