The Mass Effect game universe is a space opera starring Commander Shepard, the first human Spectre and a hero of the Systems Alliance. On the journey across the stars, the Commander meets many types of aliens, friends and foes, and must save the galaxy from Saren Arterius, the hive-minded Geth, and most of all, the powerful Reapers, invaders from beyond known spacce. And it might be time to polish that adventure a bit and give it a new coat of paint.

BioWare is re-releasing this beloved game series early next year, and fans may wonder (and debate) whether the Mass Effect trilogy should have a remastered release to touch up its graphics and sound design, or perhaps the games should undergo a remake so they can have more significant changes under the hood. A case could be made for both.

10 REMASTER: Sheer Nostalgia

A broad reason to only give the games a remaster and not a remake is the nostalgia factor. Although the first game is only 13 years old as of this writing, which is young compared to some franchises, it’s still enough time for some players to realize that they want to keep the Mass Effect games as they were, and keep the same experience they had in 2007.

The three Mass Effect games were among the best and most technically advanced of their time, and players may want to just superficially touch up these games to bring them up to early 2020s standards while preservingg what made them a classic of their time.

9 REMAKE: Gameplay Gap Between Mass Effect 1 & 2-3

All three Mass Effect titles have gotten good reviews and are enjoyable for all players, but there is an awkward issue: the simple fact that the first Mass Effect is conspicuously different from the other two, while the second third games are much more like each other than the first. There is an odd duck among the three.

Players who like the second and third games’ mechanics and style may wish to have the first title remade to be much more similar, such as the combat mechanics, and it’ll take more than a superficial remaster to make that change happen. A remake is in order to fully bridge these games.

8 REMASTER: Basic Music In ME1

Players who want a remaster of the Mass Effect trilogy will argue that the games are largely ideal the way they are, and only minor updatss are needed. One of them is for the music of the first Mass Effect game, which sets itself apart from the second and third games, and not necessarily in a good way.

The first game’s title music is charming and atmospheric, but the in-game music is rather bland and generic compared to what ME2 and ME3 have to offer. A remastered edition could simply add the other two games’ superior soundtracks to the first title, and dispense with the generic, forgettable tracks.

7 REMAKE: Fixing ME1’s Combat Mechanics

To be more specific about how a remake could bridge the first game with the other two, the combat is a good way to make these games consistent. The first Mass Effect’s gameplay wasn’t necessarily bad, but it was much different (and somewhat clunkier) than how the next two games handled it, such as the crowded power wheel and the inconvenient melee attack feature.

The first game’s combat mechanics could and probably should be overhauled to be more like Mass Effect 3’s, from the superior weapon customization to the dedicated melee button (that includes an option for an extra-heavy melee attack).

6 REMASTER: Exploring Unsettled Worlds In Style

Overall, the first Mass Effect title feels dated compared to the other two, but it did have a few unique advantages, such as the plethora of unsettled, exotic worlds for Shepard to visit. It was like Andromeda’s theme of exploration, but about nine years early. And it can be great fun.

A remastered version of this game would allow players to explore rugged, uncharted planets with modern graphics and gameplay engines, from dust storms to the color of the sky and the terrain, and more. This time, players can pilot the Mako and really feel like they’re exploring the wild frontier of space as a pioneer.

5 REMAKE: Dark Energy Plot

The second Mass Effect title was building up a subplot about dark energy and dark matter, and it may have tied into the Reapers’ goals, stars dying, biotics and more. Ultimately, this plot thread was never resolved, but a remake could take care of things.

BioWare may have added an extended ending to Mass Effect 3, but that company could do more, by fleshing out the dark energy plot in much greater detail in a remake of the series. Potentially, entire missions, characters and endings might be based on this plot thread if it were revived in a remake.

4 REMASTER: More Paragon/Renegade Interrupts

Paragon and renegade interrupts offered a whole new dimension to dialogue in the second and third games, from comforting a grieving person to pointing a gun at an uncooperative party or just decking them. More is better, one could argue.

The first game didn’t have any at all, but a remastered version of it could sprinkle in some interrupts, such as when Shepard is arguing with Saren, or trying to get some answers from Anoleis on Noveria. And there would almost definitely be paragon and rengade interrupts during the “Asteroid X-57” mission, when Shepard faces and negotiates with Batarian terrorists.

3 REMAKE: Adding New Loyalty Missions

The first game was busy establishing the broader universe and setting the series’ tone, so it didn’t have a lot of time for major side quests. It’s true that Shepard can help Urdnot Wrex recover some ancient Krogan body armor and help Garrus track down and kill a mad scientist who had escaped justice, but that’s not saying much.

A remake of the series could grant proper loyalty missions to the original six squadmates, from Ashley Williams to Urdnot Wrex, and give them a character-deepening side quest to that will help them get some closure before facing the terrifying theat of Saren and his Geth minions.

2 REMASTER: Classic Setpieces

All three games had some stunning setpieces in them, from certain battlefields to remote worlds to space battles, and they could all stand to get a graphic upgrade to take advantage of modern HD tech and graphics engines. The battle of the Citadel, already a visual treat, would look that much better with 2020-era graphics under the hood.

The same could be said about the fierce blizzards and desolate mountain ranges of Noveria, the searing lava fields and volcanoes of  Therum, the sprawling metropolises of Ilos and Feros, and of course, the Citadel itself. All these locales and more call for modern graphics to bring out their true beauty.

1 REMAKE: New DLC-Style Content

All three Mass Effect titles have DLC to expand upon their contents, but not all DLC is created equal. Some DLC packs such as Lair of the Shadow Broker and the Citadel DLC are among the best, but Bring Down the Sky was mediocre, and the Pinnacle Station DLC was basically nothing at all. It was not worth one penny or one second of time.

That’s a shame, given how broad the first game’s universe is and how much exploration it encourages. A remake of the first title could add a few DLC-style worlds and quests to bring it onto par with the other two games’ side quests, and this could be a chance to add another vehicle, like the Hammerhead or something entirely new.

NEXT: 10 Games to Play if You Like Mass Effect