ot since Star Wars made its theatrical debut in 1977 has there been a universe so full of wonder and awe. Mass Effect is a science fiction tale so galvanizing it makes you question the very existence of humanity, how moral choices can affect a person, and whether or not there’s a holy entity watching over us. Just like that galaxy far, far away, this game’s accomplishments are as far reaching as they are revolutionary. It’s an amazing work of fiction, a visual work of art, and a property that is so fully realized and so rich in its backstory that its content could fill countless games, books, and movies.

This is the next big franchise for science fiction junkies to latch onto, and a huge step forward for video games. It rings in a new age of interactive storytelling, and delivers an experience that you’ll want to live again and again just to see how different decisions can alter the path ahead. The exceptional detail in the story makes the relationships feel real – you care about your crew, and you really feel like you have a voice that resonates throughout the galaxy. As the plot progresses, and a war to end all wars looms dangerously close, the believability of the content makes the decisions you are forced to make all the more difficult. Never before have I spent so much time thinking deeply about the choices I have to make, and the ramifications they will have on future events. One command, which may seem like the right course of action at the time, can potentially lead to a political disaster, the death of a beloved crewmate, genocide, or perhaps even the destruction of the entire galaxy.

Mass Effect shares a similar design to Bioware’s previous work on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire. However, by comparison, both of these remarkable games now seem like test runs. The developers at Bioware have grown mightily as storytellers and have honed this craft to make every second of the content seem important.

Even the side missions, which have players traveling across the stars to different solar systems, planets, and moons, is either relevant to the conflict at hand or used to help the player better understand the universe and how it came to be. You feel like you are on a mission of the greatest importance, and everything you do affects the cause. Part of what makes the story so inviting is how well acted it is, and how cinematic just an ordinary conversation can be. Characters convey realistic emotions, their lip-syncing is perfect to the point that they don’t seem like CG creations, and they all have little quirks that you attribute to being alive.

Now, you’ve probably noticed I haven’t talked much about the gameplay. Mass Effect’s run-and-gun warfare is certainly ambitious, and it has the potential to be incredibly powerful. However, most of the skirmishes, which begin and end in the blink of an eye, run into balancing issues, problematic AI, and a difficulty in comprehending what is transpiring.

Tapping into the Force-like biotic powers can lead to enemies spinning through the air in slow motion and robots turning on their own kind. But as you look on in joyous disbelief, out of the corner of your eye, you may see one of your teammates blindly firing at a wall two feet in front of him. Or perhaps a foe, who you didn’t even know existed, drain your shields from a location off your radar. The deep character and weapon customization can create some lethal and amusing blends, but after a few hours, you’ll have seen it all. The gameplay is certainly fun, and it controls admirably, but it doesn’t live up to the large stage the story sets or the standards you’ve come to expect from action games and RPGs.

You’ll want more from it, but by no means does it hold the experience back, nor does it make you wish you were playing something else. In fact, I think you’ll agree that Mass Effect is one of video games’ greatest treasures. It’s an adventure that is so captivating that you’ll be counting the days for the sequel. It takes interactive storytelling to new heights, and brings the player closer to content than ever before. It’s easily one of the year’s best titles, and one of the most impressive games to date.