Home Gaming Mass Effect 4 won’t be Dragon Age: Inquisition in space

Mass Effect 4 won’t be Dragon Age: Inquisition in space

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ME 3

I played Dragon Age: Inquisition through most of the December holidays. I will eventually have the time and inclination to finish my second play through, too. It had a wildly successful launch – the best in Bioware’s history. While people might speculate that this will make Mass Effect follow Dragon Age’s lead, that’s not what Bioware is doing.

Over on NeoGAF, Bioware’s GM weighed in as much as he could on the debate. As we knew, the new Mass Effect (that won’t be called Mass Effect 4 but we will continue to call that until we have the official new name for it), will also be using Frostbite and is borrowing some of the same technology from Dragon Age: Inquisition. There will be larger areas, like DA:I, but that’s where the similarities end.

But after that, the next Mass Effect will be (and should be) drawing on its own rich and successful past more than what DAI would say it should do. Take the Mako, something we’ve already shown in prototype form. We had that in ME1, and bringing it back is more related to a feeling that we can do it much better than we did before and fulfill the original promise of that gameplay. That has nothing to do with DAI. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that dropping the older consoles has had more impact on the overall gameplay goals of the next Mass Effect game than what DAI successfully accomplished.

We’re very proud of what DAI has achieved, but that does not set a “template” for what every other game we make needs to be. Each game franchise needs to innovate and improve their experience based on what’s best for it, not just what another game had success with because “well that was successful”.

This makes me ridiculously happy. We all fear that development studios will rest on their laurels and stop innovating. At least now we know that Mass Effect 4 won’t just be Dragon Age: Inquisition in space. Sure, it will be totally separate from the original trilogy, but we’ll have the Mako back, and probably some strange new worlds. Who knows how they’re making it all fit together, but it’s a huge relief to know that they won’t just follow Dragon Age: Inquisition’s lead. At least, so they say…

I just hope Bioware releases a remastered version of the trilogy, too. I’d happily replay it on my shiny new console.

Last Updated: February 3, 2015

80 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief

    February 3, 2015 at 10:34

    Sure, bring back the Mako, but bring back better landscapes ffs!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      February 3, 2015 at 10:34

      That being said, I’m sure they will, ME1 is quite some time ago tbh

      Reply

  2. Tosh MA

    February 3, 2015 at 10:38

    The one thing I missed from ME1 in the other 2 was that Mako. I personally enjoyed it – better than “Hold X to scan and rotate planet for 5 minutes finding the shit you need yawn sleep is it over yet?”

    Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      February 3, 2015 at 10:39

      That scanning was a chore alright. There was a Mako DLC in ME2 though.

      Reply

      • Tosh MA

        February 3, 2015 at 10:40

        Oh. I never played any of the DLC because my first foray was on console. For all 3. I now own the trilogy on PC, so I’ll look into that when I get there 🙂

        Reply

        • Blood Emperor Trevor

          February 3, 2015 at 10:41

          You’re in for a treat, Lair of the Shadowbroker DLC was really good.

          Reply

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:42

            I need more time for games 🙁

          • Matthew Holliday

            February 3, 2015 at 10:47

            no, just lair of the shadow broker.
            also overlord
            also arrival
            also kasumi

            calling them “legit” wouldnt do them justice.
            those 4 DLC packs should be a universal standard for DLC release.

          • RinceThis

            February 3, 2015 at 10:58

            Yeah. Though the Maco got a much deserved upgrade.

          • WitWolfy

            February 3, 2015 at 11:03

            Too bad you could never control the universe or gather minerals as one would’ve thought after the whole Shadow Broker section of the game…

          • Matthew Holliday

            February 3, 2015 at 11:10

            shadow broker actually does provide you with minor resource bonuses and information once you finish.

          • WitWolfy

            February 3, 2015 at 14:41

            Yip… MINOR.. nothing that really made you feel like the underground space mafia unfortunately

    • Dutch Matrix

      February 3, 2015 at 10:42

      Ugh. That Mako… I always got the impression my Commander Shepherd got royally liquored up before getting into that horrible thing…

      Reply

      • Tosh MA

        February 3, 2015 at 10:43

        hahahaha yeah ok the controls weren’t amazing, but it was a nice break from the other gameplay.

        Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          February 3, 2015 at 10:44

          If flinging your Xbox controller at the wall is your idea of fun, then I suppose all is well…

          Reply

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:45

            LOL. That never happened. And It’s easier with a controller than a kb/mouse. I’ve tried both.

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 10:48

            As did I. But the Mako going was not a real sad moment for me in gaming. Then the planet scanning, door bypassing, data pad hacking happened in ME 2 and I wept. Is there any decent mods that allows for one button hacking/bypassing?

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:50

            Wait, you want 1-button mechanics? I hear Final Fantasy might have something for you.

