ME1 - best soundtrack, most interesting storyline and lore (I didn't think 2 and 3 did all that much to add on to ME1's lore, apart from maybe the Leviathan, Javik, and Shadow Broker DLCs). I actually liked the janky Mako physics and exploring nameless planets, although the repetitive sidequests sucked. Main missions were kinda neat as there usually was a bit of exploration, NPC interaction, and puzzle-solving, instead of being a linear shooting gallery with waist-high walls. Combat was horrible, as were inventory management.
ME2 - vast improvement on combat, but it stripped out a lot of what made the first game interesting. Much more of a linear corridor shooter than an RPG. Building up a crew and solving their problems (usually daddy issues) was fun and more reminiscent of a Japanese than a Western RPG. Interesting concept for the endgame. Horrible planet scanning and a total lack of sidequests.
ME3 - feels even more detached than 2, especially with the Galactic Readiness system (do more missions = higher numbers = you win the conflict). More linear setpiece missions where you solve thousand-year-long galactic strife with a few dialogue trees. Glitchy. Lots of the most interesting content was locked behind DLC (the Prothean character, Leviathan, Citadel). Terrible endgame. Slightly improved combat over 2, multiplayer was pretty entertaining for what it was.
I'd love if they remade the first ME with the combat of 3 and totally scrapped the repetitive sidequests in favor of much more interesting ones and neater locales.
