The Dragon Age game series has never had a consistent visual style, with dramatic changes from game-to-game. However, even some longtime fans were surprised at how dramatic the changes in Dragon Age: The Veilguard's reveal trailer were. The changes to the art style were only made more clear in the gameplay trailer, where the style has pivoted to be less realistic and more stylized than Dragon Age: Inquisition, with a vibrant color palette.

In contrast, the Mass Effect trilogy had an art style and combat system that went largely unchanged over the course of the three games, with some modification and streamlining regarding the combat system. The biggest stylistic change to Mass Effect came with Mass Effect: Andromeda, which was largely necessitated thanks to BioWare's switch to EA's Frostbite engine. Now that BioWare has mastered Frostbite and taken a bold new direction with Dragon Age: The Veilguard - and with the previous Mass Effect game being criticized heavily for its visuals - it may be time for Mass Effect 4 to establish its own stylistic identity via a fresh art style.

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Mass Effect 4 Needs a New Identity That Works

Mass Effect 3's ending sparked a controversy so widespread and unrelenting that BioWare released a new DLC ending for free to replace the original one. Mass Effect: Andromeda was released just a few years later to a largely disappointing critical reception, although that reception has improved over time. Much of the criticism that Mass Effect: Andromeda received was directed at its animations, although the changes made to the combat system were widely welcomed.

Mass Effect 4 can't return to Mass Effect: Andromeda's art style if BioWare wants to avoid the same controversy, and the original trilogy's art style has become very dated since its release over a decade ago. Mass Effect 4 is in need of a refresh, both in terms of animation but also in terms of art style. With BioWare's announcement that it has a handle on Frostbite, there's more potential for the Mass Effect universe to develop stylistically, without the same problems that affected Mass Effect: Andromeda.

How Mass Effect 4 Could Move in a New Direction

Forging a New Path

A complete change in art style might feel jarring, but Mass Effect 4 is very likely still years away from release and a fresh new look that overhauls the colors and textures of the galaxy could be exactly what the series needs. Like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Mass Effect 4 needs to impress fans both old and new, perhaps more so because of the tumultuous baggage of Mass Effect 3's ending and Mass Effect: Andromeda's reception. With the critical reception of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's prologue being largely positive from those who have seen it, adopting a confident refresh may be exactly what Mass Effect 4 needs.

Remembering Mass Effect's Original Goals

One of the aims of the first Mass Effect game was to invoke a feeling of wonder when exploring the galaxy and encountering planets. Unfortunately, the technology at the time was not quite able to bring that goal to life, but BioWare's progression with Frostbite might be the key to finally achieving that in Mass Effect 4. Streamlining the style and emphasizing color and scale, rather than leaning into a realistic style that tends to age faster, might bring Mass Effect 4 into the direction that it needs to take to revitalize the series.

Mass Effect

Created by

Casey Hudson

Video Game(s)

Mass Effect , Mass Effect 2 , Mass Effect 3 , Mass Effect: Andromeda , Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Creation Year

2007

Developer(s)

BioWare , Edge of Reality , Demiurge Studios , Straight Right

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts , Microsoft Game Studios