Mass Effect for Xbox 360 impresses on every level and stands out as one of 2007's best games – if not THE best. This deep and emotional role-playing game plunges you into a universe wrought with turmoil and forces you to make decisions that'll shape numerous lives. What you choose, and your resulting actions, will either save mankind, or annihilate it.

The main protagonist is Commander Shepard, a human soldier who has seen his fair share of action. He receives admiration for his actions over several military operations, even by alien races that normally look down on humanity. As a result, he's at the forefront of an investigation involving a treacherous alien figure who's out to resurrect a dangerous enemy force that, at one point in time, wiped out the entire galactic population. At the very beginning of the game, you're able to either use the default Shepard figure that Bioware has on hand or put your own cosmetic touches on him. If you want to change his eye shape to make him appear more intimidating or touch him up with some lipstick, the option's yours.

Throughout the game, you'll find that Shepard has hard decisions to make. Missions and side quests pop up frequently, with side characters approaching you with dilemmas while the main galaxy-saving mission stays in sight. It's up to you which path you take, but somewhere down the line you'll find that your decisions aren't always for the better. If you help one colony, for example, another may get wiped out.

The combat is enjoyable, nothing outstanding by any means but still solid and well balanced between gunplay and applying biotics (shielding, energy revival) to your advantage. You can level up and use new armor and weapon types as well, keeping this battle system reasonably fresh.

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