The Mass Effect series is considered to be one of the greatest sci-fi franchises in the history of gaming, with the doomed release of Andromeda not taking away from a trilogy that is considered by most fans to be nothing short of an absolute masterpiece. The journey of Commander Shepard as he strives to save the universe time and time again is easily one of the most memorable sagas ever featured in a video game.

Related: Action RPGs To Play If You Like The Mass Effect Series

Now, with the release of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, fans can finally witness the Mass Effect franchise at its very peak, with a whole host of upgrades and advancements across the entire experience — especially the first game — that will prove to be quite a joy to experience indeed.

Updated on December 22, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: Mass Effect is one of the most popular sci-fi role-playing franchises of all time, and the Legendary Edition serves as a great way to experience the original trilogy for both old and new fans. With this game being part of PS Plus in December, there's no better time to check out this masterpiece.

Players who want to make the most of their playthrough through this series should implement the following tips so that they don't end up missing out and regretting on the most optimal way to play this game.

20 Save Before The Mission On Virmire

Mass Effect 3 Virmire Survivor

The first Mass Effect title has been given a massive gameplay overhaul that most fans appreciate quite a bit. Of course, it also features a pivotal mission that most people should be wary of before jumping into the fray.

The mission on Virmire will force players into choosing between the fates of two companions, and this decision is permanent for the entire series. Players should save beforehand on the off chance that they regret the decision they make or just end up accidentally sacrificing the character they like more.

19 Use Varying Ammo Types Mindfully

Commander Shepard takes aim at Sovereign lifting off in Mass Effect

Ammo types in Mass Effect become critical to optimizing combat performance. From incendiary rounds to armor-piercing bullets — there are many options that players can opt for in combat.

Depending on how players approach combat, they should definitely mix and match their ammo types to take out enemies efficiently. Failing to do so will just lead to players mindlessly wasting their bullets for no rhyme or reason.

18 Select Your Weapon Loadout Wisely

Mass Effect 3 Shepherd Tali Garrus

Speaking of bullets, the kind of weapons that players use also play a huge role in combat. Players who use biotic powers frequently should maintain a lighter loadout to increase the speed of their power regeneration.

Meanwhile, players who love having a loaded arsenal should pack as much firepower as possible. There's no correct way to play the game, and going all-guns-blazing is a perfectly viable strategy as well!

17 Purchase All The Ship Upgrades

The Collector Base beyond the omega 4 relay in mass effect 2 legendary edition

Mass Effect 2 features a bunch of ship upgrades that players can get by investing their valuable resources. These seem fairly superficial at first glance but actually play a huge role in the context of the story.

Related: Obscure Science Fiction References in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

So, it's important to get all these ship upgrades before embarking on the final mission. Going through the Omega 4 Relay is going to be quite taxing for the Normandy SR-2, and failing to have these upgrades will lead to guaranteed casualties before the Suicide Mission even starts!

16 Keep Multiple Saves Just In Case

Mass Effect is the pinnacle of space opera gaming

This is a tip that doesn't just apply to Mass Effect, but any decision-heavy RPG in general. There's no telling when a playthrough might be impacted by some tough decisions, and having backups is a great way to avoid any needless mistakes.

Multiple saves will ensure that players don't end up getting the short end of the stick during a particular playthrough. While playing through some tough choices is a viable way to move through the game, players who don't want a single unnecessary death or any other unfavorable outcome will be well-serviced by multiple saves that they can go back to in such an event.

15 Mix Up Combat Strategy For Optimal Results

Aged Games Worth Playing in 2022 - Mass Effect 3 - Shepard taking cover

The combat of Mass Effect might show its age, but it's still a blast to play through with the right setup. Whether players go close-range with a Vanguard build or just blast enemies with a huge array of weapons, they'll definitely have fun with the combat system.

It's important to make the most of Shepard's class and switch up combat styles if the encounters start getting tiresome or tough. More often than not, all three games make it a point to let the player deal with enemies as they see fit.

14 Be Wary While Selecting An Ending

Final choice at the end of Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 has been lambasted for its ending, although its negative impact has been lessened extensively with the advent of the DLCs. However, these endings can still take a player off-guard when nearing the end of the game.

Players simply need to walk over to a particular path and select it through a unique action. Sometimes, these endings can feel rather random, so pay close attention to what the Catalyst says so that you don't end up selecting the wrong action.

13 Always Stay In Touch With Members Of The Crew

mass-effect-best-romances-kaidan-alenko

A big part of what makes Mass Effect so memorable is its wide cast of amazing characters, especially in the main squad. Not interacting with these crewmates after major story events will actively take away a lot from what makes these games memorable.

Related: Mass Effect 2: Complete Guide To Scanning Planets

Players can select one favorite crew member if need be, but ignoring all of their unique interactions is not recommended in the slightest. The personal stories of these characters are quite engaging in their own right and make for a great time indeed.

12 Don't Forget About Squadmate Skills

Executioner Pistol From Mass Effect 3

Speaking of squadmates, players should try and make the most of their abilities in combat. More often than not, players will forget that their squadmates also have great skills that can be used too.

Commander Shepard might be a powerhouse, but his squadmates aren't just sitting on their laurels. Their abilities can be invaluable in a tight spot and ensure that players can deal with major threats without too many issues.

11 Roleplay The Character You Want Without Seeking Out A Perfect Playthrough

Commander Sheppard from Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Perhaps the most important thing that players should keep in mind about Mass Effect is to stop seeking out a perfect playthrough every single time. The manner in which the trilogy deals with the player's mistakes is also pretty entertaining.

