Mass Effect 4 Should Borrow One Major Combat Mechanic from FF7 Rebirth

Mass Effect has always had great combat, but for the series to truly compete with other modern, popular RPGs, it will need to shake things up a bit for its fourth entry. There are several ways BioWare could do this, including building off Mass Effect‘s old-school shooter mechanics to offer an exciting, retro gameplay framework, but it could also look to contemporary RPGs like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for inspiration.

Every Mass Effect game follows a party-based RPG formula, where the team members a player chooses to take with them are just as important as the decisions they make as the protagonist in a given combat scenario. Party composition is central to the series’ rock-paper-scissors approach to enemy strength and vulnerabilities, as players can compensate for some of their shortcomings or give themselves a considerable advantage by choosing the right teammates for the job. For instance, a companion with abilities that are specifically effective against synthetic enemies could be a boon for certain missions, especially if the player-character lacks such skills. This system is engaging and benefits the series in many ways, but it could be improved.

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Mass Effect 4 Should Learn from FF7 Rebirth’s Party-Based Combat

Players Could Directly Control Party Members in Mass Effect 4

The Mass Effect games have great shooting mechanics, but that’s only part of the puzzle when it comes to what makes their combat so enjoyable. The other side of the equation is the strategic nature of the party-based gameplay, as players can command their companions to focus on specific enemies, position themselves in certain areas, or launch key abilities. This gives combat a dynamic feel and rock-solid pacing, rewarding players who take a tactical approach.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth have a remarkably similar style of party-based combat. Though Cloud is the protagonist, players can prompt other FF7 characters to use certain abilities and items, slowing down time and allowing for a good mix of fast-paced, real-time fighting and more tactical gameplay, much like Mass Effect. But these games take the idea a step further, allowing players to assume full control over their allies during combat, which helps keep gameplay fresh and dynamic.

Mass Effect 4 would be the perfect candidate for this feature. The series’ iconic mix of real-time combat and tactics would synergize nicely with this framework, as players could be far more precise with regard to things like ally positioning, ability use, and enemy targeting. It would also elevate Mass Effect‘s signature replayability, as fights could feel vastly different depending on whom a player has in their party.

The gameplay benefits of adopting this framework should be clear, but such a system could have other, less obvious perks as well. Gameplay can tell a story in and of itself, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth exemplifies this. For example, Barrett is stalwart and tough, using brute force rather than shrewd intuition or wit to solve problems, and this is reflected in his gameplay: he hits heavily and isn’t very quick or graceful. Players can glean important yet subtle information about Mass Effect 4‘s companions by playing as them, strengthening their emotional connection through interactivity. This could make certain moments, like character deaths, hit much harder, as they will carry very real consequences for the player’s gameplay experience. Since Mass Effect is all about its companions, anything that ME4 can do to strengthen these NPCs and their relationship with the player will undoubtedly enhance the game as a whole.

Mass Effect

Created by

Casey Hudson

Creation Year

2007

Developer(s)

BioWare , Edge of Reality , Demiurge Studios , Straight Right