If you thought ME1 was that good, ME2 will blow your mind. And bear in mind that doing everything makes things much easier on you in the end. It's also significantly longer than ME1.
The big thing with ME is the diverging storyline. There are simply *so* many choices and divergences marked in the save files... and every single one of them will play a part in ME3 in some way. I think I heard somewhere recently it had 15 distinct endings so far.
Mass Effect 1+2 are my 3rd and 4th favourite games behind BZ 1+2.
Some of the ME2 DLC packs include an interesting hovercraft unit similar to a BZ unit.
I've never enjoyed the combat in any Bioware (or Bioware engine) game. I've played Planescape Torment, SW:KOTOR (original), Mass Effect. I'm sure some people enjoy it. But, they keep selling games with the same story, and someone keeps buying them.
Since the Mass Effect games are the only proper RPGs I have ever played, I don't care that they may follow the same style of story as other RPGs.
Nearly all films are the same too. A white male protagonist, his black buddy (who dies) and a white girl who needs saving at some point in the show (slight generalisation here). People keep making films using the same formula because they have no interest in imagination and are risking too much money to make anything 'different' or intelligent that might not get enough proletariat interest and therefore not make a ridiculous profit.
That is also the reason that BZ practically failed commercially. 'Different' is too risky, regardless of quality.
That said, I believe that Mass Effect achieved the pinnacle of this 'normality' and gave an incredibly interesting example of how intelligent alien lifestyles may prove quite similar to our own.
The evil dark-lord formula (Saren, Braddock, Dr Breen, Voldemort, Sauron etc..) works because players/viewers/readers will ALWAYS genuinely despise such a figure and gain a personal interest in seeing them destroyed. It seems we cannot get enough of seeing such tyrannical figures dying in creative ways at the hands of a hero. That satisfaction is constantly played upon by the media for profit.
Mass Effect exploits the same psychology in order to make a profit, whilst including a huge amount of gorgeous optional content and side missions for the more interested players.
GSH wrote:I've never enjoyed the combat in any Bioware (or Bioware engine) game. I've played Planescape Torment, SW:KOTOR (original), Mass Effect.
-- GSH
I too don't 'feel' comfortable with the movement and weapon mechanics in any of the RPG games like ME or Skyrim. It feels forced and artificial. Even worse, I hate third person view, and avoid it whenever possible, if the game allows FPV.
But what makes ME so enjoyable is the game is solid, has exceptional graphics, voice acting is good, and there is a story that can be followed.
leaves any star trek or star wars movie in the dust. 
