All signs currently point toward the newMass Effectgame canonizing the Destroy Ending. While, on the one hand, this could potentially undermine player choice inMass Effect 3, it’s the best approach in continuing the franchise. However, there are two downfalls inMass Effect’s Destroy ending: the destruction of the Geth alongside the reapers and the “opened-door” death of Commander Shepard.
Essentially, the Destroy ending with the right circumstances is the only one where Shepard is hinted to be alive. That could well very be the case here, butbringing Shepard back in the newMass Effectgamecomes with new problems. On the one hand, many would love to lace up their boots as Shepard once more, especially after playing theMass Effect: Legendary Edition. On the other hand, it may undermine their sacrifice and do a disservice to their big, epic, galaxy-changing fight with the reapers. If Shepard lives through that, they could live through anything.
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There is a bit of a third option, depending on how it is handled. Shepard could be alive but retired or operating in the galaxy as some sort of ghost in aMass Effectgame where Shepard has a non-existent/minor to medium-sized role. Even that, though, presents a sort of Batman complex for Shepard.
Whenever You Can Be Batman, Be Batman
There is a lovely internet quote out there, seemingly derived from the phrase: “Always be yourself unless you can be batman then always be Batman.” This call to originality has also been boiled down to, “if you can be Batman, then be Batman.” The general idea is pretty obvious: Batman is an unkillable machine of justice. He’s an epic character who overshadows even his toughest rivals, he’s an unrivaled fighter, and he stands in the way of Gotham’s absolute decimation a number of times.
This is a problem in upcoming games likeGotham Knights.Bruce Wayne/Batman is implied to be dead by an explosionengineered by the Court of Owls, but that’s a nearly impossible way for Batman to be taken out. If he proves to be alive, then players are in aBatmangame, not playing as Batman, and he’ll likely overshadow all of theGotham Knightscharactersor be nerfed into oblivion. He should be dead for them to shine, because if players could have been Batman inGotham Knights, they’ll want to be Batman. No one else lives up to Batman, and Batman himself cannot be sidelined effectively.
Mass Effect: Whenever You Can Be Shepard, Well, You Should Be Shepard
If Shepard is alive, but players cannot play as Shepard, that breaks the Batman rule. It’s bad if they are known to be alive, but worse if they appear or play some role in the new game. The thing is, Shepard is an unkillable machine of justice who has already come back from death, ended a galactic threat inMass Effect’s Reaperswho have annihilated entire civilizations in the past, and has an insane amount of confidence and ability in the battlefield. No one can hold a candle to Shepard inMass Effect,and their life or death will inevitably reflect that in-game.
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Mass Effect: Andromeda’s Ryder, even, pales in comparison to Shepardno matter how it’s sliced. The new protagonist was far removed but still in Shepard’s shadows as far as many fans of the franchise were concerned. Sure, going to Andromeda was likely more about getting out of the galaxy-changing decisions in the Milky Way, but it had the added benefit of pushing Shepard out of the picture too.
With theMilky Way essentially confirmed forMass Effect, that puts them right back into the thick of things. And no matter how they are treated, Shepard cannot be sidelined just like Batman can’t.
Batman vs. Shepard
Playing as Shepard or even having Shepard in the game opens a cookie jar of potential tripfalls and shortcomings that would be best avoided. While many would love for Commander Shepard to be alive, the truth is painfully simple: ForMass Effectto continue and grow beyond the original trilogy to the best of its ability,Shepard is best known as deadand remembered for their heroic sacrifices.
In such a way, this parallelsGotham Knights’ potential plot as well. For the new game to stand on its own and for Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Batgirl to truly rise as heroes, Batman truly needs to leave Gotham in their hands. His return, in whatever way it could happen, only overshadows them. ForGotham Knightsto grow and become its own major title under WB Games Montreal, Batman is best known as dead and as an inspiration to the fledgling heroes.
