The original Mass Effect had cinematic ambitions, right down to the film grain option in the graphics menu. It was, in its every facet, an attempt to lovingly iterate upon the futurist space operas of the 60s and 70s through an unashamedly contemporary lens informed by modern classics like Battlestar Galactica. This commitment to modernity ushered in the grittier side of what the future of humanity might hold. Even amongst the stars, we still fall prey to ambition, fear, and prejudice.
Perhaps the jewel in the cinematic crown, however, was Mass Effect’s attempt at a more sophisticated exploration of relationships and sexualities. Some of Mass Effect’s relationships seem strained, almost forced by the standards of 2023. However, for its time, Bioware’s exploration of this space offered something truly novel – especially when it came to queer, feminist experiences.
