Normandy (Mass Effect)

The Normandy-class SR[lower-alpha 1] are two fictional spacecraft in the Mass Effect franchise of video games. It first appears in Mass Effect as the SSV Normandy SR-1, the product of a joint venture between the human Systems Alliance and the Turian Hierarchy, and described as the most advanced military infiltration starship in the galaxy in series lore. An improved version of the ship known as the Normandy SR-2, though no longer a commissioned spaceship of the Systems Alliance navy, is later constructed by the anthropocentric paramilitary organization Cerberus and appears from Mass Effect 2 onwards. Both iterations of the Normandy has Jeff "Joker" Moreau (voiced by Seth Green) as the pilot in command, while the SR-2 is integrated with an artificial intelligence entity known as the "Enhanced Defense Intelligence", or EDI (voiced by Tricia Helfer). It functions as the primary means of transport for the player, in the role of Spectre Commander Shepard, and their crew, as they travel throughout the galaxy and fight hostile aliens such as the Reapers.

Normandy
Mass Effect vehicles
The SSV Normandy SR-1 as it appears in Mass Effect
First appearance	Mass Effect
Last appearance	Mass Effect 3: Citadel
Information
Affiliation	Systems Alliance Navy Cerberus (Mass Effect 2)
Captain	Commander Shepard
Combat vehicles	M35 Mako (ME) M-44 Hammerhead (ME2) UT-47A Kodiak Drop Shuttle (Mass Effect 3)
Auxiliary vehicles	2 shuttles (shuttle bay) Passenger escape pods
General characteristics
Propulsion	Tantalus drive core
Length	170 metres (560 ft)[1]

The Normandy has been praised by critics for its visual design, level design, and its role in the original Mass Effect trilogy, where it plays a pivotal role in the war against the Reapers and their servants.

Characteristics

The Normandy gets its name from the Normandy landings of World War II. The initial Normandy was created as an advanced prototype stealth vessel with help from the Turians, a race of aliens who were once hostile to humans. The Normandy SR-2 is built by Cerberus as a large and more powerful vessel upon the original's destruction, and along with a more hospitable interior design, it is also given an onboard AI in the form of EDI, who later becomes a squad member in Mass Effect 3.[2][3] The SR-2's core is housed within a sphere which holds element zero and is much larger and technologically different from the original Tantalus core; the manner in which it generates an immense output of power for the ship is meant to evoke a super-collider.[4] In Mass Effect 3, the Normandy, while not undergoing any major modifications, undergoes a further retrofit and repainted in the Alliance Navy colors of blue and white after it re-enters the hands of the Systems Alliance following the events of Mass Effect 2: Arrival, becoming more like a military vessel once again.[3]

M35 Mako

In Mass Effect, the ship carries the M35 Mako, a six-wheeled infantry fighting vehicle equipped with thrusters, a 155mm mass accelerator cannon, and a coaxial machine gun. The M35 "Mako" IFV is designed to fit in the small cargo bays of Alliance scouting frigates. Its small size and low weight allow it to be easily deployed to virtually any world.

M-44 Hammerhead

In Mass Effect 2, the ship carries the M-44 Hammerhead, a hovering infantry fighting vehicle that functions as a replacement to the Mako. It is only usable in the DLC missions Firewalker and Overlord, and does not play a main story role, nor return in Mass Effect 3.

Development

The idea of the Normandy as a mobile hub which transported the party from planet to planet was inspired by the Ebon Hawk starship in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a previous BioWare game.[5] Early concepts of the ship explored the designs of a fighter jet, a cruiser, a smuggler's ship, and a stealth vessel, while a lot of drawing work was involved in visualizing the variety of machinery housed within the ship's interiors.[4] The Normandy's final design references delta-wing fighters and the Concorde for an aggressive, futuristic look.[4] The ship is depicted with sufficient cargo space to store the Mako, and its sizable crew means that the ship's interiors need to be presented as a living space where crew members could live comfortably for months at a time.[4] When docking on space stations, the Normandy is received by extendable arms which attach to the ship; the designers purposely never included visible landing gear on the Normandy as the ship is meant to hover.[4] Senior Art Director Derek Watts of BioWare stated in a mini-documentary that the "SSV" letters were originally written on the ship's hull, but the developers opted to remove them due to the fact that they would appear to say "ASS" if the ship ever flew upside down.[6]

