A legend is reborn to great Effect
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (PEGI 18) PS4, XBOX One, PC HHHHI
AS beloved game franchises go, Mass Effect is up there with the best.
A sci-fi epic, it sucked in gamers from the start – and that’s just with the mellifluous tones of legendary actor Keith David.
And if you’ve never played Mass Effect before, then now is the perfect time to give it a try, as the trilogy has been given a stunning makeover.
The Legendary Edition sees all three games remastered with visual, technical and gameplay enhancements. But it’s 2007’s Mass Effect – the first in the trilogy – that’s received the most extensive upgrades, specifically with regard to combat mechanics, vehicle handling, and loading times.
Mass Effect is set in 2183, in the wake of humanity developing faster than light travel thanks to the discovery of an ancient artefact on Mars.
You play as Commander Shepard, an elite human soldier who must unite the galactic community against a highly advanced race of synthetic-organic starships called Reapers.
Shepard’s character is fully customisable; you can select the appearance and create a back story, which helps shape the commander’s personality.
Just a few minutes into the game and the graphics are stunning. From the expansive shot of the Earth from orbit, to the breathtaking Normandy sweeping into view, it’s clear a lot of time and effort has been put into enhancing this treasured classic.
One of the things you quickly out is that there’s nothing stunningly original about the story line, but what makes it compelling is that it’s a smorgasbord of concepts and ideas inspired by other celebrated sci-fi sagas.
In turn you can see the influence of Mass Effect in TV, and films – take the police robots in 2012’s dire Total Recall remake, which bear more than a passing resemblance to the Cerberus troops. Even Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn took inspiration from the series when creating the Citadel in the first movie.
But while it looks beautiful, the combat still feels a little clunky – something made worse by the fact you can bounce between the original, and its superb sequel Mass Effect 2.
I do wonder why, when such loving detail has been paid to overhauling the original, the combat elements weren’t given some spit and polish. Maybe the developers were worried that in altering the game’s more traditional RPG mechanics it would lose some of the charm?
Although what charm there is in the infuriating unreliability of some of the weapons, the hit-and-miss cover system, and the almost impossible boss battles – especially as you prowork
gress through the game – is beyond me. And while it’s undeniable how groundbreaking Mass Effect felt way back in 2007, when you slip back into the familiar comfort of the combat in Mass Effect 2 and 3, it feels a little like the poor relation.
While the trilogy’s world building is extraordinary, it’s still the interaction with your fellow crew which makes this series stand out from all the rest.
The characters feel tangible and enriched, and with each meaningful conversation or quirky interaction you begin to feel like you’re forging a real bond with this motley crew.
The game’s improved graphics only add to this, the rich textures adding realism and character to faces, leaving the team looking more realistic than ever.
To make things even better, the Legendary Edition includes all the DLC ever released for the series. With some games that’s neither here nor there, but Mass Effect always had a way of making you feel like you were missing out on parts of the story without it.
While there are many things to praise about this re-master, it’s also had a lot of teething problems.
From launch it has been beset with bugs. From the poor cover system, to vanishing weaponry, some very silly runs, and AI characters stuck in unending falls, there’s a lot that needs fixing.
Maker EA says there’s a patch on the way and hopefully, by the time you’re reading this, it’s already been issued and is working its magic.
Bugs aside, this is still a thing of beauty, an edition that will give longstanding fans a wonderful hit of nostalgia, while offering new players a truly epic adventure to undertake.
Buy it: £48.85 from base.