I wrote a review of the PC computer game Mass Effect by Electronic Arts. In the review I mention the possible sexual content that was alluded to in other reviews. I said I would report on what I found when I completed the game.

After thirty hours of game play, which is a heck of a lot of entertainment for twenty bucks, I found one sexual episode. Through the game it was clear a relationship would develop between the hero and a member of his squad. About eighty percent through the game he asked her to stay with him and she accepts. What follows is a scene of them embracing with no clothing visible. The only view the player gets of anything crude is a half of a second shot of what now days is euphemistically called the side boob. The total scene lasted no more than five seconds. This is not conclusive. There may be options that can be set to extend the scene and make it more graphic. This is what I saw on the standard settings. I won’t make judgments about how good or bad the scene is; that is only for the parents to decide. Those are the facts about the sexual scene from my point of view.

A note to young players, if you’re thinking about spending your parent’s money on this game just because you think you’re going to get a big thrill, think again. Unless there are some clever settings that I don’t know about, you’ll get bigger thrills from watching network TV. If you’re into a good space adventure RPG (Role Playing Game) then you’ve found a good one in Mass Effect.

I do also have to report a problem with the game. Maybe there is a patch for this that I haven’t found or maybe it has to do with a lack of something on my computer but I do have this problem. If the player switches to another application while playing the game Mass Effect will totally hang up and have to be crashed. On my keyboard the WINDOWS key that switches from an application back to the desktop is right next to the left control. In the game the left control is used to have the character crouch or stand. I hit that WINDOWS button a few times and hung up the game. That was really a drag. Watch out for that if you play Mass Effect. I still think the game is well worth the price.

I’m not finished with it. I will go back and do the scenario and choose a different career for the hero. This will slightly change the plot and it will change all of his capabilities and I’ll have a fresh start. By the way, the hero can be female so female gamers will enjoy the game also.