Spoiler
In terms of pure plot:
1. Mass Effect-it's pretty close between 1 and 2 but 1 gets the edge for being original and having the better twists even though the plot to 2 flowed more smoothly.
2. Mass Effect 2
3. Mass Effect Andromeda-would have liked a bit longer, more developed main mission but a lot of the bigger side missions were actually quite enjoyable.
4. Mass Effect 3-the first half is quite enjoyable but the second half drags a bit. Probably would have been 3rd on the list but the ending was just bad.
Characters
1. Mass Effect 2-this one introduced some of the best characters of all of Mass Effect and expanded on most of the ones we already knew from 1. There is still the one annoying character but it's pretty clear she's supposed to be annoying.
2. Mass Effect Andromeda-I'm probably going to be questioned thoroughly on this but here me out. This is the one game that there wasn't any characters I actively disliked (though Addison came close, she really wasn't prominent enough for me to actively dislike her). Sure there's no Garrus or Wrex or Legion level of likeability (yet) but I did enjoy most of the characters.
3. Mass Effect-most of the characters had yet to take on their full personality that made them likeable (Tali, Joker and Wrex being the main exceptions) and Ashley and Kaiden were annoying (Ashley felt too out there, mixing between having a confidence blow and being stubbornly wrong about a lot of things and there wasn't much likeable about her. Kaiden was just...bland.)
4. Mass Effect 3-this game had the fewest new likeable characters. Most were either better flushed out in 2 or their personality changes didn't jive. New character wise: Cortez was cool, Traynor was alright. Vega was meh. Javik (assuming you had his DLC) was cool but felt like he wasn't quite fully fleshed out.
Romances (I've only romanced one in Andromeda so I won't speak on that one)
1. Mass Effect 2-besr characters. Best romances.
2. Mass Effect 3-flushed out some of the earlier romances. Overall solid.
3. Mass Effect-fewest and worst choices. Kaiden was too bland, Ashley too annoying which left Liara who was not much better than Kaiden at the time.
Game play
1. Mass Effect 3-easily the smoothest game play of the group. Nice variable combat.
2. Mass Effect Andromeda- I miss my team combos and I wish there were weapons on the nomad but otherwise pretty smooth game play with a lot of good mapping choices for battle areas.
3. Mass Effect 2-not quite as smooth as 3 or Andromeda but nice variability in the combat.
4. Mass effect-its sloppy and dated but does get endearing once you get used to it.
Ending
1. Mass Effect 2-the suicide mission at the end of 2 is IMO the bench Mark for how to end a game right. It was the perfect blend of making smart decisions, good combat and high stakes leading to tension and variable possibilities in the outcome.
2. Mass Effect-another great ending. Not quite the weight at rhe end of Mass Effect as Mass effect 2 but still some very important decisions and one very satisfying moment if you pull it off.
3. Andromeda-the ending isn't great but the combat is good.
4. Mass Effect 3-some good combat moments and a satisfying death don't make up for the overall slow trudge to the ending which ultimately left me disappointed.
Side missions:
1. Mass Effect 2-many of the missions could barely be called side missions and featured a lot of interesting moments.
2. Mass Effect-some good loyalty type missions and the best overarching series of side quests of any of the games not including DLC.
3. Andromeda-it's true that there are a bit too many but some of the best moments in the game are in the more major side quests.
4. Mass EFFECT 3-honestly with a couple exceptions (the Rachni Relay and the Ardat Yakshi facility) the side missions in 3 kind of blended together to me.
Visually:
1. ME3
2. Andromeda-All ME games had some animation glitches (the shepard shuffle!) but they were a bit more noticeable in this one. Still when the graphics were good. The graphics were great.
3. ME2
4. ME
Overall:
1. Mass EFFECT 2-it's in my top 3 games list with Biosho ck and Biosho ck infinite.
2. Mass Effect-considering I consider game play the first and most important quality of a video game, this is a pretty big honor to the plot to list it above two games that have much better game play.
3. Andromeda-I know it gets a lot of shit but I still really enjoy it.
4. Mass Effect 3-it's a good game. It's just it doesn't quite reach a good enough level to rank it above any of the other three.
