Mass Effect Legendary Edition is out now, letting players relive BioWare's legendary sci-fi RPG with enhanced graphics and features. Players can step back into space-boots of Commander Shepard and save the galaxy across the three Mass Effect titles.
While the ultimate ending of the trilogy in Mass Effect 3 attracted some controversy, the end of Mass Effect 2 is more fondly remembered. It features the infamous Suicide Mission, as well as a choice that has consequences far into the third game. Unlike Mass Effect 3's trio of color-themed choices, the endings of Mass Effect 2 are a little more nuanced. Here's our guide to getting them straight, and aiming for the best.
RELATED: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition - Are Biotic or Tech Powers Stronger In-Universe?
In order to get the best possible ending in Mass Effect 2, players will need to first ensure that their entire team survives the Collector Base mission. Commonly known as the Mass Effect 2 Suicide Mission, this final level is infamous in the community for having the possibility to kill off swathes of the game's squad members.
Passing the Suicide Mission without losing any squad members requires three things: Firstly, players will need to have bought the correct upgrades for the Normandy. Secondly, they'll need to make sure that most if not all of their squad members are Loyal. Finally, players will need to choose the right squad members for each task in the Collector Base. For more detail, check out the guide on how to save everyone in Mass Effect 2's suicide mission.
At the very end of the Suicide Mission, players will be given a choice between destroying the Collector Base or simply clearing it out for Cerberus to occupy. While these options aren't really black and white, the Paragon choice of destroying the base is probably the best for the galaxy. Cerberus will become one of the major villains in Mass Effect 3, and handing them control over the base makes it more likely for players to be forced into the Control ending of that game. Choosing to destroy the base will be signified by the star behind the Illusive Man turning blue.
The normal ending for Mass Effect 2 is probably the one most players got on their first playthrough. In this ending some portion of Shepard's squad members die, along with most of the Normandy's crew. Which squad members die isn't fixed, but there are some who are more likely to perish in the Suicide Mission than others.
Firstly, any non-Loyal squad member has a much higher chance of dying. After that, the chance of death in descending order goes Mordin, Tali, Kasumi, Jack, Miranda, Jacob, Garrus, Samara/Morinth, Legion, Thane, Zaeed, and Grunt. No matter how many die, Shepard will still be able to accomplish and survive the mission in the normal ending. At the end there will be a scene of him/her mourning over the caskets of the fallen squad members.
No matter how many squad members died along the way, players will still be presented with the Illusive Man's choice. Choosing to save the base will be signified by the star behind the Illusive Man turning red. In this case, players will also receive the Reaper Brain near the end of Mass Effect 3, which is worth 110 Military Strength. This is only 10 more than the Reaper Heart that will be recovered for destroying the Collector Base in Mass Effect 2 instead.
RELATED: Comic Book Artist Crosses Mass Effect With The Last of Us in Fanart
Getting the worst ending in Mass Effect 2 isn't something that any player is likely to stumble into. In order to have the absolute worst outcome, several key parts of the game have to be ignored completely. This is also true in Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Firstly, players will need to avoid all upgrades to the Normandy, and reject every optional squad member, including Zaeed, Grunt, and Legion.
Players will also need to rush straight to the Act 2 Collector Ship mission with a minimal crew, and do at least four more side missions after the Normandy crew has been kidnapped. During the Suicide Mission, players will need to choose either disloyal or incapable squad members for each of the challenges, and not escort the surviving crew back to the Normandy. Performing all these actions will cause Shepard to die at the end of the mission, along with all the crew apart from Joker. The final cutscenes have Joker meeting with the Illusive Man, and mourning over the caskets of his dead companions. Naturally, any player who gets this ending won't be able to carry over their save into Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.