Mass Effect is an action role-playing game developed by BioWare for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The Xbox 360 edition was released worldwide in November 2007. The PC edition was released on May 28 2008, published by Electronic Arts. The game takes place in the year 2183, with the player assuming the role of an elite human soldier named Commander Shepard, set out to explore the Galaxy on a starship, the SSV Normandy.

In addition to plans for two sequels to complete a trilogy, BioWare plans to release episodic content online to fill in the story between each game, though these episodes are not essential for understanding the main plot line. The first of these downloadable content packages was released on March 10, 2008 for the Xbox 360, and July 29, 2008 for the PC.

“Mass Effect”

Project Director Casey Hudson explained the term “Mass Effect” as follows:

Hudson explains that certain creatures are evolved to sense and manipulate mass effect much like some real-life creatures (such as sharks and electric eels) can sense and manipulate electromagnetism in peculiar ways. These abilities are available via prosthetics to humans, and the trained manipulation of Mass Effect is referred to as Biotics.

Themes

Mass Effect's story primarily falls within the space opera genre and explores themes such as space colonization, intolerance, vigilantism, and artificial intelligence. The story, with its man-vs.-machine elements, has drawn comparisons to both Fred Saberhagen's Berserker novels and Battlestar Galactica, as well as to Frederick Pohl's Gateway novels.

Setting

Mass Effect is set in the year 2183 AD. Thirty-five years prior, humanity discovered a cache of technology built by a technologically advanced but long-extinct race called the Protheans. Studying and adapting this technology, humankind has managed to break free of the solar system and has established numerous colonies and encountered various extraterrestrial species within the Milky Way galaxy. Utilizing alien artifacts known as "Mass Relays", the various space-faring species are able to travel instantly across vast stretches of the galaxy.

The game takes place primarily in two locations: the prototype frigate SSV Normandy, and the Citadel, a gigantic, ancient space station purportedly built by the Protheans and which currently acts as the center of galactic civilization. Throughout the game, however, the player may navigate the Normandy to various planets, moons and other destinations.

Within the game, humanity has formed the "Human Systems Alliance", one of many independent bodies that make up the collective of "Citadel space". Citadel space, as a whole, is ruled by a body of government known as the "Council", which is made up of members of the three prominent alien races: the asari, salarians, and turians.