Many people consider BioWare to be the best developer currently, having brought us two stellar role-playing franchises this generation. Both Dragon Age and Mass Effect have moved the RPG genre forward in countless ways, taking elements of choice and open-ended gameplay to an entirely new level. By pioneering the dialogue wheel, BioWare has taken conversation systems within gaming to new heights. Mass Effect is essentially a space opera, featuring a cast of lifelike characters that you can’t help but care about. Role-playing games are all about getting lost into the universe that has been created, and with such a rich and lush universe chock-full of interesting and relatable characters, Mass Effect has this down to a science. With the third and final installment in the trilogy set for release early next year, hype is at an all-time high, as expectations sky rocket through the roof. Though I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t get your hopes up, as there are several things to be cautious of as the game nears its early 2012 release.
5. Action Heavy Combat
While intense action is certainly not a bad thing, it’s easy for other things to get pushed by the wayside when particular mechanics become a priority. Judging by the footage of the game we’ve seen thus far, it looks like combat will take precedence over more strategic approaches to completing a task. Shooters are all the rage right now, and BioWare is not blind to this fact. The team has implemented better combat controls, so it feels much more like a typical third-person shooter. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, but if running and gunning becomes the best, most fluid approach, there will be little incentive to make use of biotic powers or work tactically with your teammates.
4. Too Light on the Role-Playing
Since BioWare has become so successful with its dialogue wheel, they’ve relied far too much on this mechanic, expecting it to serve as the game’s prominent role-playing element. Gamers want to collect loot, upgrade their character, weapons, and team. There’s a level of customization that comes standard in most RPGs, and this is something the second title was severely lacking. Will they be able to introduce new role-playing elements that seamlessly blend in and enrich the overall experience? That remains to be seen.
3. The Unsettling Trend of Accessibility
EA and BioWare want to make their games as accessible to as wide an audience as possible, and can you really blame them? When working on a project of this magnitude, it has got to be quite a costly endeavor, so selling as many copies as possible has got to be a priority. Unfortunately, there is a negative side effect built into that. As the game becomes more accessible, hardcore gamers looking for that incredibly deep and challenging experience may come away feeling a bit shortchanged. Take the first two Mass Effect titles for example. The first one was much more complex, incorporating loot and customization that was stripped down–and nearly removed entirely–for the sake of broad appeal in Mass Effect 2. Not only that, but if you take a look at BioWare’s other key franchise, Dragon Age, you’ll notice a similar trend. Dragon Age II was a much more streamlined experience that in the end upset many role-playing loyalists who loved the first. Could Mass Effect 3 face the same fate? It looks like we’ll have to wait and see.
2. Not Enough of a Leap in Innovation
Often times within a trilogy, you see the most amount of growth between the first and second installments. The first title in any series is always a bit of a shot in the dark, likely to suffer from many unforeseen issues. When it comes time for the sequel, the developer can capitalize on those mistakes and create an incredibly improved experience that outshines its predecessor in every way. However, crafting the third title, a solid framework has already been laid out, leaving the developers with the task of refining what is already great. In the end, while it produces an overall better experience, it ends up feeling not all that different from the second entry. People will likely be expecting to see a monumental jump between Mass Effect 2 and 3, like they did with 1 and 2. This will unlikely be the case, yielding a product that feels more like Mass Effect 2.5.
1. Delivering on Choice and Consequence is No Easy Task
If Mass Effect 2 was any indication, it has been difficult for BioWare to deliver on its promises of choice and consequence. Many gamers were let down by the way their choices in the first game impacted the second. For example, those who took the time to save the Rachni Queen in the first game received an underwhelming thank you message in the sequel. BioWare is going to have to do a lot better than that in the third game if they hope to satisfy fans. With so many branching paths and loose ends, it will be difficult for BioWare to bring them all together to craft a satisfying conclusion that pleases everyone. BioWare’s ability to deliver in this regard will make or break the game, so here’s to hoping they’re up for the challenge.
Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you’d like to see BioWare address in Mass Effect 3 in the comments below.
