Mass Effect Legendary Edition has been out for a year, but the game might be more relevant than ever, especially after BioWare announced an upcoming fourth entry in the now-iconic series. Players' fascination with Commander Shepard's story continues, and Legendary Edition is the perfect reminder of how amazing the trilogy is.
The games are full of choices that leave the story in the players' hands. However, while some become meaningless in the long run, others are more important than others, and a precious few are crucial to determining the fate of the galaxy and its many species.
Paragon Vs. Renegade
One of the first major choices players can make in any Mass Effect game is to play as either a Paragon or a Renegade. Paragons are usually understanding, aiming for true galactic cooperation, and choosing to see the best in their allies. Renegades are more focused on results, adopting a humanity-first approach and achieving things via intimidation.
Both choices can lead to different outcomes at various points in the trilogy; for instance, a Paragon Shepard will appeal to Saren's good side in the first Mass Effect and successfully convince the Illusive Man that he's indoctrinated in the third game. Renegade Shepard might result in a funnier game, but playing Paragon will reap the most long-term rewards.
Kaidan Vs. Ashley
The choice at Virmire was one of the earliest points where fans understood Mass Effect's uniqueness. By that point in the game, players had formed a connection to Kaidan and Ashley, so leaving one behind to die was jarring. Kaidan was more suitable for a Paragon Shepard, while Ashley might've been more appealing for a Renegade. However, the choice was still difficult and carried significant consequences for Shepard's crew.
Kaidan and Ashley skip most of Mass Effect 2 before returning in Mass Effect 3 as two of the most likable squadmates. Because they are some of the first major characters to die in favor of Shepard's mission, they have a place of honor among all others, and their shadows loom large in the trilogy.
The Rachni Queen's Fate
The choice to either kill or spare the Rachni Queen in Noveria turned out to be more important than anyone thought. If Shepard goes the Paragon route and spares her, she returns in Mass Effect 3, willing to help in the galaxy's fight against the Reapers. If Shepard chooses the Renegade option and kills her, a clone of the Queen appears instead, betraying Shepard and the Alliance before the final battle.
Keeping the Rachni Queen alive makes the most sense because it adds some valuable war assets in Mass Effect 3. It also contributes to the galactic cooperation angle that the third game is all about, although the Queen represents a considerable threat when first encountered, and no one could blame players for killing her.
The Normandy's Crew & Their Loyalty Missions
Mass Effect 2 brings back a few familiar faces like Joker, Garrus, and Tali, but mainly introduces a new squad of colorful characters. They won't get along, and it's up to Shepard to solve the problems; players can choose not to, but ignoring the conflicts will have dastardly consequences during the suicide mission.
Similarly, ignoring the squadmate's loyalty missions will have crucial consequences in the game and the sequel. Players should absolutely resolve the crew's conflicts and do the squadmates' loyalty missions. Some benefits are instantaneous, while others take some time to appear, but neglecting the crew is the single worst choice players can make in ME2.
Maelon's Data
Speaking of the squadmate's loyalty missions, Mordin's involves Shepard helping him track down his former protegé, Maelon Heplorn. Maelon conducted research using krogan subjects to cure the genophage, and his data, while unethical, could potentially prove useful.
Shepard can either allow Mordin to kill Maelon or let him go; more importantly, the Commander will decide whether to keep or destroy Maelon's data. Keeping it is crucial because it'll help Mordin save Eve's life in Mass Effect 3. Curing the genophage is one of the best choices players can make in Mass Effect, and having Eve around will help keep the krogan in line.
The Geth Heretics
Legion's loyalty mission is another of Mass Effect's most important. "A Divided House" involves Shepard helping Legion stop a Reaper virus acquired by the geth heretics, who aim to use it to infect other geth and turn them against organic life.
Like other missions in the trilogy, Shepard can choose to destroy or rewrite the heretics. Players should aim for the former, as it will directly impact Shepard's ability to resolve the geth/quarian conflict in Mass Effect 3. Ultimately, while rewriting the heretics is the Paragon route, destroying them will be for the best.
Upgrading The Normandy
The suicide mission at the end of the second game is thrilling, stressful, and unforgettable; in short, it's one of the many reasons why Mass Effect is BioWare's best franchise. The ordeal can have wildly different endings, and Shepard can either lose their entire squad or keep them all alive. A mix of the two is also possible, depending on the loyalty missions performed and the conflicts revolved.
Among the many choices that will impact the endgame is Shepard's choice to rescue the crew immediately after they get taken hostage or spend some time upgrading the Normandy's systems. This instance is one of several in which the Renegade route works for the best; upgrading the Normandy will result in the crew's deaths but guarantee the squadmates' survival, which adds further allies in Mass Effect 3.
The Genophage
The genophage effectively neutralized the krogan civilization, nearly destroying them and ostracizing them from galactic affairs. Players get their first look into potentially curing it after encountering Maelon in Mass Effect 2 before actually curing it during the Priority: Sur'kesh and Priority: Tuchanka missions in the third game.
After spending time with Wrex and Grunt and learning more about the circumstances surrounding the krogan's conflict with the salarians, curing the genophage is the only logical choice. As always, players can opt not to do it, but curing the virus is the right thing to do. Curing the genophage is arguably the most important thing Shepard does other than dealing with the Reapers, and BioWare needs to canonize this choice in Mass Effect 4.
The Quarian/Geth Conflict
As previously mentioned, the quarian/geth conflict reaches a boiling point in Mass Effect 3, and Shepard gets caught in the middle. Depending on the player's choices in the previous game and the side missions performed before Priority: Rannoch, Shepard can broker peace between the two factions.
This choice isn't easy, and players need to follow a specific series of steps to achieve it. However, solving the conflict will result in successful cohabitation of both species and a ton of war assets for the war against the reapers. Furthermore, the geth become true individuals in one of the most rewarding sequences in the trilogy.
The Final Choice
The ending of Mass Effect 3 remains controversial. The three choices seem oddly anti-climactic and unsatisfying, but that doesn't make the decision process any less difficult. Shepard holds the entire galaxy's fate in their hands, and whatever they choose, someone loses.
Most players go for Destroy, meaning EDI and the geth die along with the Reapers. Control is a weird choice that would make Shepard no better than the Illusive Man, and Synthesize feels like Shepard playing god. In other words, there's no right way to end the trilogy, adding to the sense of dissatisfaction that looms over Mass Effect's infamous last choice.