For anyone missing all the "next-gen" we were promised... We've got it now!!
As you travel through the vastness of space you discover uncharted worlds and plenty of mystery!
Enough kowtowing, let's get into it!
It starts of by allowing the user to either get right into the story as Commander John Shepard, a colonist that has a military record that makes him the ultimate candidate for a special program called the "Spectres", or you can simply create a completely different person to proceed with(male or female). Allowing you to make choices like this is carried all throughout the story! I won't spoil anything, but let's just say the story keeps you on your toes until the last shot is fired and you're drooling over a sequel( !! ). Plenty of allies that you can have board your ship and fight with you allows a diverse story-telling system. Each character has a unique personality and will react differently to each situation you are faced with therefore giving you too many reasons to play through this game at least five time! This games earned a completely 10 outta 10 when it came to the story-telling and literary illustrations through out this game!
Another huge aspect of any RPG is the "fighting system". Now to call this a shooter would be to call a champion breed hound a "dog"... This game doesn't fall short of any expectations when you're out killing alien robots or rogue militant units! Every character you have along with you can arm themselves with four different weapons that you can customize with different add-ons and TONS of different ammunition! Even with a crappy pistol you can annihilate your foes with "techs" or "biotics" which consist of moves ranging with "AI Hacking", which turns the tables by turning a synthetic against his allies, to "Decryption", allowing you to open storage units to obtain powerful weapons! The battle system doesn't ever get old, dull, or redundant due to the open ended battle tactics! This game earned a solid 9.5 outta 10 for it's great captivating "battle system"!
Graphics, sound quality, and voice overs are always a large part of your gaming experience even if you don't realize it. This game brought the goods. I'm ashamed to say I'm not playing with HMDI right now, but even with a terrible CRT I can see the time they put into this game. Graphically this game has great detail on all surfaces and environments, especially the facial expressions that each character display differently.
The soundtrack of most RPGs consist of orchestrated pieces that give an aura of majesty, but just like this game, it's on a new level with the sound as well. Throughout the game you feel as if you were watching a "I Forgot to Breath" action film! The epic tones are set almost entirely on the music!
This is just one of the first to display great voice-overs by famous people that adds to the experience every minute. This game contains an all-star cast of voice-overs, some of which you may not recognize until you met the cast, which is able to be do via XBL marketplace.
All these factors inspired me to grant this game an easy 9.5 outta 10 for aesthetics!
This game has FIVE different difficulties so no one is left behind fighting any sub-boss. Along with that there are two major factors to be dealt with here... Whether to be the "badass" commander that kills anyone in his path or the cool headed Shepard that will use diplomacy to solve impossible disputes. With the Paragon vs. Renegade system you have thousands of options to dictate the action throughout the story. Will you use this to rule the known galaxy or become the savior of the galactic peace!? With these factors this game can't go without a 10 outta 10 for re-play value!
Straight up...
This game wins game of the year for me.
9.5 / 10, without a doubt.