Mass Effect (2007) [Steam]

“The important achievement of Apollo was demonstrating that humanity is not forever chained to this planet, and our visions go rather further than that, and that our opportunities are unlimited.”

– Neil Armstrong

Since the days of the Super Nintendo, I always believed that RPGs were a fantasy genre of video games exclusively from Japan. That whole concept changed for me when I played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic in 2003. Released by North American developer Bioware, KOTOR had a rich feeling of lore, characters, story, gameplay, and mechanics. Never before had I witnessed such a well crafted Western RPG. It stands to reason how Bioware became such a household name over the last 15 years.

As I was becoming more ingrained within the Western RPG subgenre, I was immediately enamored with Mass Effect, a game that combined an RPG’s sense of exploration and skill branching with the fast-paced action of a third-person shooter. Never before had I experienced such a dynamic blending of gameplay styles into one game (sorry: Final Fantasy: Dirge of Cerberus doesn’t count).

Not only was Mass Effect a well-designed game, but it featured some of the best writing and characterization, making it one of the best pieces of current science fiction.

Having rediscovered this gem on Steam, is it still as memorable as when it first came out? Let’s prep the Normandy and warp through that Mass Relay to find out in this Mass Effect review…

 Visuals: 7/10

The wonder and awe of the not-too-distant future never looked as beautiful as it has in this game. I gush at all the lush alien designs for the Asari, Krogan, Turians, and Quarians, and how they bring such a majestic luminescence to the game. Of course the human characters are well-designed as well, but the mouth syncing does seem a bit jarring in a few of the cutscenes, as well as a slight lag in facial displays.

Beyond the extraterrestrial races, space exploration yields a sense of celestial beauty as the gorgeously designed SSV Normandy sails through the stars. Planets come in a variety of climates including frozen tundra, mountains, and desolate sand dunes.

One of my favorite graphical images of the game lies in the weapon storage; Commander Shepard holsters all of the various firearms in a collapsible backpack of sorts which unfold into your desired weapon of choice.

Level designs are equally awe-inspiring as the main storyline quests range in terrain from snowy peaks and underground caves to an active volcano. My only major gripe stems from the side-quest levels, which are nauseatingly repetitive; viscous brown liquid tubes and metal wiring are replete in most cases. Still, discrepancies aside, this is a well polished game that will surely tantalize your optics.

 Audio: 10/10

To say that Mass Effect was one of the most groundbreaking video games in the field of voice acting, scripted dialogue, and music would be a giant understatement. Bioware’s sci-fi title is filled to the brim with amazing voice actors, dialogue, and sound tracks.

A huge leap forward in terms of voice acting quality, quantity, and substance, Mass Effect boldly goes where no RPG has gone before: having a fully customized interactive protagonist who speaks, articulates, and even communicates in great lengths. Not since the original Metal Gear Solid have I witnessed a game with such vast material which breaks the boundaries of video game voice work.

Commander Shepard, the main character of the game, can be customized into either male or female; Mark Meer (a long running VA for Bioware’s extensive game library) and Jennifer Hale voice them respectively. I must say it was quite a thrill to have a veteran VA like Jennifer Hale in the role of Commander Shepard (Hale currently holds the Guinness World Record for “most prolific female voice actor”); I’m most fond of her roles as Black Cat from the ’90s Spider-Man cartoon, Jessie from The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest, and Ivy from Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?

With Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer in the main role, you can clearly see the kind of caliber Mass Effect brings to the fold. Shepard oozes equal parts charisma and baddassery, certainly on par with the likes of Captain Kirk, Ellen Ripley, or Malcolm Reynolds. But what of the rest of the supporting cast: do they do share a similar hierarchy?

First and foremost, I need to emphasis how important the character of Joker is to the game; Seth Green brings your starship’s pilot to life with snappy dialogue and witty barbs. The case can be made that Seth carries the bulk of the game as your trusted confidant and sidekick, but underneath is the game’s secret weapon.

By that same vein, your party members share celebrity status: Alli Hollis (Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII) voices the Asari Archaeologist Dr. Liara T’Soni, while Kimberly Brooks (Princess Allura from Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender) plays the part of Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. All your squadmates bring something different to the table; the player can unlock a sense of their personalities via conversations while riding the elevators at various points in the game.

Outside of the main characters, there is a plethora of well-established voice actors: Keith David and Marina Sirtis (both are from Disney’s epic Gargoyles cartoon, and I know many a Trekkie will recognize Marina Sirtis as Counselor Troi from Star Trek: TNG.) voice Captain Donald Anderson and Matriarch Benezia respectively.

All of the aforementioned names are just a tiny glimpse at the overwhelmingly high standard that Mass Effect sets for its voice acting and characters, and it utilizes everyone at their best.

Jack Wall serves as the composer for the game’s score, featuring some truly immaculate tracks that embody the wonder and awe of space faring the cosmos in the SSV Normandy. Wall utilizes a wide variety of sounds ranging from techno, ’80s synth, and electronic genres to showcase the game’s fast-paced combat and slow contemplative atmosphere as you take to the stars.

