If you haven't played it already, Cassie, you ought to do a playtrough of Mass Effect one.
I mean you can probably pick it up pretty cheaply now, and it means you'll get all the set-up on the story/characters/locations and you'll be able to transfer your character into Mass Effect 2 when you're done.
I too am preparing to lose my soul to this game. The question for me is, do I want to be the creepy 31-year-old loser at the midnight opening? THAT'S THE REAL QUESTION.
Is this for a system I don't own? FUCKING BASTARDS I WILL SUCK 32 DICKS IN A ROW TO GET THESE TOYS