Mass Effect 4 Needs a Radical Combat Overhaul: Here’s Why

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Andromeda. While Andromeda‘s combat offered a pleasing fluidity and verticality, it also emphasized speed and ability cooldowns excessively at times, potentially compromising control and tactical squad management.

The combat system wasn’t inherently problematic, as many found it engaging with its smooth controls and modern vibe. However, it veered too much towards action-focused gameplay. Now might be an opportune moment for Mass Effect 4 to explore a more balanced, hybrid style: one that maintains shooting and visual spectacle but also focuses on managing characters and their behavior in real time.

Mass Effect 4 Should Let Players Switch Roles

In the Mass Effect trilogy, players could command their squadmates and arrange powers, but they couldn’t directly control other characters during battles. A potential improvement for Mass Effect 4 could be a system that enables players to actively switch between their squad members in real-time combat. This would offer more diversity in gameplay and facilitate smooth transitions between distinct playstyles. For instance, you might use a soldier to provide covering fire, a tech specialist for flanking maneuvers, or a biotic character to lift enemies off their feet.

In the combat system of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, there’s an effective model where players can swiftly switch control between characters in real-time. This game preserves its fast pace while granting complete autonomy to the player over each character’s skills, equipment, and positioning. By combining this dynamic gameplay with the strategic decisions that Mass Effect: Andromeda offers, we could recreate the excitement of the former with the tactical depth that fans of earlier entries have longed for.

In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the AI settings enable characters to behave somewhat autonomously, empowering players to rely on their teammates to handle themselves during battles, thus regulating the battle’s progression. This self-reliant setup could potentially minimize micromanagement in Mass Effect 4 while maintaining intricate strategic aspects.

In this revised version, let’s explore a single approach to rephrasing:

By introducing a diverse cast of playable characters and providing more nuanced combat roles, the game could progress beyond its previous dependence on using an ability wheel for issuing commands. This change would also create fresh storytelling possibilities by prompting players to take control of various characters during missions. By doing so, they may gain unique insights into combat strategies and make different decisions that impact the narrative’s direction.

Combat AI Should Be Player-Customizable Again

While Mass Effect: Andromeda didn’t allow direct control over squadmates, it did enhance AI reactivity and battle agility. However, there was limited flexibility in determining how your team members fought, mainly through equipment options. This made it challenging for players to customize their team according to preferred strategies or roleplay scenarios.

In a similar vein to the character development systems in games like “Dragon Age: Origins”, “Final Fantasy 12” and potentially “Mass Effect 4”, players could customize their squadmates’ behavior. This might involve setting them up for aggressive assaults, defensive positions, or strategic combo setups within combat. Additionally, the ability to switch control between squadmates on the fly would create more intricate and gratifying battle experiences.

Origins” offered a high level of customization for almost any battle situation. Transposing this idea into a science fiction setting could breathe life into characters, making them appear more autonomous, and facilitate a wider range of squad combinations.

The customization for this AI would address frequent criticisms from past games where players found party members to be uninvolved or underused. In Andromeda, companions moved efficiently and effectively used their powers, yet they often seemed more like sidekicks rather than active participants in the main action. By introducing a detailed control system along with real-time character swapping, we can correct this balance.

Mass Effect 4 Must Balance Strategy and Action

BioWare doesn’t necessarily have to discard the third-person shooter aspects that modernized Mass Effect in its latter stages. Instead, they should aim for balance – a method to recognize strategic play, team composition, and timing, rather than just quick reactions. It’s not about mirroring Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s battle system, which relied heavily on dodging and sometimes left gamers craving more party control. In contrast, the frequent enemy swarming in Veilguard made its battles seem lopsided, despite its intricate party mechanics.

To prevent falling into that trap, Mass Effect 4 needs to ensure every squadmate contributes equally on the battlefield. Simply having companions isn’t enough; they should significantly influence gameplay decisions. The option to switch between a tank-like Krogan ally during combat, then transition to a stealthy Infiltrator or a disruptive biotic character, would encourage players to explore various build and tactical options beyond weapon upgrades or skill trees.

Additionally, adopting this method could significantly enhance the boss fights and broader combat encounters in the “Mass Effect” series. Instead of just enduring enemy onslaughts, players might strategically synchronize stuns, shields, and intense damage outputs among their entire team. The franchise is renowned for its futuristic weaponry and power dynamics; this change would merely emphasize those aspects more prominently.

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2025-05-15 01:12