Summary
A content creator and BioWare fan believes that she found evidence that the Paragon/Renegade moral choice system will return in the newMass Effect 4. The theory comes from examining therecently revealedMass Effect poster, of which fans have spent the last few days picking over every detail.
BioWare announced the newMass Effecton N7 Day 2024. Sometimes referred to asMass Effect 4, the game could just as easily be calledMass Effect 5, and there is a good chance it won’t launch with a numbered title at all. This ambiguity about the name reflects how little fans know about the upcoming game. Despite the annual teasers, fans still have more questions than answers, with BioWare offering cryptic clues but few direct statements. Educated guesses from industry insiders indicate the game could be released as late as 2029, but that’s more of a ballpark estimate than a proper release window.
RELATED:Mass Effect 4 Gets Cryptic New Teaser
On November 8, YouTuber and freelance illustrator Kala Elizabeth shared a tweet about the newMass Effectposter, which showcases the mysterious woman fromMass Effect’s latest N7 Day teaser. However, she draws attention to the red swipes framing the bar scene superimposed on the character’s coat. Elizabeth points out how the red streaks somewhat resemble the Paragon symbol from the originalMass Effecttrilogy. She believes this indicates that the Paragon/Renegade moral choice system will return in the new game.
The content creator fleshed out her theory in a video later that day, pointing out how the swipes merge with the red on the character’s coat to approximate the symbol’s shape. The mix of red and blue colors also evokes those ofMass Effect’s iconic moral choice system.
Mass Effect’s Paragon/Renegade System
Binary moral choice systems were popular among games in the 2010s, with most framing a choice of good or evil. TheMass Effecttrilogy was slightly different, presenting the Renegade choices as anti-heroic but not necessarily villainous. However, it’s debatable whether it lived up to that idea.
Additionally, many ofMass Effect’s dialogue choiceswere locked behind the player’s alignment. This, combined with the dialogue wheel’s layout, encourages players to pick all Paragon or all Renegade options rather than deciding on a case-by-case basis. A binary morality system also inherently means a lack of nuance, as writers need to present all choices as fitting neatly into one category or the other.
Still, many fans likedMass Effect’s Paragon/Renegade systemin the original trilogy and missed its absence inAndromeda. Many would like to see it return in the new game and will likely be excited if Elizabeth’s theory turns out to be true.
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