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8th May '13 10:07:56 PM KJMackley

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7th May '13 7:15:28 AM Xavier1161

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31st Mar '13 5:12:14 PM demonfiren

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29th Mar '13 2:52:02 PM SeptimusHeap

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Reverting and holding

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[[quoteright:335:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mass_Effect_title.jpg]]
[[quoteright:335:~~VideoGame, ActionRPG, ThirdPersonShooter~~]]

->''In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring civilization.\\
In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars.\\
The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.''\\
''They called it the greatest discovery in human history.''\\
''The civilizations of the galaxy call it...''\\
'''[[TitleDrop MASS EFFECT]]'''

''{{VideoGame/Mass Effect|1}}'' was, originally, a SpaceOpera [=RPG/=]ThirdPersonShooter game for the Xbox 360 and PC created by Creator/BioWare, which also created ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'', ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'', and ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights''. It was released on Xbox 360 in November 2007 & PC in May[=/=]June 2008, with a PlayStation3 release tentatively scheduled for late-2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'' box set & as a standalone digital download from the PSN Store. The second chapter, ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', was released on X360 and PC in 2010, and for PlayStation 3 in January of 2011. ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was formally announced on December 11, 2010, at the Spike Video Game Awards. It got simultaneous release on all 3 platforms on in early March 2012, with a WiiU port being released at the console's launch in November 2012.

The series makes heavy use of a large number of science fiction tropes. Nearly every aspect of the setting is well thought-out, with hefty amounts of technical, cultural, and historical background data provided by an EncyclopediaExposita. It's a {{Reconstruction}} of the SpaceOpera.

The games' protagonist is Commander Shepard, who, in true Bioware fashion, is customizable right down to their sex. A distinguished military officer, Shepard is selected to become the first human Spectre, an elite group of galactic peacekeepers given carte blanche to go about their job as they see fit. Unfortunately, nothing about the review process goes as planned, and Shepard is soon thrust into a life-or-death struggle with Saren Arterius, a former Spectre, who plans to seize control of the galactic capital with the help of an immense warship named Sovereign and an army of robotic [[MechaMooks Geth]]. Nothing is as it seems, however, and soon the very survival of organic life is at stake due to the shadowy threat of the legendary [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]].

The franchise is primarily a RolePlayingGame, with ThirdPersonShooter combat. The games combine the [[RegeneratingHealth regenerating shields]] and integrated vehicle sections of ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'', the stop-and-pop cover mechanics of ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' and WideOpenSandbox exploration elements as you fly around the galaxy in your CoolStarship, the ''Normandy'' SR-1. RPGElements are present in the form of a ClassAndLevelSystem for your party members, in addition to new guns and armor. Gameplay elements, and their revisions for the sequels, saw a [[BrokenBase mixed]] reception.

The classes presented to you are divided up between three affinities: Combat, Tech and Biotic. Combat classes have abilities based on amplifying their weapons and [[BulletTime own reflexes]] to make them more vicious in combat. Tech classes counter the opponents' technology (jamming their weapons, overloading their shields, sending out attack drones) and hacking {{Mecha Mook}}s to attack their own. Biotic classes project the eponymous Mass Effect with their own bodies, giving them MindOverMatter powers that are based on warping space and gravity and providing [[DeflectorShields biotic barriers]]. Shepard can choose one of three specialized classes for maximum effectiveness in one style, or one of the three hybrid classes, [[NecessaryDrawback sacrificing the full range of options and abilities of either class type]] for maximum flexibility. Your own team tends to be an eclectic mix of all three and you are only allowed to take two members with you on any given mission, so choosing which ones would be helpful for the circumstances is vital. Because gameplay evolved quite a bit over the course of the trilogy, it's hard to pin down just how the classes work, but here's a brief overview:
* Adept: Full Biotic, based on manipulating gravity and providing crowd-control. Signature powers include the stunners Stasis and [[SwirlyEnergyThingy Singularity]], but the basics are things like Pull and Throw.
* Soldier: Full Combat, powers are focused on dealing as much raw damage through the use of weapons and grenades, as well as maximum damage protection. BulletTime skills and a huge arsenal are typical.
* Engineer: Full Tech, very useful in stripping away enemy defenses and distracting them via automated turrets and drones. They can also reprogram enemy technology and (in the first game) get bonuses to unlocking minigames.
* Sentinel: the Tech/Biotic combo. In the second game they got their signature power, Tech Armor, which: doubles shields but also cooldowns, staggers nearby enemies when depleted, and lets the Sentinel alternate between frontal assault (when it's on) and support spellcasting (when it's not).
* Infiltrator: the Tech/Combat hybrid, has a variety of debuffs and offensive abilities. In the second game they got their signature abilities: an InvisibilityCloak and a BulletTime that activates automatically when they use the scope on their SniperRifle.
* Vanguard: the Biotic/Combat class. Formerly bland, the second game gave them the signature power "Biotic Charge," a FlashStep cannonball move that also recharges their shields. This encourages them to [[ICanStillFight stay in the fight]].

