1UP reviews Mass Effect

1UP's Jennifer Tsao reviews Mass Effect.

[skynidas]

WOW strangely low rating

[Danja]

Maybe the game is seriously over hyped and it isn't that great after all...and they just gave it a 9 cuz they couldn't go against the rule of not giving a major 360 game sub 9 ratings...

[ktchong]

Uncharted: 8.5

Ratchet & Clank Future: 8.5

[MK_Red]

While I don't think 9/10 is a low score, I do believe that it's a low score for ME from 1UP that gave 8.5 to NFS: ProStreet. If NFS is a 8.5 in racing genre, then ME is a 11 in RPG genre.
But why am I even talking about 1UP? They gave PGR4 a 8.5, same as NFS: ProStreet. That says something for their review standards...

ME is easily a 9.5-10 game IMO even with it's flaws.

[Danja]

Can you explain to me why this game deserves a 9.5 to 10...even with flaws..?? is it because it's made by the amzing Bioware..? who also made a game called Bioshock that ur head over heals in love with..?

Have you played ME yet..? so you shouldn't be basing how great thegame is because of whoever made it..or you just think it looks good...remember AC..yeah I plyed it but it was not that great..good on it own merits..but overall a let down..!

"im not dissing you just saying you can't say a game desrves a perfect score even though it has obvious flaws and no game deserves a perfect score cuz there isn't a prfect game"

EDIT: Thanks Gil simple mistake..

[Gil]

Hey there genius! Just FYI, Irrational Games (2K Boston) made Bioshock, not Bioware.

[OOG FunK]

you my friend have just made yourself sound like an ass by saying they made bioshcok.....like really....why dont you go post about games you may have at least ya know a bit a knowledge about and stop giving your biased opinions

[fredy]

fanboys like Danja will never own the game or play anything other then sony made but is trying to give his biased pov. Your starting to be in the same company as shaka.

How are biased fanboys that only play one console credible?

Blame Microsoft as always, they paid 1up for a lower score..

[WilliamRLBaker]

its not his fault hes a sony fanboy they tend not to care to learn to much bout any thing.

[MK_Red]

Guys please stop attacking Danja and PS3 fans. It was a mistake not a bloody sin or something (And I'm a BioShock fanatic as well as a PS3 fan).

Danja, we got Mass Effect a couple of days ago for our magazine and I'm the guy that's reviewing it and so far, it's indeed one hell of a 10/10 game even with all tech issues (The side quest missions are not as compelling as NWN or Baldur's Gate 2 and their locations have much lower detail. There are shadow and other problems BUT games are about the experience and fun and in that regard, ME is easily a GOTY worthy game and a 9.5-10 /10.

[jjfunaz]

I have a hard time believing that ME is a 9.5-10 worthy game. From everything that I've read, it seems exactly the same as all the other Bioware games, with a less fun battle system.

The whole dialog unlocking scheme has been done to DEATH by EVERY bioware game. While I'm not saying that ME is a bad game, its simply not revolutionary in the way that their previous games were. Also I can't see any RPG only lasting 10-12 hours worthy of 10s.

While I don't need a 100 hour snore fest like Oblivion (what is the story even about??) it can't be 10-12 hours long. I don't care if I can go back and replay it and this time kill person x instead of talking them into going piecefully.

I hope its fun, and entertaining. But I definately cannot see this game as 10/10 potential.

[power of Green]

And thats because they couldn't go against the rule of not giving a major PS3 title a pretty high score.

[Maestro]

That article was right, Mass Effect didn't live up to the hype.

[ZombiesNJ]

You can't trust any review. I will always rent or try the game at a friend's house before I buy most games now. This game seems like a must buy though. I hope they fix the glitches in it though with a patch...but probably won't happen.

[Meus Renaissance]

A game doesn't need to have online multiplayer to get above a 9 or even a 10, this needs to be heard by these reviewers.

[jaja1434]

I know, why would you have MP in a RPG? In my simple opinion MP has no place in any RPG. Plain and simple.

[jjfunaz]

Your wrong. If a previous version of a game had multiplayer, when the sequal comes out without multiplayer (IE, ratchet and clank) that HAS to be taken into consideration.

