This be a weekly column from freelancer Rowan Kaiser, which focuses on "Western" role-playing games: their stories, their histories, their mechanics, their insanity, 'n their inanity. One a the reasons that the Mass Effect series has been one a the most-discussed franchises a the generation be because the games be many different things t' many different people. they be science-fiction epics. they be cover-based shooters. they be dating sims. they be long-term serialized stories. they be slowly wandering through cities in space, engaging in long conversations. they be tough battles against overwhelming odds.

The core divide be between the self-serious saga a Shepard versus the Reapers that the franchise attempts t' convey, 'n the entertaining - if slightly goofy - glorious mess that some perceive it t' be. The final story-based expansion for the series, the recently-released 'Citadel' add-on, demonstrates how big that divide can be 'n then it bridges the gap.