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 10:50

            No. I want the 3+ hours spent hacking in ME2 to go away.

          • Admiral Chief

            February 3, 2015 at 11:20

            LOL that was easy

          • Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire

            February 3, 2015 at 21:17

            The Mako control was actually pretty intuitive..

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 3, 2015 at 10:42

      no one liked the mako untill they saw how annoying the missions where for the hammerhead.
      and even still, no one likes the mako at all, what we liked was what it allowed us to do: explore.

      Reply

      • Tosh MA

        February 3, 2015 at 10:43

        Actually, I did like the Mako. The controls sucked, but once you get the hang of them its rather fun.

        I often tried to see what kind of ramps off mountains I could do. 😛

        Reply

        • Blood Emperor Trevor

          February 3, 2015 at 10:44

          I liked it too. I enjoyed getting to the top of a high mountain then sniping the hell out of a Geth base.

          Reply

          • Matthew Holliday

            February 3, 2015 at 10:45

            i hated getting up the mountains

            i enjoyed crashing off them though

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:45

            This. x 1000. haha, ok now I have to play some more ME XD

  3. Hammersteyn

    February 3, 2015 at 10:42

    But how many endings will it have?

    Reply

    • Capt. Bob of the Blood Ravens

      February 3, 2015 at 10:44

      What?! Red, Blue and Green not good enough for you! 🙂

      Reply

      • Tosh MA

        February 3, 2015 at 10:45

        It was more than enough for Pokemon.

        Oh wait.

        Reply

        • Capt. Bob of the Blood Ravens

          February 3, 2015 at 10:48

          Ok, I see. Now we’ll get 649 endings each slightly different but effectively the same so we can collect them all.

          Reply

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:49

            Some endings are super effective against others though, just careful. You might end up with the Psyduck ending.

          • Capt. Bob of the Blood Ravens

            February 3, 2015 at 10:52

            But I like Psyduck. How can you not love a face like that?

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:53

            Le Psy…

            Get it. Heh?

            *skulks back to the corner

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 3, 2015 at 10:55

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            February 3, 2015 at 10:58

            He hasn’t had his alcohol this morning. He’ll make more sense once he is drunk. I promise.

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:59

            I swear dude, I’m going to Rubick one of these days and feed you to the enemy team. In fact, I can play any support and rush force staff

            AND WATCH YOU BUUUUUUURN. 😀

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            February 3, 2015 at 11:07

            Lol. You. Dota. Beating/Destroying me. A man can have his dreams, hey? Hurry up and get drunk dude. You make so much more sense then. 😀

            Edit: Also… RUUUUUUUUUUUUUBICK!
            Edit 2: I think I have like five dota 2 reporter episodes to watch! Off I go!

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 11:11

            Hahaha, do I ever make sense? 😀

      • Hammersteyn

        February 3, 2015 at 10:48

        Moar Colours!

        Reply

        • Capt. Bob of the Blood Ravens

          February 3, 2015 at 10:50

          Mass Effect 4: South Africa – the rainbow of endings

          Reply

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:51

            Oh god no. Your Mako might just get highjacked. Remember to lock your spaceship before you go adventuring too.

            And just randomly, while in a trading hub, you might have to fend off armed robbers.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 3, 2015 at 10:52

            No, that’s Star Citizen 😀

          • Capt. Bob of the Blood Ravens

            February 3, 2015 at 10:54

            No, you have it all wrong. The newly elected council in their second term will just use all your credits and resources to improve the new Citadel with upgrades you don’t want and didn’t ask for. Space fire-pools for everyone!

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 10:56

            Everyone? No, just the council members. For security reasons.

          • Capt. Bob of the Blood Ravens

            February 3, 2015 at 10:57

            It’s for the betterment of everyone but not everyone can use them 😉

    • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

      February 3, 2015 at 10:51

      I spent so much time unifying the Geth and the damn Quarians over three games. AND DID IT EVEN MATTER?! I’m still hurt. Ultimately, nothing mattered. Screw the Mako. It’s probably part of you now anyway if you chose the non-paragon weirdly green ending anyway.

      Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        February 3, 2015 at 10:53

        it does matter, to you.
        ./care about the ending anymore.
        the whole game was an ending.

        Reply

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          February 3, 2015 at 10:55

          The whole game was an ending? Thanks for nothing, Nietzsche. That’s really helpful. Because none of it felt that way, to me. It all felt like a rushed and hurried job in the last third. And the three (later four) colour ending is nothing more than a hurried discussion at the end of a laborious journal article. Nty. Never again. All that investment. And none of it mattered to me.

