Mass Effect is only the first of the trilogy in BioWare's Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, though it certainly isn't the least. The ending of the first game in the franchise has Shepard making the tough decision of either saving the Council or letting them die.
Either way, the choice made doesn't have major repercussions in relation to the sequels. Still, there is some impact on how the Mass Effect storyline ends, and the endings are considered good or bad mainly due to the immediate outcomes, meaning only one of these is the better of the two. That said, for those who want to stay true to their Renegade or Paragon paths, this guide has all of the details.
This post contains story spoilers regarding the ending of Mass Effect 1.
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Getting the best ending in Mass Effect begins with knowing how both endings play out. Essentially, the mission Race Against Time: Final Battle forces Shepard to choose between saving the Council or letting them die, with the latter branching even further.
If players choose to save the Council during the final battle, Shepard orders the Alliance to save the Destiny Ascension, with Admiral Hackett leading the Alliance Fleet to open fire on the geth ships. Once clear, Hackett then orders the remaining ships to focus all fire on the Sovereign.
In the epilogue, Shepard is thanked by the councilors of the various races in public (as a Paragon) or privately (if a Renegade). Humanity gains greater representation on the Council, with Shepard being required to vote for either Captain Anderson (Paragon) or Ambassador Udina (Renegade). This choice only changes who you encounter as a Council representative in Mass Effect 2.
Both of these options have the same outcome, though the former gives Renegade points while the latter grants Paragon points. Selecting either option focuses the Alliance Fleet's fire on Sovereign, forgoing the geth ships attacking Destiny Ascension, and completely ignoring any calls for assistance. This ultimately leads to the death of the Council members on board.
During the epilogue, Shepard meets with Anderson and Udina, where Udina details the plans for humanity to take control of the Council. Having a high Paragon score leaves the Council made up of various races with a human leader, while a high Renegade score results in a completely human Council. Shepard is also asked to select either Anderson or Udina to serve, though the changes to the sequel are more or less the same as the other ending. The notable difference, however, is a greater resentment of humanity by the other races in the sequel.
As far as which of the two is the best ending, neither has any major influence on how the sequels play out. The only thing that players should keep in mind is who they choose to serve on the Council, and even then, Mass Effect 2 requires players to reconfirm the same decision, giving the possibility of choosing the other. Even though that makes the decision moot, dedicated Renegades and Paragons may feel inclined to obey or rebel against those tendencies, and there's definitely some room to do so.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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