Mass Effect: Main Story 30 - 40 hours + another 20 - 30 for Side Quests

How Long

It's safe to say Mass Effect will stand proudly among the longest, most expansive games yet available on Xbox 360. But exactly how long and how expansive is the experience? Here's what Ray had to say:

"It took me about thirty to forty hours to do just the core story, and another twenty, thirty hours of uncharted worlds beyond that. I think most players will probably spend forty to sixty hours, somewhere in there … this is a big game. It's all at the same production value too. It's all consistent high-quality. I'm amazed, the team has done an amazing job."

[Evil0Angel]

amazzzzzing graphic 30-40h only in main story (possible GOY)+20-30 in side quest =
50-70 horse and that all in DVD9 while ..... .... ..... in BR only 5hr of gameplay!!!!!!!!!!1

anyway
BIOSHOCK --than--> HALO3 -----> PGR4 -----> TF2
-----> PE2008 ----->COD4 ----->Mass Effect ----->Assassin's Creed
--->Lost Odessy
and all in one console that all i need this holiday season

[leinadem2]

it looks amazing

[ben hates you]

i'm a guy that likes to go through the games a deep as i can, so i'm looking at 70hrs gone out the window

[Odion]

thats sweet to hear a nice giant epic story.

Hmmm Bioware

[power of Green]

Another AAA...

[rubarb23]

with all these badass games coming out, where the hell can one find the time to play them all?

[Funky Town_TX]

360 to play kick a$$ games: $349
Ps3 to play 6 hour games on blu-ray with sh8t controls: $500
Warhawk best PS3 game and under 1 gig: $40

Looks on Sony fangirls face when they realize that tech specs don't make games great alone: Priceless

Stop being tools for Sony and stop buying into the blu-ray agenda. Blu-ray is in PS3 because Sony makes movies. The best games for 06 and 07 don't have use blu-ray. Also you guys need to get of the web and go buy games. Sony needs the help. Not one game in the top 5 since the launch of the PS3.

[jackdoe]

You damn fanboy. You just have to drag Sony into news about a good game. Why is that? Does it make you feel better about yourself? Just leave the companies out of the news about games. I for one am pleased that Mass Effect has a good playtime. I thought KOTOR was pretty short but good, and glad that Bioware is making a long game.

[Funky Town_TX]

You can just ignore me if you want to.

[sonarus]

you need to get off the web and go play the oh so many games the 360 has. I already rented and finished bioshock i have halo 3 preordered and no other 360 exclusive interests me this year. Except for mass effect. I am not interested in COD4 i played the beta and its lame IMO jst a regular fps shooter. big deal. Most of the games coming out this year that really interest me are multi plat

[jackdoe]

Very well FunkyTown. I will ignore you.

[Snukadaman]

compare a 40+ hour game like this too 6-8 hours on a bigger blu-ray and anyones arguments on it being needed fly out the window. We all remember news of using 2 gigs of space on the blu-ray for music in hs...just information too make the use of blu-ray look like it is needed when in fact as we speak its not...all sony is concerned about right now is blu-ray being dominant in the format war, as with the recent release of games show them being rushed out before the holidays...

[fjtorres]

On what system?
On the XBOX it ran 40-80 hours!
Jade Empire ran 30-40.
Bioware doesn't even *know* how to make a short game.
Get out a bit, kid; on the XBOX side, a 6 hour game is a demo. Saints' Row demo ran like 8 hours. Prey ran as long as you could keep it up...

60 hours for Mass Effect is about right.
Just wish it came out now, not in Nov.

[jackdoe]

Yeah. I beat it in 30 hours.

[ktchong]

Obviously, most gamers will want to go back and replay with a different character: different gender, childhood history, military background, class, dialog decisions, good vs evil path, etc.

Mass Effect will be Baldur's Gate meets Knights of the Old Republic on a console.

[jackdoe]

I don't know, I really don't play as the other gender in any Bioware games. I do play as different classes though.

[fjtorres]

You do know that Baldur's Gate *and* KOTOR both ran on the old XBOX, right?
Plus their sequels and Jade Empire.
Plus DeusEx and Morrowind.
XBOX has always had plenty of Premium RPGs; 360 is just keeping the tradition going.

