GameSpot Reviews Mass Effect - 8.5

An excellent story and fun battles make this a universe worth exploring. All told, Mass Effect is a great game with moments of brilliance and a number of small but significant obstacles that hold it back from reaching its true potential. But in the end, if you like RPG's and want to spend some time in an absorbing sci-world populated with a bunch of unique inhabitants, you'll definitely have plenty of fun with this one.

[jack who]

buy

[MADGameR]

Devil May Cry 3SE got a higher rating than this game. I'd rather play that than ME. You guys should'nt be crying about the rating because its all about the game! Ratings are just opinions from the reviewers. It has somewhat truth but non theless, an opinion.

[Bubble Buddy]

Sorry gamespot, i still hate you >.0

[wil4hire]

The actual review is here:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbo...

[Danja]

HMMM SHOCKER..?

[iceice123]

To make Sony lemmings happy after that R&C truth made them cry. Oh well, drop in the bucket compared to all the 9+s the game gets :)

Funny Danja, most other reviews say the exact opposite. And seeing as you're a lemming you've not touched the game. Also I have a question, what's it like waiting b3yond?

[gamesblow]

You just contradicted yourself, Slap ass. R&CFTOD got 9's out it's ass and it got a 7.5 from gamespot. your reasoning is garbage, like your system of choice.

[Danja]

sure dude..the game isn't THE EPIC GREATNESS you xbots were hoping it would be..oh well..I guess M$ forgot to send them there pay check plus the new Zune..!!

[toughNAME]

Mass Effect - 93%
http://www.gamerankings.com...

R&C:Tools of Destruction - 89% http://www.gamerankings.com...

stupid, stupid fanboys

[AznSniper]

Can't it just be that GameSpot sucks @$$?

[Kaneda]

RFOM got a better rating than Mass FX

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3...

[Wii60_FTW]

get owned, fanboys.

[toughNAME]

12 hours, 6 minutes till i have this bad boy in my hands :D:D

[gamesblow]

Mass Effect - 17 reviews in
R&CFTOD - 54 reviews in

you do the math, SNORK. Wha are you retarded?

[toughNAME]

refer to my comment below

[gamesblow]

Refer to your comment below? Oh, you mean the one where you act like a sniveling 2 year old snot nosed toddler and ask people to take my "bubbles" away? That one? The one where you show how immature and feeble minded you are you S**T SPOON? Yeah, I seen it... It don't change the fact you're a complete Crooner and a string of ANAL BEADS ,though. I've been banned from every site on the net... I'm a smash hit success, you can't mess with Gamesblow's name or moniker, Jackson.

[toughNAME]

....what?

oh hey look..no more bubbles:P

[Greysturm]

For this one, if the trend continues and we see more 8s and 6s (hopefully not) we will have to wait till next year for a better rpg than oblivion. My money is on ff13 and white knight.

[lawman1108]

a 6? wtf did you see a 6 for this game? lets check the sales in a week or so and see if ME has outsold R&C by a few hundred thousand.

[Greysturm]

PCreviews Mass Effect 60%

The only other contender for a great rpg is fallout 3 but for some reason i dont expect it to be too good. If you called me a fanboy because i thought 2 exclusive rpgs for the ps3 could be the only ones to break the oblivion record then prove me wrong and tell me which rpgs for the 360 can do it?

[HarryEtTubMan]

They gave Uncharted a 8...they are trying to show themsleves as non biased . Man what a in depth Huge galaxy. A 12-maybe 10 hour RPG. LOL LOL LOL LOL LOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL FFLLLOOOPPPPP!

[Zhuk]

A reasonable review from Gamespot who are known to mark harder than other game sites, though I think this game is worth at least a 9. 8.5 though is still a great score, regardless and proves Mass Effect is universally acclaimed.

Not every review is going to be 9+, which this game has received and deserved a lot of. Unlike the Sony fanboys on this site and over the internet who cry and complain like children and throw a tantrum when some sites dont give PS3 games universal acclaim, Xbox 360 owners are far more mature and there won't be such nonsense from them.

Mass Effect is an incredible game and I recommend everyone to buy it, it certainly is the best RPG experience this year. Only available on Xbox 360, Mass Effect is set to become the hit RPG these holidays.

[wil4hire]

why dont you read the gamespot forums to see how many 360 fans are getting their accoutns banned for cursing and swearing at gamespot.

They are locking threads and killing forum accounts as we speak

ME just got owned.

again.

