As a whole, theMass Effecttrilogy tells a complete story about Commander Shepard, the Reapers, and the resilient nature of both organic and artificial life in the Milky Way Galaxy. Each game has its role in the overarching narrative, and the first game has benefited a lot from theLegendary Edition, fixing much of its original clunkiness. So, although it receives plenty of praise, it might be time to admit thatMass Effect 3is better thanME2.
Players have a lot of love forME2. It’s fun to play, and it’s by no means a bad game.ME1has been fun from the beginning, but having theLegendary Editionpolish its gameplay gave it a big boost. Then,Mass Effect 3tends to bear the brunt of the hatethat the trilogy receives, and a lot of that is due to the ending that left many players feeling like their choices throughout the series didn’t matter much in the end. However,ME3played its role in the trilogy, and opinions about the ending shouldn’t taint the game.
Mass Effect 3 Is Better In Hindsight
It Has A Role And Fulfills It
In terms of the story of the trilogy as a whole,Mass Effect 3has a larger role to playcompared toME2, and evenME1, considering this is where the Reaper invasion begins in earnest. Time is running out to save organic life in the Milky Way, and the final hope inMass Effect 3is the Crucibleand Shepard’s ability to activate it. Aside from that, Shepard needs to build enough support and strength to conduct a final push against the Reapers, after enduring endless doubt when they warned the Council that this threat was coming.
The atmosphere inME3is well-done, andit builds the feeling of despairthat a lot of people living in the Milky Way had at that point, especially those who have been relocated to the Citadel for their safety. Simply walking around each area and listening to the conversations being had in the background add to the weight of the situation, and in the middle of it all, there’s still some hope. Shepard is going around and helping as much as possible, and each victory brings hope that the Reapers can be defeated.
There’s a lot of emotional work done byME3to bring the trilogy to its end, even if theMass Effect 3endingsaren’t looked upon too favorably. It’s not easy to conclude a tale with epic proportions likeME, and looking back 12 years later,ME3did a decent job of finishing the story of the Reapers, Shepard, and the Milky Way Galaxy. It could have been better, but it’s almost impossible to find a game and say that it has no room for improvement. All things considered, it isn’t the worst game in the trilogy.
Mass Effect 2 Is One Big Side Quest
It Revolves Around Companions
Mass Effect 2starts with the destruction of the Normandy, and through working to make sure their crew escapes, Shepard ends up dying.This series of events is done to essentially force Shepard to work for Cerberus, a paramilitary group with humanity-first ideals, which is often seen as an enemy faction with an extreme agenda. Since Cerberus put in the effort to revive Shepard, its leader, the Illusive Man, requests that Shepard help him with a task related to the Reapers, but they’ll need more allies first.
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The set-up ofMass Effect 2gives it more of a side quest role in the trilogy. That’s not to say that there isn’t a lot to love in this game, butit’s less connected to the overarching story of the Reaperswhen compared toME1andME3. When looking at what each game adds to the narrative,ME2would be the worst of the three because it’s more of a recruitment side quest that only connects to the Reapers at the end via thesuicide mission in the Collector Base.
With a heavy focus on recruiting companions and earning their loyalty,Mass Effect 2is a great option for players who enjoy interacting with the trilogy’s companions. It also starts to open up more romance options, as well as allows Shepard togain a better understanding of their crew, both old and new members. Then, they work together to complete a mission that should be nearly impossible, and it’s only through loyalty, trust, and understanding that the entire crew can live.
Every Game In The Trilogy Has Its Strengths
There’s Something For Every Player
EachMass Effectgame has a role to play, and the focus changing from one entry to the next brings in elements that mean that every player can find something they enjoy in the trilogy.ME1introduces the threat of the Reapers and their ability to take control of people through indoctrination. At the same time, the game does a lot of work to start laying the foundation for world-building, showing humanity working with other races in the future and striving to earn a place on the Citadel Council.
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Then,ME2puts in more world-building effort to show various culturesas Shepard learns about their companions and works to earn their loyalty before a deadly mission. Shepard also gets to see more planets inME2, exposing them to locations that they didn’t have a chance to visit in the first game. Even with the feeling of being a perpetual side quest,ME2still manages to contribute to the trilogy through world-building and fostering strong bonds between members of the Normandy, who work together despite their differences and disagreements.
There’s a lot to enjoy in each game of theMass Effecttrilogy, and hopefully the next game that’s in development will have the same charm and sense of adventure as the original games.Mass Effect 3receives a lot of criticism, with much of it being directed at the ending, but in the grand scheme of the trilogy, it fulfills its role, and it does so in a meaningful fashion. Perhaps the most interesting piece of this game moving forward is the potential of an ending being canonized inMass Effect 3to lead into the next game.
