With the Reaper threat averted, galactic life is free from the eternal cycle of reprocessing, and now we’re left wondering where Bioware will take Mass Effect as a franchise. Not too long ago it was revealed that Casey Hudson is overseeing the development of an new Mass Effect game, stating that it was being built from the bottom up. This is great news, but it’s hard to imagine how the Mass Effect team could create an enemy as worthy as the Reapers, which empowered Shepard’s status as legend in the galaxy. With that in mind, do we want another trilogy?
It’s imperative that Bioware should begin an new chapter in Mass Effect. As we’ve see throughout the trilogy, there’s a whole universe of stories to be told. Beginning a new saga is not only the most logical step, but a potential place where Mass Effect can further expand its universe both in story and gameplay, and so I’ve gathered together ten things I want to see from the new saga…
Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD
10. More Mass Effect Music
One of the biggest draws of Mass Effect is not just its spectacular story-telling, but its amazing soundtrack. As time progressed throughout the series, the music got better and better, with Mass Effect 3 standing as the highlight of the series. There are many classics which stand out like “Leaving Earth”, with the piano expressing the dire situation of Earth being attacked, then the remorseless sound of the Reaper shouting out in horror that even if your a helpless child, no-one is safe from the onslaught of the Reapers. It’s beautiful poetic composing like this that yearns to hear of more off.
Where Mass Effect 2′s underlying theme for its music was epic action, Mass Effect 3 was a combination between epic action/horror. I would love to hear more of an exploration songs, giving the impression of mystery and discovering, capturing that feeling that Star Trek The Next Generation achieved with its intro as it conveyed exploring the unknown darkness of space.
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15 Comments
He isn’t the only one that thinks the endings were good. Heaven forbid, an ending that leaves it a little open for the mind to wander a little bit. It was a fitting end to an amazingly astonishing series that we won’t see again for some time. Great article. I can only hope they drop a new ME series. an ME4 and another trilogy means they are getting greedy when they’ve said ME3 would end it all..
Actually, if you read the article it is clear that the author is blessing the music in relation to the scenes rather than the misc nonsense that was the ending(s). I myself hated the endings which totally trashed 3 games as well as the whimsical “artistic integrity” defense which anyone who understands that once you place a deadline, merchandising, and retail value to your art there is indeed little integrity. I have no clue how they can write another Mass Effect story if we’re all going to jump onboard the Synthesis bandwagon, and then have this seem Mass-Effecty (not a real word). This leaves us with the other two storylines which give players with the impersonation that Shephard died somewhat in vain to a machine-demo-god lecturing him/her on the cons and not the pros of AI vs I relationships.
I think ME:4 Is going to be a prequel to be honest, there is waaaaay to many variables in ME2 AND ME3 for them to do. A prequel would be so much more easier to do and with EA breathing down their neck I think its the most likely choice.
How about not forcing the main character – who is supposed to be a hero and beacon for all humanity – to commit genocide, eugenically molest everyone in the universe, or become a totalitarian dictator as their very final act of the game?
I’m not sure who at Bioware thought that it would be ‘artistic’ to make Shepard a war-criminal, and to use the enemy’s own weapons to achieve the enemy’s own goals, but it was irresponsible, unethical, and idiotic.
If they can aviod that in ME4, whatever it is, it will be infinitely better than the shameful ethical hypothetical machine they forced people into for ME3.
Indeed dear friend. Couldn’t have said it better. I think that’s why I suffered from post-ME3 depression basically since…well..March! No matter which ending you pick (yes, even the squeaky clean, hugs and kisses synthesis ending) you basically force Shepard into a serious ethical pretzel. No matter which one I picked, I still felt icky inside.
Destroy? Brutal calculus of war (let the Geth die for the greater good of the galaxy?) Control (totalitarianism on crack?) Or synthesis (foundationally and fundamentally altering the physical/mental function and state of every sentient being in the galaxy without their permission, consent, or awareness–clearly violating their individual right to do what they want with their bodies/brains…..and the Reapers basically get a get-out-of-jail-free card so they may frolic carefree across the meadows). Ofcourse you could pick Refuse, but we all know how well that turned out for the galaxy. ;)
Not sure at all how they could create a new series which follows the current one without demolishing whatever headcannon dreams I had to apply to ALL THREE endings in order to feel better about life, lol! I think Bioware intended the endings to be ethically gray no matter which one you picked so that there was no clear “right ending.” But still…it sucks.
Yeah, I have to say absolutely no to #9 and #1. If BioWare went back on their “the way it ends beyond the EC is up to you to decide” thing, they’d have a riot on their hands. Personally, I think if they do anything in the future, they will have a very hard time getting fans to accept it. Either they’ll have a canon ending or a starting off point that is so similar that people will be mad about choices not mattering again. They really painted themselves into a corner with the endings they way they are. Not to mention they’re all three different flavors of yuck. I count myself among those who have accepted them for what they are, but still not really all that thrilled by any of the 3 options. Seeing the “ramifications” of any of them would just turn me off from the outset.
