MASS EFFECT

i picked up a coppy today and OMFG!!! this is an awesome game.. but would you really expect anything less from "Bioware"?

the graphics are insane!!
the story, Great!
the indepthness of the game is incredible (nice RPG elements)
gameplay, smooth as can be..
very non liner gameplay...

overall this is a great exclusive and will take something special to better it!


EDIT - Singapore sucks for gammers.

The Media Development Authority of Singapore has banned the release of the Xbox 360 exclusive Mass Effect because of the inclusion of a sex scene between a female human and female alien. According to The Straits Times, the decision has caused an “outcry among local and international gamers who said it was too strict a decision”.Singapore is known for banning video games and latest ban of Mass Effect follows in the footsteps of God of War 2 (for nudity) and The Darkness (for saying g-damn too much). In light of this news, Microsoft has decided to keep their lips zipped for the time being, but hopefully they will make a comment soon.

EDIT - another reason for the ban.

Singapore has banned the sale of an Xbox video game featuring an intimate scene between two female characters.

The Mass Effect game, a futuristic space adventure, contains "a scene of lesbian intimacy ... as such the game has been disallowed," the deputy director of the Board of Film Censors said in the statement.

The board is part of the Media Development Authority (MDA), Singapore's media watchdog.

Under local guidelines, video games sold in Singapore cannot "feature exploitative or gratuitous sex and violence, or denigrate any race or religion," the official said.

Mass Effect will be launched globally next week.

US software giant Microsoft, maker of the Xbox gaming console, said it respected the media watchdog's action.

"We strictly adhere to the laws, regulations and norms of the markets we operate in," the company said in an email reply to AFP.

making the double post here so it is seperate from my babbling bullshit.

A Spectacular New Vision of the Future

The galaxy is trapped in an endless cycle of extinction. Every 50,000 years, an ancient machine race invades the galaxy. With ruthless efficiency, the machines wipe out all advanced organic civilization. They leave behind only the scattered ruins of technology, destroying all evidence of their own existence.

Few believe this ancient legend. You, however, know it to be true. The fight to stop this extinction event has become the most important mission in the galaxy.

It is your mission. As Commander Shepard of the SS Normandy, you will take your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil, in a desperate race to stop the return of an enemy without mercy. To stop this enemy, you must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law. Your only imperative is to preserve the safety of civilized life in the galaxy - at any cost. You must become the tip of the spear of humanity, for you alone know the full extent of what is at stake if you should fail.

Science-fiction Role-playing: Perfected

Mass Effect allows you to create your own customizable version of Commander Shepard (or jump in and use the pre-created character) and plunge yourself into the center of an epic science-fiction story. Choose your squad-mates, your weapons, skills and abilities, and customize your vehicles, armor and appearance - you are in complete control over your experience.

In the course of your mission to stop the machine invasion, you may choose to follow the path of the soldier, the tech-specialist, or the biotics-specialist…each of which brings an arsenal of unique yet equally powerful abilities to use against the enemy. Wield a multitude of weapon types with precision accuracy…utilize your technical skill to turn enemy war machines against their creators…or unleash the full power of Dark Energy against your foe with devastating effects.

As you progress throughout the game you will improve your character's skills, abilities, and equipment (including weapons, armor, biotic implants and more) to ensure that you have the means to face the growing threat before you.

The role you choose to play in Mass Effect will have tremendous consequences on the galaxy around you. You will face moral dilemmas in which the decision you ultimately make will significantly alter the fate of civilized life in the galaxy

The Vastness of Space Beckons

Your mission will take you into the deepest reaches of known space - and beyond. Aboard your ship, the Normandy, you will choose which planets to investigate, and where to take your team. In addition to the major worlds of the main story arc, you will have the freedom to visit a wide array of uncharted planets and other locations such as asteroids and abandoned space freighters adrift in space. On many worlds, take your team planet side in the MAKO in order to explore and find alien life, ancient artifacts and ruins, rogue trader colonies and a host of other amazing discoveries.

Lose Yourself in a Living Galaxy

Mass Effect combines astonishing photo-realistic graphics with innovative new dialog systems to create a cast of living characters to interact with. Engage these characters in real-time conversations that allow you to immerse yourself in dramatically charged situations.

Characters communicate with full voice-acting and amazing animation that displays their emotions right down to subtle nuances in their facial expressions. Every wrinkled brow and slight twist of the mouth is captured to infuse every interaction with a feeling of realism.

Lead Your Squad in Intense, Real-Time Combat

The struggle to stop the return of the machines will ultimately be a violent one. You will assume responsibility for the lives of your squad as you lead them into often uncharted, hostile alien environments. Each decision you make could mean the difference between victory and disaster. Although combat will take place in real-time, you will have the ability to pause combat and issue commands to your squad which they will then execute with the precision of a highly trained elite force. Upgrading certain skills and abilities as you level up your character will also allow you to increase your ballistic skill - this can ultimately lead to easier aiming, more damaging use of weapons, and biotic effects with the power to turn the tide of battle in your favor.


