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Mass Effect: Andromeda - Info from PC Gamer UK March Issue

Ridesh

Banned
Credits to r/masseffect/

Most important bit:

-There are also over a dozen ‘hubs' in addition to the planet areas, including the Nexus, a Citadel-like space station, and Kadara, a populated zone that looks like a more cyberpunk version of a Wild West town from Firefly.

Others:

-There is no 'big bad' like the Reapers, no overarching threat.
-The story is slightly more optimistic bent, 'instead of barreling towards certain doom'
-The stories are 'of a more casual nature', says Michael Gamble
-"The Reapers had basically attacked and everything had all gone to shit. It's really hard to have a story about an individual, their struggles, their personal crises. For Andromeda we wanted to remove that a little bit so that we can tell stories of exploration, stories of a more casual nature. We definitely want to take on a bit of a lighter tone, for sure."
-Father passes down Pathfinder job 'for as-yet-unknown reasons' in first act
-Some of the Initiative apparantly 'broke off and formed factions'
-Planets will have enemy bases to clear out, powerful optional enemies and areas to scan for crafting opportunities
-There are also puzzle-locked vaults to uncover
-"One of the things that was very critical for us early on was this saying that when we develop these planets, each one needs its own story and its own history, its own backstory and its reason for existing."
-"We are approaching the completionist aspect very differently, because we've done and learned a lot from Inquisition. But we've also observed what other games have been doing, like The Witcher. And it was very important for us that the quantity of scope doesn't downgrade the quality of whatever you are doing there."
-Side quests are 'meaningful'.
-Loyalty missions like in ME2
-"The squad members that you have, whether they've arrived with you or whether they've come before or whether they'll come after – in addition to the kind of political game that's been going on already in Andromeda, that sets a cool ground for us to tell a lot of different side stories. The story is not only about the cast. The story is about settling, the story is about survival, the story is about the locals – and that's where the loyalties will definitely focus."
-'Not everyone arrives at the same time, there are things going on in Andromeda that you have no control over.'
-Cora is 'more militaristic and orders and rules based', Peebee will appeal to those who think adventure is fun
-Interrupts return
-'The ability to express tone and different emotions to many NPCs in the game, and have different reactions from them based on that, is not just exclusive to your love interests anymore. It's kind of sprinkled more throughout the game.'
-Instead of rolling you use a dash attack and cover is automatic
-Story missions are a little more arena-like (than out in the open world)
-Space (the map) is more 3D than 2D


Also, some new screenshots that have been released the last few days:

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-“We are approaching the completionist aspect very differently, because we’ve done and learned a lot from Inquisition. But we’ve also observed what other games have been doing, like The Witcher. And it was very important for us that the quantity of scope doesn’t downgrade the quality of whatever you are doing there.”
-Side quests are 'meaningful'.

I sure hope they learned a lot from the dumpster fire that was DA:I's side quest nightmare.
 
Honestly I'm just waiting for confirmation that we can change
and trash compact into space
this fuschia jacket from Peebee
 
Everything they're saying sounds great but everything they've showed hasn't done much for me. Anxiously waiting for reviews/impressions lol
 
-Side quests are 'meaningful'.
-Loyalty missions like in ME2
The first point (paired with the idea of quality above just quantity) sounds good. It was one of my major beefs with DA:Inquisition, hope they really deliver on that front.
-Instead of rolling you use a dash attack and cover is automatic
This on the other hand, does not sound good.

I'm still wary about the way the powers/profiles are assigned, but I guess we will see.
Also, the 2nd screenshot looks, well, not-that-great.
 
-"We are approaching the completionist aspect very differently, because we've done and learned a lot from Inquisition. But we've also observed what other games have been doing, like The Witcher. And it was very important for us that the quantity of scope doesn't downgrade the quality of whatever you are doing there."

This better not be bullshit
 
-"The Reapers had basically attacked and everything had all gone to shit. ItÂ’s really hard to have a story about an individual, their struggles, their personal crises. For Andromeda we wanted to remove that a little bit so that we can tell stories of exploration, stories of a more casual nature. We definitely want to take on a bit of a lighter tone, for sure."
Thank you.
-Some of the Initiative apparantly 'broke off and formed factions'
Just like the GOAT sci-fi strategy story story. Invest time on giving the factions character and we'll have a stew.
BjLvw43.png
 
That is easily the best Peebee has looked so far face design wise. Really liking all the screens here.

Good to know there seems to be a heavy focus on hubs. ME3 was so lacking in this area.
 
-"The Reapers had basically attacked and everything had all gone to shit. ItÂ’s really hard to have a story about an individual, their struggles, their personal crises. For Andromeda we wanted to remove that a little bit so that we can tell stories of exploration, stories of a more casual nature. We definitely want to take on a bit of a lighter tone, for sure."

The trailers say otherwise.
 
-There is no 'big bad' like the Reapers, no overarching threat.
-The story is slightly more optimistic bent, 'instead of barreling towards certain doom'

I... like the sound of that actually, especially to start a new spin-off.
 
Dad-Ryder is probably gonna die, but it seems almost too obvious by Bioware to kill him in Act 1. Also, you can't get Clancy Brown to voice him, only to kill him early in the game. I mean, really?

Also, it's good to see that they have included multiple hubs in the game. ME3 only had the Citadel (which was OK, but ME2 had 3 hubs in comparison) and DA:I had Val Royeaux (which was tiny and honestly kind of pathetic, considering it's supposed to be a capital), so multiple hubs can only be a good thing.
 
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