When Mass Effect Legendary Edition arrives on May 14, it won’t contain the exact same games fans remember. BioWare has made a number of changes to its remaster of the original Mass Effect trilogy, creating differences both big and small.
Across the board, Mass Effect Legendary Edition supports 4K and HDR. It features improved textures, models, and lighting, faster load times, and altered user interfaces. Character customization has been unified across all three games, with more options included. Protagonist Commander Shepard's default female appearance has also been made consistent across the trilogy.
Mass Effect 1 is set to receive the biggest face lift of the three games. Released in 2007, the original Mass Effect featured more RPG elements than its sequels, such as certain weapons being restricted to certain classes and effectiveness with those weapons being determined by skill points. In ME1's Legendary Edition remaster, all weapons are usable by all classes. Weapons have been rebalanced, and aiming has been improved. Squadmate AI, as well as enemy AI, has also been improved, and boss encounters have been rebalanced. Mass Effect 1's UI, in particular, has been drastically changed to look more like its sequels. And, of course, the Mako vehicle, long derided due to its poor controls, will be receiving a major update.
While the first game in the trilogy is receiving a large number of changes, the core of the gameplay will stay the same. Weapons will still sport the overheat mechanic, as opposed to the thermal ammo clips used in later games.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition's Remaster Upgrades Explained
Other games in the series will see slight adjustments outside of visuals. Certain camera angles have been adjusted (including one instance where the camera focused on squadmate Miranda's backside during a key conversation). Morality checks in Mass Effect 2 will be less restrictive, and Mass Effect 3's ending will follow the updated Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut ending, originally patched in as a response to fan backlash after the game’s original release.
Along with the additions and updates, there are a few things missing from Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer mode will not be included, as it would require a significant amount of time and work to bring to modern audiences properly. While Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include most DLC for the trilogy, the first game's Pinnacle Station DLC won’t be making the jump. BioWare revealed the DLC’s original source code had previously been lost, and backups for the code were largely corrupted.
Legendary Edition will clearly change a lot about the trilogy, especially Mass Effect 1. Comparison images between the original and Legendary Edition show the entire mood and atmosphere of certain environments feels almost completely different. Rebalancing the gunplay and controls for the Mako might make for a more consistent experience across the entire trilogy, but there is no denying it will also be a major departure from the original game - a game loved by many, warts and all. It will ultimately be up to fans to decide if Mass Effect Legendary Edition makes for a better trilogy when it releases this May.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will come to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on May 14, 2021.