Andromeda has come out, and the first Mass Effect is still my

I prefer 2 myself. Mostly because of Zaeed and bro-ing it up with Garrus coming off of ME1.

>>384250667
Coherent intent of design.
You play as a starship captain in the sense of Star Trek or equivalent. It's flavored to feel like you're playing through a 1960s radiodrama, complete with film grain. They make one break from reality, have a very consistent set of abilities ascribed to that break, and they're done.

From two on they just wave a wand and shout "EEEEZO!" for everything they invent, regardless of whether that's in the portfolio of powers the first one ascribed to it. They make it a shooter first. etc.

>>384250667
>Why is it better than the rest of the franchise?

It was published by Microsoft, not EA. Microsoft at the time was generally regarded as one of the better publishers with deep pockets to have as they didn't micromanage to the same degree as the others.