Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the reasons for a masterpiece and why it is worth replaying
A story built around images, characters and feelings
Telling a majestic trilogy like that of Mass Effect, so rich of contents in terms of stories, events, characters and feelings, in a small space such as that available in an article can sometimes be, it is a titanic undertaking, and consequently it is necessary to try to summarize as much as possible the topics covered, some, leave out others. In the same way it is to identify the key elements of its success, since often the value of a work is determined by a complex set of elements, even subjective ones.In general, many - including us - attribute the success of the series to a set of factors, from the presence of fascinating characters, to the ability to recreate a believable universe also through some aspects of playability and images, to support adequately an engaging and curated plot, net of an ending judged controversial, which in its multiple conclusions left a bit of a bitter taste in the mouth of many fans, even after the BioWare "update" patch. Because Mass Effect is an RPG saga with TPS elements (more the first chapter than the other two, to tell the truth) where the narrative and the evolution of the relationship between the various protagonists play a fundamental role, compensating for some structural deficiencies.
With this in mind, the entire story is supported by an exceptional artistic direction, at least for the time, and by a well-integrated script with a classic gameplay that experiments (va) various game formulas in a sci-fi context full of charm. The narration is in fact different from the usual also from the point of view of form: the interlude sequences blend perfectly with those of the game, the dialogue between the protagonists is credible, the shots work and the expressiveness of the faces of the various characters increases that sense of identification and involvement that is perceived in all phases of the adventure.
The illusion of a real world
One of the key elements of the saga is precisely the way in which the developers they have been able to give life to an epic tale, giving the right emphasis even to those apparently secondary aspects, often linked to the personality of their "actors", even the less important ones. The ability in this sense to make the characters "alive" and no longer just puppets in the hands of the player, to make users believe that, in the illusory context of a game, they could really feel feelings, react well or badly to certain jokes or to certain encounters and situations, it made everything more engaging, generating a certain empathy of the users towards them.To obtain these results, the developers did not rely only on intermission scenes or dialogues automatic, but also to complementary mechanics to the rest of the game. Definitely important, and not only to discover more details about the history behind each of your allies, but also to develop relationships with the crew and the races with which you come into contact, are for example the interactive dialogues managed by the user. through a "wheel of choices", thanks to which the exchanges of jokes and speeches are made effective and dynamic, and can influence the course of certain events and ties.
A setting full of charm
In the ideal scenario imagined by BioWare, the interaction with the characters therefore has a strong relationship with the whole game that you have chosen to play. Therefore, making radical decisions in specific parts of the adventure can actually change the nature of those interactions. The loyalty missions themselves, while serving in practical terms to increase the loyalty of each team member to Commander Shepard, are also useful for the purpose of further deepening the personality of the individuals involved and, through it, important aspects of their motivations, their race and the society to which they belong or belonged.A real story in the story within the main plot then refined by further goodies: in fact, the main events in the series often act as outline of the underlying themes developed through real subplots experienced by the player through the stories of some secondary characters, the discussions of passers-by or, depending on the place, thanks to the news of the news or the discovery of material such as files and messages on the computer .
Small elements that help to forget the limits of the videogame medium and the game structure, which especially in chapters two and three had a rather linear level design, and keep the atmosphere alive, giving the illusory sensation to be part of an apparently "alive" universe, as previously written, in every moment and until the end of an experience that for this reason was not easily forgotten. And therefore it must be lived or relived, regardless of its fame, thanks to the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
