If we're talking about risks, we have to acknowledge that they don't always pay off by definition. It's easy to look at the Mass Effect 3 ending and say 'it's simple; don't do that'. But that's missing the point. It would be so easy for Bioware to back away from the cutting edge, but that's totally wrong. They need to put their cajones back in the fire. The willingness to be bold is what can push a game from being just entertaining to being a work of art. Making games that move people is inherently risky, and thankfully there's never going to be a dedicated formula for it. The Last of Us, a game with one of the most powerful endings of any game ever, wouldn't exist without boldness. That ending tested very poorly, but Naughty Dog did it anyway. They stuck by their guns, and it totally worked. Bioware did the same with Mass Effect 3 though, and it most certainly didn't. It can't be easy to pick yourself off the floor when you've taken a huge risk and lost. But if you want to make the next Mass Effect game, a game with a godlike heritage of excellence, that's exactly what you have to do. So pick yourself up, Bioware, and knock my two front teeth out. I might bleed, but I'll love you for it. What risks do you want to see Bioware take to deliver a perfect revival of Mass Effect after the third game's ending? Let us know in the comments!