[allforcalisto]

I don't know if you know that much about gamespot. but Mass effect getting 8.5 is pretty heavy indeed. That's underneath Assassin's cred.

the fact that they slap on the same pleasant rhetoric about the game yet give it 8.5 is kinda telling. GS had covered this game more than anyone else i think. they had all those exclusive dev entries etc..

it seems like the game is great, but a lot of reviewers have marked it up so they don't look stupid for hyping it as the messiah of all gaming. GS seems to have gone against this.
in the 1up. podcast before the show a one of the editors wasn't that buzzed about it anymore, he said something along the lines of "yeah...my GOTY...it isn't mass effect anymore. then they started talking about overhyped games, but dodged ME" and then in the 1up show you can see another guy who was previously hyped as hell for the game a lot more sedate about it.

check my history if you want i said ages ago a logical score for this game was 8.5

[mesh1]

guys hahaha guy haha read the review mass effect is goty best rpg this year cry ,more hahah so many +_9 reviews and 10/10 just check meta critic and cry gamepsoy is a fps site

[PS3PCFTW]

the wii HAS worldwide acclaim. there is no such thing as universal acclaim.

the 360 has usa acclaim thats why overseas it blows.

Please educate yourself before making a fool of yourself with such ridiculous comments.

[socsca]

That wasn't a very clever remark dude. I recommend YOU try to get into college after you finish high school, I think you'd really benefit from it.

[wil4hire]

8.5.

Total flop.

lol

edit:

Uncharted is an amazing technical success, and a great game. AS EVERY SINGLE REVIEW HAS STATED.

It doesn't have loading times of 3 minutes and bad glitching througout the entire game

this is next gen gaming on the 360? LOL....

Yeah

"Uncharted is the best looking console game out" - Gametrailers.

This is just a sample Xbot, a storm is coming. its pretty much a wrap for the 360, it cant even RUN Mass Effect.

God, stop self owning yourself. Read all of the ME reviews, then come back to me about how it isn't plagued with technical issues and bland gameplay.

Until then

Play Beyond.

Edit:

You would stop there.. Because its what every single reviewer said that reviewed the game.

Sorry your 360 cant keep up, it might RROD.

Read any review :) Then come back here.

Facts hurt :(

Play Beyond again..

[iceice123]

8.0
Total flop
lol. PS3 just got owned lulz.

LOL OMG "Uncharted is an amazing technical success"
I stopped there, thanks for the laugh man!

Read any review. Oh okay lets take a look at game informer shall we?

9.75

"One of the greatest science fiction stories ever told, a new bench mark for video game story telling."

"Every second of gameplay offers the visual quality you have come to expect from final fantasy cutscenes."

"One of the most memorable and unique sound tracks in gaming."

"funcional and fun but something always seems to be amiss with AI and blancing."

"An expansive quest, 18-30 hours that toys with your emotions and keeps you engaged." replay value HIGH.

So that was "any" review lemming facts hurt eh? :)

Wil, your console is dead, you just got owned. I suggest you jump in.

[lawman1108]

If this game were on the 360 it would have sold a million copys by now but because its on the Waitstation it will BOMB. Another Turd in Sony's toilet.

[myxomatosis]

you have no idea how dumb you guys sound when you put play beyond or jump in, do you. you better work for sony or microsoft, it would be a shame to sound that stupid with out getting paid.

[Myth]

They Gameinformer also says

"Most of the skirmishes, which begin and end in the blink of an eye, run into balancing issues, problematic SI, and a difficulty in comprehending what is traspiring"

"Out of the corner of you eye, you may see one of your teammates blindly firing at a wall two feet in front of him. Or perhaps a foe, who you didn’t even know existed, drains your shields from a location off your radar."

"The deep character and weapon customization can create some lethal and amusing blends, but after a few hours, you'll have seen it all."

"It doesn't live up to the large stage the story sets or the standards you've come to expect from action games and RPGs."

I'll buy it cause storyline and graphics is what I like, but I can not believe they scored it a 9.75 on just those factors. I am not making this up; if you don't believe me pick up a copy of Gameinformer #175.

[gamesblow]

See, I have an advantage obviously many of you don't have right now, I suppose. I've played Uncharted and beat it... It's not an 8. It's a 10. I've played Mass Effect... It's a great game. I like it alot, but I'd never buy it. I'd never beat it or get enough out of it. It's an 8.5 game. "buahahaha" I love actually being able to know this ahead of time for myself.

[iceice123]

Like how you said Alan Wake was the cancelled 1st party M$ game...and it isn't even 1st party LOL. Give up, nobody buys into your bullsh!t.

[toughNAME]

im surprised you still have 5 bubbles

come on guys look at some of his comments..help me out

EDIT- down to 4? lol good start

[lawman1108]

Shows how much a Phony Sony fan boy site this is. If you ever posted a bad thing about the PS3 you would have some cred. You have zero.

[Skerj]

LMAO you obviously don't ever see his posts then as he's posted negative stuff about Sony tons of times, and ON the official Sony blogs. I know this because I'm there as well. But back on topic, now everyone sees what happened with Ratchet happened with ME, but I'm picking it up anyway.

