Game developer BioWare clarified recently that the fourth installment of the science-fiction space traveling video game franchise “Mass Effect” will have a different story structure compared to the first three games in the series.
BioWare creative director Mac Walters said that “Mass Effect: Andromeda” shall not be the start of a new trilogy. For one, the game shall no longer have Commander Shepard for the main protagonist and instead would have Ryder as the main character.
The game shall chronicle the journey of Ryder from an untested soldier into becoming a hero, notes Gamespot.
Walters said that they are confident that the fourth “Mass Effect” game will tell a contained story which could possibly lead to more “Mass Effect” games in the Andromeda galaxy.
He said that there is so much more to explore in Andromeda and they want to tease that. He added that they wanted gamers to feel that there could possibly be another Ryder hero story in the making in the future either through his sibling or someone else.
A different story
BioWare producer Michael Gamble also reiterated Walters’ pronouncement when he said recently that “Mass Effect: Andromeda” will tell a different story than what fans of the series have been used to.
He said that they want to leave the ending and what they are doing with it as a surprise. He explained that the upcoming game shall have a different type of story so it will really be something different than the trilogy.
Meanwhile, Walters also confirmed that the campaign in “Mass Effect: Andromeda” can be played offline and that the crew members and companions cannot die. He also teased that campaign co-op could work in the “Mass Effect” universe, though he didn’t confirm any plans for Andromeda.
BioWare has already confirmed that “Mass Effect: Andromeda” shall officially roll out to the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One, and the PC on March 21, 2017.
A close look at the upcoming game’s narrative
Based on the recent trailers of “Mass Effect: Andromeda” as well as the social media posts of the game’s creator, it is clear that the game will have an exciting narrative.
In the Andromeda Initiative trailer, it has become clear that the crew has to travel 600 years to get to the Andromeda galaxy, thus the Andromeda Initiative is intended to be a one-way trip.
There are five ships making the journey to Andromeda. The lead ship in the journey is called the Nexus. The four others are dedicated to transporting one of four species including human, turian, salarian, or asari, details IGN.
Each of the four species has a designated Pathfinder to lead their exploration. There are civilian volunteers to act as colonists on the mission as well as trained soldiers.
Alec Ryder, the Ryder twins’ father and designated Pathfinder of the Hyperion, is for some reason unable to lead the Hyperion as Pathfinder and his responsibilities are transferred to the player’s character.
Regardless of which Ryder twin, whose default names are Scott and Sarah, the player chooses to play, both are a big part of the story. There are multiple shots in the trailer where gamers see both Ryder twins.
So right from the get-go, gamers know that they would be in for a very exciting game which BioWare promises to deliver in “Mass Effect: Andromeda” the same way it successfully did in the previous three games in the series.
Meanwhile, in addition to the anticipation of gamers to the game, some players are looking forward to how the storyline of the video game will pick up from the “Mass Effect” trilogy.
Apparently, they don’t have to wonder anymore as a new series of “Mass Effect” novels will soon be published by Titan Books and will dwell exactly on what happened after the first three games and the events before “Mass Effect: Andromeda.”
The novels shall serve as both a prequel and sequels to the events in the first three video games in the franchise. The storyline of “Mass Effect: Andromeda” shall also become part of the overarching “Mass Effect” saga.
The series of books shall focus on key characters and answer the many questions fans have been asking about the plotlines of the video game franchise.