The release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings some significant visual updates and gameplay changes to every game of the trilogy, but arguably the most impacted by this remaster is Mass Effect 1. The Mako controls in ME1 were especially notorious for being frustrating and difficult to use - but while Mass Effect Legendary Edition does change this, it isn't enough to redeem the Mako in the eyes of many fans.
BioWare initially announced that fans of the Mass Effect 1 Mako would be able to toggle between the new controls and the standard format. However, this option is currently only available for the PC, not consoles. It can be found in the settings under the "Mako camera relative steering" option - and this only changes the steering direction of the Mako, not the vehicle's new physics. This can prove frustrating for players who enjoyed the Mako's extra bounce in the original game.
Mass Effect's new Mako also comes with a couple new bugs that have yet to be patched by EA. Players utilizing a higher refresh rate may experience framerate drops or stuttering while driving the Mako, and others may have to reload the game occasionally to resolve a bug that disables the interact button after exiting the vehicle. Given that a patch has already been released to fix other bugs across Mass Effect Legendary Edition, it seems likely that with time the Mako's new issues will be fixed as well.
The Good & Bad Of Mass Effect Legendary Edition's Mako Controls
One of the more significant features of the new Mako is the addition of a boost button, which allows players to briefly accelerate forward while in the vehicle. In Mass Effect 1, the Mako had a jump button but no forward acceleration, which made it challenging to outrun (or run over) enemies at times. Mass Effect Legendary Edition also gives the Mako weightier physics, which means the vehicle bounces and flips less than it used to. Improved handling allows for less sliding, and strengthened shields means that players will no longer get an immediate game-over when being hit by strong enemies or accidentally sliding into lava. Given the prevalence of planet exploration in ME1, these are welcome changes.
But the Mako's new controls aren't perfect. While it is significantly improved from ME1, the bouncing and sliding physics are very much still present and can still cause problems when trying to drive along narrow cliff faces. Scaling mountains is easier in the new Mako, but not by much - and it still frequently flips over and gets stuck on rough terrain. It seems that the Mako's biggest changes come in regards to its combat, not its steering. While long-time players of the original Mass Effect trilogy may notice the improvement, it appears likely that new players may still be frustrated by the lackluster handling of the vehicle. But with time, Mass Effect Legendary Edition may receive further updates that help to fully redeem the ME1 Mako.