Summary
IfMass Effect 4’s protagonist is locked in as a race other than human, they may end up replicating Shepard in a certain way regardless. Considering how iconic Commander Shepard turned out to be, it’s hard to imagine futureMass Effectprotagonists not taking anything from their portrayal in the original trilogy. At the same time,Mass Effect 4will still need to do something to make itself distinct from past games. Whether it features a return of Shepard or a new protagonist, that much is true. Even so,Mass Effect 4’s protagonist might inevitably repeat one thing.
It’s possible thatMass Effect’s Commander Shepard could returninMass Effect 4, and fans can’t be blamed for wanting to see them again. Shepard has managed to attain iconic status among gaming protagonists despite the player designing their appearance and abilities themselves. The journey that Commander Shepard undertook in the originalMass Effecttrilogy, as well as the relationships that they forged with their crewmates, remain some of BioWare’s finest work. Following Commander Shepard as protagonist would be a tough task for any character to fulfill. IfMass Effect 4stars a new hero, they will have to contend with Shepard’s long shadow.
Mass Effect 4’s Protagonist Will Inevitably Have Their Own Perspective
Commander Shepard Saw Humanity’s Status in Mass Effect’s Galaxy
Over the course of manyquests in theMass Effectgames, Commander Shepard carries the series from a human’s perspective. In the lore, humanity is a relatively recent addition to the galactic community, and is still establishing itself at the time that Shepard’s story begins. As a result, there are some characters who doubt humanity, including Shepard by proxy. While Shepard is open-minded and capable of working with all kinds of people (as their roster of crewmates shows), the story is still colored by the human perspective. It lightens in later games as Shepard becomes more respected, but it’s still noticeable.
Mass Effect’s Other Races Have Their Own Lore to Follow
This perspective might be inevitable even if players don’t seeShepard return inMass Effect 4, or any human protagonist for that matter. Every species in theMass Effectuniverse has their own history, both individually and with regard to the council, and that would likely affect the game’s story. For example, Quarians and Krogan are often treated with suspicion by other species. Meanwhile, there is still some tension between Turians and humans due to the events of The First Contact War. The history of the many species ofMass Effectsimply can’t be overlooked, no matter who the protagonist is.
A Non-Human Mass Effect Protagonist Could Explore New Perspectives
It’s possible thatMass Effect 4could use this phenomenon to its advantage. IfMass Effect 4has a non-human protagonist, it could let players see some new sides of the galaxy, and open the door to some new story potential. For example, a Quarian protagonist could get content based on experiencing life outside the Flotilla, possibly for the first time. If the Geth still exist and provide a protagonist, then players could get a look at how the Geth are settling into the universe on their own following the original trilogy. The developers could use this perspective as a perfect worldbuilding opportunity.
The history of the many species ofMass Effectsimply can’t be overlooked, no matter who the protagonist is.
Mass Effect 4’s protagonist is going to be an important factor, especially coming off of the strength of Commander Shepard. It would be a major change forMass Effect 4’s protagonist to not be a human like Shepard, and that wouldn’t be a bad thing. Players would have to be aware that, just as Commander Shepard dealt with humanity’s perspective on the universe, a protagonist of another species would have their own background and experiences. In that sense, no matter whoMass Effect 4’s protagonist is, they will carry some semblance of Shepard’s portrayal.
Mass Effect Trilogy
WHERE TO PLAY
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.RELIVE THE CINEMATIC SAGA: Heart-pounding action meets gripping interactive storytelling where you decide how your unique story unfolds.EXPERIENCE THE LEGEND OF SHEPARD: Create and customize your own character, from appearance and skills to a personalized arsenal then lead your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil.REFLECT ON YOUR CHOICES: Your choices seamlessly travel from one game to the next. Each decision you make will control the outcome of every mission, every relationship, every battle – and even the fate of the galaxy itself.
