==Mass Effect==

===The Story===

This is the start to one of the greatest stories in RPG history, and possibly the greatest series. Its not perfect by any means, but still a fantastic gaming experience and well worth the money. It is a space epic revolving around political intrigue, philosophical questions about the nature of life, personal stories and a threat to the galaxy the likes of which have never been seen. You play as Commander Shepherd, a space marine in the distant future where humanity has reached the stars and found them already inhabited with a huge civilisation of different species. After discovering a plot to threaten the entire galaxy, you are promoted to Spectre, essentially the Galaxy's MI5, and sent off to save the universe.

Interspersed within its grand and epic plot are hundreds of personal stories, those of your team mates, those of the beleaguered citizens of the galaxy caught up in all the chaos, and those of all the different races with all their tensions, grudges and wounds. This is what makes Mass Effect so great; it is a complete universe in and of itself, a setting of such great depth that it captures the imagination instantly.

===The Gameplay===

The combat is average third person shooter stuff, with a few flaws (sniper rifles are the god rifle on certain levels, ally AI isn't great and they have a tendency to run in front of your gun, it's too easy to kite larger enemies). There are few interesting additions, such as biotic powers (like psychic powers) and hacking AI. You can customise your team to your preferences. It's nothing special, but its solid and serviceable for the game.

The second biggest aspect of the game is planet exploration, which is great. There is usually one planet in every system that can be landed on, each with its own unique environment and usually a side quest or two. Buildings on these planets suffer from 're-used level design/layout' syndrome however. A second issue is the mechanics of the MAKO, the tank you can use for traversing the worlds. It has rightfully been mocked by fans and critics alike, and even has a few jabs thrown at it by the third game in the series, for the reason that it handles like an elephant and has the ability to defy gravity and climb 180 degree walls....when it feels like it. Oh, and driving within 10 meters of lava instantly causes it to blow up. I personally found it quite amusing and a lot of fun to ride around in, but obviously that makes you feel less like an epic hero and more like a rookie failing their tank-driving test.

The morality system is interesting as well, splitting the main character, Commander Shepherd, between deontological principles and consequentialism, meaning the choices are far more complex than 'kill kitten' and 'give kitten a hug'. Every choice has its pros and cons, and ethical quandries and its effect (often quite dramatic) on the story. The character of the Commander can be customised in both appearance, class, abilities and gender. As a note, Jennifer Hale does a fantastic job in all three games as the female Commander, turning in an award-worthy performance.

===The Characters===

The other characters in the game are some of the most 3 dimensional and likeable characters in video gaming. This is what bioware excels at, making you truly care about your team and their struggles. They each have their own little missions to help you get to know them better, and will comment on the scenery and events of the story as you take them about the universe. Hell, even the main antagonists have moments that'll pull at your heart strings, which is quite the achievement. Though ME2 is far stronger in the character department, this game lays the necessary foundations.

===The Graphics and Music===

The graphics are divine; their epic, grand and beautiful, especially on the Citadel, which truly looks and feels like the hub of galactic civilisation. The music fits the game perfectly and is equally enjoyable to listen to as a stand alone piece of music (it's available on iTunes, incidentally). They even do clever thing with the music; despite everything else having its own theme the main bad-guys theme doubles as the death screen theme, which is something I didn't notice until it was pointed out to me - it's essentially conditioning you to hate him even more. It's a nice touch.

===Conclusion===

I can't stress how much I recommend this game, and its sequels. I also recommend the DLC additional missions, they're enjoyable compact stories in an of themselves, and you'll hear reference to your antics in future ME games. If you haven't already played Mass Effect, get yourself to the store and buy it now. You won't regret it.