BothMass EffectandDragon Ageare series with at least a decade under their belts and a large contingent of dedicated fans. They’ve also become some ofBioWare’s most successful and fan-favorite franchises, and they currently have their next big installments in development. Lots of eyes are understandably on the future of these two series, but while their recent entries have been hogging a lot of the limelight, it’s been easy for fans to forget thatBioWarehas a variety of great games in its past as well.11
From sci-fi shooters to action RPGs set in a world inspired by Chinese mythology, BioWare’s stable of games presents players with plenty of diverse experiences. Some are definitely more well-known than others, but that doesn’t mean older or slightly more obscure titles should be forgotten. While fans wait patiently for morenews ofMass Effect 4andDragon Age: Dreadwolf, they should take a look back through BioWare’s catalog of developed games and see if there are any that they want to check out.
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Shattered Steel
Shattered Steelwas released in 1996, the yearafter BioWare was founded. The mech simulation game took players to a far future where humanity faces extinction and must fight for their survival against a variety of alien enemies. It had a range of “Planet Runners” – bipedal combat mechs – that players could choose from, including what weapons, engines, and shield generators they would equip.Shattered Steelwas received fairly well, with fun but not overly complex action, but it was seen as a shallower interpretation of other games in the same genre.
Baldur’s Gate And Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
Baldur’s Gatewas BioWare’s first foray into the world of fantasy RPGs. Inspired by theDungeons & Dragonssetting of the Forgotten Realms,Baldur’s Gatefeatured a world that some players might already be familiar with. Players could create their own character and then explore the in-game world, recruiting a variety of companions as they went.Baldur’s Gatewas a massive success and revolutionized the RPG genre, setting many of the standards that subsequent titles followed.
The impressive design of the settings, the levels of customization, and the engrossing storyline all received praise, and the release of a sequel two years later came as no surprise.Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amnwas also critically acclaimedand built on the elements that had made the first game so well-received. Its gameplay was slicker, its features more advanced, and the sequel had another compelling tale with new characters and additional twists and turns.
MDK2
After the release of the firstBaldur’s Gate,BioWare returned to sci-fi for its next game.MDK2is a third-person shooter and a sequel to the Shiny Entertainment-developedMDK. The second installment picks up mere moments after the end of the first game and plunges players right back into the world of Kurt Hectic, Dr. Hawkins, and Max who try to defend Earth from an alien invasion. Unlike the first game, gamers can switch between the three main characters and utilize their different skillsets to help them solve puzzles and complete platforming sections, in addition toMDK’s more shooting-focused gameplay.
Neverwinter Nights
Returning once again toDungeons and Dragonsand the Forgotten Realms campaign,Neverwinter Nightswas another fantasy RPG from BioWare. UnlikeBaldur’s Gate,Neverwinter Nightsallowed players to host game servers and engage with multiplayer. The base game had a story campaign that could be tackled either in single-player or multiplayer, and this helped to makeNeverwinter Nightsan accessible and flexible experience for a whole host of gamers. The title was praised for its gameplay and its visuals were singled out as particularly impressive. BioWare developed a number of expansions, but Obsidian took over the development of the sequel.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Released by BioWare in 2003,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicimmediately became the gold standardforStar Warsstorytelling. It took the narrative back thousands of years before the vast majority ofStar Warsmaterial and opened up a whole new world to fans. Players could customize their playable Jedi and explore familiar worlds like Tatooine alongside less-familiar ones like Manaan.KOTORreceived critical acclaim, with praise for its gameplay, story, settings, and worldbuilding in particular, and it has been hugely influential on subsequent titles.
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Jade Empire
The action RPGJade Empirewas a bit of a departure for BioWareand moved away from established franchises or more traditional sci-fi and fantasy settings. Set in a fictional far-eastern kingdom influenced by ancient Chinese history and mythology,Jade Empireallowed players to pick one of six pre-set character archetypes and then travel through the land tackling quests and following the epic saga at the heart of the game. It also contained elements that are now seen as ‘classic’ BioWare ingredients, like morality spectrums and dialogue options, as well as the ability to romance companions.
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhoodwas BioWare’sfirst game specifically developed for a handheld device, and the title focused on Knuckles' kidnapping and the disappearance of the Chaos Emeralds. Utilizing the fan-favorite speedster and his friends,Sonic Chroniclesincluded both exploration and combat and even took players to another dimension. The game got a mixed response, with praise for the colorful design and graphics but criticism for the fairly insubstantial story.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Returning to the world ofStar Wars,BioWare releasedStar Wars: The Old Republicin 2011. This MMORPG offered players a wide variety of professions, races, and skills to customize their characters and explore the expansiveStar Warssetting. The three-act storyline gave gamers something to progress through as they navigated the rich world and leveled up their character with hundreds of hours of content to entertain them. While initially the game was immensely popular, it’s had a rocky ride over the years, but it still remains a beloved corner of theStar Warsuniverse.
Anthem
Anthemhad so much promise, but the 2019 multiplayer action-RPG failed to deliver. Players lovedAnthem’s comprehensive and enjoyable flight controls, its energetic combat, and the impressive visuals, but its story and gameplay loop left a lot to be desired. BioWare was originally committed to improving the game and even proposeda new and improvedAnthem 2.0, but that was eventually shelved so that the developer could focus on itsMass EffectandDragon Agefranchises.