 Gameplay: 8/10

Thinking back to 2003, I recall Bioware had already proven that Western game developers can craft a high-quality RPG with their release of Star Wars: KOTOR. Combining the turn-based mechanics of Baldur’s Gate and the expanded lore of Star Wars, the Canadian game developer broke barriers and ushered in a renewed RPG renaissance. Flash forward four years later, to 2007, they’re making history once again with the release of Mass Effect.

Eschewing traditional turn-based mechanics, Bioware’s 2007 release conceptualized the player as equipping four types of guns in lieu of swords and sorcery (you can choose between a pistol, assault rifle, sniper rifle, and shotgun.). Instead of scrounging for ammo, Mass Effect instead featured a heat-exhaust meter for each variety of firearm, with continued overuse causing your weapon to overheat and temporarily jam. Added Tech or Biotic abilities (think of them as “skills” and “magic” respectively) can be upgraded depending on your class of choice; these abilities can be immediately accessed, but require a few seconds to recharge. Ancillary items include grenades (which I found to be completely unreliable in a pinch), and med-packs for healing.

Similarly, armor can be customized and equipped, along with bonus chips that can boost the stats on both armor and weapons. Combat doesn’t rely on HP: rather, the player has two bars (one red, and one blue) representing your health, and a recharging shield which gets gradually depleted from continuous attacks. The best way to avoid damage in battle is to find cover through wall clinging. Although the system was intuitive at the time, it clearly shows its age from the clunky transition with ducking and climbing on top of platforms. The same can be said for the enemy A.I., as most enemies run aimlessly around the room while shooting; this makes for a frustrating time when you’re in tight confined spaces.

Experience points can be earned from completing main or side missions; these can in turn be spent on various skills and abilities (powering up specific stats will unlock others). The game also revolves around the concept of “Paragon” and “Renegade” points, which dictate the moral basis of Commander Shepard. These morality points can be achieved by making certain dialogue choices or specific decisions in various quests. “Paragon” points are earned with diplomatic gestures, moments of compassion, or heroic actions. By contrast, “Renegade” points are gained through violence, intimidation, and ruthlessness. While your alignment changes little for the main story, certain dialogue options and quests may be unlocked with a high enough percentage in either category.

The true meat of the game is in the sidequests. You have a whole galaxy to explore and dozens of planets to search for buried artifacts, resources, and hideouts. In traversing the often tough terrain, Shepard will ride in the Mako, an all-terrain truck/tank hybrid with a cannon as well as machine gun turrets. Although these segments are fun for the most part, the Mako often suffers from elevation issues with traveling up mountains and peaks (it has the speed and agility of a drunken rhino.). Side-missions can be unlocked by talking to NPCs on the main hub planets, or via Admiral Hackett (voiced with gravely gravitas by Aliens’ Bishop himself, Lance Henriksen!) on the Normandy’s com-link.

 Challenge: 7/10

As the first of its kind, Mass Effect has a variety of challenges to be found in its planetary plethora of pitfalls. You have the standard difficulty setting which can be adjusted to “Veteran” or “Hardcore” for tougher enemies, lower shields, and less items.

There’s also some challenge in grinding missions, which takes a lengthy bit of time scouring the galaxy for various loot; many of these quests will take you until the end of the game in order to complete.

There also exist certain “Loyalty Side-Missions” for Garrus, Wrex, and Tali; these quests generally unlock after finishing certain quests. Overall, these loyalty missions don’t affect the main game with one exception, dictating the ending for one character in particular.

 Accessibility: 8/10

As the first in the Mass Effect trilogy, Bioware’s freshman sci-fi game was unavailable outside of the Xbox 360 for the longest time until PSN got a hold of it. In recent years, however, trilogy collections have been released to help usher in new generations of gamers.

 Narrative: 9/10

While the specific genre of Mass Effect is that of an RPG, careful consideration should be made towards labeling it more of a space opera. It’s not always about the action and adventure, but the quiet moments of reflection. In Shepard’s case, you discover that not all conflicts are solved through force, but by choices that irrevocably reverberate throughout your story.

This is one of the reasons I find Mass Effect so endearing as a series: the sheer weight of the dialogue and thus how it accelerates the plot. For instance, I had enough “Renegade” points to completely skip another boss battle by convincing the enemy to stop. In another instance, I had enough “Paragon” points to convince a cowardly CEO not to point his gun at me, avoiding a massacre.

Even from the very beginning, the game will allow you to give Shepard a backstory ranging from war hero, sole survivor, or colonial refugee. While the main plot is still much the same, you will hear Shepard, the crew, or various NPCs discuss the Commander’s backstory, even unlocking certain specific missions and dialogues at the same time. In addition, choosing to play as a Biotic portrays Shepard as a victim of experimentation that coincides with Kaiden’s backstory as well. Factoring all of these points, it feels as if Bioware was fully fleshing out a customizable protagonist in a way in which they have substance and relevance within the narrative.

