MassEffect4:10NewThingsWe

LearnedFromComic-Con
http://www.gamebasin.com/news/mass-effect-4-10-new-things-we-learned-
from-comic-con
Forgettingthedisappointingendingofthethirdgame,playingthroughtheMassEffecttrilogyin
itsentiretyisoneofthebest,mostabsorbingvideogameexperiencesoutthere.Withgreatness
comes equally great expectations though, and the hugely anticipated Mass Effect 4 has a
tremendousamounttoliveupto.EAandBioWarehavebeenverytightlippedaboutMassEffect
4,withonlyspeculationandtheoccasionaldroppedhinttogoby,untilnow.SanDiegoComicCon
Internationalisthelargestconventionofitskindintheworld,anditoftenfeaturessomebigvideo
gameannouncementsamongitsvarioustalksandpanels.BioWareheldtheirveryownpanelat
thisyearsSanDiegoComicCon,anditwasprimarilyusedasaplatformtodiscussthenextMass
Effectgame.Whileahugeamountofnewdetailswerentdiscussed,someinterestingtitbitswere
revealed,andcertainthingsthathaveuntilnowonlybeenhintedatwereconfirmed.Thislistlooks
attennewthingswelearnedaboutthenextMassEffectgamethroughtheBioWarepanel.From
protagonistdetailstothegeneraldirectionofthenewtitle,thefutureoftheMassEffectseriesis
nowjustthatlittlebitclearer.
10.AHumanProtagonist
OneofthekeythingsdiscussedattheComicConpanelwastheidentityoftheplayableprotagonist
intheupcomingMassEffectgame.Despiterumourscirculatingthatthemaincharacterwouldhave
theoptionofbeingoneofthevariousalienraces,itappearsthatBioWarehavedecidedtoonce
again keep them human. While its somewhat disappointing that we wont be seeing a Turian
Shepard this time round, there are several reasons for keeping the main character human.
Primarily,itkeepsthingsatleastsomewhatfamiliarinauniversethatsotherwisewhollyaliento
players.Whileanalienprotagonistmightbeinteresting,thegamemaysimplybetoounrelatable
without a human element. Its also looking like a human protagonist may be a necessity for the
plotofMassEffect4,butmoreonthatlater.
9.LoadsOfCustomisation
AlthoughtheMassEffectgameshavefeaturedextensivelevelsofdecisionmakingthatshapethe
plotandworldaroundyou,therehasntbeenagreatdealofplayercustomisation.Otherthanthe
finerdetailsofShepardsface,stufflikearmourandtheNormandyhaveallbeenfairlystatic,with
justafewoptionsavailabletochoosefrom.Whileitsneverreallyfeltlikeahugeissuewiththe
series, it appears BioWare are looking to add greater levels of customisation in Mass Effect 4.
Perhapsaspenancefornotallowingustochoosetheirrace,theprotagonistsarmourwillbefully
customisable,beyondjustchoosingfromafewpaintjobs.Therellalsobevehicularcustomisation,
relatingtoacertainreturningfanfavourite.
8.TheProtagonistWillBeConnectedWithN7
N7 is a vocational code from the human military, signifying special forces trained to the highest
level of proficiency. Shepard was one of the soldiers granted the N7 insignia, and it has been
confirmed that the protagonist of the next game will also have the same honour. The main
charactersconnectiontoN7carrieswithitanumberofinterestingconnotationsandpossibilities.
WithhintsthatMassEffect4willbetakingplaceinanentirelydifferentgalaxy,theresthequestion
ofwhatanN7memberisdoingthatfarafield.SomehavespeculatedthattheplotofMassEffect
4 might entail a search for other galactic life or new worlds for colonisation, following the
devastationoftheReapers.
7.ItsSetDuringShepardsLifetime
AssuggestedbythementionsofN7,itslookingmoreandmorelikeMassEffect4willbesetduring
CommanderShepardslifetime.Thisnewshasntbeenofficiallyconfirmedjustyet,buttherehave
beenalargenumberofhintsandcommentsthatalmostoverwhelminglyconfirmthis.Toclarify,
Shepardwilldefinitelynotbeoneoftheplayablecharacters(unlessBioWareareliterallylyingto
everyone),andtheywontfeatureasanimportantroleinthemainstory.Thatsaid,itcouldbethat
ShepardwillplaysomesmallpartinMassEffect4,perhapsasacatalystforthegamesevents,or
justasanimportantAlliancefigure.Morenotably,thenewsimpliesthatthegamewilllikelytake
placeduringoraftertheReaperthreat,ratherthanbeingaprequelassomehadsuggested.