[the worst]

no action a 40 hour movie
boring

[iceice123]

The looser who disagreed with everyone, arn't you? It's funnt how so much fits on DVD9, blu-ray needed this gen? AHahaha I don't think so!

[FullyLoaded420]

You must be talking about MGS4.

[InMyOpinion]

...Or Heavenly Sword. 3 hours of cgi and 3 hours of brainless '91 arcade style button mashing against enemies that have the same AI as those found in Dynasty Warriors. "Hey guys! Let's all just circle around her slowly and attack 1 at a time!" And why does it move in slow motion? I bet the sound is amazing though. Thanks to Blu-Ray lol!

[life_sucks244]

they said the same about Heavenly Sword. I highly doubt that it would be that long. they just want you to be interested and get more buyers

[ktchong]

.
None of BioWare games -- Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate 2, Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, and Jade Empire -- has ever clocked in less than 20 hours.

[BLACKJACK VII]

@life_sucks244

That's because SONY said it. Can't trust a LIAR.

I trust Bioware: 50+ hours of NEXT GEN goodness on dvd9 in 2007.

Watch & learn BluRay.

[Bnet343]

That's definitely worth the money. Im buying this game no doubt, KOTOR is my favorite Western RPG, hopefully Mass Effect will dazzle me like that did.

[Spike47]

instead of bragging about all those games, why don't you actually play them, instead of bragging about them online.

first of all, developers are'nt familiar with blu ray yet, second, what were you playing you're first year of owning the 360?

that's okay, we'll be playing mgs4, killzone 2, FF versus, FF something, the agency free mmo.

it's not all about how long a game is.

funkytwon, u need to get off the web and play you're vast library of games on the 360,

(the irony)

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

what do they need to get use to with Blu-ray. its a storge medium thats all just like DVD9 except more space. you sound like a fool saying the arent familiar with blu ray yet.

[Funky Town_TX]

"first of all, developers are'nt familiar with blu ray yet, second, what were you playing you're first year of owning the 360? "

BR is storage. Nothing to get familiar with. Also remember PS3 was suppose to launch in spring 06. Do me a favor and find Sony's "Gears of War" that was a 3 million unit game. I don't care about sales but I hate Sony fangirls with a passion. You guys don't buy games. The best PS3 game is less than 1 gb in space. This goes to show that tech specs don't make games great. How about you go play that 6-7 rated killer app Lair. That game is not only short but it is a technical joke. It is sloppy, the framerate is bad, and the controls suck. Actually the 360 had oblivion in march 06, GRAW, COD2, PGR3. THE xbox 360 has sold more games since the PS3 and Wii COMBINED SINCE THEY LAUNCHED. At least you can watch movies on that system.

Sony better get their user base up for Kojima. Last I checked the best the PS2 and PS3 has done was attach a good game to 20% of it's user base. It's sad when a 360 game out does a PS2 game in sales. M$ is pushing software Sony is pushing movies and hopes for the future. There nothing stopping me from getting a PS3. I just have my own mind and I will get one when it proves it is worth it. And by that time it will be cheaper.

[Funky Town_TX]

This Sony's third console. They should have hit the ground running. What have I been hearing since fall 05. Wait until spring 06. Wait until e3-06. Wait until TGS 06. Wait until fall 06. Wait until e3-07. Wait until TGS 07. wait until Lair. Wait until HS. Wait,wait,wait, wait, and wait. I will be dead waiting on PS3. How about I game on my 360. BTW, I just hate Sony fangirls. The internet is getting to my head.

[Scrooge]

To answer your question Spike, I played Call of Duty2, GRAW, Oblivion, PGR3, Saints Row, and of course Halo2 from last gen, all kickass games. Oh wait, Gears of War was released before the first year anniversary too. So ya. Sorry the first year isn't that cool on PS3, guess you'll have to "keep waiting".

[Spike47]

2008 lineup of 360: lost odyessy, halo wars, fable 2, lost planet 2,etc.

ps3 lineup in 08: mgs4, killzone 2, Littlebigplanet, infamous, FF titles, etc.

lets be fair and wait till the reviews come out shall we?

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

you realize that everyone whos seen mass effect except 1 blogger has said its amazing right? why are you trying to pump up the ps3 line up in a topic about a 360 game?

