Last year at The Game Awards, BioWare revealed that it was hard at work on another Mass Effect title, which shocked many diehard players. Mass Effect is one of the most beloved science fiction video game series of all time. The reveal of a sequel coming after the poorly received Mass Effect: Andromeda was a delight to fans of the galaxy-spanning adventures. The trailer, which was light on concrete details, hinted heavily that the new Mass Effect would feature the return of characters from the original trilogy, another shocker for fans.
With the upcoming release of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, fans are more excited than ever by the prospect of a brand new entry that could bring back some of the beloved characters from the past. On the precipice of Mass Effect Legendary Edition's launch, now is the perfect time to look toward the future, and illustrate some features that could make a new Mass Effect a modern classic.
One of the biggest surprises in the new Mass Effect trailer was the reveal of a visibly older Liara T'soni pulling a familiar N7 helmet out of a snowy planet surface. Mass Effect built an incredible roster of characters over the years, some who survived the Reaper Wars, and others who perished from decisions made by the player.
After the multiple endings of the original series, Commander Shepard's fate is unknown. A new game that combined some of the classic characters fans loved with some brand new faces, particularly in the player character, could bridge the gap between the original series and a new adventure perfectly. It is time for Commander Shepard to rest, and a new hero to take over the task of saving the galaxy.
The Mass Effect games are all about exploration and adventure that spans multiple galaxies in a pursuit to save the world from evil. However, while Mass Effect continued its galaxy-jumping narrative throughout the series, it lost the Mako tank after the first game. Although the mechanics were questionable at best, the Mako levels in the first Mass Effect game were a treat to many fans, and the vehicle sections in Andromeda felt like a step in the right direction.
A new Mass Effect that triumphantly brought back the Mako and harnessed the power of current generation consoles to create large explorable worlds fit for vehicles could help give fans a real sense of discovery. Players bounding along a hostile new world inside the familiar jump-jet-equipped tank could further evolve the sense of wonder players felt when experiencing Mass Effect for the first time over a decade ago.
The original Mass Effect trilogy ended with three possible outcomes. The player could choose to destroy the Reapers and also all friendly AI in the galaxy, control the Reapers and become a godlike AI being, or synthesize all organic and AI life to create harmony. Additionally, all of these original endings destroyed or damaged the relay systems, cutting off the galaxy from hyper-speed travel.
From the clues in the trailer, it seems very likely that the new Mass Effect game will be taking place many years after the events of the original trilogy. This seems to mean that developer BioWare will be forced to choose what the canon ending is for the series, a monumental task that will literally have galaxy-spanning effects. Just like it is time for Commander Shepard to rest, a new sequel that connects to both the original trilogy and Andromeda needs to branch out on its own. A chosen canon ending will be a great starting point for the new adventure.
The original Mass Effect series was a great third-person cover shooter, but that solid combat didn't really shine until Mass Effect: Andromeda. Although Andromeda didn't do much right in terms of story and presentation, it effectively evolved the high-energy, dynamic combat that the series always strived for.
Andromeda's jump-jet maneuverability combined with its visually striking and hard-hitting biotic powers made the combat feel empowering and fluid, no matter what class players chose. A new Mass Effect needs to build off this combat model, offering more mobility options and thrilling ways to tackle each battle.
With Mass Effect Legendary Edition due to release on May 14 this year, many fans are abuzz with a renewed interest in the series and its classic characters. After suffering a huge failure with its online looter shooter Anthem, developer BioWare is seeking redemption. While following up on one of the most beloved trilogies in all video games isn't easy, there's no better way for BioWare to stage a comeback than to make fans fall in love with Mass Effect all over again.
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