When I first played Mass Effect in 2007, I was immediately taken with the world that had been built for the game. Or, rather, worlds, as it takes place across our entire galaxy. There were dozens of solar systems to explore, and several alien species, each not only with their own unique relationships to humans, but to each other as well.
The story absolutely sets up for a sequel, and a few years later Mass Effect 2 came out. It built on the rich lore the first game laid out, but focused on the dozen playable characters and their relationship to the protagonist. The gameplay was much improved, and every character brought something unique.
Mass Effect 3 followed in 2012 and tied up the story arc started in the first game. This one had a much more somber attitude than the previous two games, as you help the galaxy ward off an existential threat. The ending is famously disliked by many fans of the series, but the game as a whole is a fitting sendoff to characters and locales that had been around from the beginning.
One of the most interesting features of the series is that you can carry your choices and decisions through from one game to another. For example, in the first game, you are given a chance to save or destroy the last remnants of an ancient, spacefaring race of bugs. If you save them, you hear rumors about them in Mass Effect 2, then in the third game, they help your effort to save the galaxy.
All three games have recently been re-released as Mass Effect Legendary Edition. They all receive some minor improvements, but aside from looking and playing a little bit better, they’re exactly the games I remember and love.
