Mass Effect has been an influence on me like nothing else. I was introduced to the series with the very first game back in 2007 and I was immediately enamored. The (at the time) lifelike graphics, the vast galaxy to explore, the story about struggling for survival, and the substantial cast of characters had me hooked from the very beginning. Every time I played through it again, I would discover something new; an assignment on a previously-undiscovered planet, or by completing a mission (or missions) in a certain order, the rest of the game would acknowledge that specific order. I’d never experienced anything like it up to that point, and with the rare exception of a few games, I haven’t felt it since.

Obviously, my love for the series extends beyond the first game. The trilogy (and Andromeda, although controversial) are among my favorites across all of the digital realm. It’s what inspired me to go into writing, what drove me to become obsessed with video games, and is most likely responsible for the individual I am today. It’s weird thinking about a piece of media that way, but Mass Effect has probably been the single-largest influence on me, as far as pop culture is concerned.

So you can imagine my surprise when, nearly 14 years after the original game’s release, we not only saw a trailer for The Next Mass Effect, but the announcement of a remastered trilogy, with full-HD graphics and quality-of-life improvements. You can also imagine that I purchased it immediately as possible and completed every game to 100%.

First of all, I am blown away by how great the game looks even after all this time. Yes, everything is displayed in 1080p and with high-resolution textures, but it’s all upscaled from the original. You’ll spend hours, like I did, just revisiting all of your favorite places and seeing how they’ve been updated. The sprawling vista of Zakera Ward and the vast snowscape of Noveria are even better than they were before, but now, you can see fine detailing on the Prothean ruins on Therum, or the wrinkles on Shepard’s face as they respond to someone in disgust. All of the games have been updated to have a visually-consistent theme, too. The default FemShep is available from the start, and Eden Prime looks like it does in ME3. These don’t just feel like separate games in a trilogy now; it feels like one, large, epic saga.

ME1, as expected, had the most significant changes and adjustments made to it. Since it was the original game in the series, BioWare was still trying to figure out what kind of game it was going to be, whether RPG or shooter or somewhere in between. The end result was a clunky and awkward battle system with pieces of cover constantly flying around. Now, however, the gameplay is more reminiscent of ME2 or ME3, with much tighter shooting and ability control. Plus, reworked levels mean that the geometry won’t suddenly change when you use a biotic Throw. The GUI has also been updated to be consistent across all three games. But the biggest single change is probably the Mako.

Fans of the original Mass Effect know what I mean, and I’ve probably triggered a few PTSD flashbacks just by mentioning it. When traversing unexplored planets, you make your way in an all-terrain vehicle/tank hybrid. The problem was you couldn’t drive the damn thing. You might sometimes head in the direction you’re pressing the control stick, but often, you’ll veer off course and go spiraling down a mountain. And the mounted gun was fixed at an angle, meaning that if enemies were below or above you, you would have to change the elevation of the vehicle to attack them, not just adjust the angle you’re aiming at. I am happy to report that now, the Mako behaves like an actual, drivable vehicle. It goes where you want it, it fires where you shoot, and they added a forward boost alongside the original vertical boost. Having a working game mechanic might not seem like much to ask for, but I am grateful that now I can trek new worlds without my biggest fear being the traction.

ME2 and ME3 also received some changes, although much more minor compared to ME1. For one, the Extended Cut is built right into the game, meaning the original cut of the endings are no longer available. Fine by me, honestly. With the multiplayer removed, however, players will have to complete the majority of the game to achieve total Effective Military Strength during the final assault. Hopefully, BioWare will include the multiplayer portion again, which would be more than enough reason for me to resubscribe to PlayStation Plus.

Across my latest playthrough of the trilogy, nearly half of my time was spent in Photo Mode. I loved taking action shots of the squad in battle, or capture the wide landscapes of some visually stunning planets, and it gave me the time to appreciate many of the small changes and details across the games. I’ll post a gallery of my favorites at some point. I would spend up to an hour reangling the camera, or changing the filters, or shifting the blur and bloom effects, trying to find the perfect picture. But even then, it didn’t feel like wasted time. Every second I spent playing them was a positive experience for me.

And that’s probably what I’ll take away most from the Legendary Edition: this is the definitive way to reexperience my childhood. Instead of just staring at starscapes, I could capture pictures of them. Instead of trying to make a custom FemShep that looks like the default in ME3, I can use the default from the very first game now. All of the DLC was included, and BioWare even kept in many of the glitches and exploits from the original games, meaning it’s still possible to break out those dominant strategies from 2007. Mass Effect opened my eyes to a whole new universe of gaming, and being able to reencounter my favorites with a bright coat of paint is something I cherish.

I’ll never forget the first time I walked over the hill and saw Sovereign. It still sends chills up my body every time I see it.