Current Events > How would you rank the Mass Effect trilogy?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I just finished the series for the first time. There's already been a ton of discussion on the series, but I figured I'd ask for some opinions here anyway.

I love the series, despite the terrible impression the ending left me with. I'm tempted to rank 3 as the worst just for that... But, imo, 2 and 3 are still much better than 1, with 2 probably possibly being one of the best games I've played.

To 1's credit, it has some gameplay elements that I would've liked to see return (The Mako was actually kind of cool >_>), and it's the most tightly written of the series (Along with being the only one without a bullshit ending). And, to be fair, my experience with 3 was probably better than most. I had most of important DLC, made decisions that avoided some of the big continuity errors, ect.

I like 3 the best, but that's because I put more stock in the combat system than the RPG and whether or not the story is bad.

2>3>1
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I enjoyed 1 the most mostly because of the story. It made the game, hands down. 2 was good, but felt like it was missing something and 3 was eh. 3 really pissed me off.
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1 was a masterpiece (the rover thing never bothered me like it did for a lot of people)

2 was fantastic gameplay wise but its story didn't hold a candle to 1's.

3 was just kinda disappointing

With Mass Effect the story gets worse with each game and the gameplay gets better.
People who value story over gameplay tend to find the first one the best.

1>3>2

1 had a lot of stuff I loved
3 had by far the best combat system
2 is a transition where they took out all the stuff I loved and the combat system was shit
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2>3>1

Just replayed them recently. 1 is really bad in everything that isn't the writing or main quest, but that's so strong that it's still a good game. 2 is disappointing in a few areas, but is still incredible. 3 is such a mixed bag, when it's bad it can be pretty bad, but when it's good it's some of the best stuff in the entire trilogy.
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1 > 2

I disliked 2 so much that I never even played 3. The story had so much potential with 1, but I really hated the direction it took.

I absolutely loved 1, too. I was hyped for it before release because of how much I loved Jade Empire and the KotOR games. I even replayed it like 10 times so that I could get all the achievements. Such a shame.

giantblimpN7 posted...

2>3>1

Just replayed them recently. 1 is really bad in everything that isn't the writing or main quest, but that's so strong that it's still a good game. 2 is disappointing in a few areas, but is still incredible. 3 is such a mixed bag, when it's bad it can be pretty bad, but when it's good it's some of the best stuff in the entire trilogy.

1>2>3. That said, I love them all.

ME1's RPG-esque customization with armor and weapons was what really puts it above the other two games for me. Objectively, the other two games were superior gameplay-wise, but for me, I prefer ME1's combat system the most.
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NibeIungsnarf posted...

I like 3 the best, but that's because I put more stock in the combat system than the RPG and whether or not the story is bad.

this

so, 3 > 2 > 1
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1>2>3. that was easy.
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1 had the jankiest gameplay
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2>1>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>3
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1 is a classic storywise, but the gameplay is just painful

2 is a vast improvement in gameplay, but I was never really a fan of the orange and yellow art style and the story in retrospect is kind of pointless

3 has far and away the best gameplay of the trilogy. The ending is dreadful, and the story is weak in other places, but it's serviceable

Overall, I'd say 3>2>1
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UnholyMudcrab posted...

1 is a classic storywise, but the gameplay is just painful

2 is a vast improvement in gameplay, but I was never really a fan of the orange and yellow art style and the story in retrospect is kind of pointless

3 has far and away the best gameplay of the trilogy. The ending is dreadful, and the story is weak in other places, but it's serviceable

Overall, I'd say 3>2>1

3 also has the multiplayer going for it.
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i loved the clunky shooting in 1. The sequels felt too shooterish.
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First and final bump

Vyrulisse posted...

2>1>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>3

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3 to 1
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Offworlder1 posted...

2>3>1

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3 had the best ending

Hard for me to pick

2 is my first naturally

1 always holds a special place in my heart. It did worldbuilding amazingly and was arguably one of the first "cinematic" games I played

3 is meh on the whole. Maybe the gameplay is the most refined, but that's not why I'm playing these games anyway. Though 3 has Citadel, which is a GOAT DLC
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Story: 1>3>2
Gameplay: 3>2>1
Overall fun factor and fondest memories: 2>3>1
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