There are technically four Mass Effect games, but Andromeda is its own game. Therefore, the first three games are considered their own trilogy. These works show the adventures of Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew.
It's a trilogy of games so great that many consider it one of the best trilogies in gaming history, along with BioShock and Max Payne. But it deserves more than just being considered 'one' of the best. It's the best gaming trilogy of all time, and there are many reasons why. Here are some of the highlights:
Compelling and comprehensive narrative
Milky Way Vs. ripper
While the games have standalone stories, they also have an overarching narrative that runs throughout the trilogy. The story revolves around the invasion of The Reapers.
The trilogy does a great job of gradually uncovering information about synthetic beings before they invade in Mass Effect 3. The first two games show how incredibly strong they are and what they hope to achieve by eliminating major species in the galaxy. It makes their final arrival all the more meaningful.
important choice
Not everyone will live to see the end of the story
In a Mass Effect game, you'll have to make a lot of decisions. The good thing is that many of these choices have a huge impact on the overall experience. The fate of your characters and entire species is affected by your choices. The results carry over to other games as well, giving them additional impact.
This is best expressed in the final mission of Mass Effect 2. The decisions you make throughout the game and during the missions themselves will put all of your companions in danger. You'll lose most of your friends, which of course means they won't participate in Mass Effect 3.
A charming multi-game romance
true love story
One of the reasons the Mass Effect games are the best when it comes to romance is that many relationships last more than one game.
Of course, it depends on who you're dating. For characters like Garrus, Tali, Liara, etc., they can be brought together under their original titles at the beginning and maintain that relationship until the end of the series. Naturally, this allows for a deeper connection between the two characters as they have more scenes together.
deep knowledge
All species have a long history
The Mass Effect games may be set in the real world, but they're set so far into the future that they almost feel like fantasy. This future world has a wealth of lore, mainly surrounding the various species that make up the galaxy.
Each of the various races has its own unique history that you slowly learn about as you play the game. This includes events such as the Krogan Rebellion, the Xenophage, the Quarian-Geth War, the First Contact War, and more. All of this makes you feel like you are in a real world with a long and memorable history.
a fascinating companion
Garrus, Tali, and the rest of the gang.
Each Mass Effect game is good at making you fall in love with your companions. Because most of them are very well written and entertaining.
Plus, the game goes a long way toward slowly getting to know each party member on a deeper level through engaging dialogue and exciting personal quests. In addition to getting to know them, you also get to see them grow, as most of them have their own arcs that unfold throughout the game.
various battles
guns and power
You can use a variety of powers and weapons while fighting enemies in the Mass Effect game. There are three types of powers: biotic, tech, and combat. Then there are different types of weapons. What you can use depends on your class, but there are plenty of ways to take out your enemies no matter who you control.
Speaking of enemies, they are equally varied. Throughout the series, you'll encounter a variety of combatants fighting on behalf of different races or organizations. So this also adds to the overall variety of the combat.
Decide who your main character will be
Everyone's Shepherd is Different
You play as Commander Shepard in all three games of the trilogy. But you can make this version of Shepard your own. This starts with an in-depth character creator that lets you customize your appearance as you see fit.
The character class you choose can then affect how you play. When all is said and done, moral decisions determine who they are. So everyone's version of Shepard ultimately becomes unique to them, and that's a joyous feeling.
consistent quality
There are no bad games in the trilogy
Even some of the best video game trilogies have one game that is either significantly better or worse than the rest. For example, most people would argue that the third Dead Space game is weaker than the rest.
However, all three Mass Effect titles are of similar quality. There was some criticism as soon as the third game was released, but the title has aged quite a bit. All three games have decent combat, interesting characters, and a solid story. So when you play the game, you can get excited about what's to come instead of feeling like the best is behind you.
