BioWare’sMass Effectseries has been beloved by gamers since the first game launched in 2007. Already known for its excellent story-focused RPGs, BioWare delivered a franchise that provided players with an intricate sci-fi world, fun gameplay, and many memorable characters that have taken on lives of their own outside the games. With protagonists like Shepard and fan-favorite companions like Garrus, Liara, and Tali, theMass Effectgames have become renowned for their amazing characters. The fourth installment in the series,Mass Effect: Andromeda, tried to take the series in a different direction after Shepard’s story concluded, but with mixed results.
The pitfalls thatMass Effect: Andromedaencountered show how difficult it is to create a cast of characters that are unique, interesting, and engaging, even when a framework is already in place, thanks to the success of theMass Effecttrilogy. Although as a whole, theMass Effectfranchise has some excellent charactersand companions, this does not mean that the upcomingMass Effect 4necessarily will. With companions serving as such an integral part of theMass Effectgames, the pressure is definitely on forMass Effect 4to deliver.
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A Colorful Crew
For the originalMass Effecttrilogy in particular, Shepard’s various companions served as the heart of the games and provided the best and most memorable moments.Mass Effect 2andMass Effect 3really expanded on the solid foundation of the first game, and recruiting missions and story instances where Shepard was reunited with former squad mates were always popular with fans and delivered emotional narrative beats. The fact thatMass Effect 2’s suicide missiongenuinely put characters in peril was an incredible tactic to make the final stages of the game feel fraught with danger and consequences, as well as potentially provide some truly heartbreaking scenes.
The emotional heft of the first three games was really in the hands of the companions, and BioWare fittingly supplied a cast of characters that fit every requirement. There were touching romances, believable friendships, moments of banter, and challenging confrontations, and the core team behind Shepard helped to round out their character and add depth to the space-faring hero.
Mass Effect 3’s Citadel DLCwas popular for many reasons, but chief among them was the chance it gave players to just hang out with companions as a group of friends and experience the relationships altogether. It perfectly showcased the humor and heart at the center of these interactions, and gave all of the beloved characters a moment to shine.
Andromeda’s Attempts
WhileMass Effect: Andromedawas by no means a bad game, some fans did feel it didn’t quite live up to the original trilogy. Its combat was dynamic, and the plot was intriguing, but many players felt that Ryder couldn’t match up to Shepard. Their crew of companions didn’t prove as popular as the varied group that Shepard had, even if one or two managed to endear themselves to fans, like the irascible Drack or the resourceful Vetra.
On the whole, the consensus seemed to be that the Andromeda Galaxy didn’t feel as vibrant or complex as the Milky Way portrayed in the first threeMass Effectgames, and this was mainly because of the lack of new alien species, but also because the companions didn’t work quite as well.
Mass Effect: Andromedadid attempt to explore some new avenues, with an enthusiastic but less experienced protagonist, and interesting additions like the first female turian companion. While the characters didn’t have as much time to grow on the player as the ones featured throughout theMass Effecttrilogy did, they definitely didn’t have the same kinds of impacts.
However, some of the incidental companion banter on missions was great, and just driving around the various alien planets listening to Peebee make fun of the elderly Drack was really entertaining. As usual, it was the human characters that felt a little lacking, similar to some of thecompanions in theMass Effecttrilogy, andMass Effect: Andromeda’s reliance on Milky Way races also felt like a missed opportunity.
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The Pressure On Mass Effect 4
While the fourth installment did provide some good companions, the original trilogy has far more memorable and popular ones. Withfriendships like Shepard and Garrus', or the meme-worthy maternal relationship between Grunt and FemShep, or the touching narrative arc of Jack as she overcomes her trauma, the originalMass Effecttrilogy undoubtedly elevated the entire gameplay experience with its companions.
They helped to not only make the galaxy an interesting and diverse place, but they made the Normandy feel like home. Bringing the crew together across various missions and the players seeing their friends in peril made the games feel emotionally weighted, which is a really strong feature to have in a story-focused RPG. Gamers want the worlds they inhabit to feel authentic, and populating them with great characters is a tried and tested method to achieve that.
Mass Effect: Andromedadidn’t quite pass muster in the opinion of some fans, and so the pressure is on forMass Effect 4to deliver. TheMass Effectformula typically contains many things, but the inclusion of a diverse and interesting crew is definitely one of them. Players also love the opportunity to pursue a romance or two, and including compelling characters for them to engage with is a must.
WhileMass Effect 2andMass Effect 3really benefited from the chance to include returning characters and play off existing friendships alongside new ones,Mass Effect 4might not necessarily be able to do that. Depending on when and where it is set, the apparent intention to include both the Milky Way and Andromeda seems to imply a time jump of at least 600 years. This would rule out all human characters returning, as well as other species with relatively short lifespans like turians and salarians.
With the possibility that most of the previouscharacters might be dead byMass Effect 4, it’s even more imperative that BioWare nails the new characters. After the tepid reaction toMass Effect: Andromedaand the occasional criticisms aimed at the protagonist and their companions, fans will no doubt be looking closely at whom BioWare will choose to introduce inMass Effect 4. Thanks to Shepard and their crew, the new playable character and their squad have extremely large shoes to fill.
