I have finished my first pass at the game…WOOT! (at 1 in the morning…ack)
…and now I have the burning desire to talk about the story, elements and what not.
This is a spoiler thread. Do not read past this post if you have not finished the game.
You have been warned.
So, first off…the final sequence of the game? Awesome. The whole Citadel sequence was just amazing. From the moment the MAKO dropped through the conduit it was all suh-weet. I even thought the Saren resolution was quite well done.
What are your favorite plot points? What do you think could have been done better?
Mass Effect was one of the best single player games I’ve ever played. I think the voice acting and the characters are just great. That really helps to suspend your disbelief and really improves the experience. I also thought the ending was very well done. It felt a lot better than most game endings. Things didn’t just fall into place, there was more of a resolution. Not saving the counsel was one of the best of the ending for me.
The other sequence I really liked was the one with the oceans and islands, where the counsel sends you to rendezvous with that intelligence group. I like the fact that you can’t actually prevent the deaths of your team members and you actually have to choose who lives. The fact that I didn’t want them to die proves just how well done the characters are.
The only thing I would have liked to see change would be the side missions. I would have liked to have less of the side missions in lieu of having more missions like the Bring Down the Sky content released over XBox Live back in March. And I would have liked to have more dialogue options with your squad because they had some funny stuff to say.
My favorite point was the decision on Virmire. I wanted to save both of them and was rather upset that it wasn’t possible. Also I would have loved the ability to punch Ambassador Udina and the Council because they were so annoying.
I love the dialogue in this game!!
“Don’t piss in my ear and tell me it’s raining” – Wrex
Cole: He’s not a bad guy. I don’t want to get him in trouble. Besides, I’m not a snitch!
Shepard: Would you rather be a Snitch or a Corpse?
Cole: Powell! His name’s Powell!
Ashley: No honor among thieves…
Garrus: Orders Commander?
Shepard: We find a way out. Someone up there needs my boot up his ass. See if theres anything here we can use.
Wrex: “Bah, we’re wasting time, we could have beaten him into cooperation.”
Garrus: “No we couldn’t.”
Wrex: “Yeah we could; think he lifts anything heavier than stacks of hard data?”
Sheperd to Marine: “I’m pissed off, and when I’m pissed off I shoot things…find me more bugs.”
Renegade Sheperd to Liara: “If you don’t stop nagging, I’ll turn this ship around and drop your ass back in that volcano.”
Now that more people have played the game, where do you all stand in the Wrex Vs Chewbacca debate? If you already voted, has your opinion changed?
Darn it Solai - I soooooooo want to read this thread! I keep reading that first post and, while tempted to do so, have refrained from scrolling down for almost 24 hours now. Hopefully my home-alone weekend of Mass Effect will get me to the end and I can FINALLY read this thread! 
Congratulations Solai! I thought it was the first time I really had the impression of playing my own sci-fi movie. I have to say the voice acting really helped as it’s definitively superior in quality compared to most of the video games.
Beside the great SF story, the only complaint I would have with the game would be about the secondary missions way too similar: in each case, go down to a planet, look for the base, invade the base, kill the bad guys. Apparently they heard this and will bring more variety for the sequels.
Can’t wait for Mass Effect 2 (they’re apparently planning a trilogy)
Also of interest:
Casey Hudson, Project Director for BioWare, has said that players should keep their Mass Effect save-files, because decisions made by the player in the first game will continue to have influences on their character in the sequel.[citation needed] Players who have not played the first Mass Effect will start a new character in Mass Effect 2, and will be brought up to speed on the story elements that have taken place thus far in the series.
I totally love the fact that I’ll be able to use my character from ME1 for the sequel.
If you select the have-Anderson-go-to-Udina’s-office-to-release-your-ship option, Capt. Anderson punches him. It’s almost as satisfying. 
And probably my favorite bit of dialog is (approximated):
Council: Did you contact us again just so you can disconnect.
You: [disconnect]
Joker: That never gets old.
So, I just started a new campaign as a renegade. Hysterical. On the first mission you encounter a scientist and her sniveling assistant.
Renegade Shepard: What’s wrong with him?
Hot scientist: He saw too much and has gone slightly mad
Sniveling assistant: Who is mad? The mad man or the person who see’s the truth?
Renegade Shepard: There is one good way to take care of this
<Shepard cold-cocks him>
If you do Ilos last as you’re supposed to the entire end of the game is bar none one of the greatest experiences in video games I’ve ever had. Tell Joker to jump in and save the Council and it’s like “Yeah we bad we saved your ass bow down you know it” Then Joker leading a squad of Fighters to take out Sovereign? Oh yeah. End music? Ooooh yeah.
One of my favorite lines in the entire game comes from that scene, Jennifer Hale delivers it so wonderfully, it’s just not the same with male Shepard.
“Say goodnight, Manuel.”
I DID IT!
I made it through and saved humanity! Gods - now what will I do with all my spare time? That conduit thing was cool. Now I just need to up by decryption abilities for my next play-through. There was tons of stuff that I couldn’t open 'cause I just played the default character. And what was all that sex whining? I mean really, you saw a butt for 2 seconds - big deal!
That is going to be SWEEET! I’m guessing the sequael for the PC version will take forever to come out but I’ll wait!
I’ve actually never chosen the other option for having Anderson free the Normandy. I do love seeing Anderson lay him out but it would be nice to have been able to do it myself.
I also really like punching the reporter who corners you once you return to the Citadel.
For those of you who have gotten it, do you recommend the Xbox live content. I’ve been debating it, mostly because I don’t yet have Xbox live set up and it would take some work on my part since there are no internet connections near where the Xbox is.
I agree about the side missions to planets being tedious. But I plan on re-playing soon and doing as many of them as I can, just to make the game last longer. And I might even play renegade this time, I haven’t decided yet.
The XBox live content is worth downloading. It’s how I wish more of the side missions had been. It adds a good 90 minutes to 2 hours of gameplay and you finally get to see the Batarrians.
Did anyone actually choose to have Udina to lead the council at the end? I did once to just see what happens, and he is ever still the jack ass. By the way, there is actually three endings, though most would say two.
2.Renegade—let the council die.
I’m playing through it again. Hardcore run, male Adapt renegade with Liara and Tali
I just got done with Eden Prime…frak I don’t really want to go rescue Liara first. Stupid blue scale head…
I just got Mass Effect a few days ago and beat it in around 20 hours of gameplay. I have to say, its quite addicting.
Im on my second time through.
The first time I purposely did everything evil.
Shot that asari receptionist, killed salarian slaves, demanded money, chose to let the council die in their ship of death.
Now Im doing it all good.
I expect my third time around Ill play as if I actually was making those decisions.
Curious, am I the only one who saw so many…how should I say…homages to Star Wars?
Spectres being like the old Jedi as keepers of galaxy and all that.
A government council that just fails so hard.
And Saren when he was all zombie looked a lot like Grievous.
How about Quarianstar Galactica?