Best Science Fiction Video Games - Halo or Mass Effect?

There's been many fantastic science fiction video games over the past ten years, including Crysis and Dead Space, but for many people either the Halo or Mass Effect games are the very best. But how do they really compare?

[smoothdude]

Why limit it to just these two games?

[Mr_Shuttlezworth]

Of these two games i feel Mass Effect definitely has the edge. Halo come's off to me as very cartoonish and childlike. I never really cared about what what going on in the story, as none of it was very interesting. Basically once they forced me to play as the arbiter i became very disinterested in the whole thing, i couldn't even manage to finish Halo 3. It also seems to me that the majority of the online community consists of preteens and high school kids, and i have no interest in being subjected to what these perverted devil children have to say.

Mass Effect on the other hand had me hook, line, and sinker. I admit i was very late to play the original Mass Effect, as i had only purchased it on steam a few months ago. The depth of the story sucked me into a world where i was able to make my own decisions and feel like i was making a difference in the outcome, instead of following a linear path that has been pre-determined. The gameplay, in my opinion was reminiscent of KoTOR, but mixed with some 3rd person shooter elements, and it all blended together so well. I have yet to even get too far into Mass Effect 2, but already i am already in love with it all over again.

[smoothdude]

I agree. I didn't play mass effect until the demo came out on the PS3. I just couldn't wait to play the whole game so I purchased both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 on Steam. Best money I have ever spend.

[Kran]

The real nominees should be:

Halo
Mass Effect
Knights of the Old Republic
Starcraft

My choice:

1. Knights of the Old Republic
2. Mass Effect (it was a tight call between the two)
3. Halo
4. Starcraft (since ive never played the 1st one, but I have for the second)

[ShiftyLookingCow]

lol at the sore people disagreeing. KoTOR was freaking awesome when it came out. It made Star Wars that much cooler. Sadly the next game is an mmo, I could only wish it was PC/PS3/360 single player epic rpg.

[B1663r]

I agree, Kotor is one of the best games of all time, however, Star Wars is pure slipstream, and doesn't really qualify as sci-fi...

[Bigpappy]

So now it is time to compare FPS to RPG's. Good luck with that.

[Nicaragua]

its comparing science fiction to science fiction numbnuts.

[Nate-Dog]

Only two games, and at that two completely different games for a question like this? Come on.

[Valkyre]

er Mass effect... ofc...

Halo is nowehre near the scope and complexity of the Mass Effect universe... there is like no contest between the 2...

[jrbeerman11]

if you read the halo books the story and scope are much better than whats presented in the games.

that being said, i still give the nod to mass effect. the depth of the story is unparalleled.

im not talking about the reapers either, its the side stories such as the corruption of cerberus, the moral conundrum of the genophage, the way the different races treat and think of each other.

without all of the politics and racial issues created in universe we essentially have an astronaut trying to stop super machines from killing us, which doesnt sound all that deep.

[256bit]

xenosaga owns all

[McLuvn]

QFT

[Rage_S90]

pshhhhh no xenogears owns all

[FlyShootRaceSims]

Ok ok Halo good. Mass Effect very very good ok because me said so! Killzone very very good but not good ok!

[TROLOLOLOL]

Wtf are you on about?

[Thrillhouse]

Half Life series.

[bananlol]

Indeed, hopefully episode 3 is released next year.

[WharenPeace]

I believe the author is confusing popular with best, much in the same vein as MacDonalds might be popular, but it'll hardly provide you with an enlightened culinary experience.

[jrbeerman11]

what chicken mcnuggets arent a culinary delicacy?

[ChristianGamer]

GT5 is popular...so can I call it the Mcdonalds of racing games or does that only apply to popular games not exclusive to sony?

[Fulensenca]

Xenogears owns all IMO.

[B1663r]

strictly speaking, Xenogears is more slipstream than scifi, so it doesn't really count.

[Rage_S90]

dont care xenogears still owns all but out of the 2 mass effect wins hands down

[M-Easy]

Killzone

[Craptain_Steel]

Deus ex is not on this list.

Writer should be castrated

[Sidewinder-]

i hear that.

[dragonclawf4]

dont forget earth defence force

[ShiftyLookingCow]

The author is refering to a specific type of sci fi not the whole of sf. Something similar to Star Trek/Star Wars.

[Solans Scott]

Having played both series in the article I can safely say my preference lies with Mass Effect.

[EditorAtGNG]

Sheer size: Warhammer 40k.
Lore: Mass Effect.
Actual, believable, fantasy world: Mass Effect.
Characters: Mass Effect.
Action: Halo.

Final Verdict: Mass Effect.

[Nicaragua]

The lore of Warhammer 40K dwarfs Mass Effect.

[EditorAtGNG]

In terms of books and comics hell yes, but in terms of games... no.

[Nicaragua]

Im not sure what you mean.

There have been 11 Warhammer 40K video games (not including the many stand alone expansions for dawn of war 1 & 2) compared to Mass Effect which has two games.

Lore means body of knowledge. The lore for warhammer 40k is vastly larger than mass effect.

[Rageanitus]

DEUS EX and SC

[Sizzon]

Mass Effect

[SonyNGP]

Killzone. It's sci-fi perfected.

[B1663r]

No, Killzone fails on all criteria for being sci-fi. It is pure speculative military fiction.

AKA, dungeons and dragons in outer space.

It's story is the lowest brow of low brow....

"Must kill space nazis."

It makes no attempt to exlain any of its setting, it is mearly an excuse for you to shoot people and not feel bad about it.

[InTheLab]

I disagree. There's a story there. It's just easier to ignore that story than pay attention.

Also, Killzone is sci-fi. I'm baffled as to why anyone thinks other-wise.

[thief]

Which just shows you have not played the games or have any clue about the intricate back story.
http://z3.invisionfree.com/...

The Helghan are NOT space nazis, and if you know even a bit about their back story you would wonder if you are fighting for the wrong side.

[Hooby]

The story of Halo is very large and has many more facets than mass effect, but the games tell the tale poorly.

[m23]

If you read the Halo books and play the games, the story is really good. However, I love Halo and all, but Mass Effect's story and universe is just so amazing. It's one of those games where I paid attention to every dialogue and cutscene just to know more about the world. On top of that the codex is filled with information about every little thing.

[femshep]

Id say it would have to be a little of both out of these two

[Malebaria]

I'd personally say Deus Ex and System Shock, albeit ME's background is incredible.

[Sidewinder-]

Deus Ex
Half Life
Xcom
Metroid Prime
Metal Gear
C&C (the good ones)

[duplissi]

wha!? no killzone, half life, fallout, resistance, gears, or metal gear?

[Xander-RKoS]

Metroid....

[Moentjers]

Space Quest

[ufo8mycat]

EASILY Mass Effect

Halo - just another generic, average FPS, with god awful storyline

Mass Effect - awesome story, large universe that you can explore. Living, breathing world with different alien races. Addictive combat system.

No contest really.

KOTOR FTW though!