Mass Effect: A Return to the Classic Format?

The gaming world is abuzz with an interesting piece of news that might bring a wave of nostalgia for fans of the renowned Mass Effect series. It appears that the beloved franchise could be returning to its traditional gameplay format, stepping away from the open-world elements that were incorporated in the recent installment, Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Insight into this possible shift came from Jez Corden, a notable gaming insider and managing editor at Windows Central. During a recent Xbox Two Podcast episode, Corden dropped this potential bombshell, stating, "I've heard that Mass Effect is ditching open-world and going back to its classic format". He clarified that his information came from an industry rumor and may not be entirely accurate.

The original Mass Effect, which was released in 2007, was celebrated for its strong focus on RPG elements and character-driven narratives. Instead of an open-world format, it featured a series of smaller, meticulously designed locations for players to traverse across different planets and spaceships. This design approach was maintained throughout the following two games in the main series, which were also highly praised. The shift towards open-world elements only came with Mass Effect: Andromeda, which, despite providing a larger space for exploration, didn't garner as much acclaim.

Mass Effect: Andromeda's move to open-world gameplay was met with less enthusiasm than expected. The game's metascores ranged from 71 to 76 across platforms, a noticeable drop compared to its predecessors, which all boasted scores over 90. Interestingly, fans on Reddit have expressed their indifference towards the potential removal of open-world elements in future Mass Effect titles. Many echoed the sentiment that not all games need to be open-world and appreciated the value of well-crafted, distinct locations over expansive but potentially uninspired open worlds.

With this rumor in mind, the gaming community is left to ponder and anticipate what the next installment of the Mass Effect series will bring. Will the developers at BioWare decide to return to the classic format that originally won the hearts of fans, or will they continue to experiment with the open-world format? Only time and the next game will tell. These are exciting times for Mass Effect fans, and we eagerly wait to see how this speculation unfolds.