Why Mass Effect 4 Must Break Free from the Reapers for the Ultimate Gaming Experience

Highlights

Introducing a new enigmatic adversary in Mass Effect 4 would invigorate the game and sustain a heightened sense of science-fiction dread.

The official announcement of BioWare's development of Mass Effect 4 generated numerous inquiries. Details about the upcoming installment's gameplay and storyline remain scarce, with the developer choosing to remain tight-lipped. However, there is one aspect from the original trilogy that Mass Effect 4 may consider moving away from.

The first glimpse at Mass Effect 4's trailer left much to the imagination. It only unveiled Liara and a fragment of N7 armor, hinting at the possible return of Commander Shepard, the beloved protagonist of the series. However, it refrained from specifying which ending from Mass Effect 3 was considered canon or shedding light on the fate of the Reapers. If the fourth installment aims to establish its own identity, it might be prudent to distance itself from the Reapers.

The Role of the Reapers in the Mass Effect Trilogy

The Reapers, featured prominently in the Mass Effect games, serve as the main adversaries. Unveiled gradually throughout the series, these sentient machines play a crucial role in nurturing life and civilization across the vast Milky Way Galaxy. Periodically, approximately every 50,000 years, these machines return from beyond the galaxy to eradicate civilizations. As they do so, they utilize the races' genetic material to generate more machines, perpetuating the cycle. The Leviathan DLC revealed that these machines were actually designed to prevent a disastrous cycle where organic and synthetic beings were destined to clash in a devastating and unforeseen manner.

Why the Reapers Shouldn't Be the Big Bad in Mass Effect 4

The Illusive Man played a significant role as one of their key operatives in the third game. Eventually, the conflict against the Reapers culminated, and the conclusion of Mass Effect 3 varied based on the player's choices, leading to profound divergences in the post-war narrative. Irrespective of the chosen path, it is crucial that the fourth installment of the game features a different primary antagonist, and the Reapers should not reprise their role.

One of the major downsides of Mass Effect: Andromeda was its reliance on recycled story elements from the first Mass Effect game. Repeating this mistake in the future by bringing back the Reapers as the main enemy would essentially mean retelling the same story as the original trilogy. While the specific threat that players will encounter in Mass Effect 4 remains a mystery, it will undoubtedly be challenging to surpass the impact of the Reapers. However, simply rehashing that narrative would result in a game that is less remarkable and captivating.

The Reapers, as antagonists, become increasingly uninteresting as more is revealed about them. Initially, they possessed an aura of unknown cosmic horror, evoking H.P. Lovecraft's stories. However, through the progression of the trilogy, particularly with the Leviathan DLC, players gain a solid understanding of the Reapers' nature and motivations. This leaves no further mysteries to be unraveled, diminishing their allure. Introducing a new enigmatic enemy would rejuvenate the franchise and maintain a heightened sense of fear and suspense.

While paying homage to the Reapers' legacy, Mass Effect 4 should explore different primary antagonists. As details regarding the upcoming game remain scarce, such as its connection to Mass Effect: Andromeda and the time frame in relation to Mass Effect 3, distancing itself from the Reapers would assist in establishing a distinct identity for the game.

Mass Effect 4 is in development.