Which was the best mass effect game?
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Depends on how you define 'best'. Each game has its merits.
From a purely RPG-elements standpoint, the first game probably trumps the other two. From the perspective of which game has the most polish, probably game 2 or 3 would fit that bill.
From a purely RPG-elements standpoint, the first game probably trumps the other two. From the perspective of which game has the most polish, probably game 2 or 3 would fit that bill.
ME1 all the way for me.
Loved the exploration aspect more then in the other 2 games, preferred the rpg systems too (right down to stats modifying your aim..something a lot of people hated and wouldn't miss in the sequels but I liked it) and especially preferred the more open battlefields, I missed getting out of the mako and sniping enemies from across a massive distance, then crossing the gap and finishing things up close and personal, you just couldn't do that in subsequent games anymore.
ME2 is an honorable second place, the whole finale and way game built towards it was really satisfying and I only wish Me3 had followed suit in how it handled its own climax.
Loved the exploration aspect more then in the other 2 games, preferred the rpg systems too (right down to stats modifying your aim..something a lot of people hated and wouldn't miss in the sequels but I liked it) and especially preferred the more open battlefields, I missed getting out of the mako and sniping enemies from across a massive distance, then crossing the gap and finishing things up close and personal, you just couldn't do that in subsequent games anymore.
ME2 is an honorable second place, the whole finale and way game built towards it was really satisfying and I only wish Me3 had followed suit in how it handled its own climax.
ME1, it was an RPG. And it had that sense of space the sequels didn't manage to capture. Also, the writing was markedly better when Drew Karpyshyn was in charge.
ME2 was good too, but in retrospect it was where the plot started to unravel. The whole business of how the Reapers were made was just... stupid. Still, lots to treasure in it.
ME2 was good too, but in retrospect it was where the plot started to unravel. The whole business of how the Reapers were made was just... stupid. Still, lots to treasure in it.
I loved the combat in the first one, especially how frantic it would get when you are swarmed with enemies and you are trying to keep firing at a steady rate so your gun doesn't overheat. One of the only games I know of where trigger discipline actually plays a part.
However, the second game is the one I can go back and play over and over and over. The missions are a lot funner and there seems to be more choices you can make. All the characters you can recruit and the worlds you can explore makes the galaxy feel the most alive in that game
However, the second game is the one I can go back and play over and over and over. The missions are a lot funner and there seems to be more choices you can make. All the characters you can recruit and the worlds you can explore makes the galaxy feel the most alive in that game
On any given day I can find a reason to say any of the three games is the best in the series.
ME1 really filled me with awe. I had been out of gaming for a while and just being able to fly all over the galaxy and explore planets and find all kinds of little side stories really immersed me in the universe. I know that many of the planets were the same and the side missions didn't offer a ton of depth but it sucked me in like no game ever had. That was the first time an open world type game sucked me in. What really sealed the deal for me was Virmire. The first time I played the game my Shepard
. Then when I was forced to choose between Ashley and Kaidan, I was just floored. I personally couldn't remember having to make that type of choice in a game before.
Then ME2 came around and it sucked me in in a different way. I wasn't exploring things like I was in ME1. Combat was refined and it was more of a shooter than RPG. But I still had the Normandy and 3-4 different hubs to explore. Missions and environments were more varied. It was grittier. It was one hell of a ride. I was surrounded by twice as many characters, and my first time through the game wondering how it was all going to fit together in the inevitable battle against the Reapers. Even though the Reapers did take a bit of a backseat in ME2, I always felt like gathering this team was going to play a larger role in the finale, and that part of that process was playing the role of Han Solo in the ME universe.
ME3 has grown on me over time. I enjoyed it my first time through, but I think the DLC to the game really makes it stand out, which is unfortunate that it needs all its DLC to really make it shine. People can ***** and moan about the ending (and I am someone who doesn't particularly care for how it ended), but ME3 really does do a good job of closing all the loose ends I felt needed closing going into the finale. One of the biggest things I thought was lacking in vanilla ME3 was character interaction. I felt like it fell off substantially after the Cerberus coup. Citadel fixes that. Leviathan adds more depth to the back story of the Reapers. Omega, while imperfect, is my headcanon retaliation against Cerberus after the Citadel coup. The gameplay struck a balance between RPG and shooter that I thought worked quite well. It's far from a perfect finale, but I think when everything is taken into consideration it is my favorite experience in the series (not necessarily the best game). And I can't ignore the fact that I sunk hundreds of hours into the multiplayer (something I am somewhat ashamed to admit).
