7. Linearity
BiowareOne of the most thrilling parts of the Mass Effect games so far, has been exploring the galaxy in the Normandy ship. Deciding on what missions to do when, or just where you want to mine for precious minerals, really helps to put across the feeling that the Mass Effect universe is a real, living one. The missions themselves have also been somewhat open-ended, with multiple choices that can impact how they turn out. Additionally, players are generally presented with a variety of gameplay decisions, such as the option between resolving conflicts with force or diplomacy. Mass Effect 3 managed to continue this facet of gameplay, although at times it felt like the most linear of the trilogy. Thanks to the urgency of the Reaper threat, it was harder to justify dawdling around random planets, and it constantly felt like you were being pushed forwards to the game's ending. While this focused narrative wasn't a bad thing in itself, we'd like to see more of the episodic nature of the first two games in Mass Effect 4.