Summary
With the recent customary N7 Day tease of whatever form a newMass Effectmight take, fans are now beginning to connect the dots regarding the next game in BioWare’s sweeping space opera RPG. While the hints established in this year’s N7 Day trailer seem to point to the next game being connected toMass Effect: Andromedain some way, it doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility of the next game in the series being the oft-rumoredMass Effect 4. Regardless of whether the nextMass Effectis a brand-new sequel or another spin-off akin toAndromeda, it needs to see the return of the Paragon and Renegade morality system.
Mass Effect’s signature morality gauge was a core component of the original trilogy that was unceremoniously removed inMass Effect: Andromeda, and it’s safe to say that the series just wasn’t quite the same without it. RPGs have since moved on to much more complex and nebulous depictions of choice and morality, but one of the key factors underlining many fans' fondness and appreciation forthe mainMass Effecttrilogywas the ability to see direct and immediate feedback for any choice that they made in terms of whether it gave them a boost to their “good guy” or “bad guy” meter. It’s a simplistic view of morality, but one that works in the context of Shepard’s journey.
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The Paragon/Renegade Morality System Guided Mass Effect’s Biggest Moments
More than just a helpful, color-coded reminder of the larger impact of Shepard’s actions, the Paragon and Renegade morality meter opened up more impactful choices for players to make as they continually acted in a way befitting of either moral path. What starts with simple (and occasionally humorous) choices like being rude to someone in a conversation or offering words of encouragement to an impressionable fan leads to much more significant decisions that legitimately shape thefuture of theMass Effectuniverse. In some cases, the choice to lead a Paragon or Renegade path even affects the fate of some of Commander Shepard’s most trusted companions.
But the impact of the morality system isn’t limited to a simple in-game litmus that unlocks a dichotomy of moral decisions, as it also has a tangible bearing on how both NPCs and Shepard’s own crew react to the player’s existence in theMass Effect’s version of the galaxy. As a result, the Paragon/Renegade morality system is one of the many elements oftheMass Effectseriesthat makes its world feel lived-in and adds to the overall sense of immersion present throughout the trilogy. Thanks to its elimination of the morality gauge,Mass Effect: Andromedafelt arguably soulless in comparison.
The Key to Mass Effect’s Morality System’s Brilliance is its Simplicity
Mass Effectwas far from the first RPG to introduce mechanics like player choice and branching dialogue trees, but the beauty of its morality system is how easy it is for any player to immediately understand. SinceMass Effect, incorporating meaningful decisions into the gameplay that allow players to shape the outcome of the story is practically commonplace inmodern RPGs, but most of these games include morality systems that are much more realistic and have shades of gray impacting each decision rather than a clear-cut “good” vs “evil” approach.
The immediate and direct feedback of the Paragon/Renegade system, combined with its obvious color-coding to help guide players' choices in conversation, are two elements that make the system easy for someone to understand who might’ve never played anotherRPG with moral choicebaked into its gameplay. This simplicity works in its favor, helping to facilitate players being able to make quick, on-the-fly decisions that have well-telegraphed outcomes that the player can predict, even if the larger impact of those choices isn’t felt immediately.Mass Effectis arguably one of the greatest Western RPG series of all time, and the next entry should return the franchise to its roots by helpfully guiding players' moral compass.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
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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.
