Summary
Mass Effect 4is without a doubt one of the most hotly anticipated EA games in the works right now—even if no one seems to know anything about it. Questions likewhether Commander Shepard will return, where and when the game will take place, and how much of the ill-fatedMass Effect: Andromedawill be retained continue to swirl around this soft reboot, but one thing should be abundantly clear: it will be a fresh start for the franchise, bringing it into the modern gaming era.
Naturally, there are a number of risks and benefits associated withMass Effect 4, or whatever it will ultimately be titled. The fact of the matter is that, whileMass Effect 3was a fairly definitive (albeit controversial) end for the series, theMass EffectIP is simply too valuable for EA to ignore. Recent games likeBaldur’s Gate 3andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthhave proven that RPGs are more in-demand than ever, so it makes sense that EA would want to capitalize on the genre’s enduring popularity by reviving one of its most beloved contributions. At the same time, BioWare has had a bit of a rough go of things post-ME3, with critical and commercial flops likeAndromedaandAnthemknocking the once-lauded studio down several pegs.Mass Effect 4can’t feel phoned-in or like a cash grab; it has to feel natural and justified.
While BioWare will be fighting to redeem its reputation withME4,EA has had a surprising redemption story, at least when it comes to single-player games. This may offer a bit of hope for old-schoolMass Effectfans.
Mass Effect 4 Shouldn’t Be Forced to Relaunch the Series
Mass Effect 4: Good Game First, Franchise-Builder Second
While both EA and nostalgicMass Effectfans would no doubt love for the seminal sci-fi franchise to be born anew and spawn a dozen new entries, this can’t be the top priority. Both the games and film industries have proven time and again that putting franchise building over strong, independent storytelling is a recipe for a lackluster product, soBioWare really shouldn’t count its chickens before they hatch.Mass Effect 4will have enough on its plate trying to piece together thedisparate pieces of the originalMass Effecttrilogy, so a theoreticalMass Effect 5should be the last thing on BioWare’s mind.
BioWare Should Strike a Good Balance with Mass Effect 4
Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with trying to relaunch theMass Effectfranchise, and it’s possible that BioWare’s writers are cooking up a new story that is best told across multiple installments. If this is truly a natural direction for the series to take, then great, but at the same time,Mass Effect 4’s narrative should be able to stand on its own two feet.The wait forMass Effect 4has already felt eternal, so if the game finally releases only to end on a cliffhanger, then it could be unsatisfying.
TheMass Effectworld is vast and intricate, with the potential to tell dozens of powerful, intriguing stories. If BioWare really wants to makeMass Effect 5,6, or7, then that is certainly a possibility, but perhaps the door to these subsequent releases should be cracked, rather than flung, open.Mass Effect 4ought to be interesting and fulfilling in its own right, and while it should leave players wanting more, the promise of yet another trilogy isn’t what will make the game worth playing. Instead, great storytelling, solid gameplay, and strongRPG staples are what will makeMass Effect 4a long-overdue return to form. If the game needs to be a one-off in order for these criteria to be met, then that’s fine.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
WHERE TO PLAY
One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced. Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors and packs — remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD. Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome.
