PlayStation 3 owners are finally getting the chance to experience the second installment in BioWare's epic sci-fi series, but outside of tracking down an Xbox 360 or a PC, there's no way for them to fully experience the first game from beginning to end. Reviewer Kat Bailey weighs in on the pros and cons of the PS3 edition's interactive Mass Effect: Genesis backstory comic, and if its worth taking the time to revisit the Normandy's first flight.
Back when I was in middle school, one of my favorite shows wasBabylon 5. WithStar Trek: Deep Space Ninemired in mediocrity at the time andVoyagergetting progressively more awful, I decided to make the switch and never looked back.
The only problem was thatBabylon 5was in the middle of the second season at the time, and season one definitely wasn't available on DVD (I'm not sure DVD was even commercially available in late 1995). But as it turned out, while the first season had its moments, Michael O'Hare's wooden acting combined with some average storylines made it mostly missable.
Can the same be said for the originalMass Effect? As withBabylon 5, the first installment certainly has its fans, but it's also a bit of an acquired taste. For those who are just now hopping intoMass Effect 2on the PS3, here are some of the pros and cons of revisiting the original game on the PC or Xbox 360.
Why You Should Stick with Mass Effect: Genesis
The recent PS3 re-release of Mass Effect 2 follows the opening moments aboard the Normandy with a lavishly produced interactive comic that recounts the key moments from Commander Shepard's first adventure.
Given that one of Mass Effect's biggest draws is that Shepard persists from adventure to adventure, the comic is pretty much essential to the experience. It does a great job of filling in some of the gaps in the story while introducing characters like Liara T'Soni, Wrex and Garrus. Additionally, it features some excellent narration by Jennifer Hale (provided you made the right decision and decided to play as a female Shepard).
In some ways, it's like watching the opening moments ofThe Lord of the Rings, in which Cate Blanchett details the first several thousand years of the One Ring's existence; or hearing"It was the dawn of the third age of mankind, ten years after the Earth-Minbari War."It offers all the background you need, and sends you on your way.
For some, that might not be enough. Like the first season ofBabylon 5though, the original Mass Effect is extremely rough, and it certainly takes it's time getting underway. After a sluggish battle with the Geth on Eden Prime, the story comes to a crashing halt as Shepard tries to prove Saren's guilt to the council. It's only after collecting enough evidence to prove that he's guilty that things get moving in earnest.
The opening scenes in Mass Effect are not unlike Matrix Reloaded's unbearably boring scenes in Zion. The only difference is that there's no mass orgy.
And apart from the sluggish opening and often janky graphics (BioWare was really struggling to get a handle on the Unreal Engine at the time), the first game also suffers from an identity crisis. It's clear that BioWare wanted to create an RPG with shooting elements, but their intentions just didn't come across very well. The nearest comparison is Obsidian's Alpha Protocol, where shots went wide even when villains were lined up in the reticule simply because of a low skill with a particular weapon. In Mass Effect's case, the stats didn't line up well with the action, and the result was an experience that was less than satisfying.
Of course, an argument can be made that Mass Effect 2 went too far in"streamlining"the RPG elements, but the fact of the matter is that it's not mired in the grey zone between RPG and shooter, and it's an all-around more satisfying experience. Going back to the original Mass Effect after playing the sequel is jarring to say the least, and given the quality of the comic, perhaps not entirely necessary.
Why You Should Play Mass Effect
All that said, I did actually finish the original Mass Effect, and I have actually watched the first season ofBabylon 5. Playing the first game adds a layer to the experience that the Genesis comic can't quite replicate. It's a layer of familiarity.
Believe it or not, I'm not actually that big a fan of Mass Effect's story. I like some of the flourishes that BioWare has added throughout, but I find it to be mostly predictable pulp sci-fi. It ends up being compelling though because every Shepard is unique, and because the player has a direct impact on how the story plays out.
My Shepard, for instance, began as a renegade. I followed the"renegade"path all the way down the line, and I had few regrets until the sequel. Looking back now, I desperately wish I hadn't pulled the plug on the Rachni -- in retrospect, it just seems mean-spirited. In my head though, Shepard also regrets that action, which makes her all the more interesting.
It's purely imaginary, but it's a feeling that can only really spring from playing the original game. A quick summation doesn't quite do it.
Beyond that, there are the simple feelings of familiarity engendered by playing the original game. After taking down Sovereign, I felt like I had gone to war with Liara, Garrus, and all the others, and I was delighted to see them all again in Mass Effect 2. My character's romance with Liara in the first game was a little silly, but it made me exponentially more interested in the Shadowbroker DLC and other Liara-centric story threads.
It's true that by skipping out on the first game, you skip the muddled shooting mechanics and the painfully slow opening. But you also skip out on being able to move seamlessly from an alien planet to the Normandy (something sorely missed in Mass Effect 2), and being able to force Saren to shoot himself in the head. Likewise, skipping out on Babylon 5's first season means skipping"Infection,"but it also means skipping the introduction of The Great Machine, the Babylon 4 mystery, and Morden's first, brilliant introduction.
As with many long-running series, even a flawed first chapter can have its merits if you're a dedicated fan.
So is it Worth It?
Shortly before Mass Effect 2 launched on the Xbox 360, I made the decision to sit down and finally play through the original. After a few false starts, I finally powered through the Citadel scenes, and ended up enjoying myself quite a bit. Like the first season ofBabylon 5, it was an acquired taste, but ultimately a good one.
That said, I tried going back and starting up a new paragon character after finishing Mass Effect 2, and I ended up quitting before I had finished Eden Prime. The sluggish pacing and the muddled mechanics were just too much.
I had a number of PS3 owning friends who have yet to play either game, and I'm encouraging them to pick up Mass Effect 2 for the PS3. My reasoning is that it moves faster, plays better, and, combined with the comic, is just a better introduction to the series. If they end up enjoying Mass Effect 2, then I feel like they are much more likely to enjoy the original game.
The biggest drawback to jumping over to the PC or Xbox 360 version, of course, is that it's not possible to transfer Shepard to the PS3 afterward. Those who want a completely persistent Shepard will have to stick with another platform, as the original Mass Effect will likely never be available on the PS3. As consolation prizes go though, the comic isn't half bad.
So does that mean that the Mass Effect story can be enjoyed without having played the original game? Yes it can, just as it's possible to jump right into season two of Babylon 5, as I did way back in 1995.
In the end though, I did end up revisiting season one. And somehow, I doubt anyone who enjoys Mass Effect 2 will be able to resist the allure of experiencing the original adventure. Some things should just be seen firsthand.
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