You play the role as Commander Shepard and you will make decisions that will affect the universe throughout three games. There is a huge emphasis on character development and story. If it isn't an RPG, then the genre needs to be renamed; maybe to inventory, and stat management games (ISMG)?
 
It is more RPG than most JRPGs. JRPGs are linear, and you are playing the role of someone else, and you don't get to make many if any decisions. You are playing a role where you, the player, can make decisions and choose how you want to be remembered in the universe. It seems that the people who are saying Mass Effect isn't a shooter are those who are caught up in old gameplay conventions.
 
In short, you care about the characters and the decisions you make more than finding a weapon that does 1 more hit point of damage than the one you have.

This argument is getting annoying. I still believe that this game is still an RPG and if people want to continue to deny that then that's cool. *Goes back to ME 2

" @Cube said:

" Thanks for the heads up - all but confirming I will never play it. "

Okay? Have fun missing out on an amazing RPG. "