BioWare Has Mass Effect on Xbox 360

RPG creator returns to Microsoft with another game that looks set to have tongues wagging. New screens.

When it comes to RPGs on Microsoft's consoles, few developers can claim the success BioWare has seen. After turning heads on the Xbox with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire, the company is prepping to show next-gen gamers what it can do.

BioWare's latest game, its first for the Xbox 360, is Mass Effect, a science-fiction action and role-playing game that aims to stretch the ideas that tired synopsis elicits. The story involves a shocking discovering of an alien presence that threatens all life in the galaxy. Complex decisions and a world that reacts to your actions in it promise the next step in a storytelling style BioWare has been honing for years.

A big part of this is creating a believable world, something BioWare is approaching in several ways, not least of which is the life-like characters. The developer claims these will be the first credible digital actors.

As with any RPG, and especially Western ones, customisation is key. Your character is a lump of digital clay yours for the tweaking. You'll initially create the character you want and it will evolve as you gain skills during the game.

Mass Effect caused quite a stir at E3 last week with many calling it one of the best games at the show, which makes it unfortunate that we have no idea when Microsoft will release the game.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games