Expanding further into the main game, a huge plot twist occurs towards the last stretch of the story; instead of action sequences and cutscenes, the twist is offered to the player through a tense and disturbing conversation between Shepard and the main antagonist.

A humorous aside in the game is when you complete any of the main story missions, Shepard will report in to the Citadel Council; you have the choice whether to report in, refuse, or cut them off in mid-conversation. Any of the choices made will alter the Council’s attitude towards you, but you can earn “Paragon” points and background information if you choose to report in. By contrast, cutting them off in mid-conversation will just net you “Renegade” points, and a snarky comment from Joker.

All in all, I prefer Bioware’s style of narrative than most other games that I’ve played over the years, where there is merit to taking the time and talking to characters; it’s a whole galaxy you’re playing, you should make the most of it!

 Themes: 9/10

Like all great space-operas, Mass Effect places itself in the upper echelons of sci-fi by focusing on grounded themes reflected in our society. Similar to such works as Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Doctor Who, Bioware’s RPG uses the futuristic setting as an allegorical reference to today.

Prejudice plays a big part in the first Mass Effect title. Predominately, there is much anti-human sentiment among the aliens encountered in the game: Turians (who had recently been at war with Earth) treat humanity with outright contempt, while Salarians and Asari feel that humans are too far gone to become official agents (called Spectres) of the Council. Shepard is nonetheless given the unenviable task of proving humanity’s worth time and time again as the first human Spectre. Garrus seems like the only non-biased Turian in the game (and my vote as greatest sidekick of all time).

The xenophobic mentality of Earth formulates a large portion of the side story in Mass Effect (and also factors into its sequel) via the clandestine group Cerberus.; this pro-human faction will go to any lengths to ensure human supremacy among the stars. Side-missions help to flesh out the insidious nature of Cerberus, with assassination, experimentation, and bio-weapon research being just a portion of their sinister crimes.

Bigotry isn’t just limited to humans, though, as the Krogan are likewise used as pariahs and scapegoats in a tragic tale of genocide. Being rendered sterile (by something called the “Genophage”) because of their overpopulation and “warlike” predisposition, Krogan try to scrap a living as mercenaries and bodyguards, only to be treated as second class citizens by other races of the galaxy. Among the Normandy’s crew, Wrex conveys his quiet resentment on how his people were treated.

Outside of xenophobia, there also exists technophobia surrounding artificial intelligence. The main enemies of the game are called the Geth, which are a race of cybernetic constructs used as minions by the main antagonist. For the majority of the game, this sentiment is shared by the Quarian Tali on board the Normandy; she explains how the Geth drove her people from their home planet centuries ago, and they have lived on a pilgrimage ever since.

Finally, I want to discuss the topic of religion. Among the crew, Ashley Williams is the most traditionally religious, with a clear view of Christianity despite scientific advancements in the field of technology and space travel. Ashley rationalizes her piety due to the fact that she firmly believes that there is some form of higher power guiding humanity, and by extension the galaxy, into bettering themselves.

Ashley’s perspective on religion is contrasted by the Geth; the AI-based drones exist within a hive mind, but nonetheless display a type of polytheistic faith system built around the Reapers, beings who have only been spoken of in myth as doomsday figures.

As an expansive universe woven into real-life issues such as bigotry, intolerance, and religious zeal, Mass Effect offers something futuristic, yet grounded at the same time.

 My Personal Score: 9/10

The Teal Time Mage as Commander Shepard

It goes without saying that I’ve been an avid fan of science fiction, having been raised on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the original Star Wars trilogy. But what is truly special about Mass Effect is its loving tribute to everything sci-fi while remaining an original concept in its own right. Using real-world physics such as rail guns as a means of reaching hyper space, holographic interfaces (which are already in use), and even pioneering attempts at artificial intelligence, Bioware’s RPG is the “future now” of video games.

Perhaps it’s the great writing, as well as phenomenal voice acting, that makes this game so endearing. A large amount of credit goes to Hale and Meer for mainlining Shepard through such dense vocal tracks, with Seth Green sharing a lot of great scenes. Even the NPCs never seem boring as they bring about some degree of either personality or urgency that is intermingled with brevity.

I firmly believe that a humanistic portrayal of the cosmos offers a unique opportunity for players to explore the stars in a grounded context, neither utopian nor dystopian in its scope. There is hatred and ignorance, but also diversity and solidarity on the Normandy. Where prejudice may exist in the galaxy, Shepard puts effort in bringing people together to fight a common foe, redeeming humanity’s worst flaws in the process.

In closing, I’d recommend Mass Effect for any kind of gamer, be it an RPG fan, an FPS fan, a Sci-fi fan, or even a point and click fan. See you, Space Cowboy!

Aggregated Score: 8.4

The Teal Time Mage lives at a fixed point in time that is set between 1991 and 1997. Outside of his time vortex of nostalgia, he writes horror short stories, cosplays, and coordinates for various charity groups. Find him on Twitter @ArosElric, on Facebook @ArosElricCosplay, and on Final Fantasy XIV’s Cactuar Server under the name “Aros Erlic”.

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