Now Replaying: Mass Effect

The recent announcement that Mass Effect 2 will allow you to reuse the custom character you created in the first game has me replaying the original, sprawling, epic sci-fi RPG. And sure it has some niggling annoyances, like the long elevator rides that conceal level load times, but the sheer size, depth, and cinematic production quality is just overwhelming. After some time away from the game, it's easy to forget just what an experience it is. But that makes it even more nice to rediscover a year later.


The variety to be found in combat from character to character also adds to the replay value. Each time you create a new "Commander Shepherd" - male or female, combat or tech focused, "biotic" power-infused or a jack-of-all-trades - it feels like you have an entirely new game ahead of you. The combat mechanics play out in real time from a third-person shooter POV but allow you to pause and set strategies at your own pace, which is unfailingly satisfying.


The level of production quality and immersion really create a feel of "role playing" via dialogue choices and how you form (or destroy) relationships. And people. I almost want to create every possible character type and take each one through the game so that I'll have them all on hand, with their own look, background, personality and story, for the sequel. And because this game is just so deep and so involving, I feel like it would be just as fun on the 10th play-through as it was on the second or third.

Gamerankings.com average: 90.86/100