Mass Effectis one of developer BioWare’s leading franchises, quickly cementing itself as a staple of the science fiction genre alongsideStar Trek,Battlestar Galactica, andStar Wars. Commander Shepard’s band of misfit acquaintances are diverse, engaging, and very lovable, and the journey to stop the overarching threat of the Reapers is paved with many great moments. The story begins in the orbit of Eden Prime, and what was initially the tale of a rogue Spectre soon becomes a matter of galactic salvation asthe Normandyand its crew desperately race against time to keep space in one piece.
Much of the adoration is directed atMass Effect 2, as typically fans consider it the peak of the mountain, but the conclusion of the third game was widely panned at launch. Both games are known for those respective things, butMass Effectdoesn’t receive anywhere near as much recognition, nor does it seem to warrant much conversation, as it’s a game that suffered severe growing pains that were necessary for the next entries to improve upon. It’s a fantastic product in and of itself, though, and to shake off the old age it could be best served with a complete remake.
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Mass Effect is a Self-Contained Masterpiece
It’s often overshadowed by what came later, but there’s no denying thatMass Effectis an incredible game as the first chapter of a trilogy that is one of the most revered in gaming. LikeStar Wars: A New Hope, it began something great, but is wholly satisfying on its own with a definitive beginning, middle, and end.Saren is a superb villain, and while he is just one piece of a larger puzzle that is alluded to in the closing hours ofMass Effect, the way the game ends ensures it leaves players with a self-contained story that would more than stand up if it was the only game that donned theMass Effecttitle.
Mass Effect 2and3don’t have the same luxury, as they build upon what came before. Should they be subject to a ground-up remake, each would have to follow a remake of the first, as new players will be unsure of the story so far. RemakingMass Effectwould be a smart idea, as it can be enjoyed as a single experience, but should gamers want to continue the story they could play throughMass Effect 2and3ontheMass EffectLegendary Edition, where the final pair of titles in the trilogy stand the test of time far better.
Time Has Taken its Toll on Mass Effect
Though theLegendary Editionhas madeMass Effecta more streamlined and updated experience, it’s a game that still struggles with feeling old. Its sequel is far superior in both gameplay and presentation, and the third game takes lessons from the first two to make something that stands the test of time with grace.Mass Effect’s overheating weapons, uncontrollable Mako, and dated visuals make it hard to return to. Remaking it while retaining the same core principles of choice-based dialogue, strong character development, and awe-inspiring space exploration would be a key way to bring it to audiences beforethe launch ofMass Effect 4.
Mass Effectis one of the games of the 2000s that is in most need of a remake. Titles likeDemon’s Souls,Yakuza Kiwami,andShadow of the Colossusare some of the best games to receive the treatment, but the upcoming release ofMass Effect 4ensures the 2007 BioWare classic is in a prime position for a substantial makeover. It’s old, and has been obviously left behind by its successors in terms of quality, but this wasn’t always the case. It was a pioneer in choice-based dialogue and its all-new sci-fi story was something special. Remaking it before the release ofMass Effect 4could remind audiences that the series' beginnings were far greater than some may remember them to be.
