I'd argue that leaving behind a formula is, in itself, nothing for Bioware to be scared of. ME2 had a very different flavor and style than ME1 did, and it worked. DA2 could have worked as well, if not for the sense rushed incompletion laced throughout the whole game and a few bizarre choices the writers made at the end.
Personally, I'm kind of hoping that they at least reimagine the morality system a little.
Two main problems with this argument.
1) they had the entire milky way galaxy to work with. They could have set it in any time or place. Literally infinite possibilities to bypass the 3 endings.
2) they are treating Andromeda as if it were the Milky Way anyway (same races tech military etc) which defeats the purpose of moving to another galaxy.
Neither of these really works as a counter-argument though.
Regarding 1: There is no way to bypass the 3 endings without canonizing one of them. Synthesis affects every being that can be reached by a Mass Relay, Destroy keeps us stuck near Earth, and Control would allow the Reapers a substantial presence anywhere that has any organics, period. There is no Milky Way ME4 that wouldn't involve either canonizing an ending or downplaying their effects.
Regarding 2: That's not quite the same thing. Andromeda lets us maintain the continuity of the universe. That can't happen if we stay in the Milky Way. Otherwise, we go the comic book route of multiple/alternate universes, which isn't really a popular method either.
Neither of these really works as a counter-argument though.
Regarding 1: There is no way to bypass the 3 endings without canonizing one of them. Synthesis affects every being that can be reached by a Mass Relay, Destroy keeps us stuck near Earth, and Control would allow the Reapers a substantial presence anywhere that has any organics, period. There is no Milky Way ME4 that wouldn't involve either canonizing an ending or downplaying their effects.
Regarding 2: That's not quite the same thing. Andromeda lets us maintain the continuity of the universe. That can't happen if we stay in the Milky Way. Otherwise, we go the comic book route of multiple/alternate universes, which isn't really a popular method either.
set it in a remote part of the milky way that was largely unaffected by the reaper war. Or far enough down the line for it to not matter where they could leave it vague what happened historically.
Not true. They could have
A) set it in the past before 3's ending or
You have what, a 100 year window to set the games before the endings?
Not a lot of wiggle room there.
I haven't read this whole thread, but there is something I'd like to respond to.
Yes, only 1% of the Milky Way had been explored, but practically all that could be explored with the limitations of the Relay Network has been.
The Relays allowed us to travel across the galaxy quickly, but it also made it impossible for the races to leave the relays or try going too far from them because their technology, like all the cycles before us, followed the technological patterns the Reapers deigned us to follow.
And no where in the galaxy has NOT been affected by the ending choice as the Relays essentially transformed the entire galaxy thanks to the Crucible. All of it, not just 1%.
As for going to Andromeda, I can see a group of various races from the Milky Way leaving on an exploration, or a last ditch survival effort before ME3's ending took place, like the Asari Councilor saying that there were options that must be taken after the fall of Thessia. Where the humans, asari, Krogan and such enter the Ark Ship fully expecting to be the last of their kind, never to return, and take a prototype ship meant to leave the Milky Way behind and set up roots elsewhere, so even if the war against the Reapers is lost, their races will survive.
I'm not going to bash a new team or go on and on about how horrible it'll be because it's a departure from a lot of what we've known. When the game comes out, I will take it on its own merits.
Not true. They could have
A) set it in the past before 3's ending or
A) I suppose that's possible, but have fun trying to sell that idea to Bioware. Many (though not all) fans fall into the same camp as "What's the point? Everyone's going to die anyway via ME3". And as others point out, your solution only works if you're willing to omit humanity from the mix.
There is no "remote part of the Milky Way unaffected by the Reaper War". The entire point/function of the Reapers is that they have access to every last part of our galaxy, which is what allows them to even pull off the Cycles. Pointing out too that Synthesis affects every last organic in the galaxy, protagonists included. Not to mention, that usually people insisting on staying in the Milky Way want to maintain the traditional Mass Effect elements, much as is possible. You're essentially keeping us in the Milky Way, but without any of the positives.
There also is not time period where it's "far enough down down the line" not to matter, just given the general nature of record keeping at this point. Unless you plan on handwaving Reaper control and Synthesis away, which much like the prequel idea, probably wouldn't be an easy sell.
Being cautious about prequels is reasonable since they're hard to pull off. That being said I agree that people shouldn't dismiss prequels too quickly Deus Ex: HR, MGS 3 and Halo: Reach are examples of prequels being done right.
Okay. I enjoy Reach's story but there's a reason that both Bungie AND 343 had to introduce so many explanations to reconcile the game and Fall of Reach's timelines/depiction of the battle.
In the end nobody (or nearly nobody) is really satisfied with the endings of the trilogy, that's why we'll always be discussing these things and possibilities.
I particularly hope that the history is not over just yet. I finished the trilogy not long ago so I don't know about you guys, but I'm not over my Shepard yet.
In the end nobody (or nearly nobody) is really satisfied with the endings of the trilogy, that's why we'll always be discussing these things and possibilities.
I particularly hope that the history is not over just yet. I finished the trilogy not long ago so I don't know about you guys, but I'm not over my Shepard yet.
Im actually with you on this just started this year... and well the ending lacked so much closure I'm hoping andromeda can fill it in... but will see, hopefully they will tie it in with the original trilogy at the very least...
Yes, only 1% of the Milky Way had been explored, but practically all that could be explored with the limitations of the Relay Network has been.
Wrong. Most of the relay network is in fact unexplored by the Citadel races. Remember the ban on going through relays with which the matched relay hasn't been found yet? Remember the First Contact war started because the Alliance was ignorant of this rule?
