Black and White

Title: Black and White

Developer: Lionhead Studios

Publisher: EA Games

Platform: PC

Genre: Simulation

Breakdown

Black and White is a simulation game where you play a god who was created by the desperate cries of a couple whose son is being attacked by sharks. In this game, you must control the entire island. This is not an easy task, you can control by force or by kindness. Along the way you build up towns and armies, fight other gods, and grow your deity animal. This animal can learn to help or hurt your worshipers, and can be a valuable soldier. Also, he is giant. When the creature is good, it can be patted. When it is bad, it can be slapped. Toys can be given to it as well as food.
Villagers can be assigned roles. They can find wood or grow food. All of this you can help in. If they are low on anything, using your god powers you can supplement supplies by dropping trees into the store house or send rain to grow crops.
As you go through, you are transported to the various islands, completing quests and objectives to defeat an evil god. Various buildings and more followers increase your power as you fight to defeat it and protect your people.

What other games is Black and White like?
Other civilization games like Age of Mythologies or other rts games have ties to Black and White.

Mass Effect

Title: Mass Effect

Developer: Bioware

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Action RPG

Breakdown

Mass Effect takes place in the future. You play as Shepard, a distinguished military officer being considered as a Spectre, something like a bounty hunter. Shepard would be the first human to get this post if she is accepted. Your first mission is on a planet called Eden Prime, the site of a human colony and also where a recent dig has uncovered a beacon from the beings who ran the galaxy before the current number of species could travel in space. Unfortunately, while you are there, horrible things go wrong and it's up to Shepard to bring the responsible party to justice.

Character creation allows for a pick of male or female and further facial customization from there. The player chooses a back story, a class of fighter, and a name. From there they are thrown into the story.

In the game, Shepard has four different weapons to use; there is the pistol, the shotgun, the assault rifle, and the sniper rifle. There are also many unlockable abilities gained after a level up. When Shepard levels up, skill points are gained to spend on increasing abilities. Shepard can also find new weapons in each class along with customizable parts and bullets.

Along the way, there are six fighters who will accompany you, one at a time, on missions if you choose. These characters also use armor and weapons and level up at the same time as you.

There are two types of missions. There are main quest objectives and secondary mission objectives. Doing main objectives moves the story along. Doing secondary objectives gives experience, money, or items. None need to be done to finish the game.

What other games is Mass Effect like?

Mass Effect is a third person shooter but also a long story. Compare it to games like Fallout 3 and other science fiction rpgs.