History Franchise / MassEffect

* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectRedemption Redemption]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectIncursion Incursion]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectInquisition Inquisition]]:'' can be read [[http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-10-25-masseffect25_ST_N.htm here]]
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectEvolution Evolution]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectConviction Conviction]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectInvasion Invasion]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectHomeworlds Homeworlds]]''
* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectBlastoEternityIsForever Blasto: Eternity Is Forever]]''

# An untitled fifth game was announced on December 10, 2020.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a [[UpdatedRerelease 4K remaster]] of the original trilogy containing all three games and almost all of their single player DLC[[note]]''Mass Effect 1'''s "Pinnacle Station" DLC is not included as its source code has been corrupted.[[/note]] was released on May 14, 2021 for [[{{UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows}} PC]], UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

In November of 2021, [[https://deadline.com/2021/11/the-wheel-of-time-premiere-ratings-amazon-prime-video-mass-effect-lort-of-the-rings-jennifer-salke-qa-1234879517/ it was reported]] that Amazon was seeking to adapt the franchise into a series for Creator/PrimeVideo, but it is not yet known if these plans will involve Shepard, the remaining crew of either ''Normandy'', and the Ryder family or not.

The series takes place in the late 22nd century. A few decades ago, Mars turned out to have an outpost of the franchise's {{Precursors}}, the "Protheans," which yielded up advanced technology, including "[[AppliedPhlebotinum element zero]]," a substance that can be used to alter the mass of anything near it. By utilizing this "[[TitleDrop mass effect]]," mankind was able to develop fancy new technologies like personal DeflectorShields, FasterThanLightTravel and ArtificialGravity. Amongst the stars, humans found themselves to be just one sentient species amongst an entire panoply of civilization: the [[OneGenderRace mono-gendered]] [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe asari]], the amphibian-descended [[AwesomenessByAnalysis salarians]], the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy militant]] [[BirdPeople turians]], the [[HeavilyArmoredMook hard-to-hurt]] [[TurtlePower krogan]], and more.

* ''[[ComicBook/MassEffectIncursion Incursion]]:'' can be downloaded [[http://masseffect.bioware.com/resources/assets/market/books/incursion-01.pdf here]]

And these link up with the other theme of the franchise: ContinuityPorn, the ChoiceAndConsequenceSystem and the
OldSaveBonus. There are plenty of [=NPC=]s you can interact with, and depending on your choices they could even die over the course of the game. If they don't, they will almost certainly appear in the next game (where, possibly, they can be killed this round). ''Mass Effect'' has hundreds of named characters, and the list of ones who don't re-appear in the next game is a ''lot'' shorter than the list of those who do; this creates a sense of not only a living, breathing universe, but the feeling that you, Commander Shepard, have some significance, some -- well -- mass effect on it. And these are just the casual choices -- what about the ones where you decide the fates of entire sentient species? Players of the franchise are known to run two or more saved games, playing and re-playing to see how their choices impact the galaxy.

* TheParagon is the more humane, compassionate, diplomatic end of the spectrum, one who tries to solve problems and disputes as peacefully as possible, or at least with the motive of protecting the innocent, but shows little if any pity towards [[GoodIsNotSoft corruption or immoral actions]]. Paragon dialogue also tends to take a more cooperative, egalitarian stance to the other sentient species of the galaxy and the Citadel Council. Succinctly, this path is [[TheFettered The Fettered]].
* [[AntiHero The Renegade]] is a more ruthless hero who believes in solving problems and disputes by force, intimidation, and an "IDidWhatIHadToDo" philosophy, preferring to kill the enemy at all costs and allowing petty immoral acts to slip by to achieve the bigger goal. Renegade conversation options tend to show little regard for the council and more of a "humans first" position. To put it simply, this path is [[TheUnfettered The Unfettered]].

And these link up with the other theme of the franchise: [[ContinuityPorn continuity porn]], the [[ButterflyOfDoom butterfly of doom]] and the [[OldSaveBonus old save bonus]]. There are plenty of [=NPC=]s you can interact with, and depending on your choices they could even die over the course of the game. If they don't, they will almost certainly appear in the next game (where, possibly, they can be killed this round). ''Mass Effect'' has hundreds of named characters, and the list of ones who don't re-appear in the next game is a ''lot'' shorter than the list of those who do; this creates a sense of not only a living, breathing universe, but the feeling that you, Commander Shepard, have some significance, some -- well -- mass effect on it. And these are just the casual choices -- what about the ones where you decide the fates of entire sentient species? Players of the franchise are known to run two or more saved games, playing and re-playing to see how their choices impact the galaxy.

