The Mass Effect trilogy begins here, but does the game that started it all still hold up in 2026? In this episode, Lennon and David kick off their Mass Effect series with Commander Shepard's debut to find out if BioWare's landmark space opera is worth your time nearly two decades later. We cover the story, the Reaper threat, Saren as a villain, the Paragon and Renegade system, and what makes the companion roster so memorable. They also get into the combat, the Legendary Edition upgrades, standout missions, Easter eggs, and the big decisions that split their playthroughs from the start. If you grew up with the Mass Effect trilogy or are coming to it completely fresh, this is the honest verdict on whether the game that changed sci-fi RPGs forever still deserves the praise.