Playing A Game Mass Effect (2021) PC

Even in its time, the first Mass Effect was a mixed bag. The Legendary Edition remaster shows that its good qualities still hold up; despite its bad qualities, which the remaster has ... also preserved.

Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that the Legendary Edition still has lackluster side-missions, an empty-feeling galaxy, narrow characterization choices, and confounding inventory management. (The item limit is higher, now, but cleaning items out remains a chore.)

It is a little surprising that auto-saves are still infrequent, menu navigation still doesn't work quite right with a mouse, and decade-old stability bugs are still around today.

And while I can appreciate that controlling the Mako is less painful, the barren landscapes you drive through are still painfully un-fun.

But the sometimes-tedious gunplay, the often-awkward dialog, and the usually-dull exploration are still worth tolerating for the sake of Mass Effect's intricate and enchanting universe. Just like my first time through, I was happy to spend hours upon hours digesting the game's lore through conversations and the in-game codex.

The "world" is the real star of this show, and the Legendary Edition's updated graphics show it off splendidly.

... I mean, given how much-improved I remember the next game being, I might still consider this entry little more than a prologue. But it's a fine prologue, just like it was before.

Better than: 3030 Deathwar Redux, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Not as good as: Horizon Zero Dawn, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
As for the DLC: well... I'll be brief.

Progress: Finished on Normal.

Rating: Good