Mass Effect Legendary Edition remastered the original Mass Effect trilogy and recently released with various patches to improve the overall experience for players. With better graphics, fixes to bugs, and updated cutscenes, fans can enjoy Mass Effect once more without many of the irritants that plagued the original releases. Thanks to the Legendary Edition, fans of the Mass Effect series can experience Commander Shepard's adventures throughout the Reaper War alongside their faithful crew of companions with more content available to them at once.
22 different companions are available to players throughout Mass Effect Legendary Edition, but not all are available to players at once. While the Legendary Edition shipped with over 40 different Mass Effect DLC packs, the game still forces characters to make choices that will permanently kill different companions. There is also the threat of companions not surviving Mass Effect 2's suicide mission. Additionally, not all companions that Commander Shepard will be permanent of the crew, as some have scripted deaths and others will only associate themselves with Shepard temporarily.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition ships with nearly all the DLC available throughout the series, meaning that players who purchase Legendary Edition will have access to all the companions as they progress through the trilogy. The DLC characters available throughout the trilogy are Kasumi Goto, Zaeed Massani, and Javik. Kasumi Goto and Zaeed Massani are both human, and initially available by accessing their respective expansions: Kasami - Stolen Memory DLC and Zaeed - The Price of Revenge DLC. Both are subsequently available if they survive Mass Effect 2's suicide mission, and the Armax Arsenal Arena is accessed in Mass Effect 3 through the Mass Effect 3: Citadel DLC Pack. Javik is a Protean survivor who is only available to players through the Mass Effect 3: From Ashes DLC.
In Mass Effect, Death Can't Always Be Avoided
Perhaps the most difficult choice between which companion lives or dies takes place on Virmire. This mission involves Shepard having to choose between the survival of either Kaiden or Ashley. These two characters have been with Shepard since the beginning, and are two of the three romance options available in Mass Effect 1. Each companion has their own skills in battle, and players must choose carefully to decide which companion will offer them more enjoyment throughout the series. Additionally, the player's choices decide between the addition of either Samara or Morinth to the Normandy crew. They are each competent Asari warriors in their own right, and the decision to kill one and assist the other is purely based on morality.
The plot of Mass Effect 2 centers around Shepard bringing their crew on a suicide mission. Various upgrades to the Normandy and Loyalty Missions for companions must be completed if anyone is to survive. Another important choice to make is where to deploy various companions during the mission, as the failure of any objective will likely lead to the death of that respective team. It is possible for all companions to perish during Mass Effect 2's suicide mission, so players must be careful when deciding where to place each companion.
Ultimately, 22 different companion options are able to Shepard's crew, with several being available temporarily throughout the trilogy and others having scripted deaths or dying depending on the player's choices. The risk of death is a very real possibility throughout Mass Effect, and the loyalty of various companions can only be earned through their personal missions and storylines. Each of these 22 characters has unique personalities, powerful abilities, and entertaining shenanigans that can be shared with Shepard throughout the Mass Effect trilogy. Earning the crew's loyalty and ensuring their survival is a difficult task, but it's worth it if players are intending to experience everything Mass Effect Legendary Edition has to offer.