Like previous [=BioWare=] games, ''Mass Effect'' employs a KarmaMeter with two moral endpoints. Rather than simply Good or Evil however, the meter esssentially measures the player's place on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism; Paragon choices move toward Idealism and Renegade choices toward Cynicism. Most responses tend to be either nice or mean ways of saying the same thing ("I'm sorry, but please tell me what happened" versus "Get over it and tell me what happened"), but as you climb each meter, you unlock new conversation options which can take things in a completely different direction ("I'm an ActionSurvivor too, let's bond"; "GetAHoldOfYourselfMan! QuitYourWhining!"). 
* TheParagon is the more humane, compassionate, diplomatic end of the spectrum, one who tries to solve problems and disputes as peacefully as possible, or at least with the motive of protecting the innocent, but shows little if any pity towards [[GoodIsNotSoft corruption or immoral actions]]. Paragon dialogue also tends to take a more cooperative, egalitarian stance to the other sentient species of the galaxy and the Citadel Council. Succinctly, this path is TheFettered.
* [[AntiHero The Renegade]] is a more ruthless hero who believes in solving problems and disputes by force, intimidation, and an "IDidWhatIHadToDo" philosophy, preferring to kill the enemy at all costs and allowing petty immoral acts to slip by to achieve the bigger goal. Renegade conversation options tend to show little regard for the council and more of a "humans first" position. To put it simply, this path is TheUnfettered.

The story largely remains the same regardless of the choices that you make but the multiple methods of how Shepard works through any given scenario is carefully monitored between the games, which creates a more enriching experience as ''your'' particular choices resonate throughout the story and [[OldSaveBonus across the games]]. The {{Railroading}} on dialogue choices may not allow complete freedom of choice but it helps hold the plot together: whether you choose to play Shepard nice or mean, s/he is still a hero either way.

These choices are omnipresent, as every conversation in the game is interactive and most give a chance to score Paragon and Renegade points. Yes, Paragon ''and'' Renegade: you can climb both sides of the scale simultaneously. Instead of each choice pulling you in one direction or another, there are ''separate'' meters for Paragon and Renegade, and choosing towards one does not change your position on the other. This allows much more complex characterization; there's no reason you can't play (say) a moral xenophobe who is Paragon towards humans but Renegade towards aliens, a TrueNeutral character who adapts to fit each situation, or even [[BlueAndOrangeMorality alternate every time you're given a choice]]. Of course, there are benefits to committing to either end; in every game but the last, there are dialogue options and even missions you can't access at all unless you have a high Paragon/Renegade score. (The third unlocks options based on your total Karma Points, and adds non-flavored "Reputation" points as well.) And in terms of replay value, it's kind of brilliant, since no matter what path you choose, there's always ''at least'' one other branch ([[TakeAThirdOption sometimes more]]) you consciously turned away from.

And these link up with the other theme of the franchise: ContinuityPorn, the ButterflyOfDoom and the OldSaveBonus. There are plenty of [=NPC=]s you can choose to kill, but if you don't, they will almost certainly appear in the next game. (Where, possibly, they can be killed a second time.) ''Mass Effect'' has hundreds of named characters, and the list of ones who don't re-appear in the next game is a ''lot'' shorter than the list of those who do; this creates a sense of not only a living, breathing universe, but the feeling that you, Commander Shepard, have some significance within it. And these are just the casual choices -- what about the ones where you decide the fates of entire sentient species? Players of the franchise are known to run two or more saved games, playing and re-playing to see how their choices impact the galaxy.

In addition to the games, the series contains four prequel/interquel novels: ''Literature/MassEffectRevelation'', ''Literature/MassEffectAscension'' and ''Literature/MassEffectRetribution'', written by Drew Karpyshyn, one of the writers for the games. As a result of Karpyshyn moving from working on ''Mass Effect'' to working on ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'' and subsequently leaving BioWare, the fourth novel, ''Literature/MassEffectDeception'', was written by outside writer William C. Dietz. It was released on January 31, 2012.

The series also contains several comics: ''Mass Effect: Redemption'', ''Mass Effect: Evolution'', ''Mass Effect: Invasion'', and ''Mass Effect: Homeworlds'' are graphic novels that consist of four issues each, while ''Mass Effect: Incursion'', ''Mass Effect: Inquisition'', and ''Mass Effect: Conviction'' are short 8 page stories and ''Mass Effect: Blasto: Eternity Is Forever'' is a one-shot comic about the [[ShowWithinAShow Show Within a Game]] (and AscendedMeme) Blasto.