In November 2021, [[https://deadline.com/2021/11/the-wheel-of-time-premiere-ratings-amazon-prime-video-mass-effect-lort-of-the-rings-jennifer-salke-qa-1234879517/ it was reported]] that Amazon was seeking to adapt the franchise into a series for Creator/PrimeVideo, but it is not yet known if these plans will involve Shepard, the remaining crew of either ''Normandy'', and the Ryder family or not.

In November 2021, [[https://deadline.com/2021/11/the-wheel-of-time-premiere-ratings-amazon-prime-video-mass-effect-lort-of-the-rings-jennifer-salke-qa-1234879517/ it was reported]] that Amazon was seeking to adapt the franchise into a series for Creator/PrimeVideo, but it is not yet known if these plans will involve Shepard or not.

The series makes heavy use of a large number of science fiction tropes. Nearly every aspect of the setting has been thoroughly thought out, with hefty amounts of technical, cultural, and historical background data provided by an EncyclopediaExposita. (Amongst other things, [[TaxonomicTermConfusion the names of alien races]] ''are not capitalized''--the way "human" isn't.) It manages to be simultaneously a {{reconstruction}} of the SpaceOpera, a highly plausible setting ranking quite high on the MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness (the eponymous mass effect is the setting's OneBigLie), and a LovecraftLite CosmicHorrorStory in the form of the Reapers.

Shepard, in true [=BioWare=] fashion, is customizable across the board, from gender to family background to previous military experience. The sequels allow you to [[OldSaveBonus transfer your personal Shepard, with the same appearance, background and choices]]. The Ryders are somewhat less customizeable -- they will always be fraternal twins, so the player cannot change their gender, and their first name is no longer selectable -- but everything else is available for tweaking; in fact, the two do not even have to look like each other, and the game dynamically alters the appearance of their parents, Alec and Ellen Ryder, to reflect your choices.

[[caption-width-right:335:[[TropeOverdosed The amount of tropes is certainly massive.]]]]

* ''[[Anime/MassEffectParagonLost Paragon Lost]]''

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' was released for the Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, and for [=PlayStation=] 3 in January 2011. In the prologue, Shepard and their crew are brutally attacked by the enigmatic alien species, the Collectors. After a two-year TimeSkip covered by the opening credits, it takes up in 2185 where [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters the militant/terrorist human group]] called Cerberus has rescued Shepard and tasked them to investigate the Collectors, who have been [[AlienAbduction abducting entire human colonies]] for reasons that are unclear but believed to be related to the coming Reaper invasion. Shepard's association with Cerberus strains their relationship with both the Alliance and their previous allies, so they turn to [[RecruitingTheCriminal the seedier side of the galaxy]] for a new team to face the Collectors. The gameplay shifted dramatically into something much more linear: it had more clearly stated levels built around [[TakeCover cover-based shooting]]; vehicle travel was dropped entirely (excluding a DLC mission); and weapon types was restricted by class.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' was released in March 2017 for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and PC. Set around the same time as ''Mass Effect 2'', the "Andromeda Initiative" was a colonization program to travel to the nearest galaxy, Andromeda. [[PlanetSpaceship City-sized starships]] full of {{Human Popsicle}}s (not to mention ones for asari, salarians, turians and krogan) go on a 600-year journey. (Because the game is essentially an {{interquel}}, [=BioWare=] were able to avoid CuttingOffTheBranches of the trilogy's MultipleEndings.) The player assumes the role of Scott or Sara Ryder, HalfIdenticalTwins who take on a leadership position within the Initiative when their ship arrives in 2819 and things go FromBadToWorse. The game places emphasis on the WideOpenSandbox which [=BioWare=] had intended to implement during the original trilogy, abandoning the [[{{Railroading}} highly-linear maps]] and [[ButThouMust narrative focus]] that replaced it.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and almost all of their single player DLC[[note]]''Mass Effect 1'''s "Pinnacle Station" DLC is not included as its source code has been corrupted.[[/note]] was released on May 14, 2021 for [[{{UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows}} PC]], UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and almost all of their single player DLC[[note]]''Mass Effect 1'''s "Pinnacle Station" DLC is not included as its source code has been corrupted.[[/note]] has been announced for a May 14, 2021 release for [[{{UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows}} PC]], UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2007 and PC in May[=/=]June 2008. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version was released in late 2012 as part of the ''Mass Effect Trilogy'', and as a standalone digital download for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork. Taking place in 2183, it introduces the main character, System Alliance officer Lt.Cmdr. Shepard, and the beginning of that character's journey to become the first human Spectre, an elite soldier given full support of [[TheFederation the Citadel races]] to operate carte blanche in their interest. Shepard's first mission is to track down a rogue Spectre, Saren, and unravel his connection to the mysterious [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]], ancient beings that are only known as the ones who wiped out the [[{{Precursors}} Protheans]] 50,000 years ago. Shepard is set loose in a WideOpenSandbox galaxy with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, in an... ''interesting'' 3rd-person-shooter-cum-RPG battle engine. They are aided by a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits diverse band of companions]], as well as by the technology left behind by the Protheans.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and almost all of their single player DLC[[note]]''Mass Effect 1'''s "Pinnacle Station" DLC is not included as its source code has been corrupted.[[/note]] has been announced for a May 14, 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a May 14, 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'', a 4K remaster of the original trilogy containing all three games and all of their single player DLC, has been announced for a Spring 2021 release for PC, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, with forward compatibility and enhancements for UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesX and UsefulNotes/PlayStation5.