REVIEWS:

IGN: 9.4/10
"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."

Official Xbox Magazine: 10/10
"It\s the best game I've ever played."

1Up.com: 9/10
"Allow me a single Star Wars quip - the Force is strong with this one."

Game Informer Magazine: 9.75/10
"One of the greatest science fiction stories ever told, and a new benchmark for video game storytelling."

G4TV: 5/5
"Mass Effect is a towering achievement that surpassed my expectations on every level."

ActionTrip: 91
"Unbelievable emotional depth given to the appearance of characters, story, combat system, interesting moral dilemmas which finally transcend the most obvious choices between our notions of good and evil."

Canada.com: 5/5
"the game is an incredibly complex immersive experience that goes beyond anything ever developed before."

Electronic Gaming Monthly: 9.17/10

GamSpy: 5/5
BioWare's space opera is one of the greatest role-playing games ever made.

PALGN: 9/10
" Mass Effect is undoubtedly one of those games that will be talked about for a very long time."

TeamXbox: 9.6/10
"Mass Effect is one of the best games of the year, and is certainly the best RPG on the Xbox 360."

GameZone: 9.5/10
"Mass Effect is the closest thing we have to perfection on the next-generation consoles."

ZTGamedomain: 10/10

ExtremeGamer: 9.6/10
"Bioware has made another successful role-playing game that will please fans of the genre, science fiction advocates and any gamer who is looking for an engaging new experience."

MSXbox World: 10/10
"Mass Effect certainly delivers."


AWARDS:

Best Role Playing Game: E3 2007
2007 Game Critics Awards
Best Console Game: E3 2007
2007 Game Critics Awards
Editor's Choice Award: November 2007
ActionTrip
Editor's Choice Award: November 2007
GameSpy
Editor's Choice Award: November 2007
TeamXbox
Best in Show E3 2007: Game of the Show
IGN
Game of E3 2007: Best Game of E3
CVG
Best of E3 2007: Best of E3
ShackNews
Winner: Best RPG: Winner: Best RPG
TeamXbox
E3 2007 Game of the Show: Game of the Show
Evil Avatar
Best of E3 2007: Game of the Show
Meristation
Best RPG: Best RPG
Kotaku
Winner: Best Overall Game: Winner: Best Overall Game
CinemaBlend Games
Best 360 Game E3 2007: Best 360 Game E3 2007
IGN
Winner: Best RPG: Winner: Best RPG
GameDaily
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Xbox 360 Game
Team Xbox
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best RPG
Team Xbox
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best of Show - 360
PressStart Blog
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best of Show - RPG
PressStart Blog
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Sound (Runner Up)
Team Xbox
Best of E3 2006 - Editors Pick: The Best of the Best: Favorite Pick
Amazon.com
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best 360 Game
1UP.com
Best of E3 2006: Best Role Playing Game of Show
Game Critics Awards
Best of E3 2006: Top 10 Games of E3
Salt Lake Tribune
Best of E3 2006: Top 10 Games of E3
Xbox Evolved
Best of E3 2006: Top 10 Games of E3
The Mercury News
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best of Show
PressStart Blog
Best of E3 06 Awards: Best RPG
GameHelper
Nod Awards: E3 2006
GameDaily
Best of E3 06: Xbox 360
Games Radar
E3 06 Editor's Choice: Best Stage Demo (Finalist)
GameSpot
E3 06 Editor's Choice: Best Xbox 360 Game (Finalist)
GameSpot
E3 06 Editor's Choice: Best RPG (Finalist)
GameSpot
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best of Show: Xbox 360
Daily Game
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best of Show: RPG
Daily Game
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best RPG (Runner Up)
1UP.com
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Game of the Show (Runner Up)
1UP.com
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Game of the Show
CV Games
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best of E3 2006 - Microsoft (Runner Up)
CV Games
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best of Show: Overall
Daily Game
Annual E3 Awards: 2006: Best RPG
GameSpy
Annual E3 Awards: 2006: Top 10 Console Games
GameSpy
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Most Innovative Design
IGN Xbox 360
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Graphics Technology
IGN Xbox 360
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Artistic Design (Runner Up)
IGN Xbox 360
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Overall Xbox 360 Game (Runner Up)
IGN Xbox 360
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Role-Playing Game (Runner Up)
IGN Xbox 360
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Game of the Show (Runner Up)
IGN
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Console Game of the Show (Runner Up)
IGN
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Role-Playing Game
GameTrailers.com
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Technological Excellence (Runner Up)
IGN Xbox 360
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Role-Playing Game (Runner Up)
IGN
Best of E3 2006 Awards: Best Graphics Technology (Runner Up)
IGN
Best of E3 2006: Best of E3
Life Teen
Best of E3 2006: Bronze Award
Primotech