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Mass Effect: Andromeda - Previews and hands-on impressions

S

SoRuffShoNuff

Member
Ragnar Blackmane said:
Looking at the Mako missions in ME1 and Inquisition I have rather little faith in Bioware to actually fill hundreds of square kilometers (and that's what we're talking about here, the areas in Inquisition were arguably already too big and empty for their own good, and here they are we are with the smallest "zone" already being bigger than all of them combined) with meaningful content. It would be a challenge for CD Project Red, but for modern-day Bioware? And god knows how they can make those massive landscapes even look good or unique without turning into vast sameness after a few minutes with raw numbers of those proportions. Might look amazing on the backside of the retail box and the origin store page but few games manage to make country sized open-worlds compelling.

I would like to be optimistic but I just can't help being the exact opposite reading this. Talking about not doing something as part of PR is cheap, actually doing it is the opposite and the track record hasn't been good in that regard.
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Keep in mind that the areas are so large because you can traverse them in a vehicle.
 
L

Lime

Member
The big theme for the game was 'fulfill the promise of Mass Effect 1.' - Ian Frazier, lead designer.[3]
Noveria from Mass Effect 1 used as a point of reference for how the open planet playspaces and mission are constructed. "Imagine a Novaria where you find a whole lot more than just driving from point A to point B, from the cool big hub and the other cool big hub." - Ian Frazier.[3]
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Sweet music to my ears
 
P

pmj

Member
On the list, the missions being inspired by Noveria is great news. That was the planet that offered, I think, the most options and reactivity, as well as offering up a variety of environments and situations.

And we're finally going to get a quest log that isn't terrible. Dare I dream of no bugged quests that stick around in your list of quests even after you finish them?

Kagutaba said:
So ME3 and ME2 was dumbed down? Because both were easily completable on the highest difficulty without ever using the power wheel in combat; and much more enjoyable that way in my opinion, especially ME2. Using powers by scrolling trough a meny simply is not as fun and kinetic as having them ready at the press of a button in real time. By removing said wheel the powers can finally be balanced around real time use only - just like they were in ME3:s multiplayer which resulted in better classes, better gameplay, and better powers.
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To someone who enjoys RPGs, "this change makes it a better action game" is not a very convincing argument. I really don't give a shit.
 
K

Kagutaba

Member
pmj said:
To someone who enjoys RPGs, "this change makes it a better action game" is not a very convincing argument. I really don't give a shit.
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The Mass Effect games are third person shooters with RPG elements, the first one just didn't play very well. They have already said that they are trying to bring back the feeling of the first one, that might mean you will like the RPG elements this series always had a little more going forward, who knows, but it just so happens that they also are improving one of the integral parts of the series: the combat, and would like to show that off. Shocking.
 
M

Mifune

Mehmber
Noveria talk has me interested. The problem I had with ME3 wasn't so much the combat but how much there was and how blandly designed the missions were. Basically all you do in that game is go to a complex/cave and clear out the bad guys. Or at least that's all I did until I got tired midway through and quit.
 
L

lucebuce12

Member
Keasar said:
Mass Effect going after that The Witcher success?

http://www.pcgamer.com/mass-effect-...-space-porn-following-full-nudity-esrb-shift/

I'm gonna lay down my bet and say it's because of one visible female nipple.
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giphy.gif
 
P

Principate

Saint Titanfall
lucebuce12 said:
I believe you can change them.

If you set them to the default, then there will be some dialogue where you're referred to by your first name but otherwise you'll just be referred to as Ryder or Pathfinder or something like a term of endearment depending on who's talking.

EDIT: Here's the source https://twitter.com/tibermoon/status/803699561244033024
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Considering both siblings are supposed to be in this game, that's kinda weird.
 
