Long awaited, sensed and then awaited by lovers of the saga, this compilation bringing together the first three Mass Effect is finally coming to consoles and PC. The opportunity for regulars to find a commander Shepard in great shape, and for newcomers to discover a monument of the Western RPG. Here is our verdict on the collection concocted by Bioware.
After the setbacks of Mass Effect Andromeda in 2017 and while waiting for the next episode announced last December, Electronic Arts has responded to the hopes of its community by deciding to rework the original trilogy. The result is a compilation of gargantuan content with no less than three full games, a good forty DLCs and digital comics, all in a single box. If the story of Shepard and his squad already belongs to the pantheon of video games, we were still hoping for some notable improvements on the technical level and in terms of playability. The developers took their time... For better or for worse?
8
See PriceRead ConclusionMass Effect: Legendary Edition
- Une compilation très généreuse en contenu
- Graphics generally well updated
- A much more manageable first opus
- Better optimization at all levels (framerate, loading, etc.)
- Still big deficiencies for the AI
- Bugs persist
- Animations remain rigid
Dozens of hours at the edge of the galaxy
Without too many spoilers so as not to spoil the surprise for beginners, remember that Mass Effect: Legendary Edition narrates the galactic journey of John Shepard and his crew. Our dear Milky Way is threatened by the return of the Reapers, a race of intelligent machines that destroy entire civilizations every 50 years. This is the red thread of our epic, but other stories also come to punctuate the progress over the meetings made in the four corners of the galaxy. Because if there is one area in which the Mass Effect saga stands out, it is in its gripping narration and its ultra-charismatic characters. This explosive cocktail has lost none of its brilliance in this remastering. Only the multiplayer mode of Mass Effect 000 and the Pinnacle Station additional content are missing. Suffice to say that these absences are not penalizing as the program promises to be loaded.
From the start, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition welcomes us to a new menu allowing you to select the desired game. This screen gives access to all the elements of the remastering in a simple and clear way. Let's just point out that on Xbox, only the first Mass Effect is installed. The other two must be downloaded separately from this launcher. Each game has its own backups which can therefore be managed independently. In addition, the choices made during a game and the avatar created in the first episode are transferable to the sequels. Indeed, Bioware has done what is necessary to unify its three games which thus give the impression of making only one.
Shepard's female model from Mass Effect 3 is now applied by default on all opuses and the character editor is similar for each opus. The transition from one title to another is done without the slightest turbulence thanks to this desire for unification on the part of the developers. However, with a remaster, it is at least consistent to hope for real graphical and technical progress. In this area, Bioware has gone all out in order to refine games that did not necessarily shine for their finish when they arrived on the market.
A nice overhaul on the surface
First, a small point on optimization, since Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will behave differently depending on the medium on which it will run. As part of our test, we were able to dive into the Xbox Series X version. In this case, the mode favoring graphics climbs to 4K at 60fps and for the one prioritizing performance, the title goes to 1440p at 120fps (see this article to discover the characteristics of each version). Anyway, the fluidity is constant during the exploration phases as during the gunfights. For example, the spectacular opening sequence of Mass Effect 3 is a pure feast for the eyes and the high and stable framerate magnifies this mythical passage. And that's pretty good, because there was a lot to do...
JVFR
The improvements are particularly visible on the faces of the characters and on the lighting. Everything is finer, more detailed and the cinematics also have better rendering. Obviously, the first Mass Effect is the episode that enjoys 100% of this tweaking, and several panoramas drop the jaw! The field of vision, dynamic shadows, ambient occlusion or even anti-aliasing have also undergone a major facelift. The saga does not have to blush in the face of current productions. Loading times have become faster (goodbye to the endless minutes spent in the elevators of the Citadel). Visual satisfaction is therefore at the rendezvous.
