The legend of the Shepard
The Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 era was truly home to some amazing experiences. One of those that has yet to leave the discourse since then is Bioware’s Mass Effect trilogy. While the series has not had the same impact the original games did, people still cannot deny the impact those games had. Now two generations later we are finally getting the proper collection for old and new players alike to experience. It is truly a testament to those games as I watched new players dive in for the first time, while veterans like myself fell in love all over again. This is truly one of the greatest video game sagas ever created, and now it looks and runs better than ever.
I will admit when I took on this review my plan was to dig into each game for about five hours to get a sense of the updates. Two days after starting I was already 15 hours into a replay of the first game. There is just something about these games. The worlds, the characters, it all just engulfs players and will not let go. Whether I was spending time solving issues on the Citadel, or performing loyalty missions to visit new planets, or just scanning them, I couldn’t not replay all three games.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
This collection contains all three games, all the single player DLC, and tons of visual and quality of life updates. Starting with the visuals, these games are now basically their PC counterparts. If you are lucky enough to own one of the new consoles, they even run at 4K with 60fps and are buttery smooth. As a bonus if you are playing on Series X, the game runs at 120fps, though the visual downgrade was not worth it for me. Especially considering the 120fps was inconsistent at best. Still all three games are marvelous to look at now, but as always, I suggest playing the first game entirely first, otherwise you may never go back after the leap that was Mass Effect 2.
Speaking of the first game, it has received the most attention. Instead of the spray and pray for RNG of the original, the team has made it feel more akin to the second and third game. It feels more like a shooter than the original. The Mako controls have also been vastly improved, with the option to use classic controls. Don’t do that. Never do that. Not even sure why they made it an option other than to showcase how bad it originally was.
The second and third games are also improved, but the leap from the first was so dramatic they don’t feel as impressive. Still the improved resolution and framerate go a long way in making these the definitive versions of each game to play.
For anyone who never experienced the games when they were released you have no doubt heard people clamor on and on about them. There is a reason for that, and this collection brings that back into the spotlight. These games are timeless, and it is great they are now easily available to a new generation of gamers. Being nearly a decade since I finished the original games it was a fantastic experience to return to this world, and it gets me even more excited that the next game will take place in the same universe with the same characters returning.
The Mass Effect trilogy is one of the best RPGs in gaming history and now is the best time to jump in for the first, second, or tenth time. It showcases a type of game that we rarely get to see. Something that creates a world fun to get lost in. A game that makes talking to NPCs interesting. A world that is a joy to explore. We can only hope the next chapter continues the legacy these games have created, but for now this collection is a must own.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
