Summary
TheMass Effecttrilogy is often regarded as one of the most prolific franchises in modern gaming. Having debuted on the Xbox 360 back in 2007, the series quickly became a staple known for its well-written dialogue, engaging action gameplay, unique and immersive sci-fi universe, and emphasis on player choice. However, along with the respectable and dramatic elements of the game, there were also some silly elements that the community quickly responded to with memes and other endearing forms of flattery. Though theMass Effectgames are still highly respected modern classics, they were not free from jokes.
Many different elements were often joked about in theoriginalMass Effecttrilogy. These range from such things as character models and their physics, snippets of dialogue, or specific side missions. Although these memes can be seen as a term of endearment as most of these jokes are coming from actual die-hard fans who have spent enough time in the game to notice such things, they still offer a glimpse at elements to be improved. With the unique opportunity to take notes from the series,Mass Effect 4can learn a lot from the memes ofMass Effect’s past.
How The Community Can Improve Mass Effect 4
Identify Areas For Improvement In Past Games
Released in 2007,Mass Effectbecame popular during a unique time in community content creation. Platforms like YouTube were full of fan edits and playful videos, bringing attention to various elements andcharacters in theMass Effecttrilogy. Some of the most highly talked about elements include:
At the height ofMass Effect’s popularity, it wasn’t uncommon to find memes or spoof videos referencingquotes from Commander Shepard, Garrus, or other party members. Often one would find a player making jokes related to Garrus' calibrations or Shepard’s favorite store in the Citadel. Though these are mostly just playful community content, they also draw attention to areas that could be improved upon to achieve a more serious tone in future games.
How Mass Effect 4 Can Learn From The Memes
At this time, it is still unclear exactly what thedirection ofMass Effect 4will be in terms of story, tone, etc. If BioWare opts to continue with a similar tone as the original trilogy, there will likely be a combination of light humor along with the more dramatic storytelling that takes center stage. This allowsMass Effect 4the opportunity to improve upon past criticism and humor while still finding ways to call attention to them.
For example, the character models and facial animations could innovate to current-gen standards, but perhaps there is some line of dialogue that pokes fun at the series' past shortcomings.
The same goes for the dialogue that was so heavily featured in memes.Mass Effect 4’s dialogue is expected to be as rich and in-depth as the original trilogy, perhaps even more so. At the same time, it could be fun if some of the classic lines of dialogue that stood out to fans make a return as an Easter egg.
Mass Effect 4has been long awaited and the expectations of fans have only grown over the years. After thedisappointment ofMass Effect:Andromeda, the next entry will need something that feels classic and calls back to the series' origins while still being innovative and captivating for modern gaming. Taking some notes from the community may just help it get there, and improving on a few of the more immersion-breaking memes may help with that.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
WHERE TO PLAY
One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced. Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors and packs — remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD. Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome.
