Mass Effect 4 should continue the trend of excellence its fans are used to seeing. BioWare's most recent addition to the franchise, Mass Effect: Andromeda, didn't have the most glowing reception upon release in 2017, and the developer will be eager to right its wrongs. Despite taking players on a journey 2.5 million light years away from Earth and having ample room for creativity in its plot and gameplay, Andromeda underwhelmed its expectations. However, the disappointment could prove to be a turning point for the franchise, and Mass Effect 4 could learn a few lessons on what to incorporate and discard from its predecessor.
The fanfare for Mass Effect: Andromeda was so intense that it got nominated for Most Anticipated Game at The Game Awards, making the eventual release a bit more of a disappointment in the eyes of franchise faithfuls. Expectations are hard to contain, and Andromeda's promise of new galaxies and aliens fanned the flames to an unmanageable degree for BioWare. Instead, the forces of innovation clashed with the typical Mass Effect storyline. Mass Effect 4 is returning to more familiar territory, and BioWare's expansive ideas could add a fresh dynamic to the franchise.
Andromeda's Mixture of Problems Proved Problematic
BioWare has been conspicuously silent about the details of Mass Effect 4's development. The hushed tone could be beneficial to the title's anticipation, as some doubts have been creeping in about Mass Effect 4's ability to recapture the magic of earlier franchise releases following Andromeda. However, there are always a few crumbs, and fans are aware the new title will likely return to the Milky Way. Series regulars like Liara are reappearing, and BioWare retracing footsteps could point to old Mass Effect plot points surfacing, although the devs have spoken about their intentions of incorporating the best of both galaxies into Mass Effect 4.
Andromeda most noticeably struggled with its technical components and plot development. Starting with recurring errors, Mass Effect has long endured criticism for its hectic inventory management, and the UI in Andromeda amplified this problem. The gear-changing mechanics were particularly bothersome as players had to visit loadout stations for the smallest of changes, meaning they were often stuck with weapons ill-suited for a mission.
Mass Effect: Andromeda's story buildup wasn't handled perfectly either. The original Mass Effect trilogy had much success thanks to defining plot points, most notably Mass Effect 3's Reaper Invasion of Earth. One of the most disappointing aspects of Andromeda was its missions. Missions had been the bread and butter of the Mass Effect franchise in previous games, but Andromeda strayed from the dynamic that catapulted the franchise to stardom by using boring, repetitive, and predictable tasks of glorified treasure hunting.
Battle missions lacked the swagger expected of a franchise like Mass Effect, and in general, Andromeda flopped in the delivery of its most essential component. Games like Destiny have shown repetitive gameplay elements can be successful, but Andromeda lacked any form of excitement with its third-person shooter combat. The animation quality didn't help Andromeda's cause, and while not a deal-breaker by itself, making it harder for players to enjoy the release.
Andromeda's Character Dynamics Could Improve Mass Effect 4
It wasn't all doom and gloom for Andromeda, as there were some areas where BioWare made great strides to advance the Mass Effect franchise. Discovery was the dominant theme of Andromeda, and the developer took steps to give fans freedom to explore. The pace changed from previous Mass Effect titles where players searched for societal perils to a pressure-free exploratory experience, finding a suitable home for the species of the Ark. The lighter-hearted theme did Andromeda wonders, and although such a theme is unlikely to dominate another Mass Effect title, BioWare could borrow some of the less intense vibes from Andromeda to use in Mass Effect 4.
The characters in Mass Effect: Andromeda also had more of a natural feel, unlike other releases. Previously, aliens' personalities were more conceptual, and the added depth to the cast for Andromeda brought them to life. Relationships between the crewmates were notably less volatile thanks to the developer's refinements, and there were more opportunities to mend disagreements than in previous installments.
BioWare has several ways to restore the Mass Effect franchise to the prestige of its original trilogy. Given the developer's insistence on combining elements from Andromeda and previous titles, BioWare would do well to incorporate the improved depth of character relationships in Mass Effect 4 - although it shouldn't be the main selling point as it was in Andromeda. Several other gameplay elements from Andromeda weren't well-received, and Mass Effect 4 would be better off leaving them in the past.
Mass Effect 4 is in development.