Mass Effect is an Action Role-Playing Video Game (or RPG), meaning you assume the role of a fictional character and control his or her actions in a way that affects the game and other characters. As your progress through the game you will earn "experience points" (or XP) for your actions. You gain these points by exploring, talking to characters, completing quests, and defeating enemies in combat. The accumulation of these points allows your character to "level up," thereby increasing certain characteristics such as health. In Mass Effect you are granted "talent points" after each level up, which can be spent to improve your character's abilities. Many of these components are explained in more detail later.