BioWare confirmed that a new installment in the massively popular Mass Effect series was in development in 2020, and since then, fans have been finding it hard to keep their excitement in check. Players who came to love the world of Commander Shepard and their crew were pleased to learn that the franchise still had life in it, but not much has been revealed about Mass Effect 4 so far. The first three games, in particular, quickly solidified their reputations as classics in the science fiction genre, and there are plenty of elements fans would like to see make a return in the next Mass Effect game.
However, even if the original Mass Effect trilogy has a special place in the hearts of many gamers, the fourth installment has a slightly more complicated legacy. Mass Effect: Andromeda definitely has its fans, and it was still a fresh take on the beloved series, but the game did face a few criticisms as well. Despite a buggy launch and other issues, there are many aspects of Mass Effect: Andromeda that players would love to see make a comeback in Mass Effect 4 alongside features from the first three games.
Flexible Combat
Some criticisms aimed at Mass Effect: Andromeda may be valid, particularly the ones regarding the technical issues the game experienced, but there are still lots of reasons why it is a great game. One that stands out is Mass Effect: Andromeda's combat, which took familiar systems from the first three games and leveled them up. Players could still choose to specialize in certain classes and pursue abilities that centered around technical, biotic, or purely combat skills, but they were not locked into one narrow specialization.
Gamers were able to change their Profile throughout the game and switch up what abilities they were using, meaning they could completely change their approach to combat whenever they wanted. This not only made Ryder much more effective, as they could tailor their tactics to whatever enemies they were facing, but it was also really fun. Players could test out the wider range of skills and experiment with whichever ones they wanted, from a Cryo Beam to the old favorite Overload.
In addition to upping the ante when it came to what abilities were on offer, Mass Effect: Andromeda added a jetpack that allowed Ryder to leap into the air or even hover. This made fights and mobility much more dynamic and added levels of verticality that weren't available to the same extent in previous games. Hopefully Mass Effect 4 keeps these in mind when it comes to its own combat, and looks to Mass Effect: Andromeda more than the original trilogy for inspiration.
A Story That's Personal To The Protagonist
Shepard's role in the original Mass Effect trilogy was vital for the story, and their journey from newly appointed Spectre to savior of the galaxy was undoubtedly an emotional one. But Mass Effect: Andromeda presented players with a brand-new galaxy, plot, and protagonist, choosing to really change things up. Some would argue that this didn't exactly pay off, as Ryder wasn't as memorable or impactful compared to Shepard. However, there were some things about Ryder's journey that worked really well and could transition nicely into Mass Effect 4.
From what fans have seen of the upcoming game so far, it seems like BioWare is keen to integrate both galaxies that have served as settings for previous Mass Effect games, so it's not clear where exactly the next entry will take place. It seems unlikely that Ryder will make an appearance, and even more unlikely that Shepard will, so players will probably be following a new protagonist as their story unfolds. When gamers first meet Shepard, they're already a well-known military figure with an impressive career behind them. Ryder was young, untested, and experienced a massive personal trauma at the start of the game.
This works really well as an origin story, and players can get more invested as they not only level up their character but also see them grow into a leader and a hero. Mass Effect: Andromeda did well to add this layer to the narrative, and it could be something that Mass Effect 4 pursues as well.
Keeping A Sense Of Humor
One of the best parts of any Mass Effect game is the companions. They help to provide emotional connections, are central to many of the main story beats, and most importantly, they bring humor. Despite the primary plotlines of each Mass Effect game revolving around serious threats and galaxy-wide problems, the games still maintain their sense of humor. A lot of this is delivered through the interactions with and between companion characters, and Mass Effect: Andromeda made sure to keep comedy front and center.
There may be moments of tension, distress, or even heartbreak throughout Mass Effect: Andromeda as Ryder deals with the death of their father and the pressures of finding a new home for the arrivals from the Milky Way, but these are still occasionally undercut with humor. Depending on conversation choices, players can develop a sarcastic Ryder who loves to deliver some great one-liners, and Liam's loyalty mission also stands out as a fantastic example of Mass Effect: Andromeda's satirical self-awareness.
Diverse Planets And Scenery
Mass Effect: Andromeda's character models and animations may have been the focus of a lot of the game's criticism, but there were still some gorgeous environments for players to explore. With a handful of exceptions, the majority of planets in the earlier Mass Effect games felt very similar and fairly simplistic, and this occasionally made exploration feel like a chore rather than a pleasant or worthwhile activity. Mass Effect: Andromeda really wanted to place importance on exploration considering the focus of the game's story and the introduction to a new galaxy, so the planets and environments needed to feel interesting and distinct.
Most would agree that the game nailed this, from the lush but deadly Havarl to the frozen wastes of Voeld. There may not have been a variety of alien species to discover, but Mass Effect: Andromeda presented players with a galaxy that felt completely new and different from what they'd seen before. Mass Effect 4 needs to step this up, and it will be interesting to see how it reimagines familiar settings as well.
Mass Effect 4 is in development.