Mass Effect Platinum Hits - Xbox 360

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• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  A New Level of Role-Playing Game - The Benchmark

  • Incentivized

  The release of Bioware's latest RPG, Mass Effect, has set a new standard by which to compare all other games, role-playing or otherwise. From the moment you are faced with seemingly endless customization options at the beginning of your quest to the bittersweet ending, Mass Effect creates more than just ambiance; it takes you to a universe you will care about deeply and not soon forget. The story, augmented by phenomenal voice-acting comprised of a host of big name celebrities, is wonderfully told with a plot that surpasses many of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. What makes the story so intriguing is that you get to interact and choose how it unfolds; changing the outcome based on the dialogue and action choices you make. In fact, there are often so many choices that you have to play through the game at least twice to experience all of them. Further bolstering the story and gameplay is the aural treat fed by the original score. Subtle and ethereal, it blends wonderfully with the varying emotions presented throughout the game. Depending on your playing style the game can last anywhere from 30 hours and up, but that is just the first time around. Replay value is added by playing the same character multiple ways and, if you switch the gender of your character, an entire new voice actor speaks your lead character's part. Even a near-perfect game such as this is not entirely without flaws. All of the complexities that make this game so amazing occasionally slow the frame rate and cause the screen to momentarily freeze or judder. Also, there are certain instances where the controls simply do not feel right, such as when you are driving your All Terrain Vehicle across uncharted worlds. If you have not yet experienced Mass Effect, this is one piece of software you cannot afford to miss. It will play for hours, but you will remember it for months.

  Posted 17 years ago by paradsecar

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Fun but repetitive.

  • Incentivized

  Wow, for $20 this is one of the best deals out there for Xbox 360 gamers. This game was groundbreaking when it came out. The story, dialogue system and combat system were all new and refreshing as well as a lot of fun and incredibly well done. Sure, the drawn out conversations can be mind-numbing at times and the teammate AI has its moments but for the most part this game delivers with good quality entertainment. The story is epic and the characters are unique and varied, each having their own story and personality. The graphics hold up really well almost two years later as well. Their are tons of customization options as well. You get six character classes to choose from, four weapons, armor, five teammates, and you can even customize your ammo and grenade type. The combat is a near-perfect balance of RPG and tactical 3rd person combat, however most battles are over in no time. My only major complaint with this game is the consistently repetitive side missions. The buildings and environments aren't very unique and you'll notice early on that most of them are just cookie-cutter and not very unique. That said, the story missions are very well done and not repetive at all. Also just one small complaint against the alien romance plot you can explore if you choose. I couldn't help but laugh when these characters are acting all serious as if there's nothing at all weird about a man (or woman) having a romantic and even physical relationship with a slimy blue alien chick. But whatever, this game rocks, and for $20 it's a great deal for someone wanting a fun entertaining experience with tons of replay value and a good story. 4 Stars and a Recommendation go to Mass Effect.

  Posted 16 years ago by Tommy870

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  A great Real-Time RPG

  • Incentivized

  This is a great game. The main story is fantastic and the numerous subplots and storylines only enhance the main story line. This is a real-time role playing game that feels like a third person shooter. However, if you try to go through the game as if it were a third person shooter you will be met with frustration because you will die, frequently, especially on the harder levels. The amount of customization that is allowed with you character is decent. You can customize your characters face to a certain degree and pick from a variety of character histories that will affect how NPCs react to you in the game. There are four different weapons' classes in the game: Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, and Pistol. Each class has a variety of weapons to choose from, but like most standard RPGs they only vary in strength and not it how they play. However, there are various weapon and ammo upgrades that can increase accuracy, range, damage, etc. The best part about the combat however is the use of techs and biotic. These give you all kinds of powers such as the ability to lift your enemy in the air, throw them across the room, cause there weapons to blow up in their hands and many, many more. This is where the RPG element comes into play. When accessing the menu the game pauses and allows you to assess your current situation and allows you to map out the course of action you want to take. This all plays very well without really breaking up the game. The major downside to the whole game is the Mako. This is the vehicle you drive around in while exploring all of the worlds in the game. Driving can become frustrating because the controls are not as responsive as one would like. The use of the weapons on the Mako is even more frustrating. While it appears that the turret can move up and down, the ammo only lands on the same level your vehicle is on. This means that any enemy that is above or below you is untouchable. This will become really frustrating when you think you have a clear shot at an enemy, only to see the explosion of your cannon shell land no where near your enemy. This would not be that big of a detractor, but the use of the Mako is heavily emphasized in some parts of the game. However, the rest of the game is so good it is easy to overlook this part. If you are a fan of western RPGs, then this is a must have game.

  Posted 17 years ago by MAC22