One of the defining features of the original Mass Effect trilogy was its binary morality system. For the first three entries into the sci-fi RPG series, every choice made by players fit into one of two moral extremes. BioWare eventually removed this feature in Mass Effect: Andromeda, but with a new "Mass Effect 4" sequel that includes classic characters, BioWare could decide to bring its morality system back from the dead.
Before Andromeda's release in 2017, Mass Effect's important decisions and dialogue options were labeled either "Paragon" or "Renegade" - virtuous or selfish/brutal, respectively. Choosing either option would provide players with wildly different benefits and story outcomes later on down the line. Paragon playthroughs, for instance, might find the player with an increased number of allies earned through moral righteousness and political diplomacy. Meanwhile, a Renegade playthrough would see the player solving complex problems with simple solutions (usually violence). However, as BioWare began working on Andromeda, the studio decided to remove Mass Effect's simplistic morality system.
The reason behind this change, Andromeda Director Mac Walters told avenues toward "good" or "bad" endings, the benefits provided by either option would encourage players to choose an option simply for its gameplay benefits. With Andromeda, BioWare wanted to provide players more freedom in how they roleplay.
Should The New Mass Effect Game Bring Back The Morality System?
It could be argued that this was a mistake on BioWare's part, however. While the Paragon/Renegade binary could feel constricting for players at times, it provided two easy frameworks for roleplaying in the Mass Effect universe. Furthermore, while the various mechanical benefits earned by the player's decisions could push them to an outcome they might perceive as less than ideal, it also gave each game a kind of overarching strategy to completion; a Paragon decision might allow a player to beat a game faster or more efficiently than its Neutral or Renegade counterparts.
Now, with a new Mass Effect game right around the corner, BioWare is faced with its own binary set of options. The studio can either continue the series without its traditional morality system or resurrect it as a way to bring back the tone of - and fan nostalgia for - the original series. The latter option seems especially tempting from a certain perspective, considering how this sequel seems to call back to its predecessors, as well as the overwhelmingly negative reception fans gave to Andromeda.
Unfortunately, this may be a losing situation for BioWare, regardless of its decision. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and, either way, the quality of the final product hinges primarily on the quality of the story. After all, Mass Effect 3 had its own problems as a direct result of the morality system. Certainly, the absence of Mass Effect's morality system grants players more freedom within the narrative, but it might leave them lost and unable to find a consistent way to navigate the game's story. They might also be left wondering what the pros and cons of certain options are. The downside to freedom in this scenario is that, unless BioWare's writing makes it exceptionally clear which moral path a given option follows on its own merit, the narrative might lose its sense of structure.
Source: GamesRadar