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Driving

OK, we'll admit it. Driving the Mako, Mass Effect's Warthog knock-off, was a complete ball-ache in the 360 version. Shooting in one direction while driving in another was nigh on impossible. It wasn't helped by the fact that most of the planet surface driving missions were repetitive and involved slowly moving from side to side from a great distance. While the PC version has the same missions and, at least on the harder difficulty levels, requires a similar level of cowardice, the Mako's controls have been tweaked so that it's much more fun to use.

Shooting in one direction while driving in another is now a reality with the keyboard and mouse interface. The Mako also feels quicker and more responsive, although the reason why is hard for us to put our finger on. It feels more nimble. You'll be able to dodge Geth rockets and plasma fire much easier with the W,A,S,D keys and the mouse than you were ever able to with the 360 joypad. We were able to literally run rings around Geth Destroyers, something we never had the confidence to do on the 360 version.

Verdict:

While the side quests and Mako driving sections are still somewhat of a bore compared with the other parts of the game, the Mako is a much more enjoyable beast to drive in the PC version. It feels like Commander Shepard and the team have been given a new and improved vehicle to play around with, making the 360 Mako obsolete.

Ultimate Verdict

As they say in football, the table doesn't lie. The PC version is, when you delve deep into the tweaks and changes implemented by BioWare and Demiurge, obviously the better Mass Effect in almost every respect. The resolution is higher, texture pop in is reduced, combat is refined and item management is more efficient. That being said, the 360 version retains a certain appeal that the PC version simply doesn't have, and much of this depends on what mood we're in. If we fancy kicking back and relaxing in front of the big TV, the 360 version is the one we would go for every time. But if we're in the mood for an intense, more hardcore experience, the PC version wins. Overall though you can't escape the truth - Mass Effect PC is the best sci-fi RPG ever made.

Click through to the next page for a series of comparison screen shots. PC screens were captured with all graphics settings maxed out and at a resolution of 1680x1050. Xbox 360 screens were captured at 720p over HDMI.

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