Fans of theMass Effectseries went into 2021 knowing the remastered original trilogy,Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, would be released at some point this spring. This week, the news finally broke that the upcoming remastered trilogy, including over 40 different DLC expansions, is available for pre-order ahead of its May 14 release date. All three games will be included in the upcoming release, though it’s fair to say that not every game was as well-received as the others.Mass Effect 2tends to be the standout title amongst the three, while many players were upset with the ending options ofMass Effect 3.
However, none of the successor games could have been possiblewithout the originalMass Effectgame. Though it doesn’t have the same standout elements found in subsequent games, credit has to be given toMass Effectfor getting the proverbial ball rolling (maybe the Normandy flying?) for the rest of the epic journey that unfolds. Without the strong storytelling of the introductory game, it’s possible that the entireMass Effectfranchise may not have existed at all. The originalMass Effectwas by no means a bad game, but compared to the rest of the trilogy, it’s probably the weakest link — but that’s okay.
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The Original Mass Effect’s Gameplay Mechanics
The originalMass Effectgame was released in 2007, a whopping 14 years prior toLegendary Edition’s release.Mass Effect 2released in 2010, and the trilogy’s finaleMass Effect 3released in 2012, with each iteration becoming more graphically advanced and refining the controls a bit more. Players are in for a treat with the remastered games, especially the first entry. BioWare has taken great care to make it look shiny and new, so it’ll be nice to see fan-favorite characters get a modern graphical makeover.
One of the original critiques ofMass Effectwas its unbalanced combat, whichseems to be getting some much needed improvementswith theLegendary Edition. The developer has taken care to not only fix the combat issues, but also made the AI of squadmates and enemies more intelligent than before. It seems like the land-traversing Mako will be getting some much needed improvements to controls as well, which will make for a much more enjoyableMass Effectexperience.
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Nostalgia For Mass Effect
Despite how the original game looks compared to its successors, there’s no denying thatMass Effectholds a near and dear place in fans’ hearts.The epic, heartbreaking journeythat players embark on throughout the trilogy wouldn’t have been made possible without the introductory game. The nostalgia and affection that players have towards the first game could also cloud their judgement a little bit, though.
Just to reiterate,Mass Effectwas by no means a bad game, and won several awards when it first released. That being said,Mass Effectwas also released in 2007, which is practically a world away as far as modern gaming is concerned.The graphics alone warranted a massive upgrade, not to mention some of the wonky controls and AI systems, so it’ll be satisfying to see the game that made players fall in love with the franchise get the fresh coat of paint it deserves.
Despite how dated the originalMass Effectgame may be, it’ll still be fun to dive back into the Milky Way with some familiar faces, alongside potentially new ones for players who never played the DLC.Mass Effectis a stepping stone tothe fantastic story ofMass Effect 2andMass Effect3, and though it doesn’t stand out amongst its successors, it’s got heart — and that counts for something, especially in a doomed galaxy.
Mass Effect: Legendary Editionis available for pre-order and will release on May 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
