1. A Galaxy-Devouring Plot Already planned to be the first in a trilogy of role-playing games, Mass Effect promises to pack one of this year's greatest storylines. It takes place as a mysterious race of machines is about to invade the galaxy, exterminating all organic life in its path. You play a veteran Marine commander, Captain Shepard, who's tasked with preserving not just humanity, but the existence of all the other alien races who call this galaxy home. Shepard is voiced by either Keith David (voice of Halo's Arbiter) or Metal Gear Solid's Jennifer Hale, depending on whether you opt to play a male or female character. Seth Green, Lance Hendriksen, and Star Trek: The Next Generation's Marina Sirtis also provide voices. We'll leave you to discover the details for yourself, but let's just say that Shepard is faced with many tough choices throughout the game, which will influence both the storyline and his (or her) innate morality. 2. Become Part of the Conversation How many times have you skipped through boring conversations in role-playing games? Mass Effect breaks new ground in gaming by actually letting you interrupt other characters mid-sentence. You don't have to read through several long-winded responses, either: just choose a general conversational tactic and Shepard will deliver an appropriate line. If you're too short with other characters, though, they'll assume you're rude and respond in kind. A revolutionary facial animation system ensures these conversations are delivered with believable expressions and body language, and the result is dialogue that flows effortlessly. 3. A Proud Past Mass Effect's development studio, Bioware, has the kind of reputation for which an up-and-coming developer would cheerfully blow his own grandmother out of an airlock. Responsible for classic PC role-playing game like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights, the Canada-based company more recently branched out into console development, producing two critically-acclaimed Xbox hits: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the Asian-themed Jade Empire. Although Mass Effect might be a new direction for the company, behind it is the experience of over a decade producing some of the gaming world's finest storylines. 4. Action-Packed Combat No dry, boring turn-based fights are to be found in Mass Effect. Instead, there's a pacey and action-packed real-time system that owes more to Halo than to Knights of the Old Republic. For one thing, you directly control the actions of Shepard, whether he's shooting, taking cover, or using one of the game's magic-like "biotic" skills. Although you're accompanied by squadmates, you can't control them directly --just issue general orders through an interface similar to the Ghost Recon series of shooters. In other words, if you're bored with the plodding pace of traditional role-playing games, Mass Effect might be the first game to change your mind. 5. Close Encounters of the Green and Scaly Kind Video games featuring mature content have a largely well-deserved reputation as sophomoric fantasies of shut-in males. Mass Effect, though, is one of the few that can claim to have a more sophisticated handling of grown-up themes; Shepard, in the proud tradition of Captain Kirk, has the chance to become involved with some of his or her co-adventurers on a, let's say, more than professional basis. This is familiar ground for Bioware, whose role-playing games often allow players to pursue romantic entanglements with other characters -- but Mass Effect kicks things up to a new level. While you certainly won't see anything that would be out of place in a late-night TV drama, Mass Effect is decidedly racier than typical video game fare. Trailers: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=1475790&cl=4896019 Source: http://us.i1.yimg.com/videogames.yahoo.com/feature/mass-effect-top-5-reasons-you-want-it/1169269
or "alien getting it on FTW!!! w00t w00t" but seriously...umm...wait..actually no dont worry i got nothing to say lol -_-''
Wow watching the trailer makes me feel like going out and getting a 360. Do you know if it's coming out for PC anytime soon?
