Mass Effect: Infiltrator

The excitement of gaming's biggest space-themed RPG series makes the jump to mobile devices in this smart sci-fi shooter! With a new story that features original characters separate from the main series, Mass Effect: Infiltrator brings more cryptic sci-fi action into the fold. Set in the distant future, this shooter has you controlling a Cerberus agent who goes rogue when he learns the terrible secrets of the shadowy organization. Linear but exciting, Mass Effect: Infiltrator is an agreeable spin-off that offers action that's nearly as good as the console games!

Main Game Features

• Third-person sci-fi shooting
• Single-player campaign and bonus mission
• Use weapons and biotic powers

Story

Set in the year 2186, Mass Effect: Infiltrator tells a standalone story that runs parallel with the events of Mass Effect 3. As Commander Shephard and his crew fight elsewhere in the galaxy, a Cerberus agent named Randall Ezno works under the direction of the Illusive Man. After returning from a successful assignment, Randall returns to his Cerberus base when a band of alien soldiers begin to attack. As panic ensues around the base, he attempts to contact his advisor while fending off the invading forces.

What starts as a standard story of secrecy and war becomes more and more twisted as Mass Effect: Infiltrator reveals its dark plot. As Randall begins to find evidence of gruesome experiments and upsetting betrayals, the morality of Cerberus is called into question. While the base becomes overrun with aliens, Randall must deal with potentially abandoning his home for the greater good. The dialogue and cutscenes are mostly weak, but the narrative in Mass Effect: Infiltrator has enough surprises to keep things interesting.

Gameplay

Although the main games in the series like Mass Effect 2 are firmly in the RPG genre, Mass Effect: Infiltrator trims out excessive RPG options in favor of straightforward third-person shooting. When playing as Randall, you have a good selection of weapons, but can also use powerful biotic abilities. While you're not shooting at alien enemies with your futuristic pistols and rifles, you can manipulate the environment with your biotics. This allows you to hold enemies in the air, push them with biotic force, and more. You'll often need to take cover and use your environment tactically, as being exposed for too long is a quick way to end Randall's journey.

While most of the gameplay is centered on action and shooting, some memorable features return from other Mass Effect games. In addition to light exploration and searching for clues, players can also make morality choices that affect the outcome of the story. Randall's armor and abilities will also take on a blue or red color, depending on how positively or negatively you react to situations. Once you've finished the main story campaign, you can also check out the bonus mission. This lets you play as a captured alien attacker, who breaks out of imprisonment and revolts against their Cerberus captors.

Conclusion

Mass Effect: Infiltrator might not be as far-reaching or immersive as its console counterparts, but the mobile adventure still provides enough sci-fi action to make it fun. The standalone story makes it a game that anyone can enjoy, whether or not they've played other games in the franchise.

Pros

• Interesting story with scary sci-fi twists
• Bonus mission is unique
• High quality graphics

Cons

• Not many RPG elements
• No conversation options
• Controls take some time to get used to