Bioware has a very long and acclaimed history with the PC. It's good to see them return with the sci-fi opera Mass Effect. The game has you playing as Commander Shepard leading a squad of marines and aliens after an ancient artifact of unknown power. The artifact belonged to an ancient race that help pioneer space travel for many of the current races.

To add to the mystery, you're also in trial to be the first human to join the ranks of an elite alien protector force thanks to your heroic exploits. Of course, this unlocks new mysteries and secret plots within the elite forces and the alien council. And all of this happens in the first few minutes of gameplay! You command a spaceship called the Normandy. You can walk among the crew and learn more about whatever event or alien you're about to meet in true RPG style.

Now the actual gameplay has been one of the complaints about this game. The squad-based 3rd person shooter format is a little slow. Yes, you have skills and special abilities. You also get to move around using various vehicles. But it all comes down to a very slow Oblivion like battle, except no swords, only guns. Aliens just run up to you or stand there while you can shoot while covering. This slow pacing might work in Oblivion, but in Mass Effect, it's kinda boring.

There's plenty of RPG skills, equipment upgrades, special powers, and squad decisions. Mass Effect is everything you would expect an RPG to contain. The galaxy is vast and there's plenty of places to go and aliens to meet and beatup. There are optional quests and you'll learn more about your squadmates and yourself as you play. It's got everything you would expect a RPG to contain.

The game has incredible graphics with some of the best textures available today. The environments, whether alien or spacecraft, are simply gorgeous. The developers really concentrated on the facial features of the humans and aliens. The space opera soundtrack is predictable. It's a good score, but nothing new.

This is an RPG so there's no online or multiplayer. It's a solid 40 hour game and even longer if you get into the side quests. The gameplay does weaken the overall game, but the great story and graphics make the game a solid experience. We don't recommend it for FPS fans, but if you're an adventure gamer, this is a great buy.