Not sure if anyone has put 2 & 2 together here regarding these two games, if so feel free to lockerooni. I just tried SC 2 on 3DO for the first time last night and got hooked. I noticed right away that it highly resembles Mass Effect in various ways, I'll make a list.

1. Space Themed
2. Planetary exploration VERY similar
3. gathering minerals from different planets
4. Action RPG (in different forms of course)
5. different alien races with original names (of course ME having more depth)
6. Saving Earth within an entire solar system.
7. Conversation trees similar

I noticed other similarities but can't think of them at the moment, but those are just a few of the resemblances I've seen. I've played all 3 ME games in their entirety and have only played 2 hrs of SC 2. Lets discuss and add more to the list, and if done before....my bad