Mass Effect 4: 10 Things It Must Learn From Dragon Age: Inquisition
2. World And Characters Matter More Than Plot
Inquisitions plot is very good, but its nothing that hasnt been done a thousand times in the fantasy genre before. In the most basic sense, its about a bad guy with a god complex that wants to take over the world with magic, so you must gather a diverse cast of characters and set out on a quest to stop him. Again, nothing special, but with Biowares quality writing it works. With that being said, the main plot of Inquisition isnt what makes you want to keep playing well beyond reason. Its the world and the characters that inhabit it. Its characters like Varric, Dorian, and Iron Bull. Its the mythology of the world itself; finding artifacts and exploring ruins that delve deeper into the history of Thedas. This is why the side missions are often the meatiest and most meaningful aspects of the game. They explore the elements that you are the most emotionally invested in. The Mass Effect series has always been the same. While saving the galaxy from the Reapers was a solid plot to anchor three games around, it was the galaxy itself that everyone remembers so fondly. Whenever the series focused on the characters or various conflicts across the galaxy it rarely faltered. Mass Effect 2 may have had the weakest plot of the trilogy, but it also had the most diverse and interesting cast of characters, hence why so many consider it the best. What this all means is that world building and creating a sense of place populated by characters that feel real is way more important than the main plot itself. Mass Effect 4 doesnt need another galactic threat that you must stop. In fact, it would be refreshing if it didnt. A personal, more intimate story set against the vast openness of space is the perfect set up for the next installment.
