Highlights
- Mass Effect 4 aims to restore the franchise's reputation, but if it adds a multiverse, it may diminish the impact of the game's scenes and character relationships.
- The multiverse concept may provide real story justification for the choices made by Commander Shepard in previous games, but it also risks making the overall story less dramatic.
- While multiverse-centric stories are popular in fiction, it could potentially make Mass Effect 4 forgettable and less distinguishable from other games.
Mass Effect 4 has a lot to live up to, and has to make a big statement if it is to restore the series’ sky-high reputation. The BioWare-developed RPG hasn’t been at the top of its game in over a decade, but the unwavering quality of the first two games made the franchise one that millions looked to get their sci-fi fix in the gaming space. A pit stop in the Andromeda Galaxy in 2017 missed the mark, and only really served to make people even more eager to resume the journey of the Normandy and its crew mates. The announcement of a new game finally scratched that itch.
Little is known about Mass Effect 4 outside the announcement trailer and a handful of cryptic clues, but it seems to be going back to its roots. The direction is completely under wraps, however, and has the freedom to do almost anything as it fights to re-establish its place as one of gaming’s must-play series. Exploring the limitless nature of the multiverse would adhere to a popular narrative wrinkle that plenty of fictional properties are using, but it could also make Mass Effect 4’s story less dramatic, which it simply cannot afford to be.
Mass Effect’s Consequences Legitimize The Choice-based Gameplay
BioWare’s crowning sci-fi RPG series is known for its willingness to let players choose outcomes at specific times in the story. The structure of the narrative doesn’t change much, but gamers can color in the picture in a way that feels unique. The paragon and renegade options, in particular, are important factors in making the experience fresh, and a multiverse could give real story justification to the good or evil choices that Commander Shepard makes throughout.
The multiverse can also be used as a powerful tool to retcon and disassociate from narrative elements that weren’t well received. The ending of Mass Effect 3 was not loved by fans, and left a slightly bitter taste when the credits rolled, despite the previous dozens of hours being sublime. Dabbling with the multiverse could imply that the final decision in the third game was one of a number of possibilities, so Mass Effect 4 doesn’t necessarily have to directly unpick or double down on what happened in the 2012 game’s disappointing conclusion.
A Mass Effect Multiverse Could Lack Drama
However, while Mass Effect’s nonlinear approach to character development and player agency would facilitate the idea of multiple universes, the structure means that a lot of interactions with the series’ personalities can feel less consequential. Commander Shepard’s relationship with long-time Mass Effect war buddy Garrus isn’t as special knowing that it’s only one of infinite universes or possibilities. The scenes in Mass Effect have to feel weighted to be impactful, and the lack of limits in the multiverse can be a huge drawback, as it means that the stakes that are built over hours of gameplay are unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
Multiverses are immensely overused in fiction right now. Mass Effect’s best features are its story and characters, so bringing in the concept of parallel universes could end up diminishing the drama and wonder of the series’ first three excellent installments. After the disappointing Mass Effect: Andromeda and the underwhelming Anthem, BioWare has to make sure that Mass Effect 4 stands out rather than blends in. A multiverse-centric story is potentially the most forgettable thing the developer could do.
Mass Effect 4 is in development.