[Evil0Angel]

halo wars
fable 2
too human
ninja gaiden 2
lost oddesy
sc:convection
Peter Jackson's Halo
Marvel Universe Online
Alan Wake
APB
Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom

not to mention GT5 they HOPING for christmas 2008 relase for NA/JAPAN...EUROPE=2009

[randomGuyOnline]

Mass Effect is shaping up to be one hell of a game. It looks amazing, but I'm not to sure about the combat. I just hope it plays as well it looks. If it does, then wow, Mass Effect FTW!

[Covenant]

So I just finished BioShock (friggin' amazing)

And in a week, I get Halo 3...

And then Mass Effect?

My cup runneth over.

I know what I'll be doing in my spare time this winter.

[BIadestarX]

This game is a direct slap to Sony and blu-ray. The most realistic looking game yet, the biggest one offering up to 60 hours of gameplay it not on the PS3 and a blu-ray disk.. but a freaken DVD9 disk.
How the heck is this possible? Are these developers doing magic?
You know the secret? The game is ingame. not CGI full of cutscenes as most PS3 games. What's better in game or pre-rendered? mmm.. to the developers? nice feature.. extra space quick way out... for the gamer... ahhh none.

[Kyur4ThePain]

No, it's not magic.

Here... http://www.gametrailers.com...

See? Click....click....click....fee l the excitement?
I'm surprised they couldn't get this past the 100 hour mark.

[pilotpistolpete]

You gotta love how the 360 having a good game is like a giant fanboy orgasm.

Why would this be insulting to ps3 owners? Ok, you have a good game, good for you. Do you want a treat or something?

RadientFlux, agreed. I think people forget this is supposed to be a gaming website, with various console pages, not a war.

[RadientFlux]

not surprising but sony fanboys aren't the only ones to blame... there are quiet a few microsoft fanboys that do the same in PS3 threads... it's a cycle of stupidity

[Charlie2688]

I am glad the game is not that long since if devs try pushing it to much (+60 hours) I tend to get bored :P

@dragon117: I mean the main story or campaign and again I used the key phrase "I get bored" so I frankly don't care if you go 2000hours in Oblivion that is your opinion not mine

[Jdash24]

dude your crazy, ive clocked in 170 hours on oblivion to date, i have yet to feel bored, longer enjoyable games earn their $60

[RadientFlux]

Great news... Mass Effect should make my Winter Break very enjoyable

[Raptors]

On a DVD-9 disc? Wow. Can anyone with any technical know how explain how that's possible? I mean, I keep reading stories about how Blu Ray is needed but if they can fit all that on a DVD-9 disc....is it really?

[Evil0Angel]

really suck such as:
HS:RIP OFF 5hs gameplay
LAIR:ugliest game to date

[the_round_peg]

putting a lot of pre-rendered cinematic cutscenes into a "game". Like Lair and Heavenly Sword.

There's a reason why BioWare doesn't put any pre-rendered cutscenes into Mass Effect and has to resort to using in-game, real-time engine.

In a way, the limitation of not having a Blu-ray has become a benefit for gamers - because developers can't just fill up the disc with cutscenes and skim on the gameplay.

Just look at Lair and Heavenly Sword... they are mainly cutscenes with bits of gameplay filled in - both clocks in less than 10 hours. On the other hand, look at Warhawk, the highest rated PS3 title so far... does Warhawk need Blu-ray?

[fjtorres]

Is that the game runs entirely off UNREAL 3 engine. The pre-scripted scenes are rendered on-the-fly in-engine. This not only saves space (by a factor of 10 or more), but it allows the character to be fully customized. These current-gen HD consoles are *supposed* to have the horsepower to do this and 360 definitely does. There is no practical reason why a *well-coded* game has to pre-render anything.
But then its well-known in certain circles that lots of developers are just plain lazy, right?

Fortunately, none of those work at BioWare. :-)

[icechai]

man if they keep extending the length of games, sure it will cater to some of you hardcore gamers, but for a lot of people this will end up just like FF12 (most people play it, then leave it unfinished for a year+ until they get around to finally finishing it, and some never finish it).

