One of my all time favourites.
Lets start right off with the graphics, this is by far one of the most graphically realized games of this generation, with an immersive world that really takes you in. In fact I found myself stopping what I'm doing in the game just to enjoy the scenery and look around. The art direction in this game can really take you in, and this is all done without compromising anything else in the game, so you don't end up playing a game that's a glitz and glamor with no substance. Ill get to that now.
The controls are for the most part solid, but you may find yourself getting slightly frustrated when in high combat situations, but that all starts to fade away with the smooth animation of whats going on around you, which actually makes the controls feel just as smooth. The general gameplay is very solid but the load times are sometimes excruciatingly long, but I hardly notice them because of a little twist on the loading screen, at least while in the citadel, which takes the longest to load anyways. Instead of your average run of the mill screen with a pretty picture on it, you enter and elevator and wait for the door to open while you listen to a radio give you updates of recent events in the game.
The game world itself is huge, actually huge doesn't eve describe it, its a vast colossal world where you can travel to many different planets, pick up different sidequests and just explore unique and interesting areas.
Now lets get to the story. This personally is my favourite part of the game, I haven't played a game with such a brilliant storyline like this in a while. You play as Commander Shepard, you start out in the creation screen and your able to select different characteristics such as pre-service history and your own psychological profile, this is important because it effects many events that occur in the game. When the game begins you start out on an giant space station called "The Citadel" this is where all races come together and discuss intergalactic matters. After doing a few missions you become the first human spectre, and elite group that has been picked to protect the Citadel at all costs, and with that come many responsibilities. As you hunt down wanted aliens and land on different planets you start to uncover a deep secret that has plagued the universe for millenniums, The Reapers. The Reapers are a highly advanced race of machines that have existed for thousands of years. Without spoiling anything I can just say that the discovery of the reapers leads to an emotional and epic plot that is filled with sacrifice, revenge, anger and elation.
Overall this is a game that is a must buy if you already have a 360 or a pc that can run it (go to the official website for specs.)
I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of sci-fi, rpgs, or just games in general.