because i can't make it on my own

Mass Effect was first released in 2007, initially as an Xbox 360 exclusive. Set in 2183, it follows the story of Commander Shepard, who must discover the truth of the mysterious Reapers and prevent them from annihilating all civilization.

The series combines roleplaying, space exploration, romance, third-person shooting, and vehicular combat. To call it a hit is an understatement: it's sold millions of copies and is widely considered one of the best series of all time.

At present, the series consists of four major titles:

Mass Effect: The one that started it all. The main focus is space exploration, with tons of (largely unremarkable) planets you can visit. While the gameplay hasn't aged all that well (though it's improved in the Legendary edition), the story still resonates and does an excellent job of establishing the setting and main conflict. If anyone ever tells you to skip this one and start with the second game, ignore them. Mass Effect is a diamond in the rough.

Mass Effect 2: The popular one. Shepard must gather a formidable crew of alien and human allies to combat a new threat, the Collectors, and embark on a suicide mission to save the galaxy. This is where the series comes into its own: the combat is improved, the character writing is much more indepth, and the level design is much more interesting. What it lacks is the free-roaming exploration of the first game, and the plot leaves a few things to be desired.

Mass Effect 3: The controversial one. Does it land the ending of this epic tale? That's up for debate. What this game achieves, however, is a phenomenal sense of scale. With the Reapers on their doorstep, Shepard must rally the galaxy for a last stand, or all will be lost for good. My personal favorite in terms of gameplay, with a multiplayer feature I will always miss.

Mass Effect: Andromeda: The black sheep. Andromeda was not met with the same critical acclaim as the first three games, despite being a perfectly serviceable title. Brings back space exploration and couples it with fantastic gameplay (you can jump!) but falls somewhat short in its plot and characters. Still worth playing (I really liked it) but it's certainly a departure from the rest.

As of this writing, Bioware is working on an untitled new game in the series, about which little details are known.

If you're looking to get into the series, the trilogy was remastered in 2021 and is available for modern consoles and PC.

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