The best game that I have played this year. The best game I have played in years. Of course all of this will be subjective, but the fact that I have put 170 hours into my first play-through and am already primed to go again, with no fatigue toward the game speaks volumes.

Pros:

1) An amazing, gripping story both mainline and side. You will be engrossed, you will be intrigued, you will laugh and you will feel sorrow.

2) Beautifully made characters who are unique, interesting and play off of each other. You will develop a connection and fondness toward them as you journey with them through the game.

3) Varied and robust turn-based gameplay. There is so much to do and so much experimentation that can be done with each of the classes. It's amazing.

4) Gorgeous graphics. When in conversation with characters, one can't help but look in awe at how wonderfully crafted they are, especially classes like Tieflings and Dragonborns.

Cons:

1) This may be a bit daunting for new players who do not know much about D&D combat. It's reasonably easy to pick up though, so don't give up if you feel a bit lost at the start.

2) That's it. That's all folks!

Note:

To truly enjoy everything this game has to offer, you will have to take your time with it. There is much to see, many little things to hear, sometimes even from the humble random NPC. Take your time, immerse yourself and enjoy the wonder that is Baldur's Gate 3.

A masterclass in comprehensive storytelling spanning an epic trilogy. Mass Effect may be showing its age now, albeit the fresh coat of paint, but it still is a saga worth experiencing.

Pros:

1) In-depth voiced interactions with several characters, thus allowing you to really roleplay your way throughout the course of the series. Your choices matter, your choices will affect your relations with the people around you, your decisions will decide the extent of success of your missions.

2) The games manage to properly capture the aura of being 'just one advanced race amongst many advanced others' very well. If you take the time to explore all the dialogue options and texts related to the lore, there is just so much to learn about this world.

3) By the end of the trilogy, your crew really start to feel like your friends. Joker, Tali, Liara, Garrus, EDI, and all the others; they're there for you, right to the very end. When the third game comes to a close, you're left with a gaping hole in your chest, knowing that you no longer have any time left with them.

4) The ending has been notoriously polarising, but I commend the creators for going ahead and making the game end in a unique fashion. The ending I chose (Synthesis), is an interesting, thought provoking concept, especially in the current day and age where we are actually seeing A.I. go through its stages of infancy.

Cons:

1) There is no hiding the age of the mechanics and animations of the series, especially in the first two games. Characters can be stiff and clunky to move around, and cut-scenes can be hilariously awkward to watch.

2) The pre-rendered cinematics have not been remastered in any way and often seem muddy or blurry to watch on modern systems. It would have been fantastic to have seen a Halo 2 remaster style of treatment given to the cinematics here.

3) Several armour sets in the game are locked as full body-suits without even the option to hide the helmet. It would have been nice to see them broken up into individual parts to further add to the customisation options, but alas, no such thing has been done.


NOTE: The Mass Effect Trilogy really isn't a game that you want to rush through. Running through the main story missions and ignoring all the others will probably result in you having a rough experience. If you do decide to pick it up, take your time, relax, and enjoy it slowly and in its entirety.