Indeed. I've never enjoyed a console shooter's multiplayer until now. MoH->CoD1->CoD4.
Been playing a lot of CoD4 mp.
Alternating between that and Mass Effect. Honestly, I'm having a hard time motivating myself to finish Mass Effect right now, just too many cutscenes, not enough actual meaningful roleplaying. I'd contrast it with MotB. MotB interupts the game just enough to keep the narrative moving, and yet provides lots of opportunities for significant decision-making by the player.
Honestly, I feel like Mass Effect is more a game about being a film director directing a sci-fi movie starring someone named Shepherd, and less a game about playing Shepherd him/herself. Perhaps it is a step towards a new genre/niche of movies/games appropriately termed interactive movie. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but if that is the case it bears refining.
Cut the length of the game in half and make the choices actually mean something and improve the squad AI beyond GRAW 1 levels and then I wouldn't be able to put the game down most likely. As it stands it hovers between game and interactive movie and never hits its stride.
The atmosphere, music and presentation and excellent. The game definitely captures that semi-hard sci fi/space opera vibe of Reynolds, Niven, et al.