The Mass Effect original trilogy takes place in the Milky Way towards the end of the 22nd century. The success of the video game series spawned adaptations in other media, including novels, comics, and an animated film.įurther information: Universe of Mass Effect and List of Mass Effect characters

It also originated the dialogue wheel, a mechanic similar to dialogue trees, enabling players to dynamically steer conversations by selecting from a number of preset choices the feature has seen widespread use in other role-playing video games. The series has generated attention and discussion about its representation of same-sex relationships and sexual minorities. Praise was directed at the game's visuals and combat, but criticized its technical issues and plot. Mass Effect: Andromeda received mixed reviews. The ending of Mass Effect 3 drew widespread criticism for being an unsatisfying conclusion to the trilogy, prompting Electronic Arts to release an expanded cut with additional cutscenes. Critics praised the game's narrative, characters, voice acting, world building, and emphasis on player choice. The original trilogy was met with commercial success as well as universal acclaim. A fourth game, Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017), featured a new setting and cast of characters, with a fifth in active development. The original trilogy's final installment, Mass Effect 3 (2012), depicts a war between the Reapers and the rest of the galaxy. Mass Effect 2 (2010) begins two years later and sees Shepard's forces battling the Collectors, an alien race abducting human colonies to facilitate the Reapers' return. The inaugural video game in the series, Mass Effect (2007), follows Shepard's investigation of Saren Arterius, one of the Reapers' agents. The first three games form a trilogy in which the player character, Commander Shepard, attempts to save the Milky Way galaxy from a race of ancient, hibernating machines known as the Reapers. Each installment is a third-person shooter with role-playing elements. The franchise originated in a series of video games developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts.

The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the known universe using technology left behind by advanced precursor civilizations.

Mass Effect is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson, Drew Karpyshyn and Preston Watamaniuk.

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