[tplarkin7]

But if the game is good, you won't be able to put it down. I beat KOTOR 5 times. That's about 200 hours. When a game is just "so-so", you won't bother to finish it.

[Charlie2688]

@icechai: that is exactly what I was refereing when I talked about not making the games extra long, paying 60 bucks and finding that the main quest is so long you start loosing interest...but apparently I cant have my own opinion or preferences with out getting the mob all worked up

and just for the fun of it have a bubble +1

[BLACKJACK VII]

MASS EFFECT = 50+ HOURS OF GAMEPLAY ON DVD9 WITH INCREDIBLE GRAPHICS

MASS EFFECT = BEST FACIAL ANIMATIONS EVER SEEN IN A VIDEO GAME

MASS EFFECT = ENDLESS CHARACTER, ARMOR & WEAPONS CUSTOMIZATION

MASS EFFECT = AN RPG WITH GEARS/GRAW/R6V/RE4 TACTICAL GAMEPLAY

MASS EFFECT = A BIOWARE NEXT GEN TRILOGY

Rememeber E3 2007 ? With Halo 3, Killzone 2, MGS4, Bioshock, Assassin's Creed, Lair, Heavenly Sword ? What game beat them all ???

MASS EFFECT: E3 2007 BEST CONSOLE GAME & BEST RPG.

MASS EFFECT = GOTY

I've been waiting for this game since I bought my 360.

THE MASS EFFECT & THE GEARS OF WAR TRILIOGYS are going to keep me soooooooooo happy for sooooooooooo long. Can't wait for NG2 as well.

=)

[BLACKJACK VII]

It's safe to say Mass Effect will stand proudly among the longest, most expansive games yet available on Xbox 360™. But exactly how long and how expansive is the experience? Here's what Ray had to say:

"It took me about thirty to forty hours to do just the core story, and another twenty, thirty hours of uncharted worlds beyond that. I think most players will probably spend forty to sixty hours, somewhere in there … this is a big game. It's all at the same production value too. It's all consistent high-quality. I'm amazed, the team has done an amazing job."

[Dr Pepper]

"the team has done an amazing job."

Sure looks like it. I can't wait to spend that much time exploring an entire galaxy and playing through an epic story with a completely customizable character.

[BLACKJACK VII]

No doubt. Can't wait for 11/20 DP.

[Chris_GTR1]

hey do you think halo will get overshadowed by mass effect? i dont really know if ME will be goty since halo has soo much hype

[Saint Sony]

Hype is not enough for GOTY. Game has to be really good.
It will be Bioshock or Mass Effect...well, or Halo3 :)

[PlayStation360]

I don't think so bro. As Nostredame said, "Hype is not enough for game of the year." Now I'm not saying Halo 3 is all hype, so don't go thinking that. But Mass Effect has that something that makes it GOTY material. 40+ hours of gameplay and sidestory, top notch character customization, engaging storyline. That is gonna be hard to take down bro. Between Bioshock, Halo 3, and Mass Effect, I have to give the edge to Mass Effect. This is just my opinion of course, so feel free to disagree.

[ParaDise_LosT]

....and they plan to add DL Content....
wow.......................

[MetalNCarnet]

1.21 GIGAWATTS!!!

[IPlayGames]

Why dont u compare games to same genre ?? Wait till Folklore is out how long is that game?? how long will FF be ?? its real easy to talk trash i guess.

This is the 1st game on 360 to have some real gameplay time will maybe (3disk)blue dragon but that bombed like Lair so... who cares right.

What about all your other titles Gears, BioShock, Crackdown, wut else do u play on 360??....oh yea Halo 2 that was short also.

Congrats 1 long game on 360 lets throw a parade we can serve ps3 hater aid lol.

[mesh1]

what about buio shock ?20r of gameplay and yes the game lookss amazing on my 360 with my logitech 21inch pc screen

[BLACKJACK VII]

What else do 360 owners play ? I cant speak for others but, let's see what i've played in just the last year:

Dead Rising
Lego Star Wars II
Rumble Roses XX
COD2
COD3
Gears of War
Perfect Dark Zero
Spliner Cell: DA
Madden 2006
NBA 2K6
Oblivion
Spiderman 3
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
King Kong
Burnout Revenge
PGR3
Madden NFL 2007
NCAA 2007
Lost Planet
NBA Street Homecourt
Just Cause
Crackdown
The Darkness
Tomb Raider Legend
NCAA 2008
Madden 2008
Bioshock
Medal of Honor Airborne

Of course, this doesn't include dozens & dozens of other games I haven't tried, dozens of arcade games, & dozens of last gen titles like Halo 2 & KOTOR I play all the time. What have you played in the last year on your PS3 ????????