[DJ]

Same with Icewake. I've seen Gamesblow get enough flack for criticizing the PS3 when it needs to, but then having guys like you get your panties in a bunch just because a 360 title didn't live up to the hype seems very unnecessary.

[pwnmaster3000]

why u guys keep bashing on ps3 games wen it has nothing to do with ps3 games

[allforcalisto]

it's been a lot easier to kick the ps3 while its been on the floor right now.
sony made it easy with that hefty price tag, denying a lot of devs the devs kits in time/plus making the kits expensive.

however 08 is just round the corner. with it comes mgs4, gran turismo, little big planet, ffxiii, killzone, heavy rain, white knight story, team ico goodness, getaway, eight days, war devil

beyond that, god of war, resistance 2, jak and daxter and a rockstar games exclusive plus LA. NOIRE

i understand exactly why certain 360 gamers feel anxious and are constantly flaming...07 is the last year they'll have any opportunity to get away with the inane comments; "Lair flops hardz....and you think ff13 is AAA lolz...mgs4 will flop like lair"

[hotshot1237]

THERE ARE 7 REVIEWS FOR RACHET THAT CAME OUT WITHEN THE LAST 2 DAYS THAT HAVENT BEEN PUT ON METACRITIC.

6 OF THEM ARE 90 AND UP IN WHICH 2 ARE 100'S

MASS EFFECT DIDNT EVEN GET THAT 60 AND SOME OTHER 8 IN THERE MY FRIEND. SO I WOULD BE VERY LOOSE AS TO BRINGING UP METACRITIC

[Jandre02]

God damnit. Mass Effect 8.5
Uncharted 8.

They are totally screwing the review averages, lol.

Honestly though, should all gaming sites be following this trend? Too many games are getting 9's and above nowawdays. Thats supposed to be a once or twice a year thing.

Its time for a damn review guide or something. Game review scores are pointless nowadays.

[Danja]

PS3 owers already stopped going to Gamespot since that R&C review..

So I guess 8.5 is not AAA..hmm..haha...aint Karma F*%king b!tch..!!

[I_killed_TheMart]

AHH
LOLLL...Wheree THE hell is theMart??????????? so i can rub this AA in his face....everyone if u see him ...give him a negitive, so he can have a 1 bubble!! :D ( btw i dont even think gamespot cares what console is what. If the game doesn't satisfy their needs it's not AAA...plus as much as i hated them, their the real site that knows what AAA means. I take their reviews for my purchase... i dono but u guys

[Ignorant Fanboy]

He has all his bubbles, you only have one.
Jealous?

[akaFullMetal]

8.5 is not bad, all games it seems will get one low score, just not their fancy

[TheFamilyGuy]

GameSpot has given COD4 a 9.0, BioShock a 9.0, Ratchet and Clank a 7.5, Uncharted an 8.0, Zelda: Twilight Princess 8.9 and now Mas Effect an 8.5. By GameSpot's standards, it is a pretty good score and Mass Effect is a pretty excellent game.

[iceice123]

A 9.5. There is something wrong with their reviews. That games an 8-9.

[Shaka2K6]

Great but not triple a. hahahahahaha.

now to be fair this is gamestop, even though massive flop looks like crap im sure its a better game then mario galaxy.
so gamestop reviews dont mean anything.

[poeo]

Dude, it's GAMESPOT, not Gamestop. That's the chainstore.

[eyeh]

This is further proof that these reviews are pointless. Everyone should stop comparing games by their combined scores. Instead we should like the type of games we like and rate games by their flaws, not a score.
Everyone that has a ps3 thinks ratchet is above 7.5, and everyone that has a 360 thinks mass effect is above a 8.5.
Those who haven't played EITHER GAME should stop bashing.
In fact, everyone should stop bashing. There's NOTHING to gain from it.

[BaMYouRDeaD]

Mass Effect - 8.5
Ratchet - 7.5
Uncharted - 8

What's next, MGS4 gets a 5.5? Come on people, take Gamespot's reviews with a grain of salt and stop giving them attention.

[snoop_dizzle]

8.5 is a flop? Wow...where have i been for the past... i dunno... 10 years? I guess i will find out how if like it tomorrow. If it was hyped like halo 3 however i could see what you are saying then, but it hasn't.

But anyways I'm over it, you guys continue fighting i guess.
ill be enjoying ps3 games and 360 games.. oh boy don't i have it bad :p

of course ill still be on n4g this week , but less frequently. and i wont really debate at all or comment much, just contribute from time to time.

[Kleptic]

haha yeah...I pick this game up in about an hour or so...can't wait...

