Mass Effect Limited Edition

by Microsoft Game Studios

Product Features

• Bonus DVD includes exclusive videos about "Mass Effect" such as "Art of "Mass Effect"and the "Interactive Storytelling of Mass Effect"
• Bonus art book, "A Future Imagined" features a 36 page collection of Bioware's concept art
• Bonus fiction book, "Galactic Codex: Essentials," features a 36 page guide to the "Mass Effect" universe, including a Citad
• Single Player game for play on your Xbox 360.
• Genre: Strategy and Role-Playing Game

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000XJJRTI
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 20, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,684 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #60 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Role-Playing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mass Effect Is A Classic: Bioware Creates An Incredible New Sci-fi Universe, November 26, 2007

By 

Mark Moran - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mass Effect Limited Edition (Video Game)

I loved Bioware's latest masterpiece Mass Effect. I could not help but feel the game was inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, in that Mass Effect creates the same sense of awe and wonder about it's original Universe.

I was a fan of Bioware's Knights of the Old Republic games. Mass Effect is superior to those games in every sense. The gameplay is better paced, the action is better implemented. Best of all, the original Universe is a fantastic sci-fi canvas where Mass Effect can continue, and onto which Bioware can paint a great franchise.

There is an abundance of ME material on Bioware's website, as well as in the Limited Edition of the game. It has been a long, long time since a game inspired me to read all of the literature and available information that is typically superficial garbage at best. The ME Universe is so well done and thought out, I found myself engorssed in every minute detail. The extra material also greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the game, as I knew the motives behind the different alien races, the history between the races, etc. I highly recommend the Collector's Edition Strategy guide, for the exclusive Art Book as well.

With Mass Effect Bioware has created a new sci-fi universe that rivals the depth of Star Wars. Personally I found ME's world more engaging because unlike Star Wars, Earth and it's people are actors in the events that unfold.

I can't wait for another opportunity to see the Stars with Commander Shepherd.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Galaxy Beckons, December 11, 2007

By 

Michael Corona "Nemesis Legion" (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mass Effect Limited Edition (Video Game)

Mass Effect - Circa 2007


GOOD:
- A third person shooting and cover system similar to that of Gears of War or Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter 2 which is really a unique way to play a RPG. The Cover systems works well it also makes for a fun as well as a more realistic gameplay experience. While this system has its share of problems (its not as easy or streamline as Gears of War) it works well enough not to be a concern and bring something new to RPGs.
- A well thought out and well played story that rivals or bests that of Elder Scrolls, Resident Evil or any Final Fantasy game. The story itself is it told through dialog between yours and other characters, because of the choices of make during the story it has a "choose your own adventure" feel to it.
- Gorgeous graphics and nice animations, that look just as good as games like Half-Life 2: Episode 2 and Assassins Creed.
- A great sound track that has the movie like quality of some of the great Sci-Fi Space movies from the past twenty years like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, and Dune.

BAD:
- The learning curve is steep in this game and you will spend the first few hours learning how to play this game well. Although gamers who are use to playing First/Third Person Shooters (like Bioshock and Ghost Recon: Advance Warfighter) may find it easier to play (they should start the game on hard). Gamers who like playing turn based RPGs (like Final Fantasy X and Blue Dragon) will have a hard time adjusting (they should play the game on normal or easy).
- Most side quest planets can be barren with little to do outside of the quest you came for and a scant few other item pickups scattered around, plus many structures/buildings you enter during these side missions are almost exactly the same.
- The inventory system that you use keep track of items as well as equip items on your character is not very streamline and can be annoying due to the fact that there is no way to organize your inventory in any real order and keeping track of more then a few items becomes something of a chore.
- This game has a more then a few loading sequences during gameplay that might upset impatient gamers.

IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:
- The story of the game is mostly told through dialogs between yourself and other characters in the game, it should really be noted that your choices in responding to questions asked of you and your reactions to events unfolding around you is going to change the story of the game and attitudes of others around you. It should also be noted that during the games story you can make choices that either make your character into a brash loose cannon who cheats, steals and shoots first asks questions later or a by the book fighter or justice and freedom with moral values and willing to sacrifice personal wants for the good of others.
- A Sci-Fi RPG with lots of Third Person Shooter (Camera behind the player) elements. The games combat has quicker pacing then most RPGs like Final Fantasy XII or even Fable, although the over all combat is slower then more main stream First/Third Person Shooters like Halo or Lost Planet, the shooting aspect has an emphasis on shooting behind cover as well similar to games like Gears of War and Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter 2.
- You start will all the gun types your ever going to get in the game (pistol, assault rifle, shotgun, and sniper rifle) you can of course get newer versions of these guns and later even add mods to modify the effects and stats of each gun type. Although the effectiveness of each gun type is really depends on your skill with that gun type (you upgrade your gun skills at your stat screen), you can of course use guns you have no training for which will result in much less effectiveness of using that gun type, so it would be wise to always try to use guns types your character class can (will be able to) upgrade. Note: Solider class is proficient in all gun types (can upgraded in all gun types).
- This game has lots of dialog/story, which plays a very big role in this game, which in turn will turn off gamers looking for fast paced action with little interruption.
- No multiplayer or online gameplay.
- Travel to many different worlds/solar systems through out the Milky Way galaxy (the galaxy you currently live in) with your own star ship the Normandy and its crew. During your missions you get to bring two of six other characters with you and these other characters (all six of them) can have their stats as well as equipment be chosen by you.

GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox/PC)
- Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter 2 (360/PS3)
- Jade Empire (Xbox/PC)
- Gears of War (360/PC)
- Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion (360/PS3/PC)

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- To get all of this game's achievements your going to have to beat this game at least three time. You get an achievement for beating the game once as well as twice but to unlock the "Insanity" difficultly (which after beating the game on this difficultly you also get an achievement) your going to have to beat the game on Hard then Hardcore just to unlock that difficultly.
- In the limited collector's edition you will find an art and background story book "Galactic Codex" as well as a bonus DVD with the videos "The Making of Mass Effect" documentary /music (from the game)/360 dashboard themes and it all comes in a tin case.
- There is already a novel out called Mass Effect: Revelation, which has lots of background story for the game as well as the background for the characters you meet in the game Anderson and Saren.
- There is talk from Bioware about downloadable content coming on the way for Mass Effect.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-have KOTOR-like game, but not without a few cut corners, November 28, 2007

By 

Jonathan M. Davis (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mass Effect Limited Edition (Video Game)

A couple years ago I posted a late review of one of Bioware's previous classics, Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (also a.k.a. KOTOR). I specifically emphasized in that review that KOTOR set the standard for this kind of genre. (I played Jade Empire, too, but honestly I didn't think Jade Empire is worth comparing to Mass Effect because of the setting differences.)

I've been playing Mass Effect for a few nights now. I must say that I haven't been this engrossed in an Xbox game since KOTOR. As a genre and as an implementation, Mass Effect game is incredibly immersive and deep. It has just plenty of action to keep you motivated, while at the same time it makes you feel like you're realy playing a role in this virtual universe.

The graphics and sound are beyond incredible. Here's a game that really takes advantage of the full power of Xbox 360's hardware. Unlike some other games like Unreal Tournament 2007's rediculous bump mapping techniques, the usage of high-end graphics APIs are not over-blown to the point of being painful eyesores. Bioware's artists really did things right here. The screenshots don't lie. The game really looks that good, and with solid framerates, too, I've found.

I do find myself pulling my hair out, from time to time, with Mass Effect's "-isms". I just killed off a boss (Benezia) and it took me two nights, but that was because it consisted of 50% waiting on "loading", 30% waiting on the dialog and cutscene sequence to re-play (even with hitting [x] over and over again to skip dialog, but there's no way to skip cutscenes), and only about 20% of the time was actual gametime getting my butt kicked. Indeed, the game is, for the most part, fun and immersive. It's just that there are occasional roadblocks like these that make me want to hurl my controller at my TV. I get scared during these times that I'm going to find myself giving up on the game altogether, which I have been known to do from time to time when a boring roadblock cannot be passed for the same stupid reasons. Fortunately, every roadblock is passable, it just might take some exploration.

There are also a few bugs in the game, namely my player keeps getting stuck. This especially happens when I hold the 'A' key, which lets me see past the right side of the player and can speed up the run speed when in a fight. I've gotten stuck in room corners in this way, and on bridges.

The "choose your own adventure" bits don't *really* show up until a few hours into the game, when you get commanding access to a ship and can navigate the galaxy (or galaxies?) freely. Until I reached that point, I was skeptical; it seemed to be more like Guild Wars (on a rail) than like World of Warcraft (go anywhere, at any time).

The science fiction ideas in the game feel original yet seem to find inspiration from all kinds of sources, modern and old, that have been inspirations in other games and media -- EVE Online and Stargate (with the jump gates), Star Wars, KOTOR and Jedi knights (rogue == dark side), StarCraft (Zerg, Terran), Firefly/Serenity (Reapers, mind control), and countless sci-fi books. Somehow it all meshes together to make a very clean story so as to give the player of Mass Effect a pretty original and fulfilling experience -- not the best story in the world but definitely a B+ (good). What matters is the immersion, which is A-grade.