I don't expect them to do this at all... but just humor me for a second. How in the living name of....... can you incorporate those three choices?
Imagine if synthesis/control/destroy becomes part of the new background and history for creating a new character or it becomes 3 seperate game modes that change the gameplay like if you're Soldier vs being a Biotic. Crazy.
Either of two ways.
1) Institute place for you to go and make your saves your canon, like they did with DAI and Dragon Age Keep.
2) They have control over the story, so they can make it so that it happened so long ago or so far away (because space is uhhhhh, big) that it doesn't matter anymore.
Well, that at least finally takes off one thing from ME4 possibilites list, no canon ending. And I say good riddance. Even if they end up railroading all endings into 1 same "entry" point 800 years after ME3, at least there won't be neverending "why wasn't this ending picked as canon".
Well, that at least finally takes off one thing from ME4 possibilites list, no canon ending. And I say good riddance. Even if they end up railroading all endings into 1 same "entry" point 800 years after ME3, at least there won't be neverending "why wasn't this ending picked as canon".
I think the "it happened so long ago the effect aren't really noticeable exept in certan Codex or other kind of history log" is best. I really don't like it but I think it's the best way to go.
No canon ending doesn't mean there isn't a canon start to ME4 though. The three endings are so divergent (as are everybody's choices within ME1-3) that it would be a mammoth undertaking to reflect it - and if they try to satisfy everyone then it will end up being a mish mashed half arsed attempt.
I am kinda hating them right now for the whole "perfect place" they have already tried this once and it was shite. And pretty much anything that I can think of that cuts off ME1-3 and starts anew seems worse than if they just canonized something.
I can hope, but all this bullshit dancing around the issue seems to be the evidence that they have no frakking idea of what to do.
It was a dream/nightmare/virtual universe/time travel/something else.
"Its more complicated than that!" -Solas
Assuming Bioware ever does a direct sequel to ME3, which doesn't seem to be the case with ME:Next, they've got two options:
The first and probably preferable option in terms of having the least baggage, is to base the sequel on only one of the three ending choices. They can still keep all three endings from Mass Effect 3 canon, but just announce that the sequel only explores the consequences of one of them. Of the three Destroy would probably be the best choice, since it has already done away with the Reapers (a necessity for new villains) and as the fan favorite, it is the least likely to cause the forums or Twitter to go nuclear.
The second is to try and carry over all three endings into a sequel. That would require to some extent ignoring the EC epilogues and having all three ending choices result in a galactic state that doesn't greatly diverge from choice to choice. So the Reapers would likely end up out of the way (or gone entirely) in all three choices. They'd also need to have the galaxy either go partially synthetic at some point after all three endings or the post-Synthesis galaxy to revert to it's pre-Synthesis state at some point. Or alternatively, the results of Synthesis would simply be reduced to few throwaway lines of dialogue, but otherwise be identical. The Geth would also need to exist in the aftermath of all three choices, or to simply play little to no role at all in the sequel.
Neither however is ideal and either route is likely to provoke some criticism. Bioware in effect, painted itself into a corner with the endings of Mass Effect 3. They do not easily lend themselves to a sequel, and while a sequel can be crafted from them it can't be done without generating at least some criticism pre-release. I think the decision on which route to go would require the devs to assess which route was least likely to provoke a backlash. On that note my credits would be on the first option, with Destroy being the ending the sequel explores.
Also it probably goes without saying that Refuse would be entirely off the table and not even up for consideration. It exists only in DLC which means only a small minority of players have ever seen it, and it is nothing more than a slightly more creative Critical Mission Failure. Like the worst outcome of ME2's suicide mission, It has absolutely no chance of ever being the basis of a sequel.
In my eyes it means they are doing a cheap out - effectively a Mass Effect Mulligan. They are now in that nasty hard spot are where the Dogfart TM ending(s) has blown up in their faces. If you try a prequel, well - it won't work. Humanity was only in space for about 25-30 years before Shepard arrived on the scene. We know what happened in the timeline pre-Shepard - so there is no point in telling that story.
If they try post-Shepard, well .... what happened to my choices? Do they impact ME: Next? Is everyone CyBorg Green? Are there even Humans, Asari or anything else left that we recognize left (refusal)? Does the Shepard VI live on the Citadel and control the Reapers? Are the Reapers gone, and the Normandy a museum piece? Its just too many start off points that are wildly divergent.
So, what we will get is Obi-Won waving his hand and saying "All of that didn't happen, it was just a very bad dream." That or MIB shows up and zaps us with the red flashy thing. I must admit that I am not very happy about this. Ark theories, parallel timelines and universes I find just as bad and non-inventive.
They took player choice very seriously except for a decent ending....
Now, to add insult to injury, they want to call Mulligan and drop a new ball and start all over. I hope that big ol' fat cup of 'Artistic Integrity' tastes good. My bet is it tastes as good as the endings of ME3.
You can easily write around any of the endings to achieve the same outcome.
