8 Reasons Why Mass Effect’s Story Isn’t As Great As You Think

8. It’s Been Done So Many Times Before

When it was first released, popular shorthand for Mass Effect was Star Wars: The RPG. That works pretty well to sum up the game in the most basic, easily accessible way possible – particularly for someone who’s never played video games before. You have a ship, there are aliens, political intrigue, and in true Han Solo fashion, you can be a real dick to people but they still like you afterwards.

The way the stories are told are different, but saving the universe from the Reapers isn’t a million miles from preventing construction of a Death Star. You’re a small band of soldiers up against a way bigger threat. Now where have we seen that before? Other than every movie ever, book, and TV show?

Sure, there are only seven original stories out there, and the David vs. Goliath one is pretty popular across the board, but Mass Effect didn’t really do anything new with the format, dutifully following all the beats its predecessors had set for them.