T

Tovarisc

Member
Mifune said:
Noveria talk has me interested. The problem I had with ME3 wasn't so much the combat but how much there was and how blandly designed the missions were. Basically all you do in that game is go to a complex/cave and clear out the bad guys. Or at least that's all I did until I got tired midway through and quit.
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Every area of environment in ME3 that was intended for combat was very boring and bland design. Chest high... things everywhere and nothing else going in rooms or wide areas. Hopefully MEA doesn't fall into that same hole where areas get ruined by being filled with obvious covers.
 
prag16

prag16

Banned
Principate said:
Considering both siblings are supposed to be in this game, that's kinda weird.
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I'd be surprised if they let you change both siblings' names. I'd expect you can only change the player character. Unless the sibling has so little involvement in the story that the necessary changes would be very minor. But otherwise it would seem strange for the player character to only refer to the sibling as "sis" or "bro" or something. It'd be hard to avoid using names.
 
S

SpacePirate Ridley

Member
EatChildren said:
Not sure anybody gives a shit, but here's some notes I made.


  • "Mass Effect Archive" is a save import/export feature not unlike Dragon Age Keep. Andromeda's save file can be uploaded for, assumebly, future Mass Effect titles.[1]
  • Other ark names include Pachero (Salarian), Lunisia (Asari), and Natanas (Turian).[1]
  • Smallest planetary zone in Andromeda is larger than all of Dragon Age: Inquisition.[2]
  • The squadmate with the least amount of dialogue has more than all of Shepard's in Mass Effect 3.[2]
  • Nomad can swap between fast rear wheel drive, and all terrain six wheel drive.[/2]
  • The big theme for the game was 'fulfill the promise of Mass Effect 1.' - Ian Frazier, lead designer.[3]
  • Noveria from Mass Effect 1 used as a point of reference for how the open planet playspaces and mission are constructed. "Imagine a Novaria where you find a whole lot more than just driving from point A to point B, from the cool big hub and the other cool big hub." - Ian Frazier.[3]
  • Conversation tones include emotional, logical, casual, and professional. These replace the binary paragon and renegade.[3]
  • Additional conversation tones sarcastic, obedient, or skeptical noted.[4]
  • Ambient companion dialogue as you drive around.[3]
  • Nine preset heads exist within the character creator, across a variety of races and genders, that can be customised.[4]
  • Background training chosen during character creation, eg: security, biotic, technician, leader, scrapper, and operative.[4]
  • Environments designed with cultural and biological needs of the inhabitants who live there.[5]
  • Far more work has been put into writing behind the general crew of the Tempest, beyond your squadmates. Crew interacts with each other over the intercom.[5]
  • Attempting to make character interactions and relationship development more nuanced and made up of shades of grey.[5]
  • Timeline confirmed to have the Andromeda Initiative leave the Milky Way post Mass Effect 2, but pre Mass Effect 3.[6]
  • Exploration and open play begins right with the prologue. Given key goal, but area is open enough to do some exploring, engage in optional encounters, make discoveries, etc.[6]
  • Quest log fully details objectives and events, including the ability to go over a summary and see the decisions you made.[6]
  • Securing one character's trust could come impact another.[6]
  • Drack is the "antithesis of Gruny", older, wiser, and matured.[6]
  • Vetra is warmer than Garrus, and joined the Initiative with her little sister.[6]
  • Crafting blueprints organised into broze/silver/gold rarity category, and are purchased by spending "research data", which is accrued via scanning the environment to expand your codex.[7]
  • Weapon mods can change the way weapons function, such as adding burst fire to a shotgun, and lasers to an assault rifle.[7]
  • Galaxy map is used to scan planets for anomalies. These can result in simple resource acquisitions, to unlocking either open planet zones (with vehicle exploration) and smaller on-foot zones.[7]


[1] Eurogamer: 15 Things You Didn't Know About Mass Effect Andromeda
[2] VG247: Mass Effect Andromeda: finally, hands-on gameplay reassures us Bioware’s sci-fi RPG is worth the wait
[3] Mass Effect: Andromeda hands-on: bigger, flashier, and very familiar
[4] Venture Beat: Mass Effect: Andromeda has big gameplay changes, an epic story, and a new galaxy
[5] Rock Paper Shotgun: Five hours with Mass Effect Andromeda
[6] Eurogamer: Four hours with Mass Effect Andromeda
[7] IGN: MASS EFFECT: ANDROMEDA HANDS-ON: 3 HOURS OF SPOILER-FREE IMPRESSIONS
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Thsi all sounds amazing on paper, and the dialogue wheel reminds me a lot of alpha protocol, and thats good thing.

