http://www.gamespot.com/video/930279/6174539/mass-effect-stage-demo-1

http://www.gamespot.com/video/930279/6174550/mass-effect-gameplay-movie-1

http://www.gamespot.com/video/930279/6174557/mass-effect-gameplay-movie-2

I love it! 

This is why, slowly but surely, I'm leaving JRPG games on the shelves as they are released. Western devs like Bioware and Bethesda have just left them in the dust by continually evolving the way you play an RPG. JRPGs are really stagnating in my opinion. When was the last time you had a truly new experience in a JRPG?

Bioware brought us the ability to tap into our inner devil with the openness of the KOTOR series and are offering some great new conversation ideas in Mass Effect. Bethesda has continually evolved RPGs into a wide-open adventure that virtually has no limits and I fully expect them to carry on this tradition with Fallout 3. Fable is attempting to allow someone to live their life in a realistic manner that allows you to choose your own ending. Other western devs are exploring the possibilities of RPG elements mixed with FPS and adventure games.

Maybe it's just me but I'm growing very tired of playing another linear Japanese story with an effeminate male character/child that is put into an awkward situation where he has to save the world with a newer, bigger, better gun-sword-magic-thingy as his weapon. Blue Dragon's demo really let me down in this regard. I was hoping for something new but received more of the same-ol', same-ol' stuff.

Lost Odyssey may hold something new but I ain't holding my breath anymore. I'll focus on lusting over games like Mass Effect and Fallout instead.

Mass Effect looks very good. I expect great things since its from Bioware

http://kotaku.com/gaming/e307/mass-effect-impressions-277810.php

It's hard to read that article and not get excited about the game.

It's also hard to read that article and not wonder why Japanese devs are sticking to the same formula they used in 1989.

It looks good. *edit* lol, I just noticed the Gears of War style camera when the guy is moving around and then sprints.

I don't mean this to sound like I'm starting any kind of argument, but I'm really hoping that Bioware's PS3 exclusive that they've apparently said that they are making looks amazing as well.

I've always preferred Western rpgs ever since the days of Bard's Tale, Ultima, Gold Box AD&D, etc... I just find they give you a lot more freedom than their Japanese counterparts.

I just watched the demo from the first link.. Incredible... This game is going to be amazing.

I think it boils down to cultural differences. Westerners love the "choose your adventure" type of gameplay that is being offered across genres while Japanese gamers still like to be spoonfed their stories. You even hear frustration on the part of some Japanese devs that change isn't happening over there.

I think in the end, it will just be one more factor that turns Japanese gaming more irrelevent. I started a thread about this a few months back and was lambasted for it by a multitude of people.

Fallout 1&2 and Kotor are my favourite RPG's, so naturally I'm pretty excited about this one. And as I watch the movie, It's looking pretty awesome.

This becoming more and more not only a 1st day buy, but a pre-order buy for me. I think only 2 games have ever reached pre-order status for me. Zelda: OoT and Oblivion.

I HOPE so badly that ME does 2m+ in the US alone, and ends up with Gears type numbers, so it stays exclusive.

I just cannot wait. This looks like Gears Graphics + KOTOR Storyline + Everything that makes WRPG's perfect. Please, everyone buy this game so Bioware's greatest title stays X360 exclusive!

IMO, if it can get enough hype, the game could wind up with 3m sales, but Im thinking it'll be closer to 2m. Hopefully more though, as this looks like the first true next-gen console WRPG. We've had alot of good ones on X360 thus far in Oblivion, Blue Dragon, Trusty Bell, ect, but ME looks to re-invent storytelling, and interaction alltogether.