The acknowledgment ofMass Effect 4’s existence by BioWare has led to speculation regarding the game’s story, characters, and setting. Many questions remain regarding whether the game will pick up following the events ofMass Effect 3or be a spin-off similar toMass Effect: Andromeda, but most players would be safe to assume that the game will feature a signature ship to house and transport the team, perhaps even a return of the Normandy. Regardless of the ship’s name or construction,Mass Effect 4should take a cue from the original trilogy and feature collections in the protagonist’s cabin. Namely, the fish tank from Shepard’s cabin should make a return on next-gen hardware.
The fish tank in Shepard’s cabin on the Normandy made its first appearance inMass Effect 2and was then subsequently brought back as a continuing feature forMass Effect 3. More than just a decoration in the player’s living quarters on the Normandy, thefish tank was an important component ofMass Effect’s lore and served as a visual reminder of the player’s travels across the galaxy. The recent release ofMass Effect Legendary Editionestablished how great the fish tank looks when upscaled to HD textures and resolution, andMass Effect 4could take the visual presentation and collection of fish a step further.
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A Fishing Mini-Game in Mass Effect 4 Could Incentivize Collecting Fish
In bothMass Effect 2and3, players were able to collect aquatic life for their cabin’s fish tank by visiting various shops across the game’s many worlds and outposts. There’s an argument to be made that many players left the tank empty because they chose to spend their credits on other items more critical to gameplay, but with theprecedent established in the originalMass Effecttrilogyfor a variety of mini-games tied to various activities, there’s plenty of room for the implementation of a fishing mini-game inMass Effect 4that could add a deeper layer of immersion to the act of collecting fish for the in-game tank.
Additionally, the nextMass Effectcould take this one step further by allowing for the collection of all kinds of animals across the galaxy and not just limiting players' zoological pursuits to aquatic life. The possibility of curating an in-game zoo that housed the various interesting species encountered throughout the game’s travels is the next logical evolution of the fish tank. This potential zoo housed on the game’s ship could also facilitate the inclusion of a series of hunt-related side-quests in a similar vein tothe hunts fromRed Dead Redemption 2, with greater rewards given for more dangerous game.
Ninth Generation Consoles Could Produce the Best-Looking Fish Tank Yet
It’s no secret that, for their time, theMass Effectgames were considered to be graphical powerhouses that showcased the best of what the current generation of consoles had to offer. EvenMass Effect: Andromeda, with its notorious bugsand facial-animation glitches, was a great looking game that showed how the presentation ofMass Effectcould be improved on newer hardware. Now that consoles have fully entered the ninth generation, the power of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S could be used to great effect in presenting the most detailed and feature-rich cabin interior of the Normandyyet.
Here again is where the inclusion of other animal species in addition to the return of the fish tank would be a small but important feature to add toMass Effect 4’s immersion. The in-game collections - fish, models, and other collectibles - were visually pleasing reminders of players' unique journey and travels as Shepard and their team, and the ability to inspect the models of these items was a welcome distraction during the games' many moments of downtime and reflection. ForMass Effect 4to retain the spirit of the original trilogy, the return of the fish tank and other minor details in the ship’s cabin is critical.
Mass Effect 4is in development.
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