          Reply

  4. Dutch Matrix

    February 3, 2015 at 10:51

    Am I the only one looking at that header image and thinking: Pity the Fool that gotta mow those lawns…

    Reply

    • Tosh MA

      February 3, 2015 at 10:52

      • Dutch Matrix

        February 3, 2015 at 10:57

        My God is busy preparing a special place in hell for the actor that butchered Howling Mad Murdock like he did.
        😛

        Reply

        • Tosh MA

          February 3, 2015 at 10:58

          Traditionalist…

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 11:01

            If that means I am against stuff I like being violated in the name of modernism then yeah, I’ll lace that bitch up and wear it…

        • Novakaine

          February 3, 2015 at 14:02

          He was an excellent Murdock…he was mad as a hatter…what more do you want?

          Even the original Murdock gave him 2 thumbs up…

          Reply

      • WitWolfy

        February 3, 2015 at 14:46

    • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

      February 3, 2015 at 10:52

      I thought they were trees?

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        February 3, 2015 at 10:54

        Is it illogical to presume that there be grass below them trees?

        Reply

        • Blood Emperor Trevor

          February 3, 2015 at 10:57

          Maybe it’s astroturf. GEDDIT? ASTRO!

          Reply

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            February 3, 2015 at 10:57

            LOL!

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 10:59

            Don’t make me turf your ass, boetie! 🙂

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          February 3, 2015 at 10:57

          Well it really depends on the dominant rainfall regime. Cause ain’t no abundance of grass under trees naturally in the Western Cape. So if it was a Helen Zille station, that’d be tree’s with fynbos and shrubs under it. And a bloody billion blood sucking ticks.

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 10:59

            Still better than living in Gauteng…

    • Hammersteyn

      February 3, 2015 at 10:52

      I thought Elysium at first

      Reply

  5. RinceThis

    February 3, 2015 at 10:58

    A remastered edition of the trilogy WITH DLC people. Fucking Bioware.

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 3, 2015 at 11:11

      id probably still buy it.
      shepard senpai, please look after me.

      Reply

    • konfab aka derp

      February 3, 2015 at 11:11

      I am pretty sure they will include the DLC for the remastered trilogy. The PS3 version came with a few DLC, so I can see them conceding and putting all of them on disc.

      Reply

  6. WitWolfy

    February 3, 2015 at 10:59

    Still cant see how NEXT EFFECT can fit into the Mass Effect universe… What can be more intimidating than Reapers??? Oh thats right… NOTHING!

    And for the love of God dont make us fight endless hallways of Cerberus guards again please. that irritated the crap out of me in ME 3.

    Reply

    • Tosh MA

      February 3, 2015 at 11:00

      Trev’s mom.

      Nuff said.

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 3, 2015 at 11:02

        Meh – middle level boss at best, just need noise-cancelling head phones.

        Reply

        • Tosh MA

          February 3, 2015 at 11:03

          Well. That sounds like half the planet then. :/

          Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 3, 2015 at 11:02

      doesnt have to be more intimidating than reapers.
      it just has to be different.

      the star wars comics continued after the original trilogy.
      The mass effect universe isnt a single story line, there are other threats that need to be addressed.

      Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      February 3, 2015 at 11:59

      Possible backstory for ME4:
      A previously undiscovered, and badly damaged, Mass Relay has been located.
      It is ancient and even pre-dates the Reapers.
      After repairing it a scout ship is sent through.

      You play as [insert name] a [insert rank] member of the crew who discover that the Mass Relay actually leads to another galaxy.

      I have no idea what would happen next though.

      Reply

      • WitWolfy

        February 3, 2015 at 12:02

        The weird thing is BW did confirm that “ME4” isn’t a prequel so its hard to say…

        Reply

  7. Rock789

    February 3, 2015 at 11:04

    More Mass Effect is never a bad thing! Can’t wait to hear more details or, better yet, see some proper gameplay.

    And a re-mastered edition of the first trilogy (including DLC, please!) to tithe us over till then? Hell yeah!!!

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 3, 2015 at 11:09

      I’ll watch the teaser trailer and nothing else.
      did it for DA:I and the experience was glorious.
      game must be super fresh.

      zoe and I arent going to get along when the news starts coming out.

      Reply

      • Her Highness the Hipster

        February 3, 2015 at 12:26

        sorry, you know i’ll be covering every morsel of info. But agreed – the fresher you can go into a game, the better 🙂

        Reply

  8. Ghost In The Rift

    February 3, 2015 at 11:10

    Now we just have to wait until E3, i really hope they will have a trailer and some gameplay footage by then.

    Reply

  9. Kensei Seraph

    February 3, 2015 at 11:54

    Dragon Age: Inquisition in space would probably be an interesting game but ME4 will likely be better.

    Reply

  10. Lardus-Resident Perve

    February 3, 2015 at 12:21

    “I just hope Bioware releases a remastered version of the trilogy” – if/when they do this, I will almost immediately buy a new console, provided it includes the DLC. Until then, I am still charging Brutes and Banchees in ME3 with my Vanguard FemShep on my 360…

    Reply

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