Mass Effect: Paragon Lost

Talk to a video gamer and he (or she) will be able to explain this Japanese-outsourced cartoon feature that fills in a gap in the story arc and "universe" of the popular third-person action-shooter series Mass Effect. For the uninitiated, however, Mass Effect: Paragon Lost comes across as a series of military skirmishes, escapes, and BIG explosions, involving humans and aliens—largely indistinguishable from similar spin-offs of Starship Troopers or Wing Commander. After defending space colonies from the Klingon-ish reptilian Krogans, Marine James Vega (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) learns that another menace is kidnapping entire settlements. The perpetrators turn out to be Collectors, an empire of intelligent, interstellar insects with particularly evil uses for captives—presenting a threat that prompts a brief alliance-of-convenience between humans and Krogans. Serving up an astronomical body count that leads toward a finale heavy on the themes of epic tragedy and loss, the ‘toon-ish animation here is weak compared to the Mass Effect games' photo-realistic CGI. Presented in an English-only edition, rated TV-MA, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Optional for all but hardcore game fans. (C. Cassady)