The Mass Effect trilogy is one of the most influential franchises in video games. Its utopian futuristic setting, endearing characters, and gripping narrative put it on par with the all-time greats of science fiction. We’ve heard the title “this generation’s Star Wars” bandied about for numerous franchises, but Mass Effect actually lives up to (and sometimes exceeds) that lofty proclamation. Because of its importance to video games and the sci-fi genre, Mass Effect was overdue for an update on current-gen consoles and PC. While not perfect, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is the best way to experience this modern-day classic.
Revisiting the Homeworld
As the oldest entry in the trilogy, 2007’s Mass Effect receives the biggest overhaul in terms of graphics, gameplay, and user-friendliness. Even when it first released, Mass Effect’s controls were sluggish. This was no doubt due to BioWare trying to find a balance between action gameplay and role-playing mechanics. Shooting, taking cover, and running are snappier than before. Combat isn’t comparable to a modern third-person shooter, but it’s certainly more intuitive. The game ditches class-based equipment restrictions. While certain characters have an affinity for specific weapon and armor types, the added flexibility is appreciated. The User Interface is more in line with the UI of the sequels, making it easier to see your character’s and squad mate’s shields and health.
The infamous MAKO ground vehicle used for traversing uncharted alien worlds now plays more like its Mass Effect: Andromeda counterpart, the NOMAD. Thanks to the MAKO’s heavier weight, faster forward movement, and improved weapons targeting, exploring planets and moons is now a joy. The MAKO is still somewhat floaty, but it no longer feels like you’re driving a car-shaped balloon.
Like all three games in this collection, Mass Effect now features enhanced lighting, graphical effects, and improved textures. While the sequels certainly benefit from the graphical boost, Mass Effect almost looks like an entirely different game. Details the original could only hint at before now pop, giving the world a more lifelike appearance. The rough textures on a Krogan’s reptilian face or the sleekness of a ship’s hull are so real you’d swear you could touch them. Stiff and awkward animations still betray the game’s age, but Mass Effect has never looked this good.
One of the biggest gripes people had with the first game was its eternity-long elevator rides. You still have to take elevators from time to time, but you’re now able to skip them after 30 seconds. But even if you endure elevator rides to completion (to listen to character banter or the in-game news), they’re still much shorter.
The Bigger Picture
With the exception of Mass Effect’s Pinnacle Station, you get each of the three games’ respective DLCs in this collection. The DLCs, most of which came out well after the respective games’ releases, are now better integrated into the plot. For example, you won’t be able to access Mass Effect 2’s fantastic Lair of the Shadow Broker until you reach a certain part of that entry’s narrative. This makes the entire trilogy more cohesive. If you’ve never played the originals, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell what’s DLC and what was there from the beginning.
Speaking of continuity, being able to play all three games back-to-back is among the collection’s biggest strengths. Veterans and newcomers alike can enjoy a cohesive narrative without having to wait years between games. Though you’re free to play the games in any order you want, it’s best to start with the first and work your way up. Seeing how even minute choices play out over the course of three titles is very satisfying.
Aside from the aforementioned Pinnacle Station, the biggest omission is Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer mode. Playing through multiplayer raised your Galactic Readiness for the game’s final mission. To compensate for the loss, you’ll now raise your Galactic Readiness by playing through the two previous games and making as many allies as possible. Not having the addictive multiplayer mode is a bummer but it isn’t a major loss in the grand scheme of the trilogy.
System Requirements
To play Mass Effect: Legendary Edition on PC, your gaming rig will need (at a minimum) an Intel Core i5 3570 CPU, an Nvidia GTX 760 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 120GB of storage space, and the Windows 10 operating system.
My gaming rig, with its Intel i7-4790 CPU and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU, runs the game wonderfully on a 1080p monitor. Each title maxes out at 240 frames per second. I typically saw frames hovering between 200-240fps with uncapped frames. Heavy combat tended to drop the frames to the lower end of that spectrum. Cutscenes and cinemas drop to 60fps. If your monitor (and rig) can support it, you can enjoy the game at 4K resolution. Don’t expect much in the way of graphical options for any of the titles. You’ll find options for setting the max resolution and for enabling dynamic shadows, antialiasing, and ambient occlusion. That’s about it.
The game supports both mouse and keyboard inputs, as well as game controllers. As a Steam game, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition supports Steam Achievements and Steam Cloud. The EA Origin version of the game also has achievements and cloud storage native to that service.
Save the Galaxy Once More
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition resurrects the beloved trilogy in grand fashion. Though still games of yesterday, the updated graphics, UI, and controls make them feel fresh. Even leaving the fancier visuals and snappier controls aside, this is one of the best-developed sci-fi settings in any medium, replete with deep lore, realistically developed alien cultures, awe-inspiring extraterrestrial planets, and captivating characters. Whether you’re a series veteran or a newcomer, you owe it to yourself to snatch this collection up. This Editors’ Choice pick truly is legendary.