Especially since the NEXT version of that game probably WILL have multiplayer.

[Silver Bull3t]

Even though she didn't mention it, I wonder if turning off the film-grain effect and motion blur will help with the supposed texture pop-in and framerate under heavy action?...

[iNcRiMiNaTi]

ive seen it in gears of war and rainbow 6 vegas and all these games use the unreal engine...it didnt really take away from the game experience but it might bother some people

[Kleptic]

man though I have always hated the "texture loading in real time" thing...Gears had it pretty bad, as did Vegas (suprisingly two UE3 based games)...and now they are saying ME does it?...

Uncharted is the only PS3 game to have it commented on from what I have seen (aside from Vegas that had it horribly bad)...I only noticed it on one sort of cut scene (the level loads, and you can't control Drake for like a minute because he is talking to sully...I think its the beginning of part 2)...it takes like 5 seconds for the ground texture to load in correctly...I know its a tiny detail...but it drives me crazy...just load the level 5 seconds longer or something...then start it...

either way...still can't wait to play ME...its the first 360 game that I have purchased, and yet still don't own a 360...roommates 4tw!

[Covenant]

So far the reviews seem to arrive at the same conclusion: Amazing game, beautiful graphics, but doesn't *quite* live up to the hype.

But will that affect sales?

No. I smell a million-seller.

And unfortunately, great reviews do not always lead to great sales...or else, Okami, Psychonauts, and R&C: Future would have fared better.

[MK_Red]

Ratchet & Clank TOD sold way better than Psychonauts and Okami which...
OMG, Psychonauts and Okami didn't sell. I'm losing my temper again. SHAME ON every gamer that didn't buy and play them.

[jjfunaz]

I will agree with you here. Physconaughts and Okami definately were some inspiring games. Add Shadows of Collosus to that list of amazing games that didn't sell as well as they should

[mesh1]

goty

[iNcRiMiNaTi]

most of the games people say should be goty mostly have flaws, and you have to take the texture pop ins and inconsistent frames rate ME has into consideration, CoD4 is an awesome game all around, has an awesome online component, the only flaw was that single player was too short...add the fact that cod4 is on 4 platforms and ME is on a single platform and cod4 becomes a serious goty contender...but i wouldnt be surprised of halo3, bioshock, mass effect get goty tho..

[jjfunaz]

COD4 is not GOTY. Its a steller FPS, but not quite as good as Halo3. I know alot of people hate H3 on this site, but the advancements in the matchmaking, video sharing, forge, are all unheard of before.

I don't see ME as GOTY either, so we'll see what happens.

[kingfury]

Mass Effect is flop of the year.

Mass Effect
Two Worlds
Hour of Victory

What other bullshiet is coming to 360 next?

[jcgamer]

well, hopefully not a LAIR port...

[Danja]

Im guessing you played Lair huh..? to know it's not a good game....besides the 360 doesn't have Motion Controls so Lair might actually play better with analogs...

[Wii60_FTW]

a lair port? NO NO NO STAY AWAY!!!! AHHHHHHHHH THE HORROR!!!

[Rick James]

This game will be a million seller by the end of the year regardless of what reviewers say. From what I have seen on Metacritic this game is getting great reviews acroos the board. Flop huh? You do know that 360 owners actually buy games. Maybe you should change your post to "I wish this game would flop". It's obvious from your post that your either insecure about this game being successful, or jealous that you wont be able to play it on the PS3. I bet it's a little of both.

[jaja1434]

Kingfury: losing bubbles, one post at a time.

[chrno6]

Well, just keep in mind that Jennifer is the biggest 360 fangirl in the team. And 9/10 s a good score..

[Almighty]

mass effect Xbox 360 goty

[Maestro]

Ratchet & Clank TOD sold really good and way better than Psychonauts and Okami which...
-----------------------
Shut Up Mk_Red, you are full of crap.

Ratchet & Clank sold like 75k in October, less than 10k in Japan, and is not even in the top 40 in Europe. Is that "really good"?

Stop being a jerk, you only fool yourself.

[MK_Red]

I'm not saying it's a mega seller. It sold way more compared to Okami and Psychonauts. 2 Classics that deserved to sell millions, do you even know these 2?

