Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the re-release of Bioware's first real foray into company-created IP, a title encompassing 2007's Mass Effect, 2010's Mass Effect 2 and 2013's Mass Effect 3, as well as almost all of the corresponding singleplayer DLC. The title is an expansive, mature, space opera-oriented science fiction piece, that follows the exploits of Commander Shepard, the first human Council agent, known as a Specter. Mass Effect Legendary Edition has been re-released with improved support for modern graphics APIs and hardware, and both model meshes and textures have been augmented to operate at ultraHD 4K resolutions.

During its initial run, the trilogy received substantial critical and player fanfare and is one of Bioware's most successful intellectual properties to date, releasing on PC and a variety of consoles. The title operates as a third-person perspective shooter overlaid upon an RPG backend that allowed players to customize character abilities, weapon loadouts, as well as engage in political and social decision-making. The game also had extensive world exploration elements, with dozens of planets that could be explored/battled on. Mass Effect is a unique, and stylish science fiction universe with its own distinct look and identity, including compelling alien history, physiology and socio-political backgrounds.

The combat in the game steadily improves throughout the three component games, from satisfactory to smooth and sublime by the end of Mass Effect 3. Cover is crucial at higher difficulty levels and effective movement/mantling are also essential during advanced combat scenarios. Powers and weapons blend seamlessly, allowing players to make meaningful combat decisions. Weapons have unique, punchy identities and powers feel natural and intuitive. Numerous weapon mods, ammo types and heavy weapons add to the combat complexity.

Social and political decisions abound, influencing events during each game's climax, as well as the trilogy's final conflict during Mass Effect 3. While many individuals lamented Mass Effect 3's original ending, the forthcoming DLCs expanded upon the choices made and add much-needed contextual information. The story's central through-line is both dark and terrifying, motivating players to try their best to oppose truly intimidating enemies. Romances and friendships, while comparably shallow to other, prior Bioware titles, are still present and surprisingly rewarding.

Graphics have been improved significantly. Textures, specifically, are drastically improved and while Mass Effect Legendary Edition will not be confused for a current-generation title (or perhaps even a prior generation one), the game still looks beautiful and well-realized. Animations are good and character models, specifically John Shepard's look great. The title has its own unique visual identity which can only be described as Halo by way of Disney's Epot Center. Voice acting, as with all other expansive titles, is a mixed bag but good overall and the musical score is legendarily realized (pun intended).

Planetary exploration is limited compared to other titles, like Nomad Sky, but still quite substantial. What Mass Effect lacks in dynamic world-building, it makes up for in detail-focused environment crafting. The game has a variety of game-mechanics, including vehicle traversal (the Mako and Hammerhead), as well as stealth, melee and unit deployment elements. The game runs well (4K, max, 60 fps) and I experienced no glitches, errors or crashes.

The game definitely has some weaknesses, including a missing DLC release and the lack of the excellent Mass Effect 3 multiplayer component. Additionally, many players will undoubtedly lament the inclusion of EA software (first Origin and then EA Play). This is, indeed, quite annoying since the game ran flawlessly with only the Origin thin client. Once Origin was deprecated, the title asked me to install EA Play. EA Play, however, stopped logging my achievements midway through Mass Effect 2 and I had to reinstall the thin client and run it during each gameplay session in order to receive achievements again.

Sure there are more accessible or more modern science fiction titles available today. Some others may have better graphics or enormous, dynamically-generated worlds. Still others may have more complex RPG mechanics. The Mass Effect trilogy, however, had all these elements coexisting exquisitely a full decade and a half ago. To date, there is simply no other science fiction space epic that reaches the same spiraling heights so effortlessly. The Mass Effect trilogy is truly special.

Highest possible recommendation. Must buy.

10/10.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the re-release of Bioware's first real foray into company-created IP, a title encompassing 2007's Mass Effect, 2010's Mass Effect 2 and 2013's Mass Effect 3, as well as almost all of the corresponding singleplayer DLC. The title is an expansive, mature, space opera-oriented science fiction piece, that follows the exploits of Commander Shepard, the first human Council agent, known as a Specter. Mass Effect Legendary Edition has been re-released with improved support for modern graphics APIs and hardware, and both model meshes and textures have been augmented to operate at ultraHD 4K resolutions. During its initial run, the trilogy received substantial critical and player fanfare and is one of Bioware's most successful intellectual properties to date, releasing on PC and a variety of consoles. The title operates as a third-person perspective shooter overlaid upon an RPG backend that allowed players to customize character abilities, weapon loadouts, as well as engage in political and social decision-making. The game also had extensive world exploration elements, with dozens of planets that could be explored/battled on. Mass Effect is a unique, and stylish science fiction universe with its own distinct look and identity, including compelling alien history, physiology and socio-political backgrounds. The combat in the game steadily improves throughout the three component games, from satisfactory to smooth and sublime by the end of Mass Effect 3. Cover is crucial at higher difficulty levels and effective movement/mantling are also essential during advanced combat scenarios. Powers and weapons blend seamlessly, allowing players to make meaningful combat decisions. Weapons have unique, punchy identities and powers feel natural and intuitive. Numerous weapon mods, ammo types and heavy weapons add to the combat complexity. Social and political decisions abound, influencing events during each game's climax, as well as the trilogy's final conflict during Mass Effect 3. While many individuals lamented Mass Effect 3's original ending, the forthcoming DLCs expanded upon the choices made and add much-needed contextual information. The story's central through-line is both dark and terrifying, motivating players to try their best to oppose truly intimidating enemies. Romances and friendships, while comparably shallow to other, prior Bioware titles, are still present and surprisingly rewarding. Graphics have been improved significantly. Textures, specifically, are drastically improved and while Mass Effect Legendary Edition will not be confused for a current-generation title (or perhaps even a prior generation one), the game still looks beautiful and well-realized. Animations are good and character models, specifically John Shepard's look great. The title has its own unique visual identity which can only be described as Halo by way of Disney's Epot Center. Voice acting, as with all other expansive titles, is a mixed bag but good overall and the musical score is legendarily realized (pun intended). Planetary exploration is limited compared to other titles, like Nomad Sky, but still quite substantial. What Mass Effect lacks in dynamic world-building, it makes up for in detail-focused environment crafting. The game has a variety of game-mechanics, including vehicle traversal (the Mako and Hammerhead), as well as stealth, melee and unit deployment elements. The game runs well (4K, max, 60 fps) and I experienced no glitches, errors or crashes. The game definitely has some weaknesses, including a missing DLC release and the lack of the excellent Mass Effect 3 multiplayer component. Additionally, many players will undoubtedly lament the inclusion of EA software (first Origin and then EA Play). This is, indeed, quite annoying since the game ran flawlessly with only the Origin thin client. Once Origin was deprecated, the title asked me to install EA Play. EA Play, however, stopped logging my achievements midway through Mass Effect 2 and I had to reinstall the thin client and run it during each gameplay session in order to receive achievements again. Sure there are more accessible or more modern science fiction titles available today. Some others may have better graphics or enormous, dynamically-generated worlds. Still others may have more complex RPG mechanics. The Mass Effect trilogy, however, had all these elements coexisting exquisitely a full decade and a half ago. To date, there is simply no other science fiction space epic that reaches the same spiraling heights so effortlessly. The Mass Effect trilogy is truly special. Highest possible recommendation. Must buy. 10/10.