Mass Effect is one of the greatest Sci-fi gaming franchises ever. From its incredibly dense world to its outstanding storytelling, it truly is a wonderful series. However, out of the four games released, some are better than others.

The first two games, in particular, are generally considered the series high-points. They lack the disappointing aspects of the third game and Andromeda. Plus, they’re two of the best games Bioware has ever made. Yet, which one is superior? The fanbase is more or less split on this debate as everyone has their own preference. But to help figure it out, here are the things each game does best.

10 Original: Customization

Customizing the protagonist is a big deal in every Mass Effect game. You can change their hair, facial features, and outfit. But the first game has the added bonus of being able to customize your squad too.

Now, you can’t transform Liara into a Krogan, but you can choose the armor she and the rest of the team wear into battle. You can also alter their weapons and any upgrades you want on them. None of these weapons are among the greatest in the series, but at least there is plenty of different choices. The other games are lacking in the customization department by comparison.

9 Mass Effect 2: Squadmates

One of the most enjoyable parts of the series is interacting and fighting alongside your companions. And the second game has the best set, both because of its quantity and its quality.

All ten (excluding DLC) allies are some of the most fascinating characters in the series, and getting to know them and their species throughout the story is one of the title’s biggest strengths. The original game’s team is solid too, but with the lack of deep recruitment or loyalty missions, you don’t really get to know them as well. Plus, there are four fewer of them.

8 Original: Citadel

A lot of the original trilogy’s main story revolves around the Citadel. The space station acts as the main hub for all of the galaxy’s most significant species. What’s more, its creators are the series’ main villains, the Reapers.

Walking around the station is most enjoyable during the first game as its size and the distinctness of each ward makes it feels more like a living, breathing place. In the later instalments, it feels like a basic hub world.

7 Mass Effect 2: Loyalty Missions

Most of ME2’s side missions are about gaining the loyalty of certain squad members. Each of these quests is tailored to the character you’re trying to win over. As such, they often give you an insight into either the personality or history of the companion.

In fact, they’re a big part of what makes the second game’s squadmates so great, as without them, your team would just seem like a bunch of raging lunatics. From a gameplay perspective, they range in quality, but some are still among the best in the series.

6 Original: Main Antagonist

In the second and third games, the main antagonist is less of an individual and more of an entire species. The original title, however, has Saren. He’s a former Spectre who works with the Geth and Sovereign to bring back the Reapers.

What makes him such a great villain is his motivation. The only reason he’s helping the destructive machines is that he feels the galaxy has no way to survive. And he believes that if he shows that organics can be useful, the synthetics will have a place for them in their new world. So, you can understand his reasoning, even if you still oppose it, which makes him a compelling antagonist.

5 Mass Effect 2: Expansions

Every game in the original trilogy includes single-player expansions, and the ones in Mass Effect 2 are some of the best.

From Lair of the Shadow Broker to Overlord, these DLC missions are incredibly fun to play. They include interesting characters, engaging combat scenarios, and some even have an impact on the Mass Effect universe as a whole. Unfortunately, the first game doesn’t stack up when it comes to expansions as there’s only two,  and neither are particularly enjoyable or memorable.

4 Original: Boss Fights

While Mass Effect as a whole doesn’t tend to be about big boss battles, the first game has some great ones. You battle The Thoran, Matriarch Benezia, and on multiple occasions, Saren. And each brawl is distinctively different from one another and any other skirmish in the story.

The war with The Thoran is about taking down the mindless drones it creates. Besting the powerful Asari, Benezia, is about avoiding her and her unit’s powerful biotic attacks. And the first two battles with Saren test your accuracy as you need to hit a flying target, whereas the last Sovereign controlled tussle is about picking your shots. As a bonus, Saren’s second fight happens alongside a classic cinematic battle between the Citadel forces and Sovereign.

3 Mass Effect 2: Range Of Enemies

Mechs, Colletors, and Geth, are just a few of the enemy types you come up against during the second game. And inside of those groups, there are different variations of combatants. The Geth, for instance, have a bunch of them, including hunters who stealthily get close and ranged individuals who fire rockets.

The other games don’t have anywhere near the same range of enemies, which is a shame as it adds a lot of variety to each firefight.

2 Original: Story

Throughout its story, the original game manages to build the deep, detailed world of Mass Effect and deliver an engaging self-contained narrative in the process.  It’s a captivating tale that follows the first-ever human Spectre as they attempt to stop Saren and his Geth forces from unleashing the Reapers onto the galaxy.

The story takes all sorts of twists and turns throughout, but most importantly, it builds up both the legacy of Shepard and the threat of the Reapers. The later games’ stories either don’t advance the overall narrative enough or include too many disappointing moments.

1 Mass Effect 2: Suicide Mission

Mass Effect has always been about making difficult choices. And the decision-based system is best used during the final mission of the second game. It’s up to you to orchestrate the attack on the Collector base, meaning you have to decide who is best suited to each job.

The choices you make - along with your ship’s upgrades and what loyalty missions you’ve done - directly affect who survives the mission. Make a mess of it, and the Normandy will become a very lonely place. Alternatively, though, excellent leadership skills could keep everyone alive. It makes every cutscene a tension-filled moment as you pray that your favorite companions survive.

NEXT: Mass Effect: 10 Things We Wish We Knew Before Playing The Original Trilogy The First Time