The nextMass Effecttitle can take an element fromDestiny 2that could flesh out BioWare’s most impressive universe even more. TheMass Effecttrilogy used BioWare’s strengths to its advantage, and led to one of the best modern examples of a space opera told over the course of three games. The next game would be wise to expand on what made the first game work, and a large part of that was the setting and lore behind it. Thankfully,Destiny 2has already provided a perfect example of a mechanic that could makeMass Effecteven more interesting.
When it comes to story, thevast universe of theMass Effectgameswas practically a character in its own right. The crewmates that Commander Shepard recruited all had backstories and personal missions of their own, making them far more than simply extra bodies in a fight. Every world that the player set foot on also had a story of its own, as well as a whole web of plots and intrigue for the player to unravel. The games have a massive amount of lore behind the setting, including some incredibly obscure details. A player could go through the whole series and still have more to learn.
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Mass Effect 4 Could Use More Lore to Tell More Stories
A perfect addition toMass Effect 4would beDestiny 2’s unlockable lore, or something similar to it. Added inDestiny 2: Forsaken, lore books were collectibles that players could read after finding them. Each lore book contained information about a specific topic inDestiny’s setting, and they did a solid job of fleshing out the game world. They added an extra perk to unlockables by telling the player more about the game’s story, giving extra incentive to find them. In a series that emphasizes story as much asMass Effect, lore books likeDestiny 2’s would be a perfect fit.
Mass Effecthas plenty of reasons to expand on its already-extensive lore. Even though a newMass Effectprobably can’t repeat party members, lore books would be a good way to introduce players to a whole new cast. Having unlockable bundles of lore could delve into a crewmate’s backstory, particularly if they’re unlocked through a mission specific to that crewmate. This would encourage players to rotate crewmates and seek out all of their personal missions in order to learn every part of their stories. Even characters debuting inMass Effect 4could have stories to tell on par with the original crew and galaxy’s tales.
Incorporating unlockable lore inMass Effectwould be a perfect fit for the series. The incredible amount ofalien species in theMass Effectserieshave a treasure trove of information waiting to be discovered. There are a lot of different ways that players could discover this lore as well. Some could be found on computers or data pads, like most information in the setting. However, more ancient lore could be found in old books, records, and even crude plans and drawings.Mass Effect 4could essentially make its main character into a lore-seeking archaeologist.
With lore drops inspired byDestiny 2,Mass Effect 4could fully embrace the series' storytelling while also providing it with a new direction. After theReapers' influence on theMass Effectuniverse, there is likely a lot more for players to discover, and it feels like there are always more stories to tell. Having unlockable lore snippets would be a good way to reward thorough players who go out of their way to explore the worlds, while also further filling outMass Effect’s setting. Whatever galaxyMass Effect 4takes place in, some extra lore to find could be a beneficial upgrade.
Mass Effect 4is currently in development.
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