This game sucks. Its not fun to play, the voice acting is not good, the story is not compelling or interesting, it sucks.
Alright, let me back up a bit. First point I really ought to make is I'm not an RPG fan. Call me crazy but I dont find much fun in beating on the same goblin 200 times just so I can gain a level to wield a weapon slightly more powerful than the last.
There are exceptions to this rule, the main one being the Paper Mario series, which is awesome, so I'll be comparing it to Mass Effect quite a bit.

I went into Mass Effect expecting quite a bit of speech, considering every trailer for the game was a bunch of boring people talking politically, but I really didn't expect this much rambling about something I couldn't care less about. Within the first half hour of the game, I had taken control of my character maybe twice, which isn't exactly a good first impression. Now I have nothing against lots of story in a game, the first half hour of Super Paper Mario was nothing but text, but at least it was interesting text. The writing was funny, clever and took my interest. Mass Effect however is more boring than watching slow-drying paint dry. The script is crazy dull and its delivered with no enthusiasm at all, especially from Shepard, the main character. The only likeable character is Joker, the pilot, but apparently the rest of the crew think he's a jerk.

So once you get past all the chitter chatter, you finally get some gameplay going. I guess its kind of a 3rd person shooter with a Gears of War-ish cover element, but theres just so many better shooters out there. I know its not technically a shooter, but in my eyes when you hold a gun aim at stuff then pull the trigger, thats a shooter. You fight off waves of anoyingly similar-looking enemies, using a huge veriety of 4 weapons, 2 of which I'm unable to use through lack of training. Your allies may as well be throwing bits of rolled up paper at them, the amount of good they do. You have special powers at your disposal but they can all be summed up as 'meh'.
I'd love to say that Mass Effect should have stuck to traditional RPG combat, but that would probably result in turn-based battles, which would probably be for the worse. This is where good old Paper Mario comes in again. It stuck with the turn based, but made it its own with the whole double-punch mechanic, and ended up being really fun.

OK, it turns out this isn't really a quick rant, but quite a wordy one. I guess I have more to complain about than I first thought. If you're still reading this, I appreciate it.

So then we get to what I was dreading the most. RPG elements. Rediculous weapon management - check. A million different skills to upgrade - check. Grinding through enemies just to level up - umm, no. To the games credit, I never felt I had to work hard to level up, it happened quite seemlessly. Plus one point I guess.

Maybe I was expecting this game to change my opinions on RPGs. I'm afraid to say it hasn't. This is usually the time when I'd say "I guess I'll finish it because I'm an Achievements Junkie", but not even the promise of a cool 100 points can lure me. So usually this would be the time when I'd say "Time to play more Guitar Hero until I can get my hands on CoD4", but that aint happening either, as I lent it out to borrow Mass Effect. Go me.

Thanks for reading. I like to feel that people notice me, so please, leave me a comment telling me how wrong I am and that Paper Mario isn't a real RPG.

Dear Santa
As you always bring me some pretty cool games every year, I can only assume you're really in the know about games, and so will obviously be reading this Gamespot blog. Or maybe you're just watching everything I do, like God or something. Anyway, I can't afford any paper this year (I could do with some, hint hint), so I've decided to write my Cristmas list here. I have been a very good boy all year so I deserve to have you come out of hiding to get me all this stuff.

First off, lets talk games. You'll like this first one. Since you spend all of Christmas Eve flying around in the sky, you probably get to see a whole load of Space. Well, I'd kinda like to do that too, so you should totally bring me Super Mario Galaxy. I just want to be like you, a fat man with an awesome moustache flying through the sky eating mushrooms. Plus, of course, there's the near-perfet gameplay, outstanding visuals, terrific level design and other things that Alex was raving about.

Next up, Guitar Hero III. You must be really sick of all those awfull Christmas rock songs that the radios pump out, so I'll just drown out the noise with this game. Granted, it'll probably just be the sound of me sucking hard at Dragonforce, but oh well. Oh, and make sure to bring the guitar bundle. I don't want to keep playing the game with my controller.

Speaking of controllers, I've kinda half busted my 360 controller playing Geometry Wars, do you think you could hook me up with a new one? They sell the black ones in HMV, get that if you can. Or maybe the pink one. Also, I need a new 360 haedset, as I've broken my old one. It still works, I just have to tie it to my head with selotape, and tape isn't 'in' this season, so I'd rather not go through that any more.

Also, I need some more selotape.

Let me see, what else...? Ooh, I need a new watch. My old one snapped on a bouncy slide. Don't ask. You can get this nice watch at Argos, and it's only £20. Catalogue no. 254/4667

That'll just about do it. Like I said, I've been a really good boy all year, so thank you very much in advance, and if possible make Christmas come early this year. Like tomorow. Becuause I want to play Mario but I'm broke.

Thank you very much again,
Loads of love and a million kisses,
Harry Hansard

I have a Wii, and I'm loving it. One of the reasons I wanted one is because I never had a Gamecube, and there are loads of games I missed out on.

So about a week ago I went to Amazon.co.uk to look at some Gamecube games. Of course I also needed accessories. After shopping around for a bit I found some stuff, and bought a cheap 3rd party controller, a memory card, and a rather cool looking game.
The game is The Legend of Zelda: Collectors Edition. Before now, I have never played a Zelda game (shock, horror) and this disk has the origional NES game, Zelda 2, Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask all on one disk. Sounds awesome.

A few days ago I got a nice little package from Amazon, and I was happy as... well... some guy who's just recieved some gaming stuff. I opened it up; Gamecube controller, awesome; Memory card, great....

...
...
...no game.

Now 3 days later the game still isnt here and my Gamecube stuff is just sitting, looking all depressed.
Do you think Amazon would send me it if I sent them abusive emails. How about if I throw burning toilet paper at their HQ?

EDIT:
Quick update on the situation. Its now Sunday, 11 days after I ordered it, 4 days after my controller and mem card came. Still no sign of the game. I have looked again at my reciept, it says "Delivery time 24th Jan - 8th February"
After 8th Feb I'm complaining to them