[airstrike]

Since we're listing games with long-lasting consequences, I'll have to recommend folks who have been living under a rock to play the entire Mass Effect trilogy – to me, still the greatest game ever made (and I've played far too many games)

[setr]

Nothing has ever irrated me more than the realization that Mass Effect is a much weaker version of Star Control 2, and learned next to nothing from its predecessor’s mistakes. The only things I can say Mass Effect did better despite 20 years difference was combat, and perhaps planet exploration, though really only because of the move from 2D to 3D. Planet content itsekf managed to be just as lacking. (This includes graphics; star control’s aesthetic and particularly alien aesthetics are far superior).

[moate]

"Long Lasting Consequences" like changing the color of the sky during the final cut-scene...

Don't get me wrong, I loved those games, but when I played 3 and that was the big pay off...jesus.

[airstrike]

The DLCs fixed the endings somewhat, but in any case the journey itself was amazing. Sometimes it's not just about the destination but how you got there

[moate]

Eh, when you say "hey, the things you do are going to have a dramatic affect on the story" but they DON'T have a dramatic affect on the ending...maybe you fucked up a little bit?

Again: loved the games, had a lot of fun, but I was also disappointing that decisions I thought would matter wound up being relatively meaningless.

Not trying to say your experience playing the game wasn't valid, just that it might not be the best example to point to since that was a rather noteworthy example of what NOT to do for many people.