Mass Effect 4: 10 Essential Things It Must Get Right

7. Intelligent Nods To The Past

Bioware have mentioned the new hero of part four won't be Commander Shepard - therefore making that tease at the end of 3 where we see him still breathing utterly pointless - but in introducing an entirely new character, you have to wonder just how much making this a continuation of the Mass Effect name is worth. It's up for debate whether or not you think the franchise is irrevocably and irreversibly tainted with the ending of three, as we'd posit that Bioware have enough sway to generate interest in anything they do. Regardless, chances are in ME4 all you'll see in regards to nods to the past are either awfully fairytale-style stories of 'The Shepard', or something more humorous like overhearing one of the "...this is my favourite store on the Citadel!" messages. Whether that warms your heart enough to make you want to dive back in is going to colour your approach significantly, but as we saw with the very last piece of DLC that celebrated each character for being who they were, it's hopeful Bioware know how to pull on the right amount of both heart and nostalgia strings.