Unleashing Passion in the Stars: How Mass Effect 4 outshines Baldur's Gate 3's Romance System

Highlights

The portrayal of romance in each Mass Effect game feels disjointed and lacks significant impact, often treating love scenes at the conclusion as mere incentives for players. In contrast, Baldur's Gate 3 presents continuous and ever-evolving relationships that carry greater consequences and significance.

To enhance romance options and craft more captivating and emotionally evocative narratives, Mass Effect should draw inspiration from the design principles of Baldur's Gate 3. By incorporating the profound depth, contemplative nature, and significant impact of Baldur's Gate 3's romance system, Mass Effect 4 stands to derive considerable advantages in delivering an enriched role-playing adventure.

Modern RPGs targeting adult audiences often incorporate romance subplots. The pioneering and popularization of this trend can be attributed to BioWare through games like Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and the initial two Baldur's Gate installments. This trend is anticipated to persist with the release of Mass Effect 4. Although the highly successful Baldur's Gate 3 was not developed by BioWare, the developer should draw inspiration from its design principles when integrating romance options into Mass Effect 4.

Considering that Mass Effect 4 is expected to reintroduce various elements from previous games in the series, romance systems are likely to make a comeback as well. Since its inception in 2007, romance has been an optional side component in space-centric adventures, offering players additional personal narrative content that contrasts with the existential threat posed by the Reaper and Collector invasions. Mass Effect 4 should further enhance its romance content, taking cues from Baldur's Gate 3.

Romance in Baldur's Gate 3 is More Dynamic and Ongoing Than in Mass Effect

Romance in the Mass Effect games is often well-written, but it is portrayed more as a reward for players towards the end of the game. By selecting the right dialog options (usually consisting of agreeing with the love interest), players receive flirtatious responses and eventually "earn" a love scene before the final mission. However, outside of these rare conversations and climactic scenes, the relationship between Shepard and the love interest character remains largely unchanged.

This can give the impression that the romance plots are disconnected from the rest of the game, diminishing their authenticity and impact. Despite these isolated moments being some of the most memorable in Mass Effect, their segregation from the overall experience can make them feel superficial and inconsequential. Essentially, romances in the game revolve around expressing interest and then waiting for a love scene at the end, with minimal changes in the interaction between Shepard and their love interest. Additionally, once a player commits to a romance plot with one character, there is little that can go wrong.

In contrast, Baldur's Gate 3 offers players the ability to establish romantic relationships with NPCs right from the start. These relationships begin as casual flings or the initial stages of courtship, progressing gradually into deeper connections. Although Mass Effect games include various romance subplots, none of them are as ongoing as those in Baldur's Gate 3. This additional content enhances the complexity and engagement of these romances, resulting in more diverse and emotionally impactful storylines.

Furthermore, Baldur's Gate 3 raises the stakes when it comes to romantic relationships. Unlike in Mass Effect, where the player has limited ways to jeopardize romantic prospects unless through explicit means, Baldur's Gate 3 offers numerous opportunities for relationships to go wrong. Each NPC has an approval rating that is influenced by the player's choices, which can either increase or decrease. If a player consistently makes choices that contradict the goals or ethics of a romance option, they will fall out of favor with that character.

While Mass Effect is a game that offers choices, it lacks the extensive range of choices that can significantly affect character relationships. By adopting a similar approach to Baldur's Gate 3, Mass Effect could provide players with a more immersive and profound role-playing experience. The depth and complexity of Baldur's Gate 3's romance system make it more captivating, believable, and enriching in terms of storytelling and gameplay. Mass Effect 4 would benefit from incorporating some of these valuable lessons as it continues its development.