Mass Effect 1 and 2 Writer on Trilogy Finale and Other Trivia

Yesterday r/Fantasy Reddit held an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, during which game writer and screenwriter Drew Karpyshyn answered fan questions. His remarks included some tasty tidbits for fans of BioWare games.

Early plans for the finale of the Mass Effect trilogy

Karpyshyn was the main screenwriter of the first two installments of Mass Effect. When asked about the original plans to end the series (the writer was not involved in the work on ME3) he stated, that:

1. early plans called for luring a fleet of Reapers through a mass relay and then detonating their entire network;
2. this would have led to the destruction of the enemy armada, but would have left the star societies isolated from each other due to their inability to travel long distances quickly;
3. when Karpyshyn left BioWare, these ideas were abandoned. One of their problems was that such a finale would severely hamper the creation of the next installment of the series.

It is worth recalling that once work began on ME3, the development team, although it abandoned the plan described above, initially also had significantly different ideas regarding what we would eventually find in the game. Originally, we were supposed to meet the Reaper Queen in the finale, among other things.

1. Mass Effect 3 Finale's Original Shape Revealed - It Had a Reaper Queen

Plot shortcomings in ME2

Drew Karpyshyn admitted that some story elements in Mass Effect 2 contradict the canon of the first part. One of them is the power of Cerberus. In ME1 it is described as a little-known group, while in the sequel it has become a large and well-known terrorist organization.

The change resulted from the fact that initially the developers did not intend to give Cerberus too much attention, but fans liked the mentions of this group so much that they decided to buff it for the sequel.

Tali and Garrus in Mass Effect 2

Karpyshyn was also surprised that players wanted a romance option with Garrus. In the case of Tali, it was easier to understand, since the creators didn't show her face under the helmet, so everyone could imagine something fitting human beauty standards. However, fans wanted a romance with both of these characters, so the creators decided to fulfill their wish.

Karpyshyn doesn't want movie adaptations of Mass Effect and KOTOR

Drew Karpyshyn stated also that, in his opinion, movie adaptations of Mass Effect or Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic are not a good idea if they would only be a screen adaptation of the story from the game, especially since the screenwriters would have to cut a ton of threads to fit in a few hours.

Karpyshyn admits that it might be possible to adapt them as a TV show, but he would not be interested in such projects. He already tried something similar once - writing a novelization of Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal and wasn't satisfied with that novel.

1. Mass Effect - official website

Mass Effect 3

March 6, 2012

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