So, it's important for players to just play the game at their own pace and make the choices they want, instead of picking the most perfect option. Molding Commander Shepard in the player's image is a big part of what makes Mass Effect special, after all.

10 Don't Try And Play Both Sides When It Comes To The Morality System

The Paragon and Renegade symbols from Mass Effect

The idea of a morality system might seem rather outdated in video games, but one needs to understand that the Mass Effect trilogy is a product of its time — a time when having a system gauging the player's morale was commonplace in video games.

For what it's worth, the Paragon-Renegade duality is portrayed quite brilliantly in Mass Effect... although players should try not to enjoy the best of both worlds by trying to be a neutral person in the game — the games don't really account for this middling alignment, and some great content is hidden until the player increases their inclination towards being either a Paragon or Renegade in the games.

9 Avoid Using The Auto Level-Up System

Mass Effect 1's Squad

The first Mass Effect title has an Auto Level-Up system that does pretty much what one would expect it to do — it distributes points into a squadmate's stats without consulting the player.

While this might seem like an easier course of action to take, the player is better off managing this part of a squadmate for themselves. After all, some abilities of Shepard's squad in the first Mass Effect are better than others, so players should ideally focus on these specific abilities and powers to improve the efficiency of their comrades in combat.

8 Be Mindful Of The Choice Of Class

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Biotic Charge Vanguard

The class that players choose in the first Mass Effect is something that they'll be stuck with for the long haul, so it's highly recommended to pay close attention to these classes that choose the playstyle that the player would be most comfortable with.

Related: Mass Effect 3: How To Build The Best Vanguard

While going in guns blazing might sound rather intriguing, one can't deny that using Biotic and Tech powers in battle will also prove to be a blast. Players should do their research and select the class that would adhere to their style of playing games.

7 Make The Most Of The Mako's Weapons In The Legendary Edition

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Screenshot Of Mako On The Moon

One thing that most players might not know about the Mako before starting Mass Effect is that killing enemies from this vehicle doesn't lead to an XP penalty anymore in the Legendary Edition, meaning that players can now go all out with the Mako's weapons without having to disembark in order to get the most XP from their kills.

It's one of the few minor yet appreciatable changes made to the much-reviled Mako vehicle, with other notable alterations being better handling and the removal of an instant game over the moment the Mako touches the smallest patch of lava.

6 Earn The Loyalty of Every Party Member In Mass Effect 2

Squad Loyalty in Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is easily one of the best games ever made, and players who experience the magic of this title in the Legendary Edition should make sure that each squadmate is loyal to Shepard by the end of the game.

Not only are the loyalty missions a blast to play through, but a loyal companion will be more effective during the last mission of this amazing game.

Speaking of which...

5 Take The Best Decisions Possible During The Suicide Mission

Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2

The Suicide Mission is easily one of the biggest highlights of Mass Effect 2, serving as a culmination of everything the player had achieved up to that point and the payoffs they received for being thorough with the game and its content.

However, the Suicide Mission itself features several key decisions, where choosing the wrong squadmate can have dire consequences — mainly, in the form of a comrade's untimely and unnecessary demise. Make sure to keep all these losses to a minimum in this mission by choosing the right options and squadmates when these decisions come up in battle.

4 Don't Board The Derelict Reaper Without Completing Almost All The Side Content

Another thing to keep in mind about Mass Effect 2 is that the player should board the Derelict Reaper only after they're complete with all the side content present in the game up to that point.

This is because the Normandy is assaulted by the Collectors after this mission and the entire crew is abducted, giving the player a very short span of time — which should be used to complete Legion's loyalty mission — before entering the Omega 4 Relay and initiating the concluding moments of the game.

3 Prioritize The Side Content In Mass Effect 3 As Well

Mass Effect 3

Speaking of side content, one shouldn't fail to go through everything present in Mass Effect 3 as well — a game that pulls no punches when it comes to punishing players for neglecting its bonus content either.

Related: The Worst Mass Effect Companions, Ranked

There's a point in the game after completing a number of Priority Missions where a ton of side content is locked out. Avoiding this is paramount to enjoy everything that Mass Effect 3 has to offer. Don't worry about delaying these Priority Missions — there are no penalties involved for keeping these missions on the backburner, regardless of what the game might state otherwise.

2 Keep Galactic Readiness In Mind

Mass Effect 3's Ending

If players are jumping straight into Mass Effect 3 without finishing the first two games — a course of action that is absolutely not recommended for new players — then they'll find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to increasing Galactic Readiness in the game.

Given the fact that multiplayer is absent in the Legendary Edition's Mass Effect 3, the player's Galactic Readiness is now calculated by gauging all the decisions they've made across the first two games. Pragmatic decision-making will help increase the player's Galactic Readiness up to the level required to get the best ending in the game.

If players don't want to play through Mass Effect 1 and 2 even after knowing this fact, then they'll need to complete pretty much all the side content present in Mass Effect 3 in order to max out their Galactic Readiness.

1 Explore Areas And Talk To Characters As Much As Possible

Mass Effect 3's Citadel Party
The main cast of the Mass Effect trilogy

The bread-and-butter of the Mass Effect series is going through all the areas present in the game, discovering as many things as possible, and forming bonds with notable characters on this epic journey.

Failing to do so will cause the player to miss out on a crucial part of what makes the trilogy special in the first place — the strong sense of character writing that is present throughout every facet of this amazing series.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition was released on May 14, 2021, and is available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

More: Mass Effect Vs. Halo: Which Game Is Better?