So I don't know. On any given day, I could pick any of the three games. But I think given the choice I would take ME3 over the others if only because of Citadel and the fact that it's the finale of Shepard's story. It ties up the story enough to make me happy, and there are enough "feels" in it that work for me.
ME1 really filled me with awe. I had been out of gaming for a while and just being able to fly all over the galaxy and explore planets and find all kinds of little side stories really immersed me in the universe. I know that many of the planets were the same and the side missions didn't offer a ton of depth but it sucked me in like no game ever had. That was the first time an open world type game sucked me in. What really sealed the deal for me was Virmire. The first time I played the game my Shepard
killed Wrex
Then ME2 came around and it sucked me in in a different way. I wasn't exploring things like I was in ME1. Combat was refined and it was more of a shooter than RPG. But I still had the Normandy and 3-4 different hubs to explore. Missions and environments were more varied. It was grittier. It was one hell of a ride. I was surrounded by twice as many characters, and my first time through the game wondering how it was all going to fit together in the inevitable battle against the Reapers. Even though the Reapers did take a bit of a backseat in ME2, I always felt like gathering this team was going to play a larger role in the finale, and that part of that process was playing the role of Han Solo in the ME universe.
ME3 has grown on me over time. I enjoyed it my first time through, but I think the DLC to the game really makes it stand out, which is unfortunate that it needs all its DLC to really make it shine. People can ***** and moan about the ending (and I am someone who doesn't particularly care for how it ended), but ME3 really does do a good job of closing all the loose ends I felt needed closing going into the finale. One of the biggest things I thought was lacking in vanilla ME3 was character interaction. I felt like it fell off substantially after the Cerberus coup. Citadel fixes that. Leviathan adds more depth to the back story of the Reapers. Omega, while imperfect, is my headcanon retaliation against Cerberus after the Citadel coup. The gameplay struck a balance between RPG and shooter that I thought worked quite well. It's far from a perfect finale, but I think when everything is taken into consideration it is my favorite experience in the series (not necessarily the best game). And I can't ignore the fact that I sunk hundreds of hours into the multiplayer (something I am somewhat ashamed to admit).
So I don't know. On any given day, I could pick any of the three games. But I think given the choice I would take ME3 over the others if only because of Citadel and the fact that it's the finale of Shepard's story. It ties up the story enough to make me happy, and there are enough "feels" in it that work for me.
ME2. ME1 had controlls that are probably quite acceptable if you are used to RPG's but which I absolutely could not stand. The sway on my sniper rifles was so big I might as well use my pistols long ranged. Running turned you into a race car. The cover system was shit. If you get the spectre gear the gameplay becomes bearable but that is some expensive shit. The maco was also poorly controllable. It makes up for it by its story and it is admittedly the only of the three games that is a bit free form. It is also the only of the three games where the gameplay is not completely disjointed from the story. ME3 was pretty good but well, dat ending. I don't think we need to beat that dead horse so I'll just say I didn't like it. I did like that like ME1 it had a overarching story that gave context rather than a long list of semi-sidequests. I also liked that like in ME2 it had interesting charactars and because ME2 had already done the heavy lifting of giving the players some quality time with those charactars you actually gave a shit about these charactars saving the galaxy and all. ME2 had the heaviest focus on charactars which did take away a bit from the main storyline. That said, I felt the charactars actually pretty much overshadowed the storyline so that's cool. I like all three and I'd preferably play them in succession as they do form a coherent whole (except dat ending). If we have to rank them though I'll rank them in order 2, 3, 1.
I enjoyed ME3 the most.
