Mass EffectandDragon Agehave been BioWare’s flagship franchises for over a decade now, and with bothDragon Age 4andMass Effect 4on the way, that’s unlikely to change any time soon. Their companion systems, third-person combat, and even the similarities between biotics and spell-casting give the games a lot in common. Although they are set in completely different universes, there are some greatDragon AgeEaster eggs to be found inMass Effect: Legendary Edition.
WithMass Effect: Legendary Editiongrouping together the original trilogy with all its DLC, many players have been running into moreDragon AgeEaster eggs than they did the first time they experienced Shepard’s story. There are even some moments which appear to be Dragon Age references, but have interesting origins all of their own.
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Thank The Maker!
One of the earliest moments than manyDragon Agefans assume is an Easter egg shows up on the very first planet the player visits in theMass Effecttrilogy, Eden Prime. Commander Shepard rescues a group of scientists, one of whom shouts “thank the Maker!” This seems like a strangely round-about way of saying “thank God,” especially sinceAshley Williamslater makes direct references to her belief in God without euphemistically referring to a “Maker” at all.
Many took this to be aDragon Agereference while playing throughMass Effect: Legendary Edition. IntheDragon Ageuniverse, the Maker is the god of the monotheistic Chantry, who believe that the creator of Thedas cursed his creation to withstand the Blights until his word was spread to all corners of the world. While this now works as a retroactiveDragon Agereference, however, the firstDragon Agegame wouldn’t come out until two years afterMass Effect 1.
It’s more likely a reference to C3P0’s “thank the Maker” inStar Wars. By the timeMass Effect: Legendary Editionreleased, however, the line now stands as a fun double reference to the series BioWare tackled beforeMass Effect-Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic- and the one that came after it,Dragon Age. It’s even possible this reference was intentional whenMass Effect 1first hit the shelves. AlthoughOriginswouldn’t release for another two years, it had already been in development for years by 2007, having been revealed at E3 2004.
The Ogre
Kasumi Gotowas originally introduced as a DLC companion inMass Effect 2, and along with Brit-voiced bounty hunter Zaeed Massani has now been integrated into the base game ofMass Effect: Legendary Edition. Kasumi’s loyalty mission “Stealing Memory” involves tracking down an elusive arms dealer named Donovan Hock who has taken the memories of Kasumi’s dead partner and lover.
During the heist, players get a glimpse at Hock’s collection. One part of his hoard includes a giant statue of aDarkspawnOgre, one of the most back-breakingly brutal enemies encountered inDragon Age: Originsas the late King Cailan can attest. Kasumi even points it out - “Wow. Imagine that thing coming at you in a dark alley.”
An Ogre is one of the first big boss-fights inDragon Age: Origins, but Kasumi’s comment about fighting one in a dark alley is probably a reference to the Battle of Denerim, where the player and their companions fight their way through the winding streets of Ferelden’s capital at the game’s climax. Just likeMass Effect 2’s ending, it’s also ostensibly a suicide mission, although in both cases the player character can survive if they play their cards right. Whether the Ogre seen inMass Effect 2is supposed to be a real alien in theMass Effectuniverse, or if Donovan Hock is simply a fan of centuries-old fantasy game collectables, is never revealed.
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The Same Moon
When looking up at the moon in the night’s sky, it can be humbling to imagine the thousands of people around the world and throughout history who have looked at that same moon. That wouldn’t usually apply in a solar-system spanningseries likeMass Effect, but in one case it holds surprisingly true.
Dragon Age: Originsshows just one moon in the sky, thoughInquisitionlater showed two moons in orbit around the game’s world. The moon in the first game is identifiable by a large crack running through its equator. The same image can be seen in the player travels to the moon Presop inMass Effect 1, and looks up at the planet it’s orbiting, Klendagon.
The Blood Dragon Armor
Also a DLC piece, theBlood DragonArmor is now available for Shepard to buy in the retail release ofMass Effect: Legendary Edition’s second and third games. The set’s pauldrons and shield-like chest piece make it look far more medieval than mostMass Effectarmors. The helmet’s visor even looks more like a medieval knight’s helmet. If there was any doubt as to what the set’s design was in reference to, however, it’s utterly destroyed by the massiveDragon Agelogo on the front of the armor.
InMass Effect 2the player can head down to the market in Omega and buy the armor there. InMass Effect 3Shepard can purchase the armor a second time at Kanala Exports in the Presidium Commons for 50,000 credits, or at the Procurement terminal onthe Normandyfor 55,000 credits if they’ve already visited Kanala Exports at least once.
One Shifty Looking Cow
Shepard has faced Geth armadas,Reapers, suicide missions, an invasion of Earth, and countless other close calls. There’s no subtler threat to galactic stability, however, than one “Shifty Looking Cow.” The Shifty Looking Cow can be found on the planet Ontarom, in the Newton System in the Kepler Verge cluster. If Shepard talks to the cow, the dastardly bovine steals some of their credits as they’re walking away.
AnyMass Effect: Legendary Editionplayer who also playedDragon Age:Inquisition, however, should have heeded the thirdDragon Age’s warning. One ofInquisitioncompanion Cole’s strangest comments is simply “sometimes the cow takes your gold.” AlthoughInquisitioncame out long after the firstMass Effect, Cole’s line now serves as a warning toMass Effect: Legendary Editionplayers as they experience the story once again.
Mass Effect: Legendary Editionis available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
