In the bustling marketplace of spacefaring action RPGs Mass effect franchise stands head and shoulders above its competitors. This remains true even after the disappointment Mass Effect: Andromeda; Mass effect has long been a touchstone for gaming, a sci-fi adventure against which others in the genre are invariably measured.
There's good reason for this, as so many action RPGs with sci-fi trappings are clearly inspired by Mass effect. This is apparently the case with The Expanse: Osiris Rebornan upcoming space RPG developed and published by Path finder Studio Owlcat game. As the name suggests, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is based on The expansion book and TV series, which themselves are quite similar Mass effect in some ways, from their focus on humanity as newcomers to the galactic scene, to their emphasis on camaraderie between space crews. Yes, if The expansion is being adapted to the video game format, there is arguably no better guiding light than BioWare's space opera.
What is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn about?
The expansion novels and TV show centers on James Holden and his crew, who find themselves at war with a mysterious alien force known as the Protomolecule. The books and show hone in on this existential, cosmic-horror battle, with a good bit of space diplomacy thrown in for good measure. However, Osiris Reborn will seemingly have little to do with this action.
IN Osiris Rebornplayers take control of a mercenary captain in the employ of Pinkwater Security. While on land voyages on Eros Station, the player and their crew reluctantly become entangled in a mysterious conspiracy that spans the entire solar system. The finer details of the plot have not been revealed at this time, but it is clear that the main characters in The expansion (James, Naomi, etc.) will not play central roles.
As said, Osiris Reborn said to take place alongside the events of the books and show. According to Owlcat, Osiris Reborns story runs parallel to the head Width plot, spanning the first two books, or the first two and a half seasons of the show, if you prefer. This suggests that the events of these early chapters will affect the story of the game. At least the tenuous diplomatic loyalty between the various human civilizations at this point The expansions timeline will likely inform the gaming world.
Owlcat has said that players will see “familiar faces” in the Osiris Reborneven teased that some actors from the TV show will reprise their roles. The developer has not revealed which characters and actors will appear.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn features Mass Effect-like RPG systems
Mass effect is about choices, and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn does not pretend to be different. In an interview with IGN, Owlcat Games explicitly named Mass effect franchise as a central influence on the game, although the developer has hinted that it will be even more ambitious and feature-rich than BioWare's classic RPG:
…while it still has a similar target audience, we offer more choices and we're more focused on a modern approach where you can create your own playstyle, make your own experience through the game, which sets us apart in many ways from the mechanical decisions of Mass Effect.
This is indeed a bold claim, and sets Osiris Reborn in direct conversation — and competition — with Mass effect. How well Owlcat handles its choice-based storytelling and action-RPG systems in comparison to BioWare remains to be seen, but much of the information already released about the game indicates important similarities. For example, Osiris Reborn will allow players to customize the gender and appearance of their protagonist by choosing between three races/backgrounds:
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Earther: People raised on a distant future Earth.
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Mars: Descendants of humans who have colonized Mars, characterized by their unusual height and lower bone density due to lower gravity from Mars.
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Belters: Working-class people born and raised in or around The Belt, an asteroid belt in the outer part of the Solar System. They are generally taller and thinner than Martians due to even lower gravity in their home environments.
Something particularly exciting with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is how the physical differences between these three peoples will be portrayed. In the TV show, Earthers, Martians, and Belters all look roughly the same, despite being described as physically distinct in the books. This will reportedly not be the case in Osiris Rebornwhich is free from many of the practical limitations of the show. Whichever background the player chooses, there will certainly be some diversity in the mechanics of the squad, which presents yet another parallel Mass effect.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will feature combat similar to Mass Effect
Shades of Mass effect appear in Osiris Reborns battle too. Players can bring two squad members into battle and issue tactical commands while engaging in real-time firefights. Interestingly, and potentially a cause of some contention, Osiris Reborn looks like a cover-shooter, encouraging the player to seek cover behind walls, crates and the like, controlling the battlefield through slow and methodical movements rather than running and shooting.
Meanwhile, Owlcat Games has teased a more dynamic and holistic companion system, as anyone not in the immediate squad for a mission will “remotely support”, with tech-disabling and distracting names being two possible features. This indicates that even “unequipped” party members will affect the game, which is an exciting twist on Mass effect formula.
Will The Expanse: Osiris Reborn have romance?
Mass effect fans can take solace in that Osiris Reborn will include romance options, although this feature is shrouded in mystery just like the rest of the game right now. However, Owlcat Games has been clear that romance will play a role in the game, gesturing towards the romance systems in the game Path finder as an example of what the audience can expect from this The expansion adaptation. With so much in common The expansion and its inspiration, it really is a game Mass effect fans should watch closely.
