At long last, the highly-anticipated Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will be hitting store shelves later this month. It's been nine years since the Mass Effect trilogy concluded, and this remastered collection aims to become the definitive way to revisit this storied franchise.

The bundle boasts an abundance of changes, ranging from improved visuals to gameplay tweaks that help modernize each of the games' more outdated elements. Before it launches, here's a breakdown of what Mass Effect: Legendary Edition has in store for veterans and newcomers alike.

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According to BioWare, each game included in the collection will feature enhanced visuals, as well as significant performance boosts; on Xbox Series X, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition can hit up to 120fps, while the PC version can go upwards of 240fps, provided it's running on the right rig. This is certainly a welcome addition, as the final game in the trilogy released in 2012. It should go without saying that video-game graphics have come a long way since then.

But if there's one game that needs a complete overhaul, it's Mass Effect 1. The game will be turning 14 years old this year, and as an early Xbox 360 game, it's definitely aged the worst out of the three. Fortunately, BioWare seems to be ahead of the curve. When comparing footage of Mass Effect 1's remaster to the original release, it's like night and day. The re-done textures and lighting looks stunning, and seem to do a lot of heavy lifting in modernizing this retro title. Based on pre-release footage, the game doesn't just look good for a game from 2007, it looks pretty good by modern standards. 

Similarly, the first game's gameplay will also be getting some pretty heavy tweaks. Mass Effect 1's combat is serviceable at best. Playing it nowadays, it's indicative of just how far third-person shooters have come in a little over a decade. 

BioWare claims the combat is now a little "snappier" thanks to some adjustments to aiming and weapon accuracy. Certain enemy encounters have also been redesigned in order to better balance Mass Effect 1's gameplay. Other improvements include XP and ability rebalancing, as well as easier access to ammo upgrades. In all, these changes appear to have the intention of bringing Mass Effect 1 up to speed with its sequels, which is certainly a welcome change. 

Even Mass Effect 1's oft-maligned Mako vehicle is getting some quality-of-life improvements to make the time spent driving a little less rough. The vehicle will reportedly have a little more weight to it this time around, which is surely a relief for anyone familiar with Mass Effect 1's floaty mess of a space-car. Of course, for anyone who wants to re-experience 2007's rough-riding vehicle, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition also includes the Mako's old controls. 

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On its website, BioWare outlines that many of the game’s visual improvements, described above, serve to “unify” the look of the games. That pursuit of a consistent experience seems like it will also be reflected in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition's gameplay. 

Rather than bring back each game's unique HUD, Legendary Edition introduces a new HUD implemented across every Mass Effect game. From what's been shown so far, the new HUD looks much cleaner and more communicative of important in-game information than anything seen in the original games. This change should presumably allow players to easily swap between games without having to spend too much time adjusting to a new layout.

Character creation is a key part of Mass Effect, and will also be getting a few updates. Hairstyles and appearance settings that weren’t added until Mass Effect 3 have been implemented in the earlier two games, allowing players to further fine-tune its individual Commander Shepards from the start of the series.

The Mass Effect series has a lot of DLC, most of which will be included with Legendary Edition. This means every piece of additional story content, equipment, as well as all DLC squad-mates are packaged into this Mass Effect mega-bundle.

It's also worth mentioning that Legendary Edition includes almost every DLC item that could previously only be accessed either via limited-time promotions, or on specific consoles. For example, players no longer need to register a copy of Dragon Age: Origins in order to receive the Blood Dragon Armor; it's just there this time around.

However, there is one piece of content that won't be making the cut. Unfortunately, Mass Effect 1's "Pinnacle Station" DLC won't be making a comeback thanks to some missing source code, as it was revealed that "Pinnacle Station's" source code was in pretty rough shape. Trying to restore it would have added about six months to the game's development. Rather than delay Legendary Edition for a relatively minor piece of DLC, BioWare opted to just forego the expansion.

One infamous element of Mass Effect 3 is its multiplayer. The mode pitted players against hordes of Cerberus, Geth, and Reaper forces, and even tied into Mass Effect 3's story. Playing matches affected players' Galactic Readiness rating, which, in turn, impacted Mass Effect 3's ending.

While the mode did have its fans, and saw support through DLC expansions for about a year after it launched, it also had plenty of critics. Prior to the "Extended Cut" DLC for Mass Effect 3, some endings were impossible to get unless players indulged in the multiplayer.

Naturally, fans weren't too happy with the course of the story being dictated by their play in an online horde mode, especially given the series' history of allowing players to shape Mass Effect's story through their choices. Nine years later, critics of the mode can rejoice, because multiplayer won't be featured in Legendary Edition. Despite the absence of multiplayer, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition still looks like one pretty complete, beefy package. Since it's not out yet, it can't be said for certain, but all signs seem to point towards Legendary Edition being a great way — perhaps the best way — to relive Commander Shepard's epic space journey.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches May 14 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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