JVFR
But Mass Effect obliges, imperfections remain. If Bioware had promised the correction of hundreds of bugs, many glitches are resisting. Enemies sometimes teleport strangely or become stuck and NPCs remain silent during conversations... And these are just a few of the many examples. Add to that animations from another time and facial expressions close to nothingness. Since we are not facing remakes, traces of the past inevitably spoil this beautiful reunion slightly.
JVFR
Not exactly a walk in the park for Shepard
Playability has also been at the heart of Bioware's concerns. Indeed, the studio has made major adjustments to Mass Effect 1. Starting with driving the Mako (the license's iconic vehicle), much less "soapy" and therefore more precise. Weapon balance has also been adjusted, whether it's faster cooling, better aiming or even a more spacious inventory. There are dozens of adjustments and everything has been done so that the three games can enjoy almost identical gameplay. Joystick in hand, we have fun and that's the most important thing. The interface can boast of being more modern even if the menus are almost unchanged.
JVFR
All the same, it is impossible to override the limited artificial intelligence of both allies and enemies. Our squad shoots too often in the walls, hinders our avatar when taking cover and quickly finishes KO. The opponents are no better and take little initiative to flush out Shepard. Here, it's 2007's Mass Effect that is particularly in trouble, since third-person shooters have come a long way in this area. The gunfights can feel pretty soft in this episode.
JVFR
But let's recognize the notable developments that connoisseurs of the saga will notice instantly. The controls are often cumbersome and the menus used to manage our equipment may even lack clarity, but the copy remains relatively convincing as a whole. Good work has been done by Bioware, although the shortcomings will be obvious to the most attentive gamers. We can hope for the rapid deployment of a patch that could correct some of the problems mentioned above.
JVFR
Blood, tears and lots of love
It is by launching a Mass Effect game, especially the first one, that we realize how much Bioware was ahead of its time. The writing remains among the best in the history of video games and the protagonists who revolve around our hero are both stylish and above all endearing. Even 14 years later, the situation remains the same and the franchise still has this strength capable of attracting millions of players. Shepard's adventure is captivating and magnified by an absolutely epic soundtrack! The sci-fi universe of Mass Effect is a delight to consume without moderation and which has only been surpassed or even equaled on very rare occasions in all media.
JVFR
Despite the fact that it is a remastering, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition allows itself to add a handful of novelties to its recipe. This is the case of a complete photo mode with which the player will be able to create superb shots according to the planets he will visit. Camera angles have also been changed, although the staging lacks a bit of fishing in 2021. An obvious slight hitch, since it would have been necessary to shape complete remakes to obtain a completely modernized experience. But the purpose of this Legendary Edition is to make this legendary (logical) trilogy known to new generations, and the contract should in this sense be fulfilled.
JVFR
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, the opinion of Clubic
Let's face it, Bioware got it right on Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. The three apps, and in particular the first, are more beautiful but above all much more fluid. The gameplay also gains in accuracy and the optimization is a pleasure to see, especially on the countless loading times that polluted the basic titles. If problems are unfortunately part of the game (bugs, robotic animations, staging dated ...), they fortunately do not come to annihilate a game pleasure that is not very obvious to hide.
Like any self-respecting remaster, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will mainly find its interest with players who would have missed the trilogy at its inception. It's a shame Electronic Arts didn't think of a more lenient economic policy for fans who already own the games. But if only out of nostalgia, this community of devotees should also be galvanized by this return to basics. Waiting for the next trip to the stars...
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition8
Overall, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is a good compilation. All three games are smooth and retain some visual appeal. It is true that problems remain but the remastering of Bioware is undoubtedly the best way to discover this legendary trilogy today.Most
- Une compilation très généreuse en contenu
- Graphics generally well updated
- A much more manageable first opus
- Better optimization at all levels (framerate, loading, etc.)
- An epic trilogy
The lessers
- Still big deficiencies for the AI
- Bugs persist
- Animations remain rigid
Test carried out on Xbox Series X from a code provided by the publisher
