Although it’s just a small blip in the distance, Mass Effect 4 is hotly anticipated amongst RPG fans—those who haven’t become jaded by BioWare’s recent releases, anyway. Indeed, even as games like Dragon Age: the Veilguard draw mixed reactions from audiences, there’s still hope that Mass Effect 4 can be the magic bullet that restores the once-revered RPG-maker’s former glory.
Although very little is known about Mass Effect 4, its promotional materials suggest that it will be a continuation of the original trilogy rather than a sequel to Andromeda. This can be inferred by the game’s first announcement teaser, which features Liara T’Soni while invoking iconography like the Milky Way and N7 armor, which are heavily associated with the first three Mass Effect games. Assuming, then, that the next Mass Effect will serve as something of a sequel to Mass Effect 3, there’s room for certain legacy characters to make a comeback. But just because a lot of characters can come back, that doesn’t mean that they all should; only some legacy characters have interesting narrative potential.
Mass Effect 4 Waiting Room Playlist
With no news about Mass Effect 4 on the horizon, fans might be starved for similar experiences; luckily, there are several great options.
Mass Effect 4: Which Characters Should Return?
Liara T’Soni Will Probably Play a Role in Mass Effect 4
As the only recognizable face shown in the game’s brief announcement, Liara is perhaps the character most likely to return in Mass Effect 4. Asari can live for over 1,000 years, and Liara is only a bit older than a century by the time ME3 concludes, so it’s certainly possible for her to come back, even if ME4 winds up taking place after a long time skip, as many have theorized. Liara’s a fan-favorite character, so she could be the ideal bridge between the new game and Mass Effect’s seventh-generation legacy.
Urdnot Wrex and Wreav Could Shed Light On the Genophage Cure
One of the most pivotal decisions of the Mass Effect franchise occurs in Mass Effect 3, when players have the option to cure the genophage, a disease that dramatically reduces Krogan fertility rates. As Krogan, Urdnot Wreav and Urdnot Wreav naturally have a lot to say about this matter, and whether Shepard cures it. Through these characters, Mass Effect 4 could explore the ramifications of curing or continuing the devastating plague in an intimate, nuanced way.
Like Asari, Krogan are known to live for upwards of a millennium, making Krogan characters good candidates for reintroduction in the event of a time skip.
EDI Would Be a Great Non-Organic Member of Mass Effect 4’s Cast
Introduced in Mass Effect 2 and given a physical form in Mass Effect 3, groundbreaking AI EDI is an unexpectedly lovable member of the Mass Effect roster. Bringing her back in Mass Effect 4 would be great for a number of reasons, with two chief among them:
- She could offer insight into the evolution of artificial intelligence since Mass Effect 3.
- If Mass Effect 4 makes her and Joker’s relationship canon, it could explore the subject of romantic relationships between humans and machines.
Needless to say, there’s a lot of room for interesting storytelling with EDI back at the table. And since she is a synthetic lifeform, she could theoretically live indefinitely, making her return plausible.
There are a number of other beloved characters, like Garrus Vakarian and Miranda Lawson, whom fans would be more than happy to see return, but their mortal restraints make it somewhat unlikely that they will make an appearance unless Mass Effect 4 takes place right after the conclusion of Mass Effect 3. Similarly, there probably won’t be reprisals from Andromeda’s cast, since the announcement trailer suggests a Milky Way focus; BioWare also likely wants to distance itself from Andromeda’s poor reception. It’s also worth noting that most of the original Mass Effect’s cast have received satisfying conclusions to their arcs, so those with the most room for interesting growth should be the ones to return.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 72 /100 Critics Rec: 40%
- Released
- March 1, 2017
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Frostbite 3
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Mass Effect
WHERE TO PLAY
Mass Effect: Andromeda travels deep into the Andromeda Galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way. There, you will lead our fight for a new home in hostile territory where we are the aliens. Take command as the Pathfinder, a leader of a squad of military-trained explorers, with deep progression and customization systems. This is the story of humanity’s next chapter, and your choices throughout the game will ultimately determine our survival in the Andromeda Galaxy. As you unfold the mysteries of the Andromeda Galaxy and the hope for humanity lies on your shoulders, you must ask yourself – how far will you go?