I don't really see what the big deal is with an 8.5...there have been several 8's already...and this isn't like Uncharted, where it gets dumped on for "tough and plentiful enemies"...which is such a poor write up its frustrating...

if ME has as many glitches, and runs as poorly as some reviews are saying...it deserves an 8.5 or even worse...the "bad" reviews are like IGN giving a 7 minute video review...with nearly 5 minutes worth of negative comments (ranging from broken AI and controls to a near unacceptable framerate during any action sequences)...only to turn around and give it a 9.4...because of replay value?...he even says in the review "these technical problems are not minor, and do effect the overall experience"...what?...how does that justify a near perfect score then?

I am excited for the game still...but if everything most reviews are saying is true, an 8.5 should be on the high side...plenty of games have had a general buzz of being broken with less problems than this...

[IGNFTW]

IT APPEARS WARIOWARE ON WII IS BETTER THAN BOTH UNCHARTED AND MASS EFFECT,SINCE IT SCORED HIGHER THAN BOTH OF THESE ON GAMESPOT.

AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT FINDS THIS TO BE A PROBLEM?

[jackdoe]

Lol. Now PS3 and 360 fanboys get to join in hating on Gamespot.

[BLACKJACK VII]

Here here... ME (8.5) deserves better & so does R&C (7.5) & possibly Uncharted too (8.0)... & they gave AC a 9.0 ?!?!?!?

Gamespot is clueless, but Destructoid absolutely sux.

I've been looking forward to Mass Effect for 2 years & no reviewer will take that away. I loved KOTOR & I will adore Mass Effect.

MASS EFFECT FTW !!!

[Bonsai1214]

i want to take a quick poll. how many of you have actually reached puberty? seriously.

since when did an 8.5 mean a bad game? you know, i played games before 2000, (games did exist back then) a 5 was average, an 8 meant it was a great game, 9 meant, stellar, and 10's were hardly given out.

i won't play this game because i don't have a 360, but any galaxy wide game can't be a bad thing... see: eve online (though i know its not the same thing)

[Gamerz4life]

You xbox fangirls are the most hypocritical bunch of gamers. When R&C got a 7.5 from lamespot, you jump on it like the game was a piece of crap or something, but when Mass effect get an 8.5 from them while other website gives it 9s or higher you say its no big deal. Oh wait i thought any game that isn't a 9 or higher from every website isn't worth your fangirls' time. Jackasses.

[Shaka2K6]

Dont you see xbois and wiitards hiding behind each other consoles everyday.

gamestop reviews are jokes its a fact.

[crank]

O VE

R L O

A D

CAN

N O

T HA

N

DL

E TH

E FA

NB OY

S

HE

L

P M

E

[crank]

(bong hit in progress)

[crank]

You disagree with my bong hit?

eh, thanks

[myxomatosis]

DRUgs R bAd

[FF7numba1]

lol the lemmings are crying at GS. GS is trying to change and stop being biased. ME deserves 8.5.

[IntelligentAj]

Since I haven't played the game I wouldn't know what to give it but I would've thought it would have gotten higher than an 8.5. Then again let's remember that this is PERSONAL OPINION!!! Games have been getting really high reviews for some time now and it's good that the scores have come down from being astronomical. Still think it would've been higher though..

[supaet]

mass effect, technical flaws = 8.5

assasin's creed, technical flaws not mentioned ONE BIT = 9.0

gamespot = pwned

[myxomatosis]

assassins creed to be shortened to ass code....

[rubarb23]

is this site being ran by 12 year olds? i have never seen so many people complain because "their" game didn't get the review they "thought" it should get. mommy it's not fair.
listen dumb asses, how about you f@gs just buy the f*ck'n game you "think" is good, enjoy the bastard and shut the hell up. regardless of what other people think and how they review the games, i and most mature people, make up our own damn minds and buy the damn games we want. if a prick reviewer gives your game a crap score, so what? who gives a sh!t, it's only that person's opinion. make up your own damn mind.
in the end, STFU, buy the games you want for you and enjoy.

[Gamerz4life]

Reviews are just opinions plain and simple. If you like the game, buy it and if you don't, don't buy it. Simple as that. no need to cry fanboys. A great internet poster once said "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink."

[rubarb23]

what a perfect quote dude.

[Bnet343]

gamespot sucks ass. thier reviews mean assjack.

[tony]

gamespot gave halo 3 9.5. i don't trust gamespot anymore. i'll be getting my copy of mass effect tomorrow.

[nupes98]

I completely agree

[BLACKJACK VII]

GameSpot = ME (8.5) deserves better & so does R&C (7.5) & probably Uncharted too (8.0)... & they gave AC a 9.0 ?!?!?!? WTF ?!?!?!?

Remember: Halo 3 got a 9.5 & Bioshock got a 9.0....