I also don’t think you quite understand the destroy option. It doesn’t destroy the relays any more than the other two do, using the Crucible overloads them no matter what you choose. The relays are re-built in all 3 endings (it might take longer with destroy, but it still happens, along with a re-built Citadel) with the EC. It is also confirmed that QEC still works in destroy, so no one is truly cut off while the relays are being re-built.
Also, if you think Tactical Cloak is nothing but a damage booster, you’re doing it wrong. I’ll take flanking an enemy and taking them out before they know I’m there over a button-mashing charge-fest any day.
It is highly unlikely that our choices in Mass Effect 1-3 will have *any* tie-in in any future Mass Effect games. They’ve already stated that “Synthesis” will be considered the canon ending to ME3, and any future releases that take place after the events of ME3 will reflect that.
So, if the ending to Mass Effect 3 is already set in stone for future releases, it’s foolish to think that less important decisions in the trilogy would be reflected.
Besides, writing a story that takes too many variables into account would be far too taxing for a talentless halfwit like Mac Walters.
Who knows? If player choices are neglected, maybe he’ll be able to write worth a damn…
I think it would be interesting for ME4 to be a prequel that takes place in previous cycles, with different species and the reapers as well. Only drawback would be that the Reapers would prevail. Or they could make a game documenting the creation of the Reapers.
A prequel to how the reapers were made would be awesome.
in the ending of mass effect 3 (after the credits) the kid ask his dad to tell him another amazing story of this Commander Shepard and then the dad says ok we might just have time for one more.
Honestly, I do not see how there could be a sequel. The Endings are just way too different.
While it would be possible to include some minor alterations based on them (Reapers appearing or not, everyone having creepy green circuitry texture or not), some differences are just too big. Lack of AIs, for example in Destroy. Many of the game missions were about AIs. Unless they would manage to pull something like “oh yeah, we managed to rebuild them, no problem”.
Sadly, BioWare chose to abandon the Indoctrination ending, making everything that happens after Harbinger fires his laser on Earth just a illusion produced by Sheppard’s indoctrinated mind (with Destroy meaning beating it, while Synthesis and control are submission to it to different degrees). The outcome would then be decided purelyl by the force of the Fleet, with destruction of the Reapers as the ultimate reward for full EMS
if mass effect 4 coming PUT IT ON STEAM platform because ORIGIN SUCKS .NEEDS TOO MUCH bandwith and the most internet connections have low so from the ppl that have at least on pc mass effect 3 have problem with that. The 88% have this prob or at least make ORIGIN LIKE STEAM whatever u do in me 4 it would be great like the trilogy :))))
Indeed a steam option would be a definite step up, always have the feeling that some dirty little EA employee is spying on me when I log into Origin….and the bandwidth thing is a pain especially for such a poor program.
Personally for ME4 I wouldn’t mind seeing Shepard appear again, yes I know all the different choices that everyone would have made etc though in the end it didn’t matter since you were forced to choose between bad, bad, bad and bad to end the trilogy hence any previous choices you made didn’t really matter anyway….don’t get me wrong I knew even from the starter story in ME1 that the ending wasn’t going to be all roses and tree hugging while having a picnic in the park and that the probability of Shepard coming out alive seemed more bleak as the sequels came into play though being forced to choose between the genocide of all synthetics, being the puppet master of the giant space prawns, the genetic rape of a galaxy or guaranteeing the cycle extinction just seemed a bit harsh.
Although I do enjoy the occasional play though of the ME games I just feel that there was so much more that they could have added to the series to give it even more true depth..would even risk saying that they could have stretched the current story line into spanning four games instead of just three.
Guess we’ll never know and will now have to sit and wait to see what direction BioWare decides to go in with regards to the Mass Effect series…all we can hope is that they make them with the patience and consideration they gave to the first three though knowing EA they will try and get it rushed out half finished like half the garbage they put on today’s shelves.
On a side not please BioWare no space combat…not after seeing/playing through that arcade style nonsense you put in Star Wars The Old Republic it’s just a very bad idea…
heh ME4!!? anyone else want to go through another 3 ME games where regardless of paragon/renegade storyline you end up with 3 choices that make being either pointless, make any decisions you made to get there pointless. i dunno if would want to play a 4th ME game tbh, the ending of the last 3 left a seriously icky taste in my mouth that made me wonder WTF alot afterwards the endings were so WRONG morally … from alot of the talk on forums and the likes am not the only 1 who thinks this. tbh the endings destroyed Mass Effect, theres not much saving grace in the EC endings except that they give closure more or less, granted shepard takes a breath at the end if you chose destroy option…
ah well i got so many things i could say about how wrong it is but its nothing that hasnt been said before by someone else.
After some time passed, it becomes pretty evident, that those very cheap, brief and against any logic endings are very evident wrap up, especially from a TV series standpoint. The team at Bioware is very talented not to predict fans reaction. Such an edings from any writer, at the endings of a books trilogy, say 500 pages per book, would end his career for certain. No publisher would work with him after such a stunt. (If they not ask him very hard first).
Why Bioware would build huge fans support, then spit on them – only a time will give as answer. Hopefully.