ME1 was fun at the time, but in retrospect the combat was utter shit. The story was okay, but had some terribly corny and contrived bits. The cast was fairly weak in comparison to the sequels. The attempt at being kinda open world failed terribly with the bland automatically generated planets.
ME2 had the best story... kinda. The main plot had some iffy bits and just kind of spun its wheels in terms of the overarching story. However, the side content and character stuff was like 80% gold. The combat was adequate but nothing special and is now very dated.
ME3 had the best combat, far and away. The story benefited hugely from being able to draw on the threads of the previous games. I loved the sense of apocalyptic conflict and finality. There were some weak bits though, I thought the Quarian-Geth chapter had some glaring problems. And then of course they fucked up the ending, but I won't go into that for obvious reasons.
ME1 was fun at the time, but in retrospect the combat was utter shit. The story was okay, but had some terribly corny and contrived bits. The cast was fairly weak in comparison to the sequels. The attempt at being kinda open world failed terribly with the bland automatically generated planets.
ME2 had the best story... kinda. The main plot had some iffy bits and just kind of spun its wheels in terms of the overarching story. However, the side content and character stuff was like 80% gold. The combat was adequate but nothing special and is now very dated.
ME3 had the best combat, far and away. The story benefited hugely from being able to draw on the threads of the previous games. I loved the sense of apocalyptic conflict and finality. There were some weak bits though, I thought the Quarian-Geth chapter had some glaring problems. And then of course they fucked up the ending, but I won't go into that for obvious reasons.
Mass Effect 2. It's one of my favorite games of all time. I can't count how many times I've beaten it.
Combat isn't as good as ME3 perhaps, but there's a lot more to explore. A lot more real locations, not just empty planets with shitty textures. The characters are better and so is the story. I loved the darker and more fleshed out atmosphere of ME universe the best in ME2 as well. There was an aura of mysticism surrounding the atmosphere of the first game, and that was nice. It was really something special. Third one was an all out war and the atmosphere reflected that. But the second one showed us the default atmosphere of the universe. The reality of it. Illium, Citadel, Omega, Tuchanka etc. The universe really came to life in ME2. But it felt like a tease. I wanted more. I still do.
That incredible atmosphere is largely the reason why I don't give a flying fuck about the next Mass Effect. I want to keep exploring the ME universe and everything it has to offer. I don't want to go to another galaxy because the writers were too fuckin' dumb and incompetent to predict that they're cornering themselves with that shitty ending.
Combat isn't as good as ME3 perhaps, but there's a lot more to explore. A lot more real locations, not just empty planets with shitty textures. The characters are better and so is the story. I loved the darker and more fleshed out atmosphere of ME universe the best in ME2 as well. There was an aura of mysticism surrounding the atmosphere of the first game, and that was nice. It was really something special. Third one was an all out war and the atmosphere reflected that. But the second one showed us the default atmosphere of the universe. The reality of it. Illium, Citadel, Omega, Tuchanka etc. The universe really came to life in ME2. But it felt like a tease. I wanted more. I still do.
That incredible atmosphere is largely the reason why I don't give a flying fuck about the next Mass Effect. I want to keep exploring the ME universe and everything it has to offer. I don't want to go to another galaxy because the writers were too fuckin' dumb and incompetent to predict that they're cornering themselves with that shitty ending.
ME3 was definitely my least favorite. And not just because of the story. I could never get used to the controls: always ended up ducking or rolling when I was trying to run, etc. That got incredibly frustrating after a while, and combat felt like chaotic mess.
It's hard to pick between 1 and 2, but I suppose the first one slightly edges it. It had that epic space exploration feel that the sequels didn't manage to capture. I know that a lot of players hated the Mako, but it was definitely more immersive than planet scanning.
It's hard to pick between 1 and 2, but I suppose the first one slightly edges it. It had that epic space exploration feel that the sequels didn't manage to capture. I know that a lot of players hated the Mako, but it was definitely more immersive than planet scanning.
The first. Because much like the original Star Wars, it is capable of standing on its own.
Much like that movie, had the sequels not been made the game would still be remembered as a quality (if flawed) product.
