Summary
Following the reveal ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare seems to be ushering in new eras of its flagship IPs, which have undoubtedly faced uncertainty for years. There may not be anything known aboutMass Effect 4beyond the few bits of promotional material the project has received so far, but the promise of a new entry that takes gamers back to the Milky Way has more weight now that the nextDAappears to be a tangible product. As changes to the formula of the studio’s upcoming fantasy title have shown, however,Mass Effect’s established mechanicswill likely continue to be influential in one key area.
Between the cinematic focus on dialogue and reduced party size, the gameplay showcase for the nextDAhas drawn some logical comparisons to the more streamlined action ofMass Effectover its roots inOrigins. SinceMass Effect 4is still far off given the current focus onDragon Age, it’s logical to assume that this dynamic could continue to work both ways, with the franchises taking inspiration from one another. Unless BioWare shifts gears and decides to take its properties in opposite directions from where they began, the party ofThe Veilguardis almost certain to inspire a similar setup in the nextMass Effect.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Party Has Slimmed Down to Mass Effect’s Size
Previous Dragon Age Titles Featured Three Companions in the Field
Players of the existing trilogy are used to having access to threeDragon Ageparty membersat a time, a number which is itself pared down from what older CRPGs were known for offering before it. Considering the depth typical of these characters and the variety they can provide in gameplay, it’s become the norm that three can be used. While that franchise retained its party size despite shifting further toward action combat with each entry,Mass Effecthas always stood in contrast through a nearly complete commitment to simplifying its RPG side.
There has been no subtle transition from the slower tactics ofOriginsto thefast-paced action ofThe Veilguard, but this change can at least partially be attributed to the growing success ofMass Effect. EveryMEtitle has been limited to only two companions at a time who cannot be directly controlled outside of commands, but the intense combat scenarios of these games have kept them engaging for many RPG players regardless. Now that the latestDragon Agein a decade is expected to follow suit, this is a pattern which might come to define the studio’s style as a whole moving forward.
Chances of Mass Effect 4 Straying From a Succesful Formula Are Low
The Influence of The Veilguard’s Eventual Reception
The reception to the sweeping changes which are set to defineThe Veilguardremains to be seen, but it’s still safe to say that it’s shaping up to be a massive release following a major undertaking. Even if it mainly captures a newer audience following the long hiatus between titles, the nextDragon Agecould easily pave the way forthe nextMass Effectto build upon its potentially fresh take on the action RPG genre.
It’s not out of the question thatME4could include three or more companions in battle after all, but a growing emphasis on the real-time capabilities of the protagonist instead is a trend which may yield results BioWare has been in need of. There’s no shortage of customizable systems which inform the core combat ofDragon Age: The Veilguard’s diverse party outside what it has simplified, and there’s no telling whereMass Effect 4could take its own gameplay while still retaining its classic structure of a three-person squad.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you’re able to’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
