Mass Effect E3 Preview

Shacknews has put together their own preview of Mass Effect, based on what they learned during a demo of the sci-fi RPG during this year’s E3.

Though the presentational elements were the focus of the E3 demo, Zeschuk and Hudson were also sure to show off the game’s scale, via its galactic map. From your ship, you can manipulate a map that begins at the planetary level and can be zoomed out to a solar system scale, then again to a star cluster scale, and finally to encompass the entire galaxy. The developers were quick to point out that players can visit any planet, some of which are crucial to the story but many of which are entirely optional, offering subplots and additional exploration for players who want it.