The launch ofMass Effect: Legendary Editionbrings the trilogy to the two newest generations of consoles and PC with remastered content and nearly all of the trilogy’s DLC expansions. While many remasters seek to improve the visual quality of older titles,Mass Effect: Legendary Editionalso seeks to unify the player experience across all three titles. While this did include some changes to the second and third games in the trilogy, the majority of the changes came to the originalMass Effectthat released in 2007.
Most of the changes to the firstMass EffectinMass Effect: Legendary Editionare permanent, such as large updates to the combat, UI elements, visuals, and camera, to bring it all in line with the other two games. However, some of the biggest changes, like the new controls forMass Effect’s infamous Mako vehicle, an updated character creator, and a new level scaling system, do give players a choice on whether to use the original mechanics or the newer ones. While the options are nice within themselves, they also exemplify why giving players such choices matters.
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Mass Effect: Legendary Edition’s New Mako Controls
The firstMass Effectfeatures various sequences seeing players take control of an all-terrain vehicle known as the M35 Mako. Equipped with a turret, jump jets, and a shield, it is more than capable of taking Commander Shephard and squadmates across a variety of different planets and terrains. In its original appearance, however, many players found it frustrating to control, as its physics allowed the Mako to bounce around on rough terrain.
The bouncing both lost considerable amounts of speed as well as making it difficult to control as many of the Mako’s maps were covered with rocks and uneven ground. InMass Effect: Legendary Edition,the Mako’s physics have been revampedto give it more weight to keep it from bouncing as much and allowing players to better maintain control over it.
However, players who want to maintain the original experience can opt torevert the Mako’s controls back toMass Effect’soriginal rendition. The ability to switch back and forth between the original andLegendaryMako controls satisfies both players: those that are looking for the original experience, and players who want to seeMass Effect: Legendary Editionimprove aspects of the games and bring them closer to modern standards. Being able to switch back and forth makes sure that the Mako sections ofMass Effectwill satisfy all players by giving them the ability to choose their experience and play the version ofMass Effectthat they want to.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition’s Legendary Mode
When first starting the collection, players are presented with the choice of whether to playMass Effect: Legendary Editionwith the Legendary or Classiclevel scaling mode. In Classic Mode,Mass Effect: Legendary Edition’s version ofMass Effectis more similar to the game’s original release, with players being able to reach level 60.
The primary difference is that players can reach level 60 in a single playthrough, where the original saw players having to play through the game a second time on New Game+. Legendary Mode bringsMass Effectmore in line with the other two titles that both have a max level of 30. Importantly, whichever level scaling mode players decide to use does not impact the power of their characters or how their save transfers toMass Effect 2.
Regardless of whichever level scaling mode players decide to play on, theenemies and difficulty of the reworkedMass Effectwill adjust accordingly. Players will receive the same amount of skill points to spend in the end. This means that playing on Classic Mode simply gives players more frequent level ups that give fewer skill points, while Legendary Mode will give players fewer level ups that are more impactful.Mass Effect: Legendary Editioneven lets players switch between the two modes at any time, with the game calculating the numbers whenever a player switches.
The ability to switch back and forth allows players to personalize how they want to experienceMass Effectand build their class' skill tree. While neither experience replicates how players leveled up in the original, sinceMass Effect: Legendary Editionmodified experience distribution across the entire game, it lets players customize their experience. The two modes don’t offer drastically different experiences or class builds, but it does let players better tailor the experience to their preferences.
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Mass Effect: Legendary Edition’s Character Creator
One of the coolest features of theMass Effecttrilogy is the player’s ability to transfer their save files from one game to the next. This allows their choices forMass Effect’s multiple difficult decisionsto carry over throughout the games and have reaching consequences. It also lets players keep their personalized Commander Shephard throughout the experience. To help smooth out the experience,Mass Effect: Legendary Editionunified the character creation options across all three titles. This includes adding new options to the creator and changing the default female Commander Shephard inMass Effectto better match the default in the other two titles.
For players who are nostalgic for their original female Commander Shephard,Mass Effect: Legendary Editiondoes still include that model as one of the preset appearances. This option benefits players looking for a more unified experience, while still letting returning players revisit the game with the character they remember. Being able to choose the older female Commander Shephard preset lets players feel as though the game wants to honor their past experiences and memory of the game, as well asrevampingMass Effectfor new audiences.
Regardless of how players want to experience the trilogy throughMass Effect: Legendary Edition, the game gives players the options required for them to tailor it to their preferences. While many of the changes inMass Effect: Legendary Editionhave received a warm welcomefrom fans so far, the game’s ability to accommodate both types of players is a smart move to satisfy as many fans as possible. Hopefully, futureMass Effecttitles will embrace player choice as much asMass Effect: Legendary Editionhas to better satisfy its players as well.
Mass Effect: Legendary Editionis available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
