Normandy (Mass Effect)

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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