1. Mass Effect-it's pretty close between 1 and 2 but 1 gets the edge for being original and having the better twists even though the plot to 2 flowed more smoothly.
2. Mass Effect 2
3. Mass Effect Andromeda-would have liked a bit longer, more developed main mission but a lot of the bigger side missions were actually quite enjoyable.
4. Mass Effect 3-the first half is quite enjoyable but the second half drags a bit. Probably would have been 3rd on the list but the ending was just bad.
Characters
1. Mass Effect 2-this one introduced some of the best characters of all of Mass Effect and expanded on most of the ones we already knew from 1. There is still the one annoying character but it's pretty clear she's supposed to be annoying.
2. Mass Effect Andromeda-I'm probably going to be questioned thoroughly on this but here me out. This is the one game that there wasn't any characters I actively disliked (though Addison came close, she really wasn't prominent enough for me to actively dislike her). Sure there's no Garrus or Wrex or Legion level of likeability (yet) but I did enjoy most of the characters.
3. Mass Effect-most of the characters had yet to take on their full personality that made them likeable (Tali, Joker and Wrex being the main exceptions) and Ashley and Kaiden were annoying (Ashley felt too out there, mixing between having a confidence blow and being stubbornly wrong about a lot of things and there wasn't much likeable about her. Kaiden was just...bland.)
4. Mass Effect 3-this game had the fewest new likeable characters. Most were either better flushed out in 2 or their personality changes didn't jive. New character wise: Cortez was cool, Traynor was alright. Vega was meh. Javik (assuming you had his DLC) was cool but felt like he wasn't quite fully fleshed out.
Romances (I've only romanced one in Andromeda so I won't speak on that one)
1. Mass Effect 2-besr characters. Best romances.
2. Mass Effect 3-flushed out some of the earlier romances. Overall solid.
3. Mass Effect-fewest and worst choices. Kaiden was too bland, Ashley too annoying which left Liara who was not much better than Kaiden at the time.
Game play
1. Mass Effect 3-easily the smoothest game play of the group. Nice variable combat.
2. Mass Effect Andromeda- I miss my team combos and I wish there were weapons on the nomad but otherwise pretty smooth game play with a lot of good mapping choices for battle areas.
3. Mass Effect 2-not quite as smooth as 3 or Andromeda but nice variability in the combat.
4. Mass effect-its sloppy and dated but does get endearing once you get used to it.
Ending
1. Mass Effect 2-the suicide mission at the end of 2 is IMO the bench Mark for how to end a game right. It was the perfect blend of making smart decisions, good combat and high stakes leading to tension and variable possibilities in the outcome.
2. Mass Effect-another great ending. Not quite the weight at rhe end of Mass Effect as Mass effect 2 but still some very important decisions and one very satisfying moment if you pull it off.
3. Andromeda-the ending isn't great but the combat is good.
4. Mass Effect 3-some good combat moments and a satisfying death don't make up for the overall slow trudge to the ending which ultimately left me disappointed.
Side missions:
1. Mass Effect 2-many of the missions could barely be called side missions and featured a lot of interesting moments.
2. Mass Effect-some good loyalty type missions and the best overarching series of side quests of any of the games not including DLC.
3. Andromeda-it's true that there are a bit too many but some of the best moments in the game are in the more major side quests.
4. Mass EFFECT 3-honestly with a couple exceptions (the Rachni Relay and the Ardat Yakshi facility) the side missions in 3 kind of blended together to me.
Visually:
1. ME3
2. Andromeda-All ME games had some animation glitches (the shepard shuffle!) but they were a bit more noticeable in this one. Still when the graphics were good. The graphics were great.
3. ME2
4. ME
Overall:
1. Mass EFFECT 2-it's in my top 3 games list with Biosho ck and Biosho ck infinite.
2. Mass Effect-considering I consider game play the first and most important quality of a video game, this is a pretty big honor to the plot to list it above two games that have much better game play.
3. Andromeda-I know it gets a lot of shit but I still really enjoy it.
4. Mass Effect 3-it's a good game. It's just it doesn't quite reach a good enough level to rank it above any of the other three.
