Summary
With a story that centers on the potential annihilation of all intelligent life in the Milky Way,Mass Effectisn’t exactly known for being lighthearted, but that hasn’t stopped fans from picking out some of the funniest moments in the series and meme-ing them at every available opportunity. Whether intentionally or unintentionally humorous, these aspects of the series are major parts of its culture and fan communities. The upcomingMass Effect 4is likely to bring backa number of scenarios, conflicts, characters, and locations, but it should also bring back some famous memes through homage.
The firstMass Effectgame was released in 2007, so the fanbase has had over 15 years to come up with all manner of jokes related to the series. However, there are some that have stood the test of time. Whether it’s a self-aware line of dialog, over-the-top interaction, or unintentionally hilarious oversight, there are plenty of great, heavily memed moments thatMass Effect 4needs to reference.
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Mass Effect 4 Needs to Pay Homage to One of Shepard’s Famous Lines
Commander Shepard is known for many things; they may not beMass Effect’s most fashionable character, but they are humanity’s (potential) savior, a formidable soldier, a lover, a friend, and a diplomat. As a busy individual with many talents and skills, Shepard can’t always be bothered to stick around for lengthy chats. While they usually find a smooth, non-abrupt way to exit a conversation, sometimes they can also simply state “I should go” before turning tail and walking out of the room.Mass Effect 3’s CitadelDLC already poked fun at this mantra of Shepard’s, soMass Effect 4runs the risk of overusing the joke, but a quick, throwaway reference would likely get a chuckle out of many fans.
The Annoying Journalist Should Be Referenced in Mass Effect 4
Cosmic horror definesMass Effect’s many missions, but some characters have rather flippant and opportunistic views of Shepard’s adventures. One such character is Khalisah Al-Jilani, a reporter that regularly attacks Shepard with thinly veiled accusations and attempts to portray them in a negative light. Al-Jilani appears in all threeMass Effectgames, and during each encounter, players have the choice to punch her in response to her behavior. These scenes have always been played for comedy, butMass Effect4might be able to look back on these scenes in a more contemplative light, commenting on the government’s difficult relationship with the press. Or players could simply punch Al-Jilani, or another journalist, a fourth time.
Garrus Should Still Do Some Calibrations in Mass Effect 4
Mass Effectfans love Garrusas he was always one of the most well-written characters in the series and one of the few that remains in the player’s squad for all three entries. Some of these fans may have been disappointed when, inMass Effect 2, he would often respond to Shepard’s attempts to bond with “Can it wait a bit? I’m in the middle of some calibrations”. The frequency of this line led many to wonder just how much time Garrus needs to spend on these vague “calibrations”. This has spawned a plethora of memes poking fun at the beloved Turian, and there are endless ways thatMass Effect 4could reference it both in dialog and in gameplay.
The nextMass Effectcould lean into cosmic horroreven more than its predecessors, but that doesn’t mean that it has to lose its sense of humor. TheMass Effectseries has always been about finding light in the darkness and bonding with the members of the Normandy crew. Comedy, both intentional and otherwise, can go a long way in this regard. WhetherMass Effect 4simply rehashes these memes, criticizes them, or recontextualizes them, it would certainly help connect players to the newest entry, while paying respect to what came before it.
Mass Effect 4is in development.
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