There are also two {{iOS}} games, titled ''Mass Effect: Galaxy'' and ''VideoGame/MassEffectInfiltrator'', respectively, as well as ''Mass Effect: Datapad'', a companion app for ''Mass Effect 3''. [[http://io9.com/5546860/mass-effect-the-movie-coming-to-a-theater-near-you A movie]] and an [[http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/116/1160389p1.html anime]] have also been officially announced. The fandom is unsure how to take this.

[=BioWare=] Montreal confirmed in November 2012 that [[TrilogyCreep the next game in the series]] is already in development. 
-----
!!The ''Mass Effect'' universe encompasses:

[[index]]
[[WMG:Games]]
* ''{{VideoGame/Mass Effect|1}}''
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''
** MassEffect2/{{Tropes A-F}}
** MassEffect2/{{Tropes G-M}}
** MassEffect2/{{Tropes N-S}}
** MassEffect2/{{Tropes T-Z}}
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''
** MassEffect3/TropesAToD
** MassEffect3/TropesEToK
** MassEffect3/TropesLToR
** MassEffect3/TropesSToZ
* ''[[VideoGame/MassEffectGalaxy Galaxy]]''
* ''[[VideoGame/MassEffectInfiltrator Infiltrator]]''

[[WMG:Books]]
* ''[[Literature/MassEffectRevelation Revelation]]''
* ''[[Literature/MassEffectAscension Ascension]]''
* ''[[Literature/MassEffectRetribution Retribution]]''
* ''[[Literature/MassEffectDeception Deception]]''

[[WMG:Comics]]
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectRedemption Redemption]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectIncursion Incursion]]:'' can be downloaded [[http://masseffect.bioware.com/resources/assets/market/books/incursion-01.pdf here]]
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectInquisition Inquisition]]:'' can be read [[http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-10-25-masseffect25_ST_N.htm here]]
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectEvolution Evolution]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectConviction Conviction]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectInvasion Invasion]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectHomeworlds Homeworlds]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectBlastoEternityIsForever Blasto: Eternity Is Forever]]''
[[/index]]

[[index]]
[[WMG: Films]]
* ''[[Anime/MassEffectParagonLost Paragon Lost]]''
[[/index]]

!!The ''Mass Effect'' series as a whole contains the following tropes:

[[index]]
* MassEffect/{{Tropes A-D}}
* MassEffect/{{Tropes E-H}}
* MassEffect/{{Tropes I-L}}
* MassEffect/{{Tropes M-P}}
* MassEffect/{{Tropes Q-T}}
* MassEffect/{{Tropes U-Z}}
* MassEffect/MassEffectRaceTropes
[[/index]]
----

29th Mar '13 2:50:48 PM qwader

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[[quoteright:335:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mass_Effect_title.jpg]]
[[quoteright:335:~~VideoGame, ActionRPG, ThirdPersonShooter~~]]

[=BioWare=] Montreal confirmed in November 2012 that [[TrilogyCreep the next game in the series]] is already in development. 
-----
!!The ''Mass Effect'' universe encompasses:

[[index]]
[[WMG: Films]]
* ''[[Anime/MassEffectParagonLost Paragon Lost]]''
[[/index]]

!!The ''Mass Effect'' series as a whole contains the following tropes:

to:

29th Mar '13 2:47:24 PM Telcontar

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Vandal revert

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[[quoteright:335:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mass_Effect_title.jpg]]
[[quoteright:335:~~VideoGame, ActionRPG, ThirdPersonShooter~~]]

[=BioWare=] Montreal confirmed in November 2012 that [[TrilogyCreep the next game in the series]] is already in development. 
-----
!!The ''Mass Effect'' universe encompasses:

[[index]]
[[WMG: Films]]
* ''[[Anime/MassEffectParagonLost Paragon Lost]]''
[[/index]]

!!The ''Mass Effect'' series as a whole contains the following tropes:

29th Mar '13 2:41:17 PM wergra

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[[quoteright:335:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mass_Effect_title.jpg]]
[[quoteright:335:~~VideoGame, ActionRPG, ThirdPersonShooter~~]]

[=BioWare=] Montreal confirmed in November 2012 that [[TrilogyCreep the next game in the series]] is already in development. 
-----
!!The ''Mass Effect'' universe encompasses:

[[index]]
[[WMG: Films]]
* ''[[Anime/MassEffectParagonLost Paragon Lost]]''
[[/index]]

!!The ''Mass Effect'' series as a whole contains the following tropes:

to:

11th Mar '13 12:21:02 PM lrrose

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11th Mar '13 12:16:44 PM lrrose

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null edit to get the restored race trope page to index properly

11th Mar '13 12:00:59 PM lrrose

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