Summary
WithMass Effect 4on the horizon, it’s likely that many fans are wondering just how much the game will change from the original trilogy andAndromeda. Many fans have speculated that the upcoming game will make major alterations, such as doing away with iconicMass Effectfeatures like the morality systemor expanding the game to a true open-world structure, but there is one element of the franchise that is in dire need of a modern refresh: character creation.
While there are “standard” versions of both male and female Shepard, theMass Effecttrilogy allows players to customize the main character’s appearance at the start of each game (BioWare took the same approach with Ryder inMass Effect Andromeda). This is generally considered a worthwhile inclusion, as it allows for additional freedom, but many players will opt to retain one of Shepard’s standard appearances, as these are the canon looks for the character. The character creation options have also been quite limited, especially when compared to other RPGs, and custom characters run the risk of looking uncanny or bizarre. Although there is little more thancrypticMass Effectteasersto go off, it’s safe to assume that custom characters will feature inMass Effect 4to some degree, and it’s important that BioWare gets the concept right.
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Mass Effect 4 Needs an Ambitious Character Creation System
Non-Human Player Characters in Mass Effect
Among the most highly requested new features forMass Effect 4is the option to play as a non-human character. This makes sense, as the many well-established and intriguing alien species ofMass Effecthas always been one of the series' biggest strengths. There are a number of benefits to having aplayable alien hero inMass Effect 4, but this will start with the character creation process.
If players could select from a handful of different races, the customization options would have to effectively double for each playable species. There are several non-human races in theMass Effectlore, so it may not be feasible to make them all options as protagonists. It’s far more likely that humanoid races, such as the Asari, Turians, Salarians and Quarians, would be the non-human options. These humanoid races are visually striking in previous entries, butMass Effect 4could take things further by allowing players to personalize these alien characters down to the minute, species-specific details. This all depends on whatalien races appear inMass Effect 4, but adding non-human races as playable characters could lead to the game’s character creation system having a meaningful impact on gameplay and narrative, not just aesthetics.
Mass Effect Needs New Customization Tools
The olderMass Effectgames offered a solid slate of character creation options for their time, but they are a bit barebones by modern standards. The games don’t allow for customization of things like body type or gender identity, and players are generally quite limited when it comes to making their characters look unique. Some additional points of customizationMass Effect 4could feature include:
Newgaming technology could allowMass Effect 4to implement advanced visuals and character models, and this should be leveraged to improve the character customization process. It’s possible thatMass Effect 4will bring back Shepard, which would of course rule out alien races as playable protagonists, but there is still plenty that can be done when it comes to creating a custom human. If the game does decide to go the extra mile when it comes to customization, allowing for the creation of alien characters, it would mean an almost extreme amount of personalization options. This would be a challenge for the developers, but it would arguably pay off in the final product.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
WHERE TO PLAY
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