[TeaDouble_E]

Its not like he hates you.

[Bladestar]

how can you Sony fanboys look at yourself in the mirror everyday?

Specially kingfury and Maestro...

"Editor's Rating: 9.0, Excellent"!

Flop? "Mass Effect didn't live up to the hype."? 9.0/10!? What do you have to say about EVERY PS3 game then? Did any PS3 exclusive game got 9 and 10 such as this game is getting?

Sony and their fanboys wish... they would be getting flopped such as Mass Effect... 9.0 a flop! ahhhhhhhhh hahahaha! Losers...

[fopums]

Maestro isn't a sony fanboy, if you even glance at his post history you could figure that one out. Not saying I support his or YOUR fanboyish behavior.

the irony in you post is astounding

[goodganja44]

Bladestar,

How can you look in the mirror and be blinded by all of the hype that Micro$hit feeds you BOTS. Mass Effect is garbage, and PS3 will be getting a better port. BELIEVE THAT.

You want to play the ratings game? What can Micro$hit produce IN HOUSE that has over an 85% rating. Give me 5 games. I dare you.

PS3 on the other hand while not having 99% has solid and consistent ratings across the boards. On an average, 10-15 PS3 games will stay in between the 8-10 range. While 360 will get maybe 10/10 games, 3 8/10 and then the rest just flops from there.

Dont believe me? go play some Vampire Rain and tell me how you feel in the morning.

P L A Y B 3 Y O N D

[OpiZA]

Only in the world of gaming can a 9/10 be seen as bad.

Sigh.

So far the average from all reviews linked from this site is sitting at around 94%...

goty

[AllroundGamer]

even 9 is too high i think, i played it about 3 hours and took it out of my drive... the whole inventory system is too simple, i wished it would be more complex like in a real RPG game.

[QQcrybaby]

FYI she maxed out Charm and Intimidate. Then she goes on to say that the last boss was too difficult for her character. Maybe she just isn't that bright of a girl? Of course maxing charm and intimidate is going to gimp your character. Pick one or the other :/

[Myth]

Whether it's the stuttering frame rate or the awkward load-ins that unexpectedly (and frequently) halt the game entirely for several seconds, Mass Effect has some bizarre bugs. Occasional weirdness like different voice actors (or voice modulation effects) employed for the same characters during a single conversation draw attention to themselves, pulling you out of the moment. In one sequence, a timer bar for a self-destruct sequence remained obstructively onscreen until I stopped, saved, and reloaded the game. At this point, your teammates comment about events that haven't yet happened. Speaking of elevators, it's not a bug, but never before in a game have they moved so preposterously (and needlessly) slow. Whoever decided it was smart to make lifts move at the speed of an inebriated snail deserves to ride on one every day he or she goes to work.

But it's still like playing the weird descendent of an old choose-your-own-adventure book, with spurts of action inelegantly sandwiched between exhaustive dialogue trees that don't change the game to speak of. Smoothly paced or no, your conversations don't shape your experience in Mass Effect so much as shuffle you along like a weirdly glib FedEx operative.

While not as brilliantly articulated and emotive as Andy Serkis's directorial work on Heavenly Sword for the PS3, the character models in Mass Effect are something to behold when motionless.

[crank]

hehe

heh

hehe

yeah!

[jackdoe]

Hm, this game isn't getting the massive amounts of 10s that I thought it would. Guess reviewers took flak over all the 10s they've given out to Bioshock and Halo 3 that they decided to cut back.

[Danja]

or maybe the game just isn't that great as it was hyped up to be...

[jackdoe]

The two games I listed above were not as good as they were hyped to be either.

[Gina-get-u]

The scores don't just vary between sites and publications. Within each site or magazine scores also vary between reviewers. I don't know how many reviews Jennifer Tsao has done, but we don't know what the score would have been if Dan Hsu or somebody else over there did the review. No doubt game publishers will try to manipulate the system by steering a review copy towards the editor with a history of generous scores.

