Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Mass Effect 4 will likely be two of the most important RPGs of the modern era, be they good, bad, or somewhere in between. It's not just because Dragon Age and Mass Effect they are among the best RPG franchises of all time, but also because of what they represent for BioWare as a company. The world will be watching these games to see if the once revered studio really gets its “magic back”.
If the first impressions and footage of the game Dragon Age: The Veilguard there are some hints, but it seems that BioWare may very well have gotten that magic touch back after stumbling with releases like Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda. Informative, sobering information dumps with actual game footage and in-engine cutscenes opened a portal between Veilguard and potential buyers as the apparent strengths and weaknesses of the game are on full display. This is in contrast to some other AAA games, whose marketing can tend to feel highly curated and cinematic, to the point of obscuring the actual gameplay that players end up engaging with. But a transparent approach to marketing is a good sign for the game in general, showing that it has nothing to hide, and hopefully BioWare will continue this trend in future releases.
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Transparency will be key for Mass Effect 4
There are many reasons why people don't like Mass Effect: Andromedanot least its fundamental deviations from its predecessors and rough condition at launch. It is rather unfortunate because, although Andromeda not bad at all, it was the last one to leave a bad taste in the audience's mouth Mass Effect release. If BioWare had dropped the ball with Anthemit would be easy to argue that it just wasn't the right developer for a co-op looter shooter. But Mass Effect is its flagship franchise, creation Andromeda's quality indicative of the company's overall decline in many people's eyes.
In other words, BioWare has something to prove Mass Effect 4. The Mass Effect the series suffers from an identity crisis it doesn't share Dragon Agewhich players last experienced through well-received Dragon Age: Inquisition. In addition, the story of Dragon Age it's easier to continue than Mass Effect's, which is definitely closed after Mass Effect 3. It's by no means a death sentence—franchises backed in such corners have made great comebacks before—but audiences will definitely be on the lookout. Mass Effect 4though BioWare is starting to release more substantial trailers.
What BioWare has to show with Mass Effect 4
Dragon Age: The VeilguardThe previews are revelatory and provide invaluable insight into not only the game's story, but also its mechanics and world systems. Combat, dialogue trees, and level design have all been offered in these previews, helping viewers get a solid but tentative picture of what the final product will be like. Mass Effect 4 needs to do the same.
Showing the story will certainly be important, but potential buyers also need to get a clear and comprehensive idea of what the game will look like; cinematography should only form a minority Mass Effect 4promotional material, especially if they don't represent what will actually be in the game. Long, mostly uncut looks Mass Effect 4's gameplay, similar to what BioWare has done for so far Veilguardappears to be the best call that serves as a sign of confidence as well as a goodwill gesture to consumers who need a clear idea of Mass Effect next chapter. It's been more than a decade since gamers have seen BioWare's grand vision of the Milky Way, so such clarity is necessary.