Mass Effect 4should continue the trend of excellence its fans are used to seeing. BioWare’s most recent addition to the franchise,Mass Effect: Andromeda, didn’t have the most glowing reception upon release in 2017, and the developer will be eager to right its wrongs. Despite taking players on a journey 2.5 million light years away from Earth and having ample room for creativity in its plot and gameplay,Andromedaunderwhelmed its expectations. However, the disappointment could prove to be a turning point for the franchise, andMass Effect 4could learn a few lessons on what to incorporate and discard from its predecessor.
The fanfare forMass Effect: Andromedawas so intense that it got nominated forMost Anticipated Game at The Game Awards, making the eventual release a bit more of a disappointment in the eyes of franchise faithfuls. Expectations are hard to contain, andAndromeda’s promise of new galaxies and aliens fanned the flames to an unmanageable degree for BioWare. Instead, the forces of innovation clashed with the typicalMass Effectstoryline.Mass Effect 4is returning to more familiar territory, and BioWare’s expansive ideas could add a fresh dynamic to the franchise.
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Andromeda’s Mixture of Problems Proved Problematic
BioWare has been conspicuously silent about the details ofMass Effect 4’s development. The hushed tone could be beneficial to the title’s anticipation, as some doubts have been creeping in aboutMass Effect 4’s ability to recapture the magic of earlier franchise releases followingAndromeda. However, there are always a few crumbs, and fans are aware the new title will likely return to the Milky Way. Series regulars like Liara are reappearing, and BioWare retracing footsteps could point to oldMass Effectplot pointssurfacing, although the devs have spoken about their intentions of incorporating the best of both galaxies intoMass Effect 4.
Andromedamost noticeably struggled with its technical components and plot development. Starting with recurringerrors,Mass Effecthas long endured criticism for its hectic inventory management, and the UI inAndromedaamplified this problem. The gear-changing mechanics were particularly bothersome as players had to visit loadout stations for the smallest of changes, meaning they were often stuck with weapons ill-suited for a mission.
Mass Effect: Andromeda’s story buildup wasn’t handled perfectly either. The originalMass Effecttrilogy had much success thanks to defining plot points, most notablyMass Effect 3’s Reaper Invasionof Earth. One of the most disappointing aspects ofAndromedawas its missions. Missions had been the bread and butter of theMass Effectfranchise in previous games, butAndromedastrayed from the dynamic that catapulted the franchise to stardom by using boring, repetitive, and predictable tasks of glorified treasure hunting.
Battle missions lacked the swagger expected of a franchise likeMass Effect, and in general,Andromedaflopped in the delivery of its most essential component.Games likeDestinyhave shown repetitive gameplay elements can be successful, butAndromedalacked any form of excitement with its third-person shooter combat. The animation quality didn’t helpAndromeda’s cause, and while not a deal-breaker by itself, making it harder for players to enjoy the release.
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Andromeda’s Character Dynamics Could Improve Mass Effect 4
It wasn’t all doom and gloom forAndromeda, as there were some areas where BioWare made great strides to advance theMass Effectfranchise. Discovery was the dominanttheme ofAndromeda, and the developer took steps to give fans freedom to explore. The pace changed from previousMass Effecttitles where players searched for societal perils to a pressure-free exploratory experience, finding a suitable home for the species of the Ark. The lighter-hearted theme didAndromedawonders, and although such a theme is unlikely to dominate anotherMass Effecttitle, BioWare could borrow some of the less intense vibes fromAndromedato use inMass Effect 4.
The characters inMass Effect: Andromedaalso had more of a natural feel, unlike other releases. Previously, aliens' personalities were more conceptual, and the added depth to the cast forAndromedabrought them to life. Relationships between the crewmates were notably less volatile thanks to the developer’s refinements, and there were more opportunities to mend disagreements than in previous installments.
BioWare has several ways to restore theMass Effectfranchise to the prestige of its original trilogy. Given the developer’s insistence on combining elements fromAndromedaand previous titles, BioWare would do well to incorporate the improved depth of characterrelationships inMass Effect 4- although it shouldn’t be the main selling point as it was inAndromeda. Several other gameplay elements fromAndromedaweren’t well-received, andMass Effect 4would be better off leaving them in the past.