As far as I'm concerned, the best reviewer is the one that agrees with you. By that I mean find the reviewer whose personal tastes and viewpoints most closely resemble yours, then just stick with him or her. Otherwise, stick to metareviews, which tend to minimize the effect of idiosyncratic or abberrant scores and give a closer approximation of the mainstream perception of the game. Even then, a metascore is most useful to those whose personal preferences closely correspond to the mainstream. If you are a wierdo who has strange or eccentric tastes, metareviews, or any other review for that matter, will not be useful to you.

In these types of threads, it may be more useful for people to critique the game itself instead of commenting on what somebody else said about the game (which a lot of you often do without even having played the game yet). If you comment about the game, other readers may get a handle on whether you share their tastes and whether your opinion is valuable to them.

[Rhezin]

9.0? hmmm I don't give a **** this is what I'm playing over Christmas since there is NOTHING coming out after Mass Effect until 08.

[u got owned]

there's a lot of people i n denial here... ME is GOTY, accept it and move on.

[green]

what is going on with mass effect is similar to the story of uncharted.Overall these games are brilliant to both 360 and PS3 owners.Even if they have a few problems, it cant detract from the overall feel that the game will give at the end of the day.

I dont think that the mixed reviews can stop uncharted and mass effect becoming the biggest holiday titles on both consoles.

Everyone enjoy.

[spikormikor13]

And people wonder why the ratings are so inflated? A 9 is considered bad by some people... That's just sad. Notice the word next to it: "Excellent."

[Game Crazy]

I dont understand how people just trounce games like Mass Effect or Uncharted because of what some reviewer said on a website. I have watched plenty of movies that got bad scores from these so called expert movie critics and came away very satisfied. I am glad I didnt listen to the reviews. I would have missed out on a great experience.

Videogames are the same way. I dont let this website dictate what should be a good game or a good console. As an owner of both the PS3 and 360 I get to choose which games are "AAA" and which games are not. Just remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think this is a great site for checking up on gaming news, but the some of these extreme fanboy comments really give this site a black eye.

I think that anybody that owns both consoles can agree that both the PS3 and 360 are great. Both consoles have great games. I wish we would stop hating on the other console just because you dont own it. Stop hating on games just because you cant play it on your console.

Everyone is entitled to thier own opinion. Right or wrong. But at least try to form your own opinions. Instead of letting some "expert" or "fanboy" dictate what you think.

[Bill Gates]

M$ Shiet all over the rating system for games with their money.

Massive Shiet SUCKS and it's still being touted as 10's and 9's???

This is NOTHING SHORT OF BULL SHIET....AAHAHHAHHAHAH

But the XBOTS still fall for it, buy the game and hate it, but than they still defend the game just because they are brainwashed like that.....AAAAHHAHAH

Poor Souls...This game sucks and just like the 360, it too does nothing new and is LOADED with bugs caused by hardwear issues....AAAHAAHAHAHHA

Have a nice time L...O...A...D...I...N...G..... ...X..B..O..T..S..!!!hahha

[Daxx]

http://i19.photobucket.com/...

[The Panther]

WHAT IS UP WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS YOU ACT LIKE 9 IS A BAD SCORE, 9 IS A GREAT SCORE AND THE GAME LOOKS GREAT. Who cares if its 9, 9.5, or 10.

[OatLoops]

I've never seen so much snobbery in my life - from both sides. Mass Effect is GOTY? Mass Effect is a failure? I wish one of you people saying that tripe would back it up since you've obviously played it. From what I've read so far, no reviewers (obviously not counting Xbox oriented site/mag reviews) is claiming it to be GOTY, but they sure aren't calling it a failure either.

[QuietStorm]

its a good game a solid 8.5 if you didnt count the countless xbox mags or websites this is a 8.7 on metacritic.

[Double-Edged]

is greater than Uncharted.
Mass Effect is here.
still tea baggin the PS3

[Myth]

You haven't played either game. It's amazing how you can tell what game is better. What type of power do you have? Are you psychic or just a biased idiot?

[JokerSGS]

I'm surprised no one seems to mention that Mass Effect isn't that revolutionary to the Kotor-like RPG genre. Besides that this looks like a good game and I would be interested in playing. And that's saying something since I don't really like WRPG's and especially those with the gameplay of Kotor.

