Games

Best of 2008 | 07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Mass Effect

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.3 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 45 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 200 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: BioWare - Demiurge

Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: May 28, 2008

Summary

As the first human on the galactic stage, you must uncover the greatest threat to civilization. Your job is complicated by the very fact of your humanity, as no one trusts you and you need to find a way to convince everyone of the grave threat. You will travel across an expansive universe to piece the mystery together. As you discover and explore the uncharted edges of the galaxy, you come closer to an overwhelming truth - learning that the placid and serene universe you know is about to come to a violent end and that you may be the only person who can stop it! In addition to the main story arc of the game, players are be able to visit a large number of uncharted, unexplored planets which 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. Talents and abilities are upgradeable and advanced talent options become available at higher levels. Weapons and vehicles are customizable to include various effects, abilities and upgrades using the "X-Mod" system. Each character class have unique talents and abilities which increase in power as the player progresses through the game. Optimized controls have been designed specifically for the PC. Fully customizable controls â PC gamers can re-map the control scheme any way they like. Run & Gun Control â Players can assign biotic powers or skills to âhot keysâ allowing them to play Mass Effect with a heavier focus on action. New decryption mini-game. New inventory screen GUI and functionality â The enhanced inventory system makes it easier for players to equip and modify their weapons and armor. [Microsoft]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

VideoGamer

This is a port, but it's more than a port. BioWare, with a little help from a friend, has made one of the best RPGs ever made even better.

Read Full Review >

100

GameSpy

If you missed it the first time around, or were waiting for the inevitable PC version, you won't be disappointed here.

Read Full Review >

100

G4 TV

Computer owners are getting everything found in the Xbox 360 game, including achievements and online leaderboards, but with better visuals, smoother action, and a more streamlined interface. That the game rings up at a lower retail price and offers the first expansion pack as a free download is simply icing on the cake.

Read Full Review >

Play.tm

Did I mention the last two hours are pure gaming and storytelling nirvana?

Read Full Review >

Pelit (Finland)

Quotation forthcoming. [June 2008]

GameZone

If you’ve held out until now, this is your chance to play one of the best RPGs to hit in the past several years.

Read Full Review >

GameFocus

Talk to NPCs, explore some of the solar systems and you will find a much deeper and enjoyable game then the quick experience of just playing the story.

Read Full Review >

GamerNode

The move to PC allowed the developers to focus on enhancing the visuals for the game with sharper textures and higher resolution support. Along with the crisper graphics, plenty of attention was given to the game's performance.

Read Full Review >

Game Informer

Nearly every one of the many praises and criticisms of the console version can accurately be applied to this port, but I'd recommend this edition of Mass Effect to anyone with a good PC.

Read Full Review >

PTGamers

Mass Effect PC wasn't rushed, this version has clearly been thoroughly thought-out to exploit the advantages of this platform.

Read Full Review >

Gamers.at

Mass Effect knocked me off my feet: The presentation is fantastic, and many small improvements compared to the Xbox 360 version make the game a great roleplaying experience. Anyone who hasn’t played the title yet should definitely give it a try now! [Issue#14]

Strategy Informer

Mass Effect is a superb game for its story, its breadth of characters and setting a new bar of standard for cinematic videogaming.

Read Full Review >

AtomicGamer

It still doesn't quite live up to the masterful story and whizzing lightsabers of Knights of the Old Republic, but for the first game in a new series, Mass Effect is an excellent start.

Read Full Review >

PC Zone UK

If you are a fan of what BioWare's done in the past, like action with a hefty dose of sci-fi and want something new, or just like playing a really good game, then you owe it to yourself to pick up this fantastic title.

Read Full Review >

IGN

It almost goes without saying that BioWare remains one of the very top single-player RPG makers on the planet, and Mass Effect only reinforces their position.

Read Full Review >

1UP

By all counts, Mass Effect for the PC is essentially the "definitive" version of the game; it runs much smoother on decent machines and just generally plays better...even if it still suffers from some of the original's fundamental flaws (along with a few new ones).

Read Full Review >

GameShark

While it may not offer the complexity of the old Baldur's Gate games, at its core, it's still an RPG fan's RPG.

Read Full Review >

PC Gamer

Mass Effect deserves a spot on your shelf next to the rest of the PC's great RPGs. [Aug 2008, p.58]

Boomtown

The words stunning, engrossing and addicting just don't do this game justice, and if it wasn't for my belief that no game will ever be truly perfect (as well as the vehicular silliness and the occasionally suicidal squad antics), the score you see below would have crept into double figures.

Read Full Review >

Level7.nu

Mass Effect for the PC is basically the same game as it was on Xbox 360. The dialogue system is still as innovative and the combat is still as intense and intuitive. There are some minor flaws such as occasional framerate issues and annoying loading sequences, but this is still as much of a fantastic game as it’s console counterpart.

Read Full Review >

GameDaily

The game that was already exceptional on the Xbox 360 is even better on the PC, so it's really a no brainer.

