Let’s get this out of the way: We love Mass Effect. We love the gameplay. We love the universe. We love the lore. We love the characters (even Kaiden Alenko, although he’s, like, right at the bottom of the pile, just below Keeper #6). And the story? Well...
Mass Effect is one of those games that’s frequently hauled out of its dusty cave and paraded in front of the world as an example of storytelling done right. It’s an RPG, and narrative is part of increasing the player’s immersion. Replaying the original trilogy, though, shines a fresh and jaded light on the game. Namely, the story is good, sure, in a popcorn movie kinda way, but scratch the sci-fi surface and you’ll find a husk of a narrative that’s just not as great as you remember.
RPGs are often huge, sprawling endeavours. With limited playtime, we have to choose wisely, so here's the best western RPGs available today.
"I started playing games yesterday" the List... Meh!
How about a few RPGs that deserve some love instead?
1 - Alpha Protocol - Now on GOG
2 - else Heart.Break()
3 - Shadowrun Trilogy
4 - Wasteland 2
5 - UnderRail
6 - Tyranny
7 - Torment: Tides of Numenera
And for a bonus game that flew under the radar:
8 - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Not only glorious jank, but the idea that the story can completely change depending on what you do, or say, or side with, makes it one of the most forward thinking games ever. The amount of story permutation is the equivalent of a Hitman level but in Story Form. And it wasn't just that the story changed, no, it was that you met completely new characters, or missed them, depending on your choices. Made Mass Effect feel static in comparison.
Alpha Protocol was absolutely glorious, indeed. And it was, and still is, more Next Gen than most anything out there these days. In this regard at least.
Pity.
Based on one narratively fitting ending in Mass Effect 3, Prothean squadmate Javik is highly unlikely to return in the next Mass Effect game.
He was one of my least favorite characters. I wish they would have done the Proths different.
Wealth of Geeks explores some of the best gaming romances that have stolen our hearts over the years.
A bit pretentious
Sometimes it's not the overall story arc but the details within the story. Mass effect has a vast detailed universe with backstories and on each race and character. The intertwining of all thus makes it a great story.
let me guess, the 8th reason will shock me
/rolleyes
I have never heard one person say mass effect was storytelling done right. Not a single fucking person lol.
"A lot of people parade around the idea that dogshit is delicious. Here are 8 reasons why it's not as good as you think".