As a whole, the Mass Effect The trilogy tells a complete story about Commander Shepard, the Reapers, and the resilient nature of organic and artificial life in the Milky Way. Each game has its role in the overarching narrative, and the first game benefited greatly from the Legendary Editioncorrecting much of its original clumsiness. So while I get a lot of praise, maybe it’s time to admit that Mass Effect 3 is better than ME2.
Players have a lot of love for ME2. It’s fun to play and is by no means a bad game. ME1 It was fun from the start, but having the Legendary Edition polishing its gameplay gave it a huge boost. Then, Mass Effect 3 tends to bear the weight of hate that the trilogy receives, and much of this is due to the ending that left many players with the feeling that their choices throughout the series didn’t matter much in the end. However, ME3 played its part in the trilogy, and opinions about the ending shouldn’t tarnish the game.
Mass Effect 3 is better in retrospect
It has a role and it fulfills it
In terms of the story of the trilogy as a whole, Mass Effect 3 has a bigger role to play compared to ME2and even ME1considering 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 in Mass Effect 3 it’s the Crucible and Shepard’s ability to activate it. Furthermore, Shepard needs to build up enough support and strength to conduct a final attack against the Reapers, after enduring endless doubts when they warned the Council that this threat was coming.
The atmosphere in ME3 It’s well done and It builds the feeling of despair which many people living in the Milky Way had at that time, especially those who were relocated to the Citadel for their safety. Simply walking through each area and listening to conversations in the background adds to the weight of the situation, and in the midst of it all, there is still some hope. Shepard is helping as much as possible, and each victory brings hope that the Reapers can be defeated.
There is a lot of emotional work done by ME3 to bring the trilogy to an end, even if the Mass Effect 3 endings are not viewed very favorably. It’s not easy to complete a story of epic proportions like MYand looking back 12 years later, ME3 did a decent job of finishing the story of the Reapers, Shepard, and the Milky Way. It could have been better, but it’s almost impossible to find a game and say it has no room for improvement. Considering all this, it’s not the worst game in the trilogy.
Mass Effect 2 is a great side quest
Everything revolves around companions
Mass Effect 2 begins with the destruction of the Normandy and, working to ensure his crew escapes, Shepard ends up dying. This series of events is essentially done to force Shepard to work for Cerberusa paramilitary group with ideals of humanity first, which is often seen as an enemy faction with an extremist agenda. As Cerberus struggles to revive Shepard, their leader, the Illusive Man, asks Shepard to help him with a task related to the Reapers, but they will need more allies first.
The configuration of Mass Effect 2 gives him more of a side quest role in the trilogy. That’s not to say there isn’t a lot to love about this game, but is less connected to the overarching story of the Reapers when compared with ME1 and ME3. By looking at what each game adds to the narrative, ME2 would be the worst of the three because it’s more of a recruitment side mission that only connects to the Reapers at the end through the suicide mission at the Collector Base.
With a strong focus on recruiting teammates and gaining their loyalty, Mass Effect 2 is a great option for players who like to interact with their companions from the trilogy. It also starts to open up more romance options, as well as allowing Shepard get a better understanding of your crewold and new members. So they work together to complete a mission that should be nearly impossible, and it is only through loyalty, trust, and understanding that the entire crew can live.
Each game in the trilogy has its strengths
There’s something for every player
Each Mass Effect the game has a role to playand the shift in focus from one entry to another brings elements that mean every player can find something they like in the trilogy. ME1 introduces the threat of the Reapers and their ability to take control of people through indoctrination. At the same time, the game works hard to begin laying the groundwork for world-building, showing humanity working with other races in the future and striving to earn a place on the Citadel Council.
Then, ME2 puts more world-building effort into showcasing various cultures as Shepard learns about her companions and works to earn their loyalty before a deadly mission. Shepard can also see more planets in ME2exposing them to places they didn’t have the opportunity to visit in the first game. Even though it feels like a perpetual side quest, ME2 still manages to contribute to the trilogy through world-building and fostering strong bonds between the members of Normandy, who work together despite their differences and disagreements.
There’s a lot to enjoy in every game in the Mass Effect trilogy, and we hope the next game in development has the same charm and sense of adventure as the original games. Mass Effect 3 receives a lot of criticism, much of it aimed at the ending, but in the grand scheme of the trilogy it fulfills its role, and does so in a meaningful way. Perhaps the most interesting part of this game going forward is the potential for an ending to be canonized in Mass Effect 3 to lead the next game.