This game made me feel like the captain of a space ship. There was nothing like it at the time it was released, and even now I have not experienced any other game making me feel this way. I loved Fallout 3 too, but Mass Effect had something special. It was so well crafted, I listened to every dialogue of every NPC. The characters are so memorable with amazing voice acting. The Citadel is the best city in video games, felt really alive. Most sidequests add to the story instead of just padding the gameplay time.
After playing the game, I wondered how Star Wars (movies) sucked so badly, when a video game could create a much more interesting sci-fi world and story.
Unfortunately Bioware is no longer the same company.
My favorite sci-fi game is probably Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri. ME1 was the only game in the series that I enjoyed, but it still felt like a de-StarWars-ified KOTOR game.
Great series! I played them for the first time this year, by the time I got to 3 I was legit tearing up at certain parts. Absolute recommend!
Loved me1! One of my all time faves. Need to pick it up again soon. Started a play about a year ago but ran into a hectic patch at work and it died out. Never finished me3 tough, the gauntlet at the end got too gears of war-y for me and when i ended up having to start from scratch because i ran out of ammo i juat said fuck it and put down the controller never to return
2007 also gave me another two of my all time favorites: portal and super mario galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is one of my favourites too. Amazing soundtrack and the levels are innovative, fun without being too long.
Gusty garden galaxy <3 perfect soundtrack
My favourite sci-fi game of all time is Elite. Because I am old.
There was nothing like it at the time. Not even close. It was the most immersive game you could get
Personally, I find Star Control II, Star Trek 25th Anniversary & Judgment Rites, to be better than Mass Effect 1 & 2 when it comes to science fiction and consequences of choice. Mind, I haven’t gotten around to Mass Effect 3 since I abhor DRM and walled platforms, so I might be missing the ribbon that ties the trilogy together.
Thanks for the suggestions. Star Control appears to have a confusing UI (based on the screenshots). Star Trek looks cool I will give it a try.
I haven’t played Mass Effect 3 either. Got a bit a burn out after finishing ME2.
When it comes to Star Control II, the controls are actually quite simple, the difficulty of playing mostly come from a lack of quest logs. If you can handle Mass Effect’s controls, then SC2 is definitely within your ability.
Through this link, you can get the most modernized experience of SC2, and the game is also freeware. Be sure to opt for 3D0 style, since that has the best presentation.
Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters - HD Megamod
When it comes to the Star Trek adventure games, 25th Anniversary can be considered to be Part 1, with Judgment Rites as Part 2.
Thanks again I will give SC2 a try. I prefer pixel art and I want to see the original artists’ vision, so I will try the original game first.
Ah, check out that Bone Pit page. You have the choice of three different presentation styles of SC2 - original, 3DO, DOS, plus optional HD graphics to go with them. The 3DO was a extremely powerful and expensive console back in the day, created by EA’s Trip Hawkins. That EA, before it went bad. The 3DO mode is pretty akin to what the original developers intended, as Toys for Bob - the Skylanders company, is now making Children of Infinity, a proper sequel to SC2. If you check out the trailer, it is very similar to SC2 3DO.
Free Stars - Children of Infinity
More important than the graphics, however, is the voices and soundscape. The 3DO edition was a voiced game, and they added a huge amount of character to each species that you encounter. They are pretty much why the 3DO version became the gold standard among the SC2 releases. It is the same reason why System 1 and Star Trek 25th Anniversary were best on CD, because the format allowed them to use audio that wasn’t possible on the floppy versions. SHODAN just isn’t the same without that voice of hers, nor Kirk’s style of speech.
Seems to be an unpopular opinion, but 1 was the best in the series as far as I’m concerned.
May be unpopular but I’ll stand by it being right!
Imma upvote this so hard, it’ll turn your opinion popular.
This post is my favorite post in the Citadel
I should go.
We’ll bang, ok?
Had to be Bioware. Someone else might have gotten it wrong.
If your a reader at all give the revelation space series a read. It’s what the Mass Effect games story was based on and its a great ride
Even though I liked ME2 and 3 a bit more, the series overall still has my favorite Bioware cast by a mile and one of my favorite casts in gaming.
The ironic thing is I actually find the setting kinda hokey, but the moment-to-moment action is fantastic. The exposition dump towards the end of ME1 that sets the stage for the larger conflict was so satisfying. A classic example of solid script writing and characterization elevating overall plot and setting.
Maybe I should finally play this game…
Oh to play this series blind again, I envy you.
The parts are all good, especially with the remaster, but the sum of its parts is something really unique.
I still remember the first time I drove the Mako. Man they did so well with the atmospheric feel of other worlds in 2005. Could have done a bit better with the wild landscape tho xD Ride em cowboy!
I have that feeling with some other games so can relate.
I really know nothing about it other than hearing people rave about it for the longest time. I might have to look up some info at least to see if I’d like it, literally all I know is “space RPG” xD
The words I’d use would be ‘Space Opera’ as it’s bombastically big in scope and stakes. Even if the game wasn’t as goshdarn good as it was for the time, the fact that they told one giant contiguous story that actually made sense (looking at you Ubisoft) keeps me coming back to it like an old friend.
