How Mass Effect Fixed Video Game Storytelling

Plotting The Next Relay Jump

Part of Mass Effect Andromeda's failure was the lack of compelling characters or interesting premise. Deviating from the heroics of Commander Shepard and Co was a risky move, and in the eyes of many the game presented wasn't worthy of the lofty expectations of its title. It's a massive missed opportunity, and continuing down the fork Andromeda created would be an unwise choice unless developer Bioware knocks its sequel out of the park.

Shepard's cryptic conclusion is surely also one avenue that should be left alone, but that's not to say the IP hasn't got potential. Established in the first three entries in the series are a smorgasbord of interesting races, jaw-dropping settings and rich lore that the series could pull inspiration from.

The shooting mechanics refined in Mass Effect 3 work beautifully, the dialogue wheel is a stroke of genius and the writing is always top notch, so re-entering the Mass Effect interpretation of our galaxy to tell a fresh, new story is too good an opportunity to pass up.

Mass Effect is the definitive space opera, in gaming or otherwise, and the agency it gives the player to experience its tale in their own way while stubbornly adhering to linear storytelling beautifully balances the experience so it never loses its charm. It's the culmination of years of development on other franchises for Bioware, and it will perhaps always be the developers' greatest story.