by John Miniard

Created on: October 18, 2008

Many factors make up a good video game. Many more factors make up a GREAT video game. As the video game industry evolves, we see games becoming more like movies, and even books. As a society we crave an escape from the reality of the world around us, whether it be through fantasizing about a life we dream of living, or just finding an outlet to blow off steam. For many of us watching a movie or reading a book is our method of escape, but now video games are stepping into the forefront of our entertainment libraries.

When I was a child I enjoyed games like Zelda, Final Fantasy, even Super Mario Bros. These games were the types you could spend a lot of time with, they were not completed in a couple days. Today's games for the most part are fairly short, but at the price these games demand it would seem we should get more bang for our buck. Of course, developers would like us to finish the games quickly so we can move on and buy another, but that's besides the point. The games I truly enjoy are those that I can invest a significant amount of time in, and enjoy the entire experience. To feel as though you can get away from the real world and visit this other world that you have become familiar with over time is a wonderful thing. Much like when we were children and we had those specific shows on TV that we could escape to and imagine we were a part of. This desire is strong in the human mind, and it is a healthy reaction to our minds desire for fantasy.

When I think of a game that encompasses all of my pre-requisites for a truly quality, all around entertaining experience, I would have to go with Mass Effect. Mass Effect stimulates all of my fantasy/entertainment requirements, and it has good qualities from all different genres of video games. The graphics are amazingly detailed and beautiful. Much attention was paid to creating environments suited to the setting of each part of the game. The voiceover acting was wonderful. It felt as though the characters were real people, with real issues and emotions. A very important factor for creating a comfortable experience for the player. The gameplay offered something for everyone; First person shooter fans had all the shoot em up action with a multitude of weapons and power up they could possibly desire, RPG fans got a great story line with tons of interaction and level boosting. But for me, the combined package made this game the best I have played for the Xbox 360.

At the heart of the game was an incredible story, so well written and played out on your TV you couldn't help but get drawn in. The ability to make so many choices gave the player a sense of power over the outcome of the story, which is a defining factor in feeling like you are part of the fantasy. As video games step into the next generation, games like Mass Effect will define the future. Players will no longer just do what the game tells them to do, they will do what they want, when they want, and in effect, they will make the game experience their own. This is what we look for in our entertainment, the ability to dictate how our fantasies play out. How much more fun could you have?

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