I also far prefer the combat in the first game. It always felt as if I had options available and shields that were more effective than wet tissue paper. I could vary things up far more, unlike the following two games where all too often you ending up resorting to a small handful of combos.
That for me was the big irritation of 2 and 3. The balance was pushed squarely into favouring the gun based classes. Even playing as a biotic character is was often just quicker and more efficient to just shoot the enemy. The biotic combos may look cool but they quickly lose their appeal.
I'll post more later if I may, as I must now return to work.
Much like that movie, had the sequels not been made the game would still be remembered as a quality (if flawed) product.
I also far prefer the combat in the first game. It always felt as if I had options available and shields that were more effective than wet tissue paper. I could vary things up far more, unlike the following two games where all too often you ending up resorting to a small handful of combos.
That for me was the big irritation of 2 and 3. The balance was pushed squarely into favouring the gun based classes. Even playing as a biotic character is was often just quicker and more efficient to just shoot the enemy. The biotic combos may look cool but they quickly lose their appeal.
I'll post more later if I may, as I must now return to work.
The first game's combat was shit, the only reason I replayed it was so I could make different choices that I would import.
Mass Effect 3's combat was obviously the best, but the story was such a disappointment it made me lose interest in the franchise (so I won't be playing Andromeda).
ME2 is one of my favourite games ever, and in my opinion had one of the best endings I've seen in a video game. Honestly I think if the Reaper parts were rewritten and the first and third game never happened, the story would still make sense and be neatly concise (I'm saying ME2 could stand on its own feet).
Mass Effect 3's combat was obviously the best, but the story was such a disappointment it made me lose interest in the franchise (so I won't be playing Andromeda).
ME2 is one of my favourite games ever, and in my opinion had one of the best endings I've seen in a video game. Honestly I think if the Reaper parts were rewritten and the first and third game never happened, the story would still make sense and be neatly concise (I'm saying ME2 could stand on its own feet).
In terms of story, the first one. They had the hardest work with introducing all the different races and cultures, and they did a superb job at it. In terms of combat, 2 and 3 are way better than the first one.
Overall, I think the second one is my favorite. It has most of the polish of the third one, with some of the corny and awe of the first one. I get that everything was bleak and the reapers invasion was an overwhelming presence on the universe, but I really missed some of the cheesy of Macbeth by Elcors, the biotic god and Blasto... That is why I loved the Citadel DLC.
Overall, I think the second one is my favorite. It has most of the polish of the third one, with some of the corny and awe of the first one. I get that everything was bleak and the reapers invasion was an overwhelming presence on the universe, but I really missed some of the cheesy of Macbeth by Elcors, the biotic god and Blasto... That is why I loved the Citadel DLC.
It's really hard for me to say, as the three games have completely different strengths and weaknesses.
ME1 has the best story/world building, and the best universe (you can explore so damn much), but its combat doesn't hold up much, and it's a pretty slow game.
ME2 has the best character development, and the best DLCs overall, but in the grand scheme of the series ME2 doesn't add or do a whole lot, and a lot of the side quests were rather short and didn't really seem to matter much.
ME3 has the best gameplay, best DLC, and some of the best moments in the series, but the game feels rushed and incomplete, the side quest tracker is shit, the way it handles some revelations is shit (you find out Kal's fate via email, and Emily Wong's via Twitter), the DLCs that aren't Citadel are a bit lacking, and that.
ME1 has the best story/world building, and the best universe (you can explore so damn much), but its combat doesn't hold up much, and it's a pretty slow game.
ME2 has the best character development, and the best DLCs overall, but in the grand scheme of the series ME2 doesn't add or do a whole lot, and a lot of the side quests were rather short and didn't really seem to matter much.
ME3 has the best gameplay, best DLC, and some of the best moments in the series, but the game feels rushed and incomplete, the side quest tracker is shit, the way it handles some revelations is shit (you find out Kal's fate via email, and Emily Wong's via Twitter), the DLCs that aren't Citadel are a bit lacking, and that.
3, even with all the ending bullshit. Literally up until the last 10 minutes it's my favorite game of all time.
the Characters are great, plot is great (ending notwithstanding), the action and gameplay are rock solid.
