That's really hard, because you can barely say anything without spoilers. You might want to get him to read the book Mass Effect: Revelation. It's a great book that gives an introduction into the Mass Effect universe without actually spoiling any of it. I don't know what else to say, Commander Shepard is awesome and he goes and and fights the bad guys? Not only is that a breathtaking simplification, it's spoiling the game just by mentioning one of those bad guys. It's just so complicated. I think that book would be a great introduction.
I need an explanation of Mass Effect- No Spoilers, please.
- Thread starter smearyllama
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It's a very detailed universe full of interspecies racism, politics and treachery. It's set roughly 200 years in the future and you play as Commander Shepard, a decorated military officer sent to be evaluated on his/her skill with regards to the possible induction to the Spectres: a team of powerful agents of the Citadel Council.
Now, the Council is the most influential political force in the galaxy, made up of a representative of the three council races, the asari, the turians and the salarians. There are also various other races of varying degree of political success and power, such as the disgraced quarians who have been exiled from the Citadel and forcefully evicted from their home planet by the geth, a robotic race of slaves who revolted against the quarians.
That should be at least enough for a basic understanding, if you feel you need more, just message me or quote this post or something. I've gotten lost in Mass Effect's world many a time.
Now, the Council is the most influential political force in the galaxy, made up of a representative of the three council races, the asari, the turians and the salarians. There are also various other races of varying degree of political success and power, such as the disgraced quarians who have been exiled from the Citadel and forcefully evicted from their home planet by the geth, a robotic race of slaves who revolted against the quarians.
That should be at least enough for a basic understanding, if you feel you need more, just message me or quote this post or something. I've gotten lost in Mass Effect's world many a time.
The story is incredibly deep, and key aspects of it can change, so you probably won't get the same play through twice. I personally found myself playing just to see what would happen next.smearyllama said:
The combat can be a little bit fiddly at time (esspecially when starting) but the combat in ME2 fixes this. Honestly if he is put off by the RPG management of the 1st game, try the second. It still has RPG elements but they are less in depth.
Aliens are upsetting the status qo, go put them in their place. Extreme choice in dialouge with multiple ending reflecting your choices during the game. Third person over the shoulder shooter which took a little getting used to but is quite good in the end.
Shit happens, then bigger shit happens, then you spend the next 30 hours in a tank with a drunken monkey for a driver, then shit no longer happens.
Well that's very useful information! I'll use you as a source for all my future advice needs!lockeslylcrit said:
In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.
They called it the greatest discovery in human history.
The civilizations of the galaxy called it...
[HEADING=1]Mass Effect[/HEADING]
Thus begins the best written video game series of all time. When I started the game and played the opening cutscene, I got goosebumps all the way through. Mass Effect offers the most expansive, enthralling and immersive universe I have ever seen in a video game, and the only other universe that even comes close to being that good is Star Wars. Sure, the original has it's problems. The graphics haven't aged all that well, the inventory system can be a pain and the combat is far inferior to Mass Effect 2. But Mass Effect is absolutely a game that everyone should play. It is an experience like no other.
[sub]This is probably the nerdiest thing I've ever written...[/sub]
They called it the greatest discovery in human history.
The civilizations of the galaxy called it...
[HEADING=1]Mass Effect[/HEADING]
Thus begins the best written video game series of all time. When I started the game and played the opening cutscene, I got goosebumps all the way through. Mass Effect offers the most expansive, enthralling and immersive universe I have ever seen in a video game, and the only other universe that even comes close to being that good is Star Wars. Sure, the original has it's problems. The graphics haven't aged all that well, the inventory system can be a pain and the combat is far inferior to Mass Effect 2. But Mass Effect is absolutely a game that everyone should play. It is an experience like no other.
[sub]This is probably the nerdiest thing I've ever written...[/sub]
Militarised version of Star Trek, with all of the campness completely removed and the technology toned to be more believable.
Would be the best description for the setting. Gameplay wise the first one is pretty much KOTOR and the second one is more like Gears of War.
Would be the best description for the setting. Gameplay wise the first one is pretty much KOTOR and the second one is more like Gears of War.
This is a fantastic description.Colonel Alzheimer said:
There's a ton of combat in both games (much improved in Mass Effect 2), but it's still enjoyable and the story/characters are incredible.Karim Saad said:
The combat itself is sort of eh, but the game makes up for it with great writing and character development. Give it a look-see for sure if you're into story driven games and/or sci-fi.smearyllama said:
EDIT: I think that if you stay with the series, you'll find that the writing gets a lot better as you go on (particularly in ME2).
Original Mass Effect is pretty much a mix of spell-casting from an RPG and standard third person shooter elements, Mass Effect 2 goes for a simpler style that is more shooter and power-based. It's fun, but the focus of the game really is the story and the characters.smearyllama said:
Mass Effect 2 scrapped the driving, as that was the biggest complaint about the first game. The shooting's a fair bit better in it as well, but the RPG elements are a bit simplified.Karim Saad said:
A lot of the side quests are based off of old science fiction like Ender's War. The game likes to quote Thomas Hobbes a lot as well, in fact, one race, the Geth, are pretty much Hobbesian society personified. Lord Alfred Tennyson quotes show up in Mass Effect as well.smearyllama said:
