When Earth begins to fall in an ancient cycle of destruction, Commander Shepard must unite the forces of the galaxy to stop the Reapers in the final chapter of the original Mass Effect trilogy.
Apart from the similarities between the Protheans and the Precursors (which are both typical of a much older science fiction meme) the plots and even the universes themselves aren't very similar. The type of exploration and storytelling, from a pure gameplay persective, however, are very similar at time. Especially the MAKO and the SC2 planet landers haha.
The Reapers and the Eternal Ones, which I suspect is the main point you want to make, aren't really terribly similar apart from being big bad spacefaring race devourers, which is another old scifi meme.
@nemt: theres also the heralds who are somewhat similar to the collectors.
and the quarians are like the syreen "The lush world of Syra was Earth's near twin, though warmer and somewhat more hospitable. It hosted a peaceful utopia in harmony with nature from agrarian tribes to the first steps of interstellar exploration, until a stray asteroid smashed into the world and penetrated into the mantle. A year later, a series of supervolcanoes and fissures erupted planetwide, incinerated Syra's continents, poisoned its atmosphere, and shattered the crust. The largely female Space Patrol was the only faction off-planet, leaving the race with under 10000 members, 500 male. They added stardrives to anything that could be made to hold air and set out to the stars"
I hadn't though about that, but it's not really as similar as the wiki entry makes it sound. The Syreen Habitat Fleet doesn't make an appearance in any Star Control game and isn't mentioned in Star Control 3 at all, as they've since relocated to Gaia (between SC1 and 2) and have presumably colonized many other worlds. It's not even something someone playing the games would know about without delving deep into SC lore, whereas the Quarians' situation is central to every appearance they make in the Mass Effect series.
Additionally the post-apoclyptic planetary exodus is another scifi meme that predates Star Control and Mass Effect.
Mass Effect 1 was very obviously influenced by games like Star Control 2 and Starflight, unfortunately a lot of that influenced has kinda waned in the sequels.
there are quite a lot of common sci-fi things through the series ... the inhibitors from alastair reynold's sci-fi books spring to mind in comparison to the reapers. a machine race which is set to wipe out organic life once it crosses a certain threshold of intelligence / technological advancement or whatever.
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