9/10
Mass Effect (PC) - A Retrospective Review
As a lifelong sci-fi fan, Mass Effect has always been one of those series I knew I would love, but somehow never properly got into… until now. So finally jumping into the first game through the Legendary Edition felt long overdue. And even though parts of it clearly show their age, it didn’t take long for the game to pull me in.
Even with the upgrades from the Legendary Edition, Mass Effect can still feel old in certain areas. The RPG elements are strong and very noticeable, but the combat mechanics definitely feel a bit dated by today’s standards. Thankfully, the story, characters, and overall atmosphere more than make up for that.
What really stood out to me was how believable and immersive the universe feels. The game does such a great job of making you feel like you’re part of a massive sci-fi world that I wanted to complete every side quest I came across. Not out of obligation, but out of pure curiosity.
The age of the game is most noticeable in interior environments. Once you start landing on different planets and entering buildings, you quickly realize many of these areas share the same layouts. Main missions try to mix things up a bit, but side quests especially suffer from repetition here.
At the end of the day, even if the combat feels outdated, Mass Effect’s universe is more than enough to carry the experience. I genuinely think it’s one of the best sci-fi worlds ever created in gaming. Its story and narrative flow completely hooked me. Even without finishing every single side quest, I rolled the credits at around 35 hours, and not once did it feel like a chore. That alone says a lot about how strong this game still is today.
"9/10"