Mass Effect, Better Than Final Fantasy?!?

I am a few chapters away from finishing the prequel book to the new game "Mass Effect" coming out this fall from BioWare Inc. I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed.

I've been really nerding for this game since I saw a video of preliminary action back in 2006 that was shown at E3. These guys definately know how to make a decent game. If you need an example get either Knights Of The Old Republic or Jade Empire and tell me that these guys don't know what they're doing.

Long story short, in the 22nd century we (humans) find the remnants of alien technology hidden in a bunker on Mars, the reverse engineering catapults us to a higher level and inadvertantly introduces us to a first contact situation (i.e. a war with an alien species) it turns out the species we are at war with are part of a much larger group of alien species attempting to live in peace with each other. The hostilities end and we become a key player in the galactic civilization known as the Citadel Council.

The story of the game is really unknown at this point but main elements have to do with the Alliance's ongoing battle with a group of sentient, hive-minded AI machines known as the Geth.

Holy fart this game looks amazing; if you haveny already seen the previews for it, you really should. The book as well is pretty good, its just your typical action oriented sci-fi, almost your typical star-trek episode.

I for one am going to go out this weekend and put a pre-order on this game...I couldn't imagine waiting to play this one. I am going to go out on a line here and proclaim this as being better than the Final Fantasy games. My basis is that you will be able to have complete control over your characters and their development, most of the action will take place in a 3rd person shooter style (ala Gears of War) but will also include a strategy element. The dialogue and action is completely in the hands of the player unlike all of your typical cutscenes you get from most JRPGs. The graphics look abolutely stunning, it must have taken the developers of this game quite a bit of time to get all of the effects and game engine just right.

I honestly haven't been this stoked for a game since Gears of War last year, I am more enamored with Mass Effect even more than I am giddy that Halo 3 comes out before it, this is going to be the best year in a long time for us gamers. I just regret how damn broke I'm going to be at the beginning of the year.