Read Full Review >

GamePro

If you've already tackled the console version, you certainly don't need to shell out for the PC version, too, but if you haven't yet experienced this magnum opus, this is the version you should play.

Read Full Review >

GameSpot

Whether you're a seasoned Spectre looking to suit up again, or a newcomer who has never set foot on the Normandy, the refined PC version is your best choice for experiencing this excellent game.

Read Full Review >

2404.org

However long your initial play-through is, Mass Effect will only impress with its cinematic dialogue sequences, intense combat, and addicting exploration aspect.

Read Full Review >

NZGamer

The game looks even more fantastic than ever and a few extra features are on its way for lucky PC users.

Read Full Review >

Cynamite

If you can’t wait to run to the next store and buy Mass Effect now, you should be aware of one thing: Its luxurious graphics need a luxurious PC.

Read Full Review >

MEGamers

Bioware have succeeded in making Mass Effect a sci-fi universe gaming with great and interesting races and characters. The gameplay is an impressive merging between third person shooter and RPG without compromising with any of each genre functions.

Read Full Review >

BigPond GameArena

If you haven't already played it on the 360, get it right now and see what you have been missing. If you have played it on the 360, get it right now and play it properly, the way it should have been in the first place.

Read Full Review >

Worth Playing

By far Mass Effect's strongest suit, as the screenshots can attest, is the quality of the visuals.

Read Full Review >

PC Gamer UK

Large, engrossing and exquisite. [July 2008, p.68]

RPG Fan

BioWare has created a top-shelf RPG with Mass Effect, though it's not without its flaws. Many of the issues present in the Xbox 360 version of the title are gone, and while there are new issues thrown into the PC version, they are minor in comparison.

Read Full Review >

ActionTrip

It terms of visuals, Mass Effect delivers in every sense.

Read Full Review >

Computer Games Online RO

Mass Effect is without doubt the best Xbox 360 RPG at the moment. But we’re on PC market here, so it’s a bit more obvious that BioWare just wanted to test the waters a bit with its very own Star Wars brand. Not to mention that Mass Effect simply has too many alternatives on the PC.

Read Full Review >

Game Over Online

The story is original, compelling, and told in a way that builds suspense. It's the other stuff, 10% of the game tops, that Mass Effect could have done without.

Read Full Review >

GameStar

The abundance of details about politics, technology, planets and the different alien races create an unparalleled depth for a role-playing game. The story is captivating right until the impressive and dramatic finale. If it wasn't for the more or less necessary but repetitive side quests, the game would be exceptional. There is room for improvement, but as far as story telling is concerned, Mass Effect wipes the floor with the competition.

Read Full Review >

PALGN

Mass Effect might be shovelled into an ill-fitting RPG suit with a few loose threads and unsightly stains, but if you stand back and squint, it's still a damn sight better than what everyone else is wearing.

Read Full Review >

PC Format

Mass Effect's impressive storytelling struggles against remarkably clunky combat action, and wins - but only just. [July 2008, p.100]

Cheat Code Central

As a whole, the main plotline makes for a decent "save-the-galaxy-from-a-terrible-and-seemingly-invincible-threat" story. On its own, the main narrative probably wouldn't amount to much, but fused with the side missions and background stories of all the characters, it just works.

Read Full Review >

DarkZero

Visually, the port doesn’t do much that the 360 version didn’t - but then the game looked pretty incredible to begin with, so that’s hardly a criticism.

Read Full Review >

Play (Poland)

It's not a game for everyone. Not all enjoy spending upwards to 70% of game time talking to the NPC's. The combat system has its faults as does the AI, the new items look just like the old ones, and graphics, while pretty, is not spectacular. But I had a great time with this SF story written with a lot of vigor, creativity and depth. [July 2008]

Eurogamer

But you also suspect BioWare's on the right track, and until it pulls it off - and the initial noises about the sequel seem promising - Mass Effect offers us a singular universe of excitement and drama to lose ourselves in.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer Portugal

Despite all of Mass Effect's qualities, small problems affect the overall experience. The vehicular control, some overly lengthy dialogues, and the poor graphical quality bring the whole package down, but overall is a very enjoyable game.

Read Full Review >

PC PowerPlay

Over the course of its 30 or so hours, Mass Effect defies many of your assumptions about the modern RPG. It’s as innovative as it is traditional and succeeds where you least expect. However, one assumption remains: Bioware still know how to make a terrific game. [Sept 2008, p.55]

Thunderbolt

Though Citadel Action News rarely provides an editorial stance, we believe that all citizens across the galaxy should support Commander Shepard and his mission.

