Fans have been anticipating Mass Effect: Legendary Edition since its announcement on November 7, otherwise known as N7 Day. Both returning and new players will be able to appreciate the updates given to all three original Mass Effect trilogy games. These updates will include things like better combat and vehicle control as well as completely remastered graphics. Even the preorder for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition has already gone gold.
Remastered graphics and controls aren’t the only things players have to look forward to, though. Besides all three original games, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will have almost every piece of DLC released from the first game to Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will not come with a multiplayer mode, a decision many fans were happy with, but otherwise it will have almost every other DLC available, including promotional packs or weapons and armor packs.
Mass Effect
The original Mass Effect game only had two DLCs. The first, titled ‘Bring Down the Sky,’ will be included in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and takes players to the Asgard system. The DLC also introduces players to the batarian alien race, though they won’t play a more prominent role until Mass Effect 2. ‘Bring Down the Sky’ will give players about 90 minutes of additional gameplay and three new assignments.
‘Pinnacle Station’ was the second DLC released for Mass Effect, but unfortunately, it won’t be included in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. The decision to not include ‘Pinnacle Station’ only occurred because the original source files corrupted and it would have been too difficult to rebuild the DLC from scratch. Fans who want to play ‘Pinnacle Station’ can still do so on PC or Xbox 360, but otherwise, it won’t be included in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 had the most DLC of any of the original trilogy games. Some DLC added more story-based gameplay, others added new weapons and armor, and two even added new squadmates to Commander Shepard’s crew.
Kasumi—Stolen Memory
Kasumi Goto is one of two squadmates that can be added to the Normandy once the two missions included in ‘Stolen Memory’ are completed. Kasumi’s dossier is titled ‘The Master Thief’ and she enlists Commander Shepard’s help to infiltrate the heist of a vault belonging to a deadly master criminal. If Kasumi survives the events of Mass Effect 2, she’ll appear again in Mass Effect 3.
Zaeed—The Price of Revenge
Zaeed Massani is the second squadmate that can be added via DLC in Mass Effect 2. He built a reputation for himself by becoming a gun-for-hire after serving in the Alliance military, which would also explain his dossier’s name, ‘The Veteran.’ Zaeed will join the crew and even make an appearance in Mass Effect 3 as long as he survives the end of Mass Effect 2.
Lair of the Shadow Broker
This is one of the DLCs that felt like something that could have been included in the full game, as it details how Liara becomes the Shadow Broker and Shepard helps it happen. It doesn’t make up for Liara’s absence from the main crew of the Normandy, but it does allow players a chance to rekindle their romance with Liara if they chose her in the previous game.
Overlord
The ‘Overlord’ DLC follows Shepard as they investigate a Cerberus research facility that’s gone dark. What Shepard finds is unsettling, as a VI has gone completely rogue and threatens destruction across different planets if not stopped.
Normandy Crash Site
As the name suggests, ‘Normandy Crash Site’ allows Shepard to return to the place the Normandy crashed and explore what remains of the vessel. This DLC was free at the release of Mass Effect 2 and adds an additional emotional element to the game.
Arrival
Another DLC with a heavy batarian presence, ‘Arrival’ follows Shepard to the galaxy’s edge to rescue an undercover agent who’s gone missing. This DLC was accidentally revealed in February 2011 when a PlayStation 3 patch showed players 3 new trophies pertaining to the DLC.
Promotional Packs, Weapons, and Armor
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will also feature all the smaller DLC that added different outfits, weapons, and armor to Mass Effect 2 as well. Some of this DLC was initially free, while others had an additional charge:
- Firewalker Pack
- Cerberus Weapon and Armor
- Equalizer Pack (including the Inferno Armor)
- Aegis Pack (including the M-29 Incisor)
- Firepower Pack
- Arc Projector
- ME2 Alternate Appearance Pack 1
- ME2 Alternate Appearance Pack 2
- Recon Operations Pack
- Collectors’ Weapon and Armor
- Terminus Weapon and Armor
- Blood Dragon Armor
- Dr. Pepper promotional items, including Recon Hood, Sentry Interface, and Umbra Visor
Mass Effect 3
The final game in the trilogy, Mass Effect 3 also had a decent bit of DLC, though not nearly as much as Mass Effect 2. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will also feature Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut, the patch created to address and rework concerns fans had when it came to the end of Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect 3: From Ashes
‘From Ashes’ takes Shepard back to Eden Prime to recover a Prothean artifact that Cerberus is fighting the Alliance over. This mission will also add a new squadmate to Shepard’s roster—the last remaining Prothean named Javik. Javik has quite a presence throughout Mass Effect 3 once he’s added to the crew.
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan
‘Leviathan’ unlocks new areas of the map for players to explore and helps Shepard get some answers about the Reapers and where they came from. It also unlocks new areas of the Citadel as well as new characters to interact with.
Mass Effect 3: Omega
Cerberus proves to be a nuisance again in ‘Omega,’ leading to Shepard having to team up with Aria T’Loak to regain control of Omega. Shepard will also have to work with Nyreen Kandros, a turian leader of the Talon mercenaries.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel
‘Citadel’ is probably one of the most recognizable DLCs in the Mass Effect trilogy because it essentially gives players one final hurrah with their favorite characters. As long as these characters survived from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 3, players can talk to their favorites and even rekindle old romances.
Promotional Packs, Weapons, and Armor
Like Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3 also had some free or paid small DLC sets that included weapons, armor, or promotional crossovers. All of these items will be included in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition:
- ME3 Alternate Appearance Pack 1
- Firefight Pack (including M-90 Indra)
- Groundside Resistance Pack
- N7 Warfare Gear
- AT-12 Raider
- M-55 Argus
- Kingdoms of Amalur crossover promotion items, including Reckoner Knight Armor and Chakram Launcher
- N7 Collector’s Edition Pack
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will not only provide players with the full original trilogy experience, but many hours of DLC content spread out across all three games. It won’t be long until players can return to the Milky Way and experience Commander Shepard’s story all over again.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition releases May 14 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.