6.ItsNotActuallyCalledMassEffect4
Producer Mike Gamble was pretty obstinate about this one, stating that the next game most
certainlywillnotbetitledMassEffect4.Ofcourse,thatsnotgoingtostopusreferringtoitassuch
though,atleastuntilthepropertitleisannounced.Despitereiteratingthatthenextgamewont
beadirectcontinuationofShepardstale,Gambledidclaimthatitwillfeaturesomeoldwiththe
new. He also hinted that some characters from previous games may make a
reappearance, althoughitsunlikelythatanywillbeapartofthemainsquad.Theactualnameof
thegamehasntbeenconfirmedyet,althoughitwillretainMassEffectinthemaintitle.
5.MaleOrFemaleMainCharacter

AbigpartofmakingShepardyourowncharacterwasbeingabletochoosetheirsex.Despiteearly
criticismsthattheFemShepwasjustapoorlyimplementedafterthought,thefemaleShepardhas
sinceearnedasizablefanfollowingthankstoJenniferHalesbrilliantvoiceacting.Fortunately,it
seemsBioWarehavehadthegoodsensetobringthefeatureback.Confirmingthatgenderchoice
is,andalwayswillbe,animportantattributeoftheMassEffectgames,playerswillonceagainhave
theoptionofbeingmaleorfemaleinMassEffect4.ItllbestrangetoplaythroughaMassEffect
titlewithouttheexceptionalvoicesofMarkMeerorJenniferHale,butwecantwaittoseethe
talentthatBioWarewillbringinthistimearound.
4.ReturningAlienRaces
One of the key factors in making the Mass Effect universe feel alive was the hugely memorable
alien races, and the various characters representing them. From the slow, forceful Elcors to the
disciplined,militaristicTurians,itshardtoimagineaMassEffectgamethatdoesntfeaturethese
iconicalienracesinanyway.Thankfully,BioWarehaveconfirmedthatmanyofthealienraceswill
onceagainappearinthenextMassEffectgame,despiteconvincingrumoursofittakingplaceina
new galaxy. The Normandys ragtag band of various allied races served to provide a strong
emotionalcoretotheseries,anditsgoodtoseethattherewillpotentiallybeasimilarpremisein
the fourth game. We could do without yet another dull male human joining us again though
(lookingatyou,Kaiden,JacobandJames).
3.TheMakoIsBack
OriginalMassEffectfansrejoice!TheMakoisback,afterbeingalmostcompletelyeradicatedfrom
MassEffect2and3.AlthoughtheMakowasalittlewonkyandfrustratingtocontrolinthefirst
game,itreallydidbringasenseofexplorationthatwaslackinginthesecondandthirdgame.The
MakowillbereturninginMassEffect4though,anditlookslikeitllbeplayingamajorpartinthe
game.Thistimearound,theMakoisalotfaster,andwillhopefullyhavefartightercontrolsthan
before. It looks like itll be used purely for travel and exploration though, as there wont be a
mountedcannon.Asmentionedearlier,theMakowillalsobeabletobefullycustomisedbyplayers,
withBioWarereferringtoitasYourMako.Aww,howcute.
2.Exploration,Exploration,Exploration
According to the panel, exploration is one of the key things BioWare has had in mind while
developingMassEffect4.Thissoundslikeafantasticdirectionforthedeveloperstogoin,because
iftherewasonecomplaintthatcouldbelevelledatMassEffect2and3,itwasthattheywerea
littlerestrictiveincomparisontothefirstgame.Withthenewemphasisonexploration,itslooking
like open, largescale planetside travel will be possible for the first time since the original Mass
Effect.Rumoursofanewgalaxyalsosupportthis,andweregettingarealStarTrekvibefromall
thenewssuggestingafocusondiscovery.Rumourshavealsobeencirculatingthatwellbeseeing
someproceduralgenerationwhenitcomestoplanetexploration,andthatBioWarehastakena
leafoutofNoMansSkysbook.
1.Co-OpMultiplayer
TheonlinemultiplayerofMassEffect3wasafun,ifslightlyunnecessary,distraction.Uptofour
playerswereabletoteamupagainstwavesofCerberus,CollectororGethforces,withprogress
tieddirectlywithrewardsfortheMassEffect3:GalaxyAtWarfeature.Asexpected,BioWarehave
allbutofficiallyconfirmedthatmultiplayerwillbereturningtotheseries,statingthatcooperative
multiplayerwasbiggerthancompetitive.Whetherthismeansanotherwavebasedmodeora
fullblowncoopcampaignisnotyetknown,butmultiplayerwillmostcertainlybecomingtothe
gameinsomeshapeorform.DespiteMichaelGamblesayingthathisteamisprioritisingcoop,its
interesting that he mentioned competitive multiplayer at all. Elcor versus Hanar deathmatch
anyone?
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