Mass Effect

Mass Effect Limited Edition
$39.99
I've always been a fan of BioWare games, mostly because I love a good storyline and BioWare knows how to deliver; and this game is no exception. BioWare has a nice RPG part to it, a nice third-person shooter part (could've been better with actual collision-detection determining hits instead of rolling dice behind the scenes), some fun side quests, great voice acting, beautiful graphics and an amazing story that is told in an equally impressive way. If you love RPGs with a great story, and you also like third-person shooters, then this game is for you.

Mass Effect
$19.99
As a moderately casual gamer, I had a lot of fun playing this science-fiction half RPG half shooter. There is lots to do and collect. It is fairly immersive. The key here is if you have the time. I ended up logging nearly 60 hours on this one, which took a long time playing casually over time. I did play all the side quests and exploring though.

The main story missions are a lot better than the side missions. The side missions and planets to explore are generic, uninspired, and repeat, but yet I still had fun exploring all of them. You see the same base or ship configuration over and over when exploring.

The game is pretty easy on the default setting once you level up a little bit and get upgraded weapons. I found it very difficult early on to pass the first major set of enemies I ran into at the end of the first planet I landed on, but afterwards was a near cake-walk on the shooter aspects because I kept leveling up and getting better armor, weapons, upgrades, etc. You collect loot from enemies you kill and can sell it and buy more. But there is little need to purchase because you find enough better weapons anyway and just use them. It is a little annoying to trek back to a shop keeper that likes you that you can sell for a higher price. In the end I ended up maxing out my money since I rarely spent anything in the game.

It is a little tedious to wait in elevators, watch the docking and undocking animations over and over, etc. I wish I could jump more directly onto the ship and off rather than docking, embarking/decontamination, elevator, then taking a fast transport to where you want to go.

The game adapts a bit to your choices, so there is more replay value to play again with different choices.

Mass Effect 2
$59.95
The second chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy takes you to the darkest reaches of space, where you must uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of humans across many worlds. Prepare yourself for a suicide mission to save mankind. Travel the galaxy to assemble a team of soldiers and combat specialists, and launch an all-out assault on the heart of enemy territory.

Mass Effect 2
$49.95
The second chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy takes you to the darkest reaches of space, where you must uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of humans across many worlds. Prepare yourself for a suicide mission to save mankind. Travel the galaxy to assemble a team of soldiers and combat specialists, and launch an all-out assault on the heart of enemy territory.