My character in Mass Effect specializes in pistols & sniper rifles. I picked up a High Explosive Ammo upgrade at one point, which increases damage something like 400%, but also allows for far fewer shots before overheating (Mass Effect’s replacement for ammo clips).
Packed onto my sniper rifle (which only allowed 1.8 shots per overheat cycle anyway), it becomes a small howitzer. A sniper rifle with a 6-foot explosion radius means many instances of Geth flying through the air while disintegrating into char. Pure comedy.
I finished Mass Effect last night just barely under level 50 (which would have garnered me an achievement, oh well). The story arc gets an A+ for pacing; the Last Segment Of The Game is very clearly defined, and allows you plenty of space to finish up your side-quest list before heading off to the final battle. (Compare to: Fallout 3, where I didn’t realize I had entered TLSOTG until it was too late.)
While the main quest & storyline were clearly given every bit of polish they deserved, almost everything else in Mass Effect has the distinct feeling of being unfinished in one way or another. I have a list. I’ll write about it tomorrow. Today, though, nothing but praise.