What Is Really Needed in Mass Effect 5?

Developer Bioware has been all over the place with the games that it has been releasing. It was behind one of the best RPGs in gaming history and has released games such as Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Knights of the Old Republic which are still relevant both in case of gameplay and graphics so many years after their releases. But recently Bioware has missed the mark with releases like Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda. Mass Effect 5, which is next in line, needs to bring back the lost glory that Bioware had for the sake of its future. And the way to go about it is to look back at one of its previous games, “Mass Effect: 2”. Bioware has Dragon Age 4, Mass Effect 5, and the Anthem overhaul on their slate as of now according to reports, and if these games deliver like the developer’s previous releases, maybe the sins of Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem’s release can be forgotten. Although different aspects will help all the different games, Mass Effect 5 will definitely benefit by taking pointers from its predecessor, Mass Effect: 2. Mass Effect 2’s Reception One of the main reasons that Mass Effect: Andromeda was not such a big hit and dropped the ball is because it had really high expectations riding on it from being the next game in the Mass Effect franchise. Although Mass Effect: 3 had a critical appreciation because of its highly controversial ending, which sure seemed really big at the time, the games in the series were one of the best ever released in respect to story and gameplay. Mass Effect: 2, the second edition was near perfect in the franchise with a score of 96/100 in console and 94/100 on PC by Metacritic. This critical acclaim praises its interactive storytelling, characterization, and combat, and while that is a high bar to shoot for, Mass Effect 5 should not accept less of itself. The success and creation of Mass Effect: 2 was like catching lightning in the bottle, and if developers Bioware can re-create the process and bring out something spectacular like they did previously, there is a good chance that the failure of Mass Effect: Andromeda might be overlooked by players. This, of course, is a huge task, as Bioware needs to have time, and take that time to carefully plan their plan-of-action and repeat the process that came with Mass Effect 2. Still, repeating such a success is going to be hard, but keeping this in mind, it surely does give Mass Effect: 5 a direction, and a goal. The Companions in Mass Effect: 2 One of the biggest factors that made Mass Effect:2 appeal to the player base was its companion system. The game got you invested indefinitely; it was a masterpiece. Characters from the previous game who were fan favourites like Garrus made a return and new characters like Thane and Jack had powerful stories. All the loyalty missions for every companion always felt more than a mission; it was personal. Shepard even came into their own more, as players dealt with the mysterious Cerberus, the Reaper threat, past friendships, and so much more. It was one of those games where all the decisions mattered. Every companion makes the grand picture that much brighter and the story that much better. Companions are generally a hit and miss with Bioware, but having a good system will make the next Mass Effect a lot better along with giving off the hint of Mass Effect: 2. Mass Effect 2’S Suicide Mission There are very few missions like the last mission of Mass Effect: 2.This mission is probably the most iconic moment of the whole franchise, and with a franchise like this, that statement is a lot. It has multiple layers, such as which companions Shepard is closest to how players have prepared for it, and each decision made during the Suicide Mission. For a game with companions, if a player goes through a huge part solo, it is generally a huge insult to the whole gameplay. Something so antithetical to the entire set-up that it undermines the companions in the long run, but in the case of this game, every decision taken is rewarded or punished, for example, the worse players dealt with their companions, the more punishing it was. This mission left players broken down and in tears due to the investment it demanded from the player. If Mass Effect: 5 is able to recreate such a fantastic script and amazing storytelling with such gameplay, it will definitely be one of the best games out there. Especially not a lot of games successfully pull off a Suicide Mission like this, and if nothing else, MA:5 should at least have this. Source: https://harioffice.com/what-is-really-needed-in-mass-effect-5/