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Games

‘Mass Effect: Andromeda’ Reassures Me That Scots Will Still Be Around 168 Years From Now

Don’t worry about Brexit or a second independence referendum, guys—Scotland’s going to be just fine long after we’re all gone.

Above: Mass Effect: Andromeda screenshot courtesy of EA/BioWare.

It's a nervous time to be a Scot just now. Not only are we obviously set to be affected by whatever Brexit has in store for us, we also face the possibility of another independence referendum which—with no guarantee of EU membership—could end up seeing us leave two unions instead of just one.

Depending on who you speak to, it's either an exciting time for Scotland or we're standing over a cliff edge, ready to step off. And that won't be a pleasant sight, since because we all apparently wear kilts you'll be able to see our baws as we fall.

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Despite all the proclamations of future doom though, one thing has reassured me that everything will be alright, and that's Mass Effect: Andromeda. Or, specifically, its supporting character Suvi Anwar and her reassuringly Scottish accent.

Granted, there have been a bunch of Scottish characters turning up in games recently. In the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, Lara is accompanied by Angus "Grim" Grimaldi, a grizzled Scot who, when held hostage with a machete at his throat, replies: "That's nothing pal, I grew up in Glasgow."

You've also got Heather, the protagonist of surprisingly fun indie game Bedlam (based on the Christopher Brookmyre novel of the same name) who takes great pleasure in insulting her fallen enemies with unrepentant Glaswegian slang. Meanwhile, your helper in the recently released Loot Rascals is Barry, a Scottish "Teapot Genie", which is nothing if not original.

A Scottish-flavored screenshot from Bedlam, courtesy of RedBedlam. (That caption reads: "Get it up ye. I was doing this while you were still in nappies ya wee fud.")

But it's Ms Anwar who fills me with the most reassurance and confidence for Scotland's future, purely because of the setting she finds herself in. You see, Mass Effect: Andromeda begins in 2185, meaning despite what happens with Brexit and a possible second independence referendum, the Scots will survive for at least another 168 years. Even better, the fact that she's a member of the Nexus' science team, all of whom have advanced degrees in astrophysics and molecular biology, means that Scotland seemingly doesn't just survive, but ends up thriving too.

Fellow Scots, don't be afraid of what's to come. Regardless of how Brexit affects us, and regardless of what Nicola Sturgeon and chums try to enact, just remember: Suvi Anwar is cast-iron proof that it all ends up alright in the end. Our mouths may not move properly in the future, but at least they'll still be moving.

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