And come on! The Citadel DLC is like...the best dlc of all time.
the Characters are great, plot is great (ending notwithstanding), the action and gameplay are rock solid.
And come on! The Citadel DLC is like...the best dlc of all time.
I can't really pick an overall best one either. ME 1's overal main story was the best, but the sidequesting and exploring planets was mediocre and the inventory management was attrocious. "Before I sell this Regeneration VII, I need to check if any of my 6 party members still have a Regeneration VI. Oh, and I need to check the stats because this brand's Mark VIII pistol is actually better than this other brand's Mark IX."
ME 2 is almost the complete opposite, giving us only cramped, claustrophobic locations to explore, a main story that didn't pique my interest (It was only right at the end that I realize "Go look on the other side of the Omega Relay" wasn't the first part of the story, but the ultimate objective.) and a combat and character customization system that was too simplified. But it also had much better party members and side quests, and a gameplay wise the ending was great.
ME 3 probably would've been my favourite had it not been without the ending. As it is, it has the best gameplay, with finally a good balance between usability and customizability and, oh joy, an influence mechanic that didn't penalize players for not going all paragon or renegade, but with some baffeling choices in the story department: limiting player choices, way too much focus on Ceberus and, well, the part of the franchise that shall not be named.
So the best Mass Effect would be a remake the first game, with the party members of the second and the gameplay of the third (except with overheating guns. Fuck thermal clips.). Bioware, you know what to do!
(Okay actually, if they want to make it even better: Add some space combat already. And not just for the cool new gameplay. It'll make things easier on the writing department if they don't have to write a climactic final battle for the fate of the galaxy that the player can have an influence on. While I'm certain a better ending than ME3's would've been possible without playable space combat, I believe it would've been almost impossible to end up with something this bad with it. If they hadn't had to relegate the fight against the Reapers themselves to cutscenes, they wouldn't have had to contrive a resolution that could conveniently be accomplished by 1 or 3 pedestrians.)
ME 2 is almost the complete opposite, giving us only cramped, claustrophobic locations to explore, a main story that didn't pique my interest (It was only right at the end that I realize "Go look on the other side of the Omega Relay" wasn't the first part of the story, but the ultimate objective.) and a combat and character customization system that was too simplified. But it also had much better party members and side quests, and a gameplay wise the ending was great.
ME 3 probably would've been my favourite had it not been without the ending. As it is, it has the best gameplay, with finally a good balance between usability and customizability and, oh joy, an influence mechanic that didn't penalize players for not going all paragon or renegade, but with some baffeling choices in the story department: limiting player choices, way too much focus on Ceberus and, well, the part of the franchise that shall not be named.
So the best Mass Effect would be a remake the first game, with the party members of the second and the gameplay of the third (except with overheating guns. Fuck thermal clips.). Bioware, you know what to do!
(Okay actually, if they want to make it even better: Add some space combat already. And not just for the cool new gameplay. It'll make things easier on the writing department if they don't have to write a climactic final battle for the fate of the galaxy that the player can have an influence on. While I'm certain a better ending than ME3's would've been possible without playable space combat, I believe it would've been almost impossible to end up with something this bad with it. If they hadn't had to relegate the fight against the Reapers themselves to cutscenes, they wouldn't have had to contrive a resolution that could conveniently be accomplished by 1 or 3 pedestrians.)
I would say I prefer the first over the other two simply due to the scope of it, the world building and the classic grounded sci-fi aesthetic. 2 and 3 are miles ahead in terms of combat (and arguably characters), but they lost the general spirit and grandness that made the original so compelling for me. Everything became overblown and lost a lot of the believability of the original as a result. Out of 2 and 3, I couldn't really say which I preferred, since I've played through 2 about three times and 3 only once. Both had great elements, but both had things that rubbed me up the wrong way. I found 2 to be fairly inconsequential plot-wise, a bit limited in terms of combat options and waaaay too focused on resource gathering, while 3 had some pretty shit side missions and felt a little bloated in terms of weapons and whatnot.
ME1 was the only one that held my interest for more than an hour. After that, it seemed like Bioware stopped caring.