A problem with Mass Effect

Mass Effect is a good place to start. Mass Effect 3 has a lot of references to previous games, but you can probably still understand the plot if you play that first.

Mass Effect isn't a trilogy that just upgrades graphics and add a new story. There are a lot of RPG/gameplay differences in previous games, I suggest you to start with Mass Effect 1. It has pretty nice graphics if you ask me, not dated at all. Also ME1 has the best RPG gameplay with great decisions and gameplay mechanics.

IMHO ME3 is worst game in the trilogy.

Starting with ME3 will definitely take away a big part of the game. Some of it's most important aspects are the characters and their stories and without having played the previous installments you kind of alienate yourself from them. I can't even begin to imagine how little impact the Tuchanka arc for example would have to someone that's not familiar and invested with the characters in it, which otherwise is one of the most emotional parts of the game. Or the resolution of the Quarian/Geth war. Or many, many moments in the game. So yeah, imo start with the 1st one and gradually make your way to the end. You'll lose so much of it if you don't.

Edit: Plus there are decisions you make in each game that carry over to the next ones. Some people may have even died or lived depending on those choices and it makes every gameplay unique

All of the people above said what I wanted to, but I also want to add that if you start a character in ME1, you can carry the character and all of his/her choices into the sequels.

Definitely starting with the first one is the best idea.

Mass Effect is not Star Wars, you don't start in the middle. You start with first one, after that you play the second and you finish with third.

You shouldn't care about graphics, especially in this kind of games where the story and the gameplay are really the most important thing.

I'd always recommend starting from first game in any franchise. I can't talk much about ME series though as I only played ME1 and didn't really like it all that much so I didn't even bother trying the other ones.

If you can wait, wait for a sale and get the first two game as well, they usually cost beans at Steam or at Origin. I'm sure you can understand the story from the third one alone, but you're missing out a good part of the great journey. ( and I say this as a player who only told the 1st one. It was really great, and I plan to buy the trilogy sooner or later to finish the story :) )

Let me answer your question with another question:
Do you think if you watch only the third Hobbit movie, you will understand the whole story?
Same with Mass Effect.

In my humble opinion, ME1 is the one you should play. It was a pure Bioware gem (before Bioware was killed by EA). Deep and sort of epic story, some action but not too much, I really love it.
Then came ME2, more action, less RPG, but still a good game. When playing ME2, you will probably want a full edition with the side optional characters. Still in my humble opinion, they're worth it for the game to be more immersive.
I won't talk long about ME3: shiny graphics, yes, but that's all. It's a little bit better if you import a ME2 savegame with the optional characters, because you'll continue their stories in ME3. ME3 is for me, like DA2, the perfect example of how EA's policy is short-term oriented only, without any respect for games and gamers.

I think you can find some HD texture packs for previous Mass Effects. MEUITM, search it on Moddb or Nexusmods

Why would you not start at the beginning of a trilogy, in any case?

It's more enjoyable, if You start at the first. Even though the controls are ... hm... not so good, but You'll enjoy the later installments more, if You understand the inside jokes and references.

All the games are good. But to enjoy the most, you should start with the first.

If it's a modern bioware game? ALWAYS play the first game. Otherwise you'll miss out on a great full story.

WTF is wrong with you? Start with the first game!!! You know, like a normal person? You want to play the third because you like the graphics??? What kind of shitty, snob twat are you? Graphics should be last on the importance priority between the features of a video-game. For a serious gamer, that is. Also, if you think Mass Effect is the golden standard series for video game graphics, then it means you've been fucking living under a rock. They're not bad looking, but they're nothing special either. And ME 3 makes no exception. Because in Mass Effect it's all about the story. And no, you won't understand shit of the story if you play the third game first. like...DUUUUUH!!!!!. You want great looking video games, which you can play instantly without worrying about understanding the story or not (because they all have self contained stories)? Try games like Bioshock Infinite, Bulletstorm, Rage, Tomb Raider, or Far Cry 3.

Oh right, and the first Mass Effect game is by far the best, while the third is by far, the weakest... And not particularly because of the ending, like the majority of fan-base raged about. People who have an actual brain know it's because this series was striped down heavily of its RPG coat and turned into a fucking cover-based TPS, very similar to Gears of War. Much better and more interesting than GoW (which is basically a modern military shooter, just with a third person view), it's true, but this game is branded and marketed as an RPG.

Some game series you can do that. Mass Effect you cannot. You need to start from the first one :D

start with first one u miss too much if u do otherwise

You are better starting with the first game, more than any other reason because your choices carry over from game to game. So some little thing you did in the first game could effect what happens in the third game. Also, the first one is far superior to the third, the ending of which I'm sure you've already heard was a massive disappointment.

Don't skip ME and ME2 for several reasons:

• amazing gameplay, story, plot, lore, etc
• You going to love reading all the "codex". They have amazing info. I love mostly when they involve physics
• gives you a better understanding of what is happening and ME3
• you understand better all the species
• gives you a lot more choices in ME3
• etc

DO NOT SKIP THEM!!!!!!!!

I'll ask you a simple question. If you want to read books that are a part of trilogy, would you start with the last book? It's the same with playing Mass Effect games.

Start the triology in order, make your commander Shepard and make sure to import him to Mass Effect 2 and later import that Shepard to Mass Effect 3.

Little things carry over from game to game and its an overall better experience than just playing Mass Effect 3 with the preset decisions.

The only problem I would see is DLC, some of it is important for story and later games assume you played them even if you didnt leaving that bad feeling of not knowing what they are talking about. Getting the triology is cheap but thats the EA trick to get more DLC money makingg you pay double or triple of the money you paid for a discounted game.

If you feel that playing all of the 3 games is too much you can play Mass Effect 3 and read all the codex stuff, that would make you get most of the important story elements but you would miss Mass Effect 1 and 2 wich are really good games.

Start with ME. It's too good of a story to just skip two thirds.
Besides, if you don't transfer saves from previous games you'll end up with a default Shepard who ignored all the sidequests, made a bunch of really stupid decisions, didn't recruit several party members and let at least three other die. So no, definitely not the right way to experience the story.