LOL, I'm giving my own reviews:

Mass Effect = 9.4
Bioshock = 9.1
COD4 = 9.0 (a plus for MP, a minus for short campaign)
Halo 3 = 8.9 (a plus for MP & Theater)
Uncharted = 8.5 (& maybe even better...)
R&C = 8.2 (although I personaly dont really care for it)
ACreed = 7.5 (too many flaws & a weak story)

Anyway, freak the reviewers... Enjoy yur game, I know I will...

I sincerely hope the Sony fans enjoy Uncharted (I know I would), & I will absolutely adore Mass Effect for many, many months of gaming bliss, as i did with KOTOR.

MASS EFFECT FTW !!!

[mesh1]

guys they gave uit a 8.5 wehich is basically a 9 tbh think they gave baldurs gate 2 a nine HAHAHAHAH and gears of war a 10/10 hahahahah THAT SHOWS u what the think about rpgs ajnd i knwo gamespot is 1 of the sites that wud rush this game cause of dead line tbh no reviewrs has scrathed the surface of thsi game and still its getting rave reviews there has been no bad reviews of this game unliek uncharted getting a few 7/10 from console game mags haha mass effect an rpg is getting 9 and 10s across the board so ps3 owners come here to latch on what is actaully a goo dreview gamespt said it if u love rpg mass effect delivers so what the problem move on ? trolls haha u failed go play uncharted which got sn 8/10 fro sooooooooo many rweviews and a 9/10 at best

[Monty_The_Great]

funny, that so many people take these retarded reviews personal. Uncharted looks like a great game, honestly if AC wasn't on the 360, i would of gotten a PS3 sooner. Uncharted is one of the few games that the PS3 has that I want. R&C has always been awful to me, and HS doesn't look that bad, really the only reason for me wanting it is the cinematic's. But uncharted looks like a great game.

[JokesOnYou]

OK so what? I think it deserves a 8.5 it got from Gamespot, I think it deserved the 10 it got from Gamedaily, the 9.4 from IGN and the 80 it got from Eurogamer, etc, etc= I read each review and I'm even more excited to play this game. Here take a look at the metacritic, this is no surprise, Awesome Scores for an Awesome Game
http://www.metacritic.com/g... =

JOY

[Chubear]

They would normally have given it a 9.5 but since they didn't get exclusive trailers, interviews and first dibbs at releasing certain info about the game (you know the normal stuff PR groups use to get reviewers to give their games high rating and/or berate the competition's product) then they say "ahhh 'uck it! we'll give it our proper rating but won't dog it cause MS would have our arses and a platter."

Editorial review sites have just become shameless scum.

[mesh1]

OOO i see a lot of high numbers me think sGOTY NOA Rpg last year or this year on any console has rated better dont beliv eme check obvion hahah suckers mass effect is goty cry more trolls

[Solotov]

At least Gamespot doesn't rubber-stamp high scores on everything. It's good that they are holding games to account. They are not perfect but better than 1up and IGN

[vid33nyc1]

It has got to a point where you cant really trust any reviews from these game sites anymore.This guy kevin who reviewed the game also gave Eternal Sonata an 8.5.So you mean to tell me Eternal and mass effect are of the same quality and level?If you payed money for a game bring it home and enjoy it thats all that matters.

[THAMMER1]

Still got a better score than Uncharted.

[JJB-360]

So many reviewers are scared to give hyped up games a real unbaised score, and Gamespot have managed to give Mass Effect a score they see right. If you look at what an 8.5 actually is on Gamespot, it mean's it's between great and superb. That's hardly something to moan about.

[Phantom_Lee]

who cares, its gamespot~~
moving on~~~

[jazzmanb]

great honest review...in fact his review pumps me up more than many reviewers who scored the 9.5 +...its often better to read the reviews instead of just looking at the score..he states that the game is an amazing wonderful experience,the graphics are some of the best to date,story is unmatched,and the soundtrack is amazing..he also said the on foot combat is deep and fun..his complaints were on the technical side with glitches,the mako driving,pop in etc...i think its obvious that the lack of polish in these areas are what brought the score down..i think with a little polish in these areas and this game would have scored a 9.5..no biggie though its still a goty contender in every way..

[InMyOpinion]

This game deserves higher scores than it's been given. When true greatness comes along the reviewers fail to spot it. Probably trying to speedrun it in order to get that review ready. It's sad really. I urge you to try it out yourselves. IMO games like this only show up once every ten years. It takes one h3ll of a team to pull this off, and when Bioware does they don't get the praise they deserve.

[Lord Cheese]

i prefer my 360 to my ps3, but after reading some of this, i'm sick of xbox fanboys too. Whats wrong with just buying a game and enjoying it??!?!?!

[MK_Red]

I was starting to like GameSpot but they fail again and give 8.5 to ME that deserves much more.
People, instead of attacking each other's games and consoles, start thinking about review system and it's flaws.

[ThaGeNeCySt]

I don't see anything wrong with an 8.5 score

[Niclas]

Omg! .. this site apears 2 be full of winin sony fanboys ?

I got a PS3 and a Xbox360.. and i can tell u for sure.. R:FOM is a crappy rushed boring game .. (Kick everywhere by Halo) .. and R&C FUD is just as boring as Super Mario Galaxy.. kiddy games..

ME is a great game (not perfect but still great) .. and u ppl who only has a PS3 right now and try to trash all the good Xbox games coming out .. chill out and wait for some Tekken6, FFXII, GoW3 or MSG4..
Stop trashing something u know NOTHING about .. as for this review .. pfff..

[jjfunaz]

While your entitled to your opinion. I have to disagree with you on all fronts. RFOM is not a crappy rushed game. It was a decent FPS that stood out against fairly weak launch lineup. It served its puprose just like Tekken Tag did for ps2. While I do agree Halo is the better game, destroying RFOM is assinine.

Also, Ratchet and Clack is a good game. Not GOTY, or a 9.5 or even a 9.0 but still a good game for the ps3. Its an established franchise that was done well. It lacked features of previous versions like multiplayer but still overall a good game.

Mario Galaxies, while you say for the "Kiddies" Appeals to more people then ME, and is a much better game then ME. The level design and production value is top notch. Galaxies takes mario to a new level, and proves why Nintendo is the leader in game design and development.

That being said. ME getting an 8.5 is nothing to get upset about. Its a quality game that will probably be a lot of fun. But you won't be having that same sense of amazement as when you first played KOTOR1. Don't let review scores dictate what you like, and any game not a 9 doesn't mean its not worth your time.

[monkey602]

I thought Resistance was great. Online was a great experience and so far no other game on PS3 (or any I played on 360) have nailed the menu system of R;FOM. The messaging, party and clan pages etc.. were just perfect to me.

[UltramanJ]

..the xbot "Ratchet and Clank" logic, Mass Effect isn't a AAA game. On a serious note, it's distrubing so see all of the crying anytime a game releases and doesn't score 9s and 10s. Many of you are ridiculous, and don't seem to realize that Gamespot employs more than one reviewer hence the reason Mass Effect may score the same as some other game that's lesser in your eyes.
I'll still be picking it up regardless because I understand that overall the scores have been stellar, just as they are with Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank.

[RadientFlux]

As much as I am looking forward to Mass Effect, I am not at upset with Gamespots review. A review is basically a opinion and Gamespots opinion is different then my when it comes to Mass Effect.

[tony]

w

[The_Engineer]

Im still looking forward to playing this game but now fear I will leave it to my son to explore if the framerate issues are as bad as they say they are. nothing kills a game for me worse than framerate issues, I can play on a crappy PC for that.

just played the first two hours of it, let me say that the story is great. The graphics are pretty good but there are HUGE!!! framerate issues, sometimes it looks like the 360 is literally droppping 10 frames at a time just to keep up with the scripting. Overall the game is very entertaining but is marred by some serious performance issues. Makes me wonder if Bioware was not pressured into releasing this before it was truly ready of if that's the most they could squeeze out of the 360 at this graphical level where it is obviously starting to have trouble keeping up.

[jjfunaz]

Its not framerate issues that brought the score down. People need to realize that GRAPHICS != good games. Especially on this gen, where graphics are going to be beautiful and getting better all the time. The framerate issues might have taken it from a 8.8 to a 8.5, but the reason this game didn't get a 9+ is because its just not a revolutionary rpg.

People need to stop expecting games to get 9+. There should only be 2-3 of those games a year, not 10-30. If you want a decent RPG for a good system needing rpgs then pick this game up.

[jjfunaz]

I read the review and they confirmed my suspiscions. Bioware made some great games in the past, Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, KOTR1, but then NWN1 and 2, Jade Empire, and KOTR2 were all not as good.

The much talked about dialog features have been around since baldur's gate, you get a party, you have to talk to them after each plot advance, and you can unlock their past or turn them good or evil.

While they expand on thsi in every game, every game uses this mechanic. They are also making the game shorter and shorter to allow different playthroughs. While I will probably get this game at christmas I definately think that Bioware needs to branch out and try a completely new forumula.

I like how they try to change the combat with each game (jade Empire was a failure imho) but at least they take chances. Anyway gamespot i believe got it right with 8.5. Quality game with high production value, nothing missing or absent that you would expect to be there, but just overall done before and not completely revolutionary.

