Mass Effect Raises the Bar.... REALLY high.

Mass Effect™ is a sci-fi action RPG created by BioWare, the commercially and critically acclaimed developer of Jade Empire™ and Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™. Mass Effect delivers an immersive, story-driven experience coupled with awe-inspiring visuals, delivered exclusively to the Xbox 360™.

As one of the first human beings to step onto the galactic stage, you face a grave threat that may destroy all of civilization. Your job is complicated by the fact that no one believes that there is any threat at all. Travel across an expansive universe, exploring the uncharted corners of the galaxy, searching for pieces of the truth in order to discover how to defeat the coming destruction.

• Explore uncharted worlds: Uncover a mystery that defies imagination as you travel to the far corners of the universe. Visit unexplored planets, finding side quests that unfold parallel to the main story. Discover alien life, new resources, ruined civilizations, and powerful technologies.
• Fight in real-time: Mass Effect features a real-time, squad-based, tactical combat system. Enjoy intense and exciting third-person action as you face off against your enemies. Engage your foes with ranged weapons, biotic powers, science-based magic, and tech powers, all accompanied by astonishing visuals.
• Customize your character: Build a stunning, photo-realistic character, expanding your skills and statistics as you progress. Utilize a deep reward system as you travel further afield and discover more about the coming invasion. Change the appearance of your characters with the additions of newly discovered weapons, equipment, and armor to make each one truly unique.
• Experience the next generation: Mass Effect takes full advantage of Xbox 360 hardware, providing players with photo-realistic high definition graphics, amazingly realistic characters, branching dialogue with A.I. responses, and a massive universe to explore. As the future of gaming continues to expand online, look for premium downloads on Xbox LIVE®.

Ok, blah blah blah. How does it play? Like a Sci-fi geek's wet dream, that's how! Playing this game is like being in a great Sci-Fi movie and controlling the outcome. It's the kind of thing I always pretend to be doing in most other RPGs. In this case, Bioware has pulled it off. There are plenty of tuff decisions that effect game play, stunning graphics and a great story. Everything is streamlined so much you are almost never taken out of character and feel as if you are watching from the outside. The combat is visceral and engaging with a myriad of options. You can micro manage your party members or let them go on their own according to their personalities. Each NPC is well developed and has a long and interesting back story. I can't say a lot more without giving away some of the plot so I will just leave with this: Buy it.