The mid-game is packed with difficult choices that really do affect how things pan out and there's plenty of scope for real role-playing. The action element also really picks up once your characters master the technique of point the end that goes zap at the bad guys and the improved squad dynamics add an extra notch on Mass Effect's bed post. Once things have really got going there's a lot to explore here, even if the optional explorations of the universe seem an unnecessary diversion. Choose to explore everything and this game will last you weeks. Focus on the main story and you can whizz through in around ten hours. Mass Effect has oodles of replayability too, not only in the form of different party members and the attitude of your central character to the universe, but also in the bonuses to your stats that you get from achieving certain goals. I've played every single Bioware game out there and while a number of compromises do stand out the central storyline and its related gameplay is some of their finest work.

Did I mention the last two hours are pure gaming and storytelling nirvana?