[sonyfanonly]

see xbots how does it feel to have your beloved game get a low score and you talk about the ps3 game ratings see RandC was scoring 9 to 10s everywhere else but gamespot now ME is scoring low everywhere else including gamespot now what happens if ME comes to the ps3 gamespot would rate is the shame of the month

[jjfunaz]

What is wrong with everyone. I feel like I'm taking CRAZY PILLS!!!!!

8.5 is not a bad score!!!!! Its probably exactly what this game deserves. Ratchet and Clank definately got rated a little harsh, but I prefer harsh ratings to those sites just throwing out 15 100/100 reviews a year.

Gamespot is getting mroe and more respect in my book with every review that they release. People need to find a review site that generally has the same opinion as you. That way when they rate a game high you know you would too.

But don't say that 8.5 is a bad score, or that gamespot is trash just because they don't throw 100s around like its their job.

[Maestro]

LOL, Bye bye game of the year.

[mesh1]

we all know what will get game of the year and it wud be a joke SMG as 1st wii has the largest install base and gamesite are alwsy looking for new trolls to frequent their site so SMG may get it but if it does not MASS effect will deal with it u troll ive seen ur post before very boring

[Leg-End]

although mass effect is the kinda game i would hate i still know that it deserves much better than this - gayspot are at ti again just like with rachet

[0LDSCH00L]

Oblivion should have gotten an 8.0 with all the tech issues and crazy load times! oh well.. the majority of other sites rate ME above 9 with a few perfect scores, so ill go with the majority, Gamespot f*cked this one up for sure!

[MvC Xtrm]

Why can't people just accept the fact that gamespot rates games on how good/bad they were? Why has there always got to be some conspiracy behind gamespot if they scored your anticipated game low or your rival console's game high? Whether or not the game made a positive or negative impression on gamespot has nothing to do with following the crowd and giving it the same score as everybody else. Not everybody is going to receive the exact same impression from a game. But I wouldn't expect the "herd" which so diligently follow the Shepard to understand (fanboys). If Gamespot gives Mass Effect an 8.5, then by god that's the impression they received from the game... Same with R&C and Zelta TP.

[PS3PCFTW]

we should all meet on a counter strike source server and own each other there.

I dont understand y all of you are always b1tching and moaning on this site..........at the end of the day all the time you wasted here means nothing.

[HondaSIRowner]

8.5 is not good enough.

What is now left for 360?

I'm starting to like GS now.

I take that back.

[monkey602]

I couldnt care what GS give any game. This game is on my Christmas wish list and regardless of any reviews I'm going to be enjoying this game and hopefully a few others come Christmas morning.

[Figboy]

unfortunately, his 360 decided that *THAT would be the best time to konk out on him, so i didn't get to play it. i saw about 10 seconds of the character creation menu, then nothing. it wasn't an RROD either, but another issue (at first it wouldn't cut on at all. then it wouldn't display picture at all), so the 3 year warranty extension doesn't apply for him.

i went and played Assassin's Creed and Uncharted on my PS3 instead.

i really wanted to play Mass Effect (or at least *SEE it in action), but it's a shame when the game console doesn't want to *FUNCTION properly. out of my three friends that have 360's *TWO of them have had theirs break on them. i'm just waiting for the third to crap out, but he never plays it, so i think he's good for now.

the failure rate of the 360 is the one thing keeping me from picking one up (and i was seriously considering getting one of my own for Mass Effect).

[monkey602]

My sisters boyfriend got a 360 in April and it ringed last week. I got one in September and worry about it everytime I turn it on. Still RROD wasnt enough to stop me from experiencing games like this. I cant wait for ME.

[Figboy]

want to play Mass Effect, it's not worth it to me to spend $400 on a gaming system, on the off chance that it might Red Ring on me.

with $400, i could get:

Uncharted
Haze
Unreal Tournament 3
Eye of Judgement
Half Life: Orange Box
Folklore

for my PS3. Mass Effect is cool and all, but i'd choose 6 high quality games over one on a system that could break on me anyday. i mean, just Half Life Orange Box alone is a steal. Haze is made by Free Radical, who makes fun FPSes, so no worries there. i've played Folklore and it's great. Unreal is going to be sweet. my roommate has Eye of Judgment, and it's surprisingly fun and cool. and Uncharted is possibly one of the best games i have ever played.

i understand how you feel though. i almost broke down and picked up a 360 for Mass Effect, but the cautious shopper in me couldn't bring myself to do it.

[monkey602]

I was really cautious on buying a 360 too As I'm a big Sony fan and love my PS3. But Dead Rising, Bioshock, Gears, Viva Pinata, Halo, Condemned and Mass Effect were my reasons funny though after buying the console I couldnt afford to get most of them. Only got Gears, Halo and Condemned, I'm sure getting a 360 will pay off for me though.