Read Full Review >

FiringSquad

As captivating as Mass Effect is in terms of story, setting, and core game mechanics, it sort of falls apart when it comes to basic gameplay.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 200 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Edward R gave it an8:
Far from a perfect game, but a very good one. It's strength lies in its storytelling and characters - you care about these people and what happens to them, and although the story is a bit generic and unimaginative, the dialogue and set pieces more than more up for it. (It's also worth nothing that the facial animation is excellent and it really immerses you into the game.) The combat is fun (especially using the sniper rifle :3 ) but some of the abilities of your men and confusing to use and I couldn't figure out how to use the upgrades. Plus the item system was a bit confusing and annoying as well. In short, most of the RPG elements need stripping out and thought through again. Lucky really that you can for the most part ignore them. It's also worth nothing that the side quests are incredibly dull, but considering the playtime it's hardly a massive loss. I love this game, and you should play it, if only so you can get with an alien.

Bruce H gave it a5:
Great story ... at least from what I can tell from the constant crashes. If you own a quad-core forget about playing this game until BioWare gets around to patching the game. Countless people are complaining about the same thing. Great game, but virtually unplayable due to a plethora of bugs. It constantly floods the HyperTransport of the quad processor and locks the game. It sits on my desk now as a paperweight until (or if) Bioware fixes it ... one year after it has been released for PC.

Barnee B gave it a10:
The pc version is even better than, the x360! The combat interface has been improved, and although the visuals are stunning, it runs great on a mid-class pc (athlon x2 6000+, 2 gb ram, 8800 gts 512). The only problem I had with the game was, that during conversations, between each sentence, the character animation is a bit blocky. This is probably the only game I would give a 11 if it was possibble. I find it not just the best rpg, but simply the BEST GAME OF THIS GENERATION. I've never been shocked like this before by a game. Of course you can't directly compare older and newer games. It is even better than Kotor, which is saying something! The story is excellent! Production values are amazingly high! The attention to the smallest details is evident everywhere! There's so much content in the game that it blew me away. Graphics, music and voice-over is also top notch. There are some minor technical issues like occasional slowdowns, but they never break the game so it's probably doesn't even worth mentioning. Combat is also done very well, I enjoyed the game playing as a soldier the most, it became practically a shooter with RPG elements, and for me it is the best combination. The new conversation system works very well, it's hard to go back to the traditional one, found in other RPGs. Do yourself a favour and buy this game, even if you are mildly interested in scifi, shooter or RPGs!

the fnord gave it a0:
Never have I played a game in such a state of disrepair as this. Not only are there bugs around every corner, but the enemies are stupid, the acting is bad (though some good people make starring appearances, they are very few), and the story is pried directly from the frozen dead hands of the amazing science fictions of old, such as Star Trek and Star Wars, among other less-renowned series and films. I didn't find many plot holes, but everything was predictable and generic. Add to that cinematic effects and you have a gaming masterpiece. This is my first and last BioWare purchase.

Liam H gave it a9:
An amazing game from start to finish. I completed the campaign in a bit over 16 hours. I'm an FPS guy, but Mass Effect was amazing. A few glitches, but in a huge game like this one I don't expect absolute perfection, a google search fixes all of them. This is THE best single player experience I've had since Half-Life 2. My new favorite game.

Dan J gave it a10:
Very enjoyable. One word that definitely describes this game perfectly is balance. The game excels in giving you a sense of choice and control within a brilliantly conceived game world through masterful storytelling. Excellent blend of action and RPG character development and use of Unreal Engine 3 helped to make the game look beautiful. While the character building elements are probably not the most detailed (you choose weapon and ammo loadout, skills and abilities, and your squad characters) with experience points automatically assigned throughout the course of the action it was the perfect cross-over for this reviewer who is mostly an FPS gamer. This game has wonderfully rich dialog and character/story interaction that isn't boring nor contrived and seemed to flow well regardless of the dialog choices made. In fact, I don't remember being bored playing this game at all. I mean, you can choose to run around a space station or planet for hours if you want and talk to everyone you can and you may get bored due to the distance travelled (tip: there is no achievement for this) but following the storyline cues makes this game an extremely enjoyable experience. If you want and like to explore, you can do that too, and some exploration is encouraged and essential. I didn't expect much from this game but was very impressed. One of the best single player experiences I've had for a while.

M Grant gave it a9:
Um....okay a few points. 1) I have no idea why people are complaining about lock ups. I played this game on damn near max on a2.3ghz Dual Core with a NVIDIA 7600 and was fine, no graphical issues, the game looked and ran great. 2)This is possibly my favorite game ever. The story was simple yes, but it still grabs you. The interaction makes you a part of it, and the fact that it is a rare game that gives you that "command decision" (those of you who have beat it know what I am talking about) as well as a few other twists and turns dependent on who you are and what you've done really gives you an interactive story feel. Bio ware didnt fail imo but the weapons and armor do feel a little old very soon with repatitve models and little to no difference in upgrades until about the end of the game. 3)While I give kudose for attempting at replayability, even going a drastically differernt path still feels too familiar and makes it difficult to play, even though I really want to (ie playing through with the higher gear or playing through as a bioic with assult rifle ) I criticise because thats part of the job of crticing a game but ultimately it is a great game, and its opne or two minor downfalls are really the only reason its not a perfect 10 and I wish metacritic had a better/more accurate rating system so I could go as far as 9.5.

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Mass Effect

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases