Mass Effect 4could be in the right position to make good use of a common sequel trope when it comes out. Following up on the wildly popular original trilogy will be no small feat, and comparisons between the games would be virtually inevitable. Despite that, there is one move thatMass Effect 4could make without those comparisons necessarily being a negative. In fact, with a series likeMass Effect, bringing back memories of the past could be a good thing.Mass Effect 4might be able to make good use of nostalgia in this way.
Withlittle known aboutMass Effect 4, there are several potential directions for the series to take. The threat of the Reapers is no longer something that the galaxy has to fear followingMass Effect 3’s finale, so the universe can continue with new sorts of stories unfolding. This means that come the time ofMass Effect 4, any sort of villain could rise as the latest threat to the galaxy. They could be another otherworldly threat similar to the Reapers, or a more mundane criminal element. Either way, stepping back into theMass Effectuniverse would be a treat for fans.
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Mass Effect 4 Can Continue The Family History Of Past Heroes
Among the original trilogy’s features,Mass Effect’s team of deep charactersis one of the series' biggest strengths. Over the course of three games,Mass Effectintroduced and developed party members who turned out so strong, it’s impossible to imagine the series without them. Characters like the dutiful Turian Garrus or curious Quarian Tali were beloved by the fanbase, and excelled not only in gameplay, but in their own story arcs and romance plotlines as well. The crew fromMass Effectmay be difficult to replace, but the passage of time doesn’t have to erase their influence fromMass Effect 4.
A decent concept worth considering is the thought of some ofMass Effect 4’s new companionsto be the descendants of characters from the original trilogy. While these would be obvious throwbacks to the first three games, they would also provide a possible glimpse at events that took place afterMass Effect 3ended. WhileMass Effect 4may want to shy away from making any characters the children of past crewmates to avoid giving Shepard a canonical spouse, characters who are one or two generations down the line would be fair game to explore the later life of some beloved characters.
More than resembling their past counterparts, including previous characters' descendants as associates ofMass Effect 4’s new protagonistcould be important for story as well. One big example could be for a new party member to be one of the biotics that studied under Jack. After Jack came into the series as an anger-fueled convict, meeting a character that she was able to positively impact would be a treat. Likewise, a descendant of Wrex would not only bring back memories of a beloved character, but also remind the player that the Krogan genophage is no more, providing further closure for a plot point from the originalMass Effecttrilogy.
Although it may not return to the roots of the series,Mass Effect 4can revisit plot pointsand provide some connections to the characters players grew fond of. Showing that theMass Effecttrilogy’s story had a happy ending for the crew of the Normandy would be satisfying, especially for players who remembered how much they had to go through during the games. Having their descendants thrive in the future would be a good reminder that time continued on after Shepard’s adventure. By doing so,Mass Effect 4could see some heroic legacies continue with a new generation.
Mass Effect 4is in development.
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