[Niclas]

Now i finally (after i got a 360) see what ppl where talking about .. you PS3 fanboys r really 2 much some times .. u ppl keep saying **** like "Byebye GOTY" "Looked crappy anyway" .. OMFG PS3 is NO better than the 360 actually the 360 is alot better "RIGHT NOW" .. both with grafix, framerates and mostly games .. (Yes yes .. the PS3 is much better with specs, but atm developers r making the games for 360 and gives the ports 2 PS3 ..) i think that in a year from now the PS3 will be much better, but as it stands, the 360 is defenetly better .. no discussion! .. xD

And wtf? This game has only got 1 review (I have seen ;P) under 9 .. and your already like "Bad game" .. wtf ppl .. wtf .. what am i supposed 2 say about UNcharted then? .. didnt get any 10 reviews either ? but you still think that game is niiiiiiiiiiiice .. lolz

(Not a fanboy, just my personal opinnion after reading responses.. *I got a PS3 myself*) MOTORSTORM FTW xD

[jazzmanb]

8.5 is good,and gamespot gave assains creed a 9.which i think it deserved...just remember that 1 guy from gamespot gave mass an 8.5,im sure if jeff g rated mass it wouldve been higher,but who really cares..its a kick ass game,thats going to win many goty votes from different sites..

[Niclas]

And if your worried this game wont turn out 2 be the next Xbox360 succes .. look at gametrailers review! auch i f****** cant wait til friday now :D (it got a nice 9.6)

[Rhezin]

who the f!ck cares about Gayspot anyway.

[JIN KAZAMA]

But this one didnt live up to the hype. As with Lost Planet, Test Drive unlimited, Halo 2.5.
PS3 is just simply the much better choice.

PLAY B3YOND.

[DarkSniper]

I will award you a bubble for your statement.

[beardtm]

According to Gamespot 360 has 37 games rated 8.5 or over, whereas PS3 only has 14.

That more than 3 TIMES as many games!!

360:

Gears of War 9.6
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 9.6
The Orange Box 9.5
Halo 3 9.5
Forza Motorsport 2 9.2
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 9.2
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 9.1
Assassin's Creed 9.0
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 9.0
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords 9.0
BioShock 9.0
Perfect Dark Zero 9.0
Guitar Hero II 8.9
Call of Duty 3 8.8
Burnout Revenge 8.8
Dead or Alive 4 8.8
Project Gotham Racing 3 8.8
Call of Duty 2 8.8
Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars 8.7
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 8.7
Kameo: Elements of Power 8.7
The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles 8.6
F.E.A.R. 8.6
Mass Effect 8.5
Virtua Fighter 5 Online 8.5
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation 8.5
FIFA Soccer 08 8.5
NBA 2K8 8.5
Project Gotham Racing 4 8.5
Eternal Sonata 8.5
NHL 08 8.5
Madden NFL 08 8.5
The Darkness 8.5
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 8.5
Alien Hominid HD 8.5
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent 8.5
Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis 8.5

PS3:

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 9.5
Assassin's Creed 9.0
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 9.0
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 9.0
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 9.0
Resistance: Fall of Man 8.6
FIFA Soccer 08 8.5
NBA 2K8 8.5
DiRT 8.5
NHL 08 8.5
Warhawk 8.5
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 8.5
Madden NFL 08 8.5
The Darkness 8.5

[Fan Tastic]

Skip this POS.

[kngri]

Everyone in this site is obsess with scores and are just ignoring the important part, the context. I bet the majority in this site didn't read the review and just look at the score. Reviews are just an opinion, you have to read a bunch of them and see what the general consensus has to say about the game and then come with your own conclusion. For example uncharted, I don't agree with the scores but that doesn't bother me because after reading all reviews it sure sound like a 10 not the 8's it has received, same goes with Mass Effect. who cares if the game don't bring nothing new as long it do well the old things

[KakashiDX]

Gamespot's failed pretty damn hard recently. 7.5 for ratchet, 9 for Ass. Creed, 8.5 for Mass Effect?

:/

[Myth]

When they saw all those framerate drops, and it also dropped from yawning through all the boring cut scenes.

This game comes with a warning!
This game has a 30% failure rate to match the hardware it's playing on.

[S1D3 EFFEC7]

I'm a 360 fan but Ratchet deserved a higher score, and so does Mass Effect.

[Legionaire2005]

when they reviewed Jade Empire(A Bioware game). They gave that game a 9.9 for crying out loud!!! Now That game was overrated. That game was too short for an RPG, with limited side quests, and the master at the end was too easy. Here is a link if you don't believe me:

http://xbox.ign.com/article...

[pshizle]

let me see MASS EFFECT 8.5 wha???

UNCHARTED 8 wha???

both deserve 9+

and is AC really that good to score a 9 ???