1. Destroy - Enough time has passed that the Reapers and Shepard are merely fairy tales. Galactic Civilization has been rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
2. Control - After the Reaper's assisted in rebuilding Galactic Civilization, they mysteriously vanished into deep space, nothing but vague hints of their legacy left after centuries of absence. With Galactic Civilization rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
3. Synthesis - Some say that the denizens of the galaxy were once mysteriously bound to rebuild the galaxy after a large scale catastrophe. Regardless of what once was, the bond grew weaker with each new generation, and each civilization wished to shape the galaxy to their image. With Galactic Civilization rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
4. Synthesis 2 - Although the denizens of the galaxy seem to hav-- this is stupid, screw synthesis.
In the end, everyone goes back to hating each other for some reason.
You can easily write around any of the endings to achieve the same outcome.
1. Destroy - Enough time has passed that the Reapers and Shepard are merely fairy tales. Galactic Civilization has been rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
2. Control - After the Reaper's assisted in rebuilding Galactic Civilization, they mysteriously vanished into deep space, nothing but vague hints of their legacy left after centuries of absence. With Galactic Civilization rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
3. Synthesis - Some say that the denizens of the galaxy were once mysteriously bound to rebuild the galaxy after a large scale catastrophe. Regardless of what once was, the bond grew weaker with each new generation, and each civilization wished to shape the galaxy to their image. With Galactic Civilization rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
4. Synthesis 2 - Although the denizens of the galaxy seem to hav-- this is stupid, screw synthesis.
In the end, everyone goes back to hating each other for some reason.
Sadly, this is possible.
I think the "it happened so long ago the effect aren't really noticeable exept in certan Codex or other kind of history log" is best. I really don't like it but I think it's the best way to go.
Much as I'd like to see the endings quietly disappear from canon, such a route really just trivializes the choikces rather than dealing with them. "Yeah, we acknowledge you made this chocie. But it really didn't matter. Nothing important changed"
I say, clean break. Not even codex entries.
Much as I'd like to see the endings quietly disappear from canon, such a route really just trivializes the choikces rather than dealing with them. "Yeah, we acknowledge you made this chocie. But it really didn't matter. Nothing important changed"
I say, clean break. Not even codex entries.
What about the Krogan and Quarians? Are they reset to Day 1 with their development?
Also, the longer the time span you leave from ME3 the more technology should advance to a point where it becomes no longer reminiscence of Mass Effect.
What about the Krogan and Quarians? Are they reset to Day 1 with their development?
*shrugs* Maybe.
But the fate of the krogan and quarians further highlights how pointless it is to do a direct continuation of the ME trilogy. Even beyond the ending controversies
The statements 'no need to worry about saves' and 'we take player choice very seriously' don't really seem able to coexist.
Which is why its probably not going to be anything sequelish. Probably a total reboot.
The statements 'no need to worry about saves' and 'we take player choice very seriously' don't really seem able to coexist.
If they create a place where you can go and create a world state, a la DA:I.... Yes, they can coexist.
Well, that at least finally takes off one thing from ME4 possibilities list, no canon ending. And I say good riddance. Even if they end up railroading all endings into 1 same "entry" point 800 years after ME3, at least there won't be never ending "why wasn't this ending picked as canon".
Yep, you stay away from fire ants.
You can easily write around any of the endings to achieve the same outcome.
1. Destroy - Enough time has passed that the Reapers and Shepard are merely fairy tales. Galactic Civilization has been rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
2. Control - After the Reaper's assisted in rebuilding Galactic Civilization, they mysteriously vanished into deep space, nothing but vague hints of their legacy left after centuries of absence. With Galactic Civilization rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
3. Synthesis - Some say that the denizens of the galaxy were once mysteriously bound to rebuild the galaxy after a large scale catastrophe. Regardless of what once was, the bond grew weaker with each new generation, and each civilization wished to shape the galaxy to their image. With Galactic Civilization rebuilt, old rivalries have died out and new conflicts arose.
4. Synthesis 2 - Although the denizens of the galaxy seem to hav-- this is stupid, screw synthesis.
In the end, everyone goes back to hating each other for some reason.
This and you don't even have to say which outright you can just make it a codex entry.
One ME smoothie of indeterminate colour, coming up
*shrugs* Maybe.
But the fate of the krogan and quarians further highlights how pointless it is to do a direct continuation of the ME trilogy. Even beyond the ending controversies
I don't see a problem with the Krogan. They are not extinct and with their lifespans they could easily make an appearance in the next Mass Effect genophage cured or not. Also throughout the Mass Effect trilogy the Krogan have been trying to overcome the Genophage themselves. Starting with the alliance with Saren, Okeer, Maelon there is no reason to assume that they couldn't achieve it on their own.
The Quarians are bit more tricky if they are to have a more meaningful role in the next Mass Effect.
Out of the 3 endings, destroy is by far the easiest to ignore for what you're implying, Han.
Can't continue destroy because the Catalyst was right, everyone is doomed.
Though that would also make for a spectacular game I suppose, trying to beat the new synthetic overlords with the last remnants of organic life.
The Catalyst's doom and gloom predictions about the inability of organics and synthetics to coexist come across more like the programming of its paranoid creators, than as absolute truth. At the very least there is no reason to fear any synthetic faction any more than another organic faction. They are all capable of making war, and synthetics are no more capable of winning wars or completely annihilating their opponents than any organic faction.
In any case the continued survival of both the Catalyst and the Reapers, both of which had a proven track record of warmongering and mass murder stretching back billions of years, arguably poses a greater risk to the galaxy than any outcome where they have been eliminated.
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