Mass Effect IGN Review

IGN have today put up their review for the hotly awaited Bioware RPG Mass Effect. They have handed it the editors choice award and rated it a very respectable 9.4/10.

In a year that has seen the Xbox 360 library finally round itself out with a series of quality Japanese RPGs, BioWare has shown just how far ahead of the curve it is with Mass Effect. The cinematic design is nothing short of masterful. This is a game that takes the aspects of film that make cinema so compelling and crosses it with the interactivity of games with unprecedented success. Linear storytelling feels quaint by comparison.

Mass Effect is game that is greater than the sum of its parts. Technical issues abound, but the majority of Mass Effect is so expertly delivered that it can transcend its weaknesses. Applying number ratings to a game like this doesn’t do it justice because there is no way you can ignore its technical flaws. Simply put, Mass Effect is a game that must be played. Then it must be played again. Don’t pass this one up.

Mass Effect is a fantastic game and one of my favorite RPGs I have ever played — and I’ve played a lot of RPGs. The role-playing aspects really are second to none. In fact, this is one of the rare games where it seemed as if I was truly playing a role and where I felt the impact of my decisions. Playing the role of a renegade is no easy task, because it brings some moments as jarring as the very best the TV show 24 has ever offered. You really do act as Jack Bauer in space. If only the combat, which is a significant part of Mass Effect, held up as strongly. As much as I’d like to look past the bugs and bad AI, it makes a significant impact. Some of the issues are simply unacceptable for a game of such high caliber, which has been in the cooker for a long time. This is, however, an RPG first and a shooter second. So as long as you are coming for the role-playing experience, it should be easy enough to look past the problems with the combat system. Mass Effect is full of memorable characters and experiences. It’s the best RPG available so far on 360.

Thanks to Gikoku for posting this on the forums.

Can comment and find link to full review here.