The release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition has sparked new discussions around the future of the franchise, and fans are already wondering what BioWare has in store with the eventual release of Mass Effect 4. Some of the changes introduced to the trilogy in Mass Effect Legendary Edition could be paving the way for gameplay in the next sequel.
For a while it seemed that any future Mass Effect releases were put on hold following the poor reception of Mass Effect: Andromeda, but the 2020 Game Awards surprised fans with the reveal of a new Mass Effect trailer. While there is not currently an official release date for the game, BioWare has confirmed that a new mainline story is in the works for the franchise.
Unlike Andromeda, Mass Effect 4 already seems to be headed in a more familiar direction with the future of the series. The teaser trailer for the game involved the reveal of a major ing character in the Mass Effect trilogy, Liara T'soni. This has given many fans hope that the franchise will be returning to its roots with the release of ME4.
The Most Important Takeaway For Mass Effect 4
A gameplay opinion that's held true among many Mass Effect 1 players is that open world exploration tends to hinder the series rather than help it. This was a common criticism of Mass Effect: Andromeda, as well. Even with the improved Mako controls in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, planet exploration tends to feel tedious and boring. There isn't enough content to justify long stretches of relatively empty terrain in the eyes of most fans. The Mass Effect series is more suited to smaller, more tailored experiences. The mechanic of scanning planets rather than landing on them in ME2 and ME3 helped to resolve this, and Mass Effect 4 should follow suit.
It's the story elements of the franchise that appeal to the majority of Mass Effect fans, not the opportunity for extensive exploration - and a few intricately designed areas seem to be better received than vast and empty open worlds. Arguably the most important takeaway from Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the longevity of the series' appeal. The story of Shepard and the Normandy is still engaging to new players and long-time fans alike, and the success of Mass Effect Legendary Edition is a testament to this. While Mass Effect: Andromeda was ambitious in separating itself from the previous games of the franchise, the worlds of Andromeda felt poorly fleshed-out in comparison to the galaxy players were introduced to in the original Mass Effect trilogy.
The next Mass Effect game may not serve as a direct continuation of Shepard's story - which, by the end of ME3, is more or less fully concluded - but it can build upon familiar characters and locations that fans will be excited to return to. Rather than making the game a fresh start for the series, player choices from previous games should carry real weight in Mass Effect 4 to give Shepard a tangible impact on the galaxy.