The Mass Effect series has been the best sci-fi product to hit the home console since Star
Wars. Spanning over three games, several downloadable content upgrades, a successful book series and now gracing the shelves of your local comic book store, it is clear that the Mass Effect series is part of many lives. If you sit down and think about it, the evidence is staggering. Much love and passion have been put into creating Mass Effect and just about everyone whom has seen it can’t help but remember the unforgettable characters, locations, and stunning visuals that accompany it. If ever there was a video game series more deserving of an art book dedication, I have not seen it.
Thankfully, Dark Horse Books has crafted a hard bound masterpiece that every Mass Effect fan needs to own. Those whom have purchased the collectors edition of Mass Effect 3 got a mini sample of the art book, but contains a mear third of the total content. As the saying goes, bigger is better. Clocking in at 184 pages of awesome, the art of Mass Effect is a steal at forty bucks. Inside you can expect to see production sketches, fully computer generated images, hand drawings, paintings and lithograph quality images of:
-Aliens
-Enemies
-Machines
-Locations
-Weapons
-Ships
If that wasn’t enough, there are also alternate appearances of your favorite characters and notes describing little known facts as to why and how things came to be. Put all of this together and you have a collection that will bring back more fond memories and stirring emotions then your family photo albums. Sorry Timmy, you have been replaced.
Now I have played through all three Mass Effect games myself multiple times. I have tried to explore all possible endings as well as all of the different relationships. I have gotten my money out of this series time and time again. Suffice it to say, I was positively stunned to open this art book and find characters and information on people whom have died or I have never met in my playthroughs. If you think you have seen and done everything, there is more to be found. The Mass Effect Art book from Dark Horse Comics might just show you something new too. So what are you waiting for? Go get yours now!
-Nate Biller
Thanks to Dark Horse for the review copy! Dark Horse you rock!
