Mass Effect 3’s ending was not well-received among fans. In fact, it’s since gone down as one of the most controversial endings in video game history. So the big question on everyone’s mind is how muchMass Effect: Legendary Editionwill change the trilogy’s epic conclusion.
There are some changes being made regardingMass Effect 3’s ending inLegendary Edition, though perhaps not exactly what players are hoping to see.Mass Effect: Legendary Editionis a remaster, not a remake. There’s some wiggle room with this terminology; for example, while the trilogy is getting a graphical overhaul, the story virtually won’t be changed at all. But BioWare previously announced changing the camera angles during a certainMiranda Lawsonscene inMass Effect 2, and gameplay will be adjusted to line up with modern standards.
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Similarly, BioWare isremoving multiplayer fromMass Effect 3, which acted as a major influencer for the trilogy’s epic ending. While this might change some war readiness statistics, it doesn’t affect the overall story, and directors Mac Walters and Kevin Meek confirmed that the ending wouldn’t be touched in a recent interview with CNET. Walters worked as a Lead Writer forMass Effect 2and3and therefore helped oversee the controversial ending of the space opera.
Walters explains in the interview that it’s been some time sinceMass Effect 3’s release back in 2012, and he’s hoping people can replay through the trilogy in its entirety, then “reassess” how they feel about the ending. He says, “If they still have the same feelings about it then, that’s fair.” Walters acknowledges that, as a director on the project, he views the trilogy and its ending differently than others, but he hopes that others can come to view it his way afterMass Effect: Legendary Edition’s release.
Meek chimes in to say that, after 9 years, the ending and overall sci-fi story beats will likely “hit people in a different way now.” He also considers the effect playing the trilogy as one whole arc rather than three separate story arcs might have on overall opinions.
Mass Effect: Legendary Editionwill include most of the original trilogy’s DLC, including theExtended Cut, which added additional ending options. While these options don’t change the ending entirely, they slightly impact the cutscenes that follow. It also elaborates on the already released ending choices, but some fans were even more outraged atMass Effect 3’s ending following the DLC.
Many people were upset that the many decisions made throughout theMass Effecttrilogy, such asRenegade and Paragon dialogue options, had no impact on the ending. Additionally, without theExtended Cut, players couldn’t see the consequences of their actions, which were largely similar despite the different options. But perhaps it’ll feel different this time around, as Walters and Meek hope.
Mass Effect Legendary Editionreleases on May 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
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