Let's see... Motorstorm, Resistance, HS, Lair, Warhawk, that's about 5 games there...

You don't play many on Xbox 360... your Gamerscore is 625 out of 12 games.

My Gamerscore is 17,365 out of 56 games (only listed 28 above). Looks like I PLAY GAMES. Peace.

[IPlayGames]

7 of your titles are short which was my point

8 are sports games

the others u can play on ps2 or 3 which i prefer because of free online and i like the controls better

(back on topic)

40hr of RPG is being compared to 10hr Action Adv. xbots take a grain of sand and turn it into mountains. Try sticking to genre. This is like saying FF13 is 50hr+ and Gears is only 8.

[ALMIGHTYPS3]

3 DISCS->LMFAO!!!

PLAY B3YOND....

[IPlayGames]

can wait to play this can it looks great.

[black28]

PS3 longest game is 10hrs. Thats with blue ray oh boy!!

[ShiftyLookingCow]

this thanksgiving there is going plenty of turkey and space action

[power of Green]

PlayStation is an Old school brand with OldSchool styles and tactics. Playstation still has the stradigy making alright games adding funky sh*t to them and add top-notch movies(CGI) to sell the games.

Its what Sony was banking on pushing Blu-ray and adding movies to games to make them appeal to gamers that fall for this tactic every generation(Still tricked by GT5-P).

It's future Mass Effect support I'm stoked about the game has great value.

[JokesOnYou]

yeah the proofs in the pudding, a great game like ME on 1 disc speaks for itself, but even if it was on 2, it would STILL be a great game and thats all gamers really care about= 360's was designed from the ground up for one purpose: to be the best GAMING console available which is why it will continue to deliver the best games this gen=

JOY

[FirstknighT]

You can add Resistance, Motorstorm, Heavenly Sword, and Lair and u still don't get the amount of gameplay and graphics of Mass Effect. HAHA, Funny stuff indeed!

[sak500]

LOL. YOu basically named the whole line up of slightly better than avg games on ps3.

[power of Green]

Talking about Disc space will force dev to increase game quality. You may have heard me talking about how Xbox games are more complex every once in a while, this is what I'm talking about. Xbox games are generally Hybrids with two or more genre's mixed in one tittle each genre done better than last generation's, gamplay elements are usually reinvented aswell.

Can't wait for Halo 3 thats now half FPS with some 3rd person and Vehicle combat thats far from an after thought a game with in a game as I read it.

[sak500]

I feel sad for sony fans, poor chaps are trying hard to fight on a sinking ship whose captain (ken) has already bailed out. Sony hypnotised these people like David copperfield with cgi clips and powerpoint presentations and turned them into zombies who can only see ps3 as the next gen console and nothing else. Somebody should snap them out of this hypnotic state before its too late and they lose out on a great next gen experience for one where they are just waiting for any quality game to be released.

LEAVE B3YOND B3HIND AND JUMP IN

[Liquid Ocelot]

So RPG type games are always longer then other type of games look at Gears of war people can complete that in less then 14 hours and you x-box fans don't give out because of it's length do you so don't go talking thrash about games like heavenly sword sure it's short *it's actually 7-8 hours long* but it's one hell of a game with an excellent storyline and the acting is incredible and i am sure Halo 3 and mass effect will sell well but don't but down games with thrash talk when you haven't even played them yet also can we not stop thrashing the competition both ps3 and 360 owners have great games to play.

[Sez]

wow this game is gonna be great. the graphic look great and now the lenth is 50 to 70 hours. this negates the claim that blu-ray is needed.
sony will have to get dev's to go and start making their games longer to use up that space that the blu-ray holds. 25gigs for a 6 hour game is lame.

[Salvadore]

Holy crapm this sure is a long game.