Oooo space opera… I love a good space opera book so that has just piqued my interest more!
I picked up the legendary edition trilogy and loved it.
My advise. Take your time. And don’t worry about your choices. They don’t matter. Just do what you feel is right and it will all work out.
Except for one thing. Whatever Jacob says. Do the opposite. His advise is always, at best, redundant, and at worst, catastrophic.
Look up game mechanics and progression to see what style of char you want. 3rd person cover shooter w classes, squad mechanics, and RPG elements.
Avoid story and character spoilers as best you can.
Your save files carry over through the three games which was unique at the time and really ties the games together in a meaningful way.
Your save files carry over through the three games which was unique at the time
Still pretty unique, isn’t it? I remembered this feature a couple days ago, and couldn’t think of another example.
There’s a graphically updated version of the trilogy, regularly goes on sale for a few bucks
Yep, totally worth the $5 when it comes up for sale. PC controls updated from original so works with controllers now too.
Oh no. EA play, fuck that shit.
I’ll have to find a repack or something -_-
Ha, yeah I actually also haven’t purchased legendary edition, for that exact same reason. But it seems we are in the minority in boycotting EA play, so I usually don’t let it stop me from recommending this particular series.
For disclosure, I played all of them on xbox 360 back when they came out, and loved them. I also have friends who bought the LE and had a great experience, I watched them play a bit too and everything seemed to hold up very well
Yeh that is fair enough, there is a DODI repack anyway so I’ll probably grab that. I have been considering a 360 recently what with the new exploit that has been made available so maybe I’ll grab a cheap 360 so I can relive some of my favourite games from there too.
I just bought the Legendary Edition on Steam for not much at all, cheers
You don’t need graphic updates, those power ranger body suits are great as is. Nothing says style like a bright yellow avian evolved alien.
Maybe I’ll keep an eye out for a good price then!
The first is very much a story first, combat second style game. I wouldn’t pick a “caster” focused character for a first play.
Do it. All mass effects are great. Even Andromeda ( despite the lackluster story )
I’ve been itching for a similar game these past few weeks and I swear there is nothing contemporary that is quite like Mass Effect. KOTOR is close, but is has aged like milk ( graphically ). Maybe the deus exes? I am still open to suggestions.
Also you’ll want to play the legendary edition, I think they fixed some of the less pleasant gameplay quirks ME1 used to have.
I never played Andromeda due to the shit-show. Is it time?
I just sort of ignored it initially thinking it will definitely flop after seeing a trailer or two. But I played it recently after a legendary edition replay and it’s an ok game. The story and characters are pretty uninspired, there’s no escaping that, but the gameplay, the combat, the exploration vibe all click. It also looks great. And the new mako is brilliant.
Thank you, I’ll have to check it out then!
I’m honestly surprised there hasn’t been a KOTOR series remake yet, it would make so much money
I think it’s an issue of both rights and BioWare not having any of the good employees they used to have (see Anthem and everything else they’ve released since ME3)
You should try Cyberpunk 2077, I liked the last 2 Deus Ex games (and the original one) but I prefer Cyberpunk 2077
Thanks. Yeah, I did try it. Must’ve replayed it a few dozen times since it released. Another masterpiece, that one. Might give it another run after 2.4 is out, lol.
The first game is worth playing even if you dislike the rest of the trilogy, it’s just that good. Some people like the second or third game more but the first game absolutely nails the sci-fi setting and mystery of the reapers that the latter games IMO are lacking.
ME, as a trilogy, plays on most of the tropes in scifi. The voice acting is pretty great too, barring the Resident Evil 1 level Liara in ME1.
And then Bioware lost all capacity to write dialogue stronger than a wet, overcooked spaghetti noodle.
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I loved the way weapons worked in ME1, and they had such a logical thought process behind it written in the little lore snippets. But then when ME2 came out they scrapped it for something more traditional.
The hamfisted explanation was also pretty bad as well. It’s not super believable that swapping heat sinks was superior.
I think it’s logical, but it’s sort of like, if it was that easy why didn’t they do it sooner? And why wouldn’t guns work the old way but “reloading” just instantly dump all heat?
Come to think of it, hearing myself say it out loud, this is exactly how the laser rifles work in Helldivers 2 lol. They overheat slowly. If you fully overheat them or release early they swap out the current heat sink for a new one.
It makes a lot less sense when you could make assault rifles that never overheated
I thought they still did? I played Vanguard so I only had shotguns lol.
Unfortunately Bioware is no longer the same company.
They weren’t even the same company when ME1 came out. Jade Empire and KOTOR 1 and 2 were even better, while ME had clear signs of EA sucking their soul out before they even actually announced the sale of the company to them.
The menu music and sounds live rent free in my head.
The galaxy map music was amazing