I only hope all that sounds excellent on paper translates to an excellent game at the end.
 
L

lucebuce12

Member
Admiral Woofington said:
I for one am disappointed there isn't a 'sarcastic smart-ass' option in the dialogue wheel. Now I have to hope the casual option is always funny.
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Maybe not all the time but there will be situations where there is a sarcastic option available.

I too would make my male Ryder a smarmy asshole that nobody likes but follows cause he's an unstoppable killing machine.
 
A

AWizardDidIt

Member
I wonder if they're going to do the Dragon Age 2 thing where the dialogue you chose influenced your character's personality resulting in different ambient dialogue. That was one of those really underappreciated details Dragon Age 2 did that really helped me feel more connected to my character.
 
K

Kalentan

Member
pmj said:
On the list, the missions being inspired by Noveria is great news. That was the planet that offered, I think, the most options and reactivity, as well as offering up a variety of environments and situations.
Click to expand...

Well shit if there is Noveria-inspired missions... Maybe I might get this.
 
J

Jhoan

Member
I hope the OT has a Ryder pun in the subtitle. I'm thinking something along the lines of Come Ryde With Me, Let's Go Somewhere or Ryder Shepards in the new Galaxy.

Using Noveria as a template for planetary exploration and hubs sounds good to me. Noveria had intrigue that made you want to act like an asshole to characters. If there's more than two hubs in one planet that a bit of a distance across from each other, that would be great. I liked Ferros a lot as well and the ideas that it had with the Thorian controlling people.

I'm also happy to see them taking notes from Alpha Protocol and The Witcher series with the choices. Hopefully it means a lot more nuanced decisions, less binary choices in situations that feel more in favor to the other one.
 
K

Kenaras

Member
AWizardDidIt said:
I wonder if they're going to do the Dragon Age 2 thing where the dialogue you chose influenced your character's personality resulting in different ambient dialogue. That was one of those really underappreciated details Dragon Age 2 did that really helped me feel more connected to my character.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was great (and subtle) feature. Dragon Age II actually had quite a few interesting ideas in it.
 
P

Plasma

Banned
EatChildren said:
[*]Smallest planetary zone in Andromeda is larger than all of Dragon Age: Inquisition.[2]
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I hate it when companies use this as a bullet point for their game, it means nothing if the areas aren't full of interesting things to do. Konami were saying the same about MGSV's map being bigger than all the previous games levels put together but when it came out most of the map was vast empty stretches of nothing with bugger all to do in them. I'm hoping Bioware can avoid that though they seem to be aware of it as they mentioned using the level design of Noveria as a reference point for mission structure.

Cool list though I like the idea of picking your previous profession and it not having to be a military background, I hope they incorporate it into the dialogue it'll add to my many replays of the game.
 
SolVanderlyn

SolVanderlyn

Thanos acquires the fully powered Infinity Gauntlet in The Avengers: Infinity War, but loses when all the superheroes team up together to stop him.
This has probably been answered, but can you customize the sibling you end up not using?
 
M

MCD250

Member
J_Viper said:
The game is sounding great but lmfao, what the fuck is this

PLiZA87.jpg


Who saw this and went "done!"
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What I like about this is the way he goes into thousand yard stare mode, as though he has immediately resigned himself to being violated by this raccoon-eyed asari.


I hope you can romance her.
 
A

A-V-B

Member
MCD250 said:
What I like about this is the way he goes into thousand yard stare mode, as though he has immediately resigned himself to being violated by this raccoon-eyed asari.


I hope you can romance her.
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You are right... he's not even looking at her o_O

Just looking off into the stars. Lie back and think of England?
 
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