[Ahhhh]

I just love how this article says only "xBox 360" but yet all kinds of PS3 fanboys are in here running their mouth like they know something about this game.. you being here shows YOU have No LIFE and just want to start problems.. This game gonna be a flop? Ugh.. no.

@goodganja44 - i didnt even read your post and I know your full of sh!T.. just because of your avatar.

@kingfury - Mass Effect a Flop? Dumbass. Stop looking at reviews for games.. at least try them before saying something stupid. Although most of the reviews say that this is a GREAT game. Compare the reviews of this game to a highly hyped game on the PS3 like Lair (yes i played it.. sucked.) or Heavenly Sword (umm.. it's good.. yea.. but I played God of War before.) and look at R&C.. great game but the reviews pretty much sucked.

@Myth - shut up. How do you know he hasn't played both games?? I have. Both great games too, but I'd rather go with Mass Effect for two reasons.. I like RPGs better than shooters, when both its awesome. and second.. it's 23425 times longer than Uncharted.

@JokerSGS - okay, ugh. i dont know if you are comparing the gameplay of ME to KoToR or what? But ME's gameplay is not like that of KoToR.

[BLACKJACK VII]

Wow. there are MORE Sony fangirls here crying on a Xbox 360 review then there are 360 guys.... how sad, don't you children have anything better to do ? If I were you I'd be enjoying Uncharted instead of fostering hate & lies about a great 360 game.

LOL, no wonder PS3's attach rate is sh!t, do you ppl even play games or do you spend your time just acting like a$$'s on internet forums ?!? LMAO !!!

HATERS KEEP HATIN' WHILE GAMERS KEEP GAMIN' !!!

MASS EFFECT FTW !!!

[stony419]

i am very interested in this game but don't know if i would like to pick it up do to the fact that i just bought assassin's creed. does anyone remember the game freelancer by microsoft? if so, is this game seemingly the same concept or am i way off base?

[codeazrael]

ALL OF THE FREAKIN GAMES YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR ARE COMING OUT NOW!!!!!!!! MASS EFFECT, MARIO GALAXY, ASSASSIN'S CREED, NFS, ACE COMBAT, KANE AND LYNCH, ARMY OF TWO, GUITAR HERO III, ROCK BAND, HALO 3, BIOSHOCK, CALL OF DUTY 4, OBLIVION: GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION, F*CK! THERE ARE TONS MORE, I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THEM RIGHT NOW!!! SOMEONE HELP ME OUT................AND ONCE AGAIN..............GAME ON!!!

[Death]

This review like many others rates from 0-10. 0 is the worst you can get and 10 is the highest. I see many people think the review is based on a 9.0-10.0 scale. If you need help with the conversion, a 9 from a regular scale would be a 9.9 on your modified fanboy scale.

Glad I could help.

-Death

[The Preacher]

It time to preach some love, MK_Red is one of the non bias and not a fanboy individual, He has my respect for being honest and open.

I agree with his analysis of ME, I myself don't have a 360, but neither am I a fanboy, I have a PS3. I think ME is a beautiful game, maybe I might buy a 360 down the road.

We should respect people that have eihter a 360 or PS3 and not make fun of the other console, people with 360 more power to you and vice versa.

Peace

[Motojass]

"This is one of the best games of the year, and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest games ever made"

Review
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/...

there are issues but...it seems to be really fun to play.

[WIIIS1]

You can feel the Sonyboys here seething with anger, jealousy and contempt, foaming in their mouths. Don't blame them, Ratchet Heavenly Uncharted Lair Sword - flop after flop, while 360 gets AAA after AAA - its bound to drive them nuts

[celticlonewolf]

Lol I mean this game has a 93% overall rating between all the web sites reviews how can this in anybody book be nothing but a success? This web site is suppose to be for gamers am I right its in the title yet when a game comes along that tries(and mostly reaches) a very epic new direction people cant wait to jump all over it and try to bring it down just cause its not on there system of choice. Now im not talking about people who arnt interested in the game but I think most true gamers will agree that this game is truly epic and teh work involved was huge..........ahh why bother its not going to make a diff lol.