Further, In ME3, Liara tells us that the Citadel races have inhabited only a handful of the area the Prothean Empire did, and we can safely assume they hadn't spread throughout the entire relay network themselves.
In the end nobody (or nearly nobody) is really satisfied with the endings of the trilogy, that's why we'll always be discussing these things and possibilities.
I particularly hope that the history is not over just yet. I finished the trilogy not long ago so I don't know about you guys, but I'm not over my Shepard yet.
I believe the Milky Way will be seen again and Shepard will be in another game.
The problem here is that turning Mass Effect into something essentially "not Mass Effect" doesn't really apply to Andromeda any more than it would to a Milky Way setting.
By this point, in ME3's history: the Reapers are finished, Cerberus has been destroyed, Shepard is out of the picture, most of the companions have been overplayed, all our choices will likely be ignored, and we've discovered far too many Prothean beacons/artifacts.
Quite literally, in terms of being "Mass Effect", the only elements we would be actually retaining in this new game, even in Milky Way, would be the technology, the races, and the locations. And it's pretty safe to say Andromeda will be featuring those first 2. Location-wise, it's hard to believe that we need the Citadel for the game to be considered "Mass Effect". Overall, it's not clear what would make ME4 a "Mass Effect" game, unless it's going to rely on a plethora of cameos, which isn't really the best idea in my opinion.
Yes, it's true those are all out of the picture and you know what? I'd love to see the repercussions of that. The galaxy we once knew in a now state of recovery could be a hella setting with unlimited possibilities.
Settings can be built on. You don't have to throw it all away(bar the fundamentals)any time you hit a snag.
I believe the Milky Way will be seen again and Shepard will be in another game.
Settings can be built on. You don't have to throw it all away(bar the fundamentals)any time you hit a snag.
Care to put money on that? I'll bet the cost of the first ME5 DLC that you're wrong.
$15? Is that all? hahaha
I bet I'm not worried if I'm wrong.
Care to put money on that? I'll bet the cost of the first ME5 DLC that you're wrong.
Part of me thinks a BSN betting pool would be in order, but given that the following game, assuming that there ever will be another, will be years out from now, I doubt our attention span could endure, especially if the upcoming game turns out to be really good.
Wrong. Most of the relay network is in fact unexplored by the Citadel races. Remember the ban on going through relays with which the matched relay hasn't been found yet? Remember the First Contact war started because the Alliance was ignorant of this rule?
Further, In ME3, Liara tells us that the Citadel races have inhabited only a handful of the area the Prothean Empire did, and we can safely assume they hadn't spread throughout the entire relay network themselves.
It doesn't matter. RBG affects every relay. There's no escape from it. The very thing that makes RBG a workable (if stupid) idea makes the MW a dead-end as a setting.
Yes, it's true those are all out of the picture and you know what? I'd love to see the repercussions of that. The galaxy we once knew in a now state of recovery could be a hella setting with unlimited possibilities.
Settings can be built on. You don't have to throw it all away(bar the fundamentals)any time you hit a snag.
Which ending are you going to canonise for that?
For me there are only 2 acceptable ending choices; Control or Refuse. With either of those settings you're either just remaking the original trilogy but substituting the starbrat for the Shepalist ... or everyone is dead. That's one helluva "snag" to overcome.
Andromeda - here we come!
Yes, it's true those are all out of the picture and you know what? I'd love to see the repercussions of that. The galaxy we once knew in a now state of recovery could be a hella setting with unlimited possibilities.
Settings can be built on. You don't have to throw it all away(bar the fundamentals)any time you hit a snag.
Alan hit on this already, but this is something of a side point. If you, as a player, want to see the consequences of an ending choice, that's completely fine. Other people have mentioned the implications of Destroy are pretty interesting. On the other end of the spectrum, that's still not quite the same as saying Bioware could easily have set another game in the MW.
We obviously don't have specifics, but given the overall ending reception, complaints regarding reactivity, and forced canon, it's also not impossible to consider that Bioware maybe didn't feel like they had a choice on this. This approach allows them to maintain the technology and the iconic races, while being able to escape the more problematic elements of the ME universe.
We obviously don't have specifics, but given the overall ending reception, complaints regarding reactivity, and forced canon, it's also not impossible to consider that Bioware maybe didn't feel like they had a choice on this. This approach allows them to maintain the technology and the iconic races, while being able to escape the more problematic elements of the ME universe.
It doesn't matter. RBG affects every relay. There's no escape from it. The very thing that makes RBG a workable (if stupid) idea makes the MW a dead-end as a setting.
everyone didn't just die from lack of resources after the entirety of the surviving council races got stranded in the Sol system, as implied by all endings
"They had no choice but to set the game in another galaxy."
That's true, and sucks balls as well.
Really doubt rgb affected the inactive relays.
Why? That was kinda the point. It was supposed to be a grand finale, the end of the series... not just the relay network but everything in the entire galaxy was affected.
Seriously though I wish we could continue seeing repercussions.
I chose Refuse in one play through and, in fact, the only endings I'd ever do again are Control and Refuse.
A more civilized krogan race
Assuming you decided to cure the genophage (granted most people did IIRC) and that it worked out.
a fusion of geth and quarians
According to the stats, most people let the Quarians die.
the Yahg completing their first starship
They were being uplifted/experimented upon by the Salarians.
the Rachni joining council
They're dead.
Then there was so much more story to tell in the milky way
Not in my preferred play-throughs ... everyone is dead or Shepard has become the Reaper-god.
Really doubt rgb affected the inactive relays.
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