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MASS EFFECT: Still a MASTERPIECE 15+ Years Later (Retrospective Critique)

Big Dan Gaming

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It’s been a little over 15 years since Bioware released the groundbreaking first entry in their classic space RPG franchise. Mass Effect was released as an XBox exclusive title on November 26, 2007 and went on to sell over half a million copies by the end of the year. Critics and gamers alike praised the game’s interactive storytelling, memorable characters and engaging combat.

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0:00 Introduction
1:28 Chapter 1 - Development
4:04 Chapter 2 - Gameplay
5:52 Combat
9:11 Morality
10:18 Side Content
11:46 Chapter 3 - Squadmates
24:20 Chapter 4 - Romance
26:48 Chapter 5 - Story
28:04 Eden Prime
31:03 Citadel Expose Saren
34:11 Therum
36:16 Feros
41:32 Noveria
49:20 Virmire
56:56 Council Betrays Shepard
58:42 Ilos
1:00:15 Ending
1:02:51 DLC
1:05:12 Legacy of Mass Effect

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20 Comments

@me5969 3 years ago

I know a lot of people disagree but this is by far my favourite. The Lovecraftian element to the Reapers, the retro Sci-Fi music. The eerie Sci-Fi horror music. The lonely sense of insignificance on the uncharted world's. The fact you could armour up all your squad ect.

@NoahDuncan98 3 years ago (edited)

What always gets me about Jenkins's death is just how little reverence there is for him. Not only is he killed by the first enemy of the first mission, the cutscene can't be bothered to spare him time to even show him falling down. To be clear, I mean that this is hilarious.

@lidular 3 years ago

One of the things people rare seem to mention is the almost lovecraftian horror of ME. One of the reasons I fell in love with the game is because of the mystery.
Each of the main mission, except vermire, has an element of unknown horror.
This is also why I love the leviathan dlc so much, it has the same feel, and I really hope ME 4 goes back to that a bit more

@antoniocounts1 2 years ago

No one can really disagree, the first playthrough is magical, especially if you do everything.

@AndreaDelRiva 3 years ago (edited)

The project director himself said (Kasey Hudson), this level of story telling and design "may never be attempted again". Since 2012, with ME3, I believe only the Witcher franchise was able to recapture this magic. I really do miss these type of games and quality, and none on the horizon seem to fill the black hole left by Bioware except itself.

@dynastes4938 3 years ago

LE was the best thing that could happen to Mass Effect. All three games play very well and I simply love experiencing them anew once a year. Has become somewhat of a tradition for me xD

@Erenzilable 3 years ago

When replaying LE I’ve realised that me1 is relatively timeless. When you boot up me3 you immediately feel the 2012-2013, it’s similar to a lot of stuff from 2012. Me1 on the other hand feels like nothing else.

@DMaarten1980 3 years ago

Since the changes in the LE, i love Mass Effect 1 even more ❤️

@AvengerAtIlipa 3 years ago

I really like the subtle Reaper foreshadowing in the various codex entries throughout the game. For example, Therum has large deposits of fossil fuels -- indicating a widespread, ancient ecosystem -- despite appearing to be a desolate, volcanic wasteland.

@jackal8176 3 years ago

I actually really like the fact that theres still a boss fight after sarin offs himself it really showed how far he had fallen while indoctrinated and showed how advanced the reaper tech was.

@wilegfass 3 years ago

What you said about the characters in ME1 vs the others is so right. I remember not particularly caring about Garrus in ME1 (loved Wrex though), but in ME2, just realizing he is Archangel and he joins your squad as a friend, as opposed to Cerberus people potentially spying on you, just made me like him so much more.

@vinceA3748 3 years ago

Agreed. This series is a masterpiece. One of the greatest game series ever made. One of the few games that actually depressed me when I finished it. I was down because I didn't want it to end. I wanted more. Plus I was a little ticked off that I couldn't get the ending for Shepard that I wanted.

@GTAVictor9128 2 years ago

30:26 - Funnily enough, a rare glitch can happen where the squadmate is completely invisible in the cutscene, making Shepard look like they jumped into the beacon for the sake of it 😂

@travisryden360 3 years ago

I got into Mass Effect after I found out it was from the makers of Knights of the Old Republic, and I'm so happy I did

@bowweezzell 3 years ago

In Kaidan's defence, he IS Canadian.

@maddyo2589 3 years ago (edited)

Omg...the grenades. I lose more grenades trying to reload than actually using them! So funny you brought that up! Also, I have to say I need to try to Renegade Shepard into threatening to toss Liara in a volcano! It has been missing from my life

@monthc 2 years ago

I have to say I find the text on Eletania more evocative than any cutscene I can imagine. I think trying to render that visually wouldn't have hit as hard. I'm glad it's the way it is, personally.

@revan3970 3 years ago

Just started another play through of LE. These games never get old for me. Sci-fi epic storytelling at its finest. Please BioWare find this quality again for Dreadwolf and ME4.