The destruction of the Normandy SR-1 early in Mass Effect 2 allowed the team freedom to review and amend its design.[4] Ease of navigation of the ship's interior as well as a sense of familiarity for returning players were prioritized as the SR-2 is supposed to feel like a more technologically advanced version of the SR-1, albeit with increased space and rooms for up to one dozen squad mates that Shepard could recruit in Mass Effect 2.[4] A "muscle car" element to the ship's painted exterior was considered in order to give the Normandy a more aggressive feel then a typical spaceship or fighter planes.[4] Customization options for the Normandy's exterior, which could have gone up to five levels, were ultimately cut as scenes in outer space would not benefit from graphical quality produced by pre-rendering. Other elements which have been adjusted include the tail fins, the placement of the engine core, and the size of the wings in proportion to the body.[4] The final look for the Normandy SR-2 is a sleeker exterior, a larger interior with multiple floors, and its cockpit layout has been overhauled to improve recognizability.[4] For Mass Effect 3, the design team wanted to convey the sense that the Normandy had been captured and studied by the Alliance; red and blue color changes were originally considered to show that the ship is always in high alert as it is operating during wartime.[4] A subplot involving an assassin or saboteur breaking into Shepard's quarters was considered during production, but was ultimately cut from the game's final release.[4]

Merchandise

Dark Horse created a 6 1/4" scale model of the Normandy SR-2 in 2011.[7]

Reception

The Normandy was praised from a design standpoint, with Andy Kelly of PC Gamer stating that its "hard 70's sci-fi edge" looks "cool", as well as "cold and functional". However, he also noted that its interior ambiance changed in subsequent games, becoming more warm and inviting after it was rebuilt by Cerberus, and again becoming colder and less comfortable in its final incarnation.[3] Edge Magazine stated that both Normandy vessels were "remarkable", and that the ship's main power lies in character interactions. The ability to optionally explore the ship and speak to crew members was a "crucial" point due to the game's emphasis on choice.[2] Alex Donaldson of RPG Site stated that he found few hub areas "as memorable and special" as the Normandy SR-1, calling it "integral to the player's view of the Mass Effect universe".[8]

Legacy

Kat Bailey of USGamer called the Sanctuary 3 ship of Borderlands 3 inspired by the Normandy, although comparing it to the "iconic" Normandy "feels a little sacreligious".[9]

References

Footnotes

1. officially Systems Alliance Space Vehicle Normandy Stealth Reconnaissance

Citations

1. Edwin Evans-Thirlwell. "Mass Effect 3: how MGS, Concorde and Final Fantasy influenced the Normandy". Official Xbox Magazine. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
2. "Mass Effect's Normandy is far more than a space-age touring car". gamesradar. 2015-07-20. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
3. Kelly, Andy (2014-05-06). "On The Level: The Normandy, Mass Effect". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
4. Hudson, Casey; Watts, Derek (2012). The Art of the Mass Effect Universe. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 978-1-59582-768-5.
5. McAloon, Alissa (2017-12-12). "Why BioWare decided to create Mass Effect instead of Star Wars: KotOR 2". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
6. "In Mass Effect, Shepard's spaceship nearly had ASS written on the side". VideoGamer.com. 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
7. Mitchell, Richard (2011-05-03). "Mass Effect's Normandy SR2 is ready to dock (on your desk)". Engadget. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
8. Donaldson, Alex (2015-11-07). "Spotlight: SSV Normandy SR-1". RPG Site. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
9. 3; Bailey, Kat (2019-05-01). "Borderlands 3 Borrows a Surprising Amount From Mass Effect, And It Works". USgamer. Retrieved 2020-10-08.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)