The franchise is primarily a [=RPG=], with third person shooter combat. The games combine the [[RegeneratingHealth regenerating shields]] and integrated vehicle sections of ''{{Franchise/Halo}}'', the stop-and-pop cover mechanics of ''[[VideoGame/GearsOfWar Gears of War]]'' and [[WideOpenSandbox wide open sandbox]] exploration elements as you fly around the galaxy in your CoolStarship, the ''Normandy''. Shooting took on a completely new dimension in the first game, however, as firearms were had BottomlessMagazines (justified in-story) and were instead limited by refire rate; firing them too fast would result in {{Overheating}} and a mandatory cooldown period. The remaining games in the series have returned to a much more traditional firearms experience. [[RPGElements RPG elements]] are present in the form of a [[ClassAndLevelSystem class and level system]] for you and your party members, in addition to new guns and armor, while outside of combat you are able to influence the story in a lot of ways, and even transfer your story decisions to the next game. Gameplay elements, and their revisions for the sequels, saw a [[BrokenBase mixed reception]].

# ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' was released on all three platforms in early March 2012, with a UsefulNotes/WiiU port being released at the console's launch in November 2012. It leads to the ultimate fear: the Reapers invade the Milky Way in the year 2186 and Earth is among the first to be overwhelmed. Shepard has reunited with the Alliance and retrieved blueprints for [[ForgottenSuperweapon a potential machine to defeat the Reapers]] they call "The Crucible." To retake Earth, and more importantly survive the Reaper invasion, Shepard must form a new team and unite the races of the galaxy to fight back and commit resources to the Crucible. In addition to wrapping up the MythArc of the trilogy, it continued to refine the gameplay standard set by the second game, increasing movement and combat actions as well as weapon customization to the point that Creator/BioWare felt confident including a CoOpMultiplayer mode.

''Mass Effect'' is a SpaceOpera multimedia franchise, originating as an [=RPG/=][[ThirdPersonShooter third person shooter]]. It was developed by Creator/{{BioWare}}, which also developed ''Franchise/StarWars: [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Knights of the Old Republic]]'', ''[[VideoGame/BaldursGate Baldur's Gate]]'', ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'', and ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights''.

Shepard, in true [=BioWare=] fashion, is customizable across the board, from gender to family background to previous military experience. The sequels allow you to [[OldSaveBonus transfer your personal Shepard, with the same appearance, background and choices]]. The Ryders are somewhat less customizeable -- they will always be fraternal twins, so the player cannot change their gender, and their first name is no longer selectable -- but everything else is available for tweaking; in fact, the two do not even have to look like each other, and the game dynamically alters the appearance of their father, Alec Ryder, to reflect your choices.