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Mass Effect: Andromeda Unmarked Spoilers Thread

Cruxist

Member
The game is officially out, so lets talk spoilers! Please leave all discussion about Meta scores, reviews, and jank out of this thread. This topic is to discuss important questions like:

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Does Sovereign show up?

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Can any Bioware dialogue beat this gem?

Anyways, there's your space. Spoil away!
 
I'll start by saying, I effing love that the game continues after the main story. The world and its characters acknowledge and talk about your victory. There are conversations about "what we do now." You can continue adventuring, exploring planets and completing Loyalty Missions to prepare for the sequel. It kinda feels like the game doesn't end, and it's keeping me coming back every night since I finished the review.
 
Just here to read spoilery story impressions

I'll start by saying, I effing love that the game continues after the main story. The world and its characters acknowledge and talk about your victory. There are conversations about "what we do now." You can continue adventuring, exploring planets and completing Loyalty Missions to prepare for the sequel. It kinda feels like the game doesn't end, and it's keeping me coming back every night since I finished the review.

I thought there wasn't going to be a sequel?
 
Nah, there will absolutely be a sequel -- assuming the hardcore internet's vitriol doesn't leak into the mainstream and significantly affect sales.

Yeah, if the sales are bad it must be hardcore internet vitriol, not that the game is poor or that the scores are rather low or any other factor.

EA have killed franchises for less.

That being said, do we know what the overall plot is and how it ends? Do choices matter at all?
 
Yeah, if the sales are bad it must be hardcore internet vitriol, not that the game is poor or that the scores are rather low or any other factor.

EA have killed franchises for less.

Whoa! I only meant there is a massive mainstream fanbase for this series -- the kind of gamer who names "Mass Effect" among the only two or three franchises they care about. I highly doubt that middling reviews and talk on Twitter / NeoGAF will leak into that group and significantly affect sales, but I left the possibility open.

That being said, do we know what the overall plot is and how it ends? Do choices matter at all?

The Remnant technology and the Angara species were created by an advanced alien race, the Jardaan, who left Andromeda when the Scourge weapon was used against them. We don't see the Jardaan by game's end, but the question of who they are and whether they'll ever return to their home is looming.

The Kett, a galaxy-trotting species, are led to Andromeda by the Archon, their general and one of several Kett generals leading similar armies to other galaxies. The Kett possess an ability translated as "exaltation" that incorporates the genome of a victim species with their own; they absorb other alien races, ending their lives and inheriting their desirable traits on the path to evolutionary perfection.

The game's primary conflict is the Archon seeking to seize control of Meridian. For much of the game, what Meridian is is unknown, but we know it's connected to the terraforming Vaults on planets. We find out that Meridian is a planet-sized Dyson sphere, a "seed world" with incredible biological diversity built on the inner wall of a giant globe. It was built by the Jardaan for cross-planetary terraforming, like a command hub and supplier for all the Vaults. By reversing its commands, the Archon can practically end all life in the Heleus Cluster of Andromeda, making the process of exaltation trivially easy. Ryder and the Tempest crew are seeking Meridian for its terraforming power--what better way to turn inhospitable planets into potential homes? It becomes a race against the Archon to find out what Meridian is and save it / use it.

The Virmire-esque choices in Andromeda don't really materialize into meaningful outcomes by game's end, in my experience. The flavor of the ending battle is affected by the planets you visit and factions you befriend.
 
Whoa! I only meant there is a massive mainstream fanbase for this series -- the kind of gamer who names "Mass Effect" among the only two or three franchises they care about. I highly doubt that middling reviews and talk on Twitter / NeoGAF will leak into that group and significantly affect sales, but I left the possibility open.



The Remnant technology and the Angara species were created by an advanced alien race, the Jardaan, who left Andromeda when the Scourge weapon was used against them. We don't see the Jardaan by game's end, but the question of who they are and whether they'll ever return to their home is looming.

The Kett, a galaxy-trotting species, are led to Andromeda by the Archon, their general and one of several Kett generals leading similar armies to other galaxies. The Kett possess an ability translated as "exaltation" that incorporates the genome of a victim species with their own; they absorb other alien races, ending their lives and inheriting their desirable traits on the path to evolutionary perfection.

The game's primary conflict is the Archon seeking to seize control of Meridian. For much of the game, what Meridian is is unknown, but we know it's connected to the terraforming Vaults on planets. We find out that Meridian is a planet-sized Dyson sphere, a "seed world" with incredible biological diversity built on the inner wall of a giant globe. It was built by the Jardaan for cross-planetary terraforming, like a command hub and supplier for all the Vaults. By reversing its commands, the Archon can practically end all life in the Heleus Cluster of Andromeda, making the process of exaltation trivially easy. Ryder and the Tempest crew are seeking Meridian for its terraforming power--what better way to turn inhospitable planets into potential homes? It becomes a race against the Archon to find out what Meridian is and save it / use it.

The Virmire-esque choices in Andromeda don't really materialize into meaningful outcomes by game's end, in my experience. The flavor of the ending battle is affected by the planets you visit and factions you befriend.

Are there any meaningful ties into the OT or any big twists regarding the timeline or whatever?
 
Are there any meaningful ties into the OT or any big twists regarding the timeline or whatever?

Not really, from what I've played (full story and ~70% game completion). It's mostly references -- meeting a Turian who was a Spectre before coming over, people being glad to have left behind the Council, Alec Ryder and Liara maintained correspondence for a time over her research, etc.

The timeline is straightforward: the Initiative departs the Milky Way between ME2 and ME3, but because it's a 600-year cryo-sleep journey, the people that volunteer for the journey wake up far, far into the future with no knowledge of the Reaper invasion and battle that happened 600 years ago.
 
Kinda surprised they resisted not throwing in any reapers. Or at least dead shells or whatever. I realize that's why Andromeda has the plot it does, to get away from all that stuff, but still.
 
More than anything, I just feel like there should be more variety in aliens. We only have two new actual races in an entire new galaxy?? The door is wide open to have all new races be introduced and we get two. It's fine they wanted to have some ones from the first trilogy be in the game, it makes sense. Maybe we'll expand to outside the Helios cluster in sequels (if they are made)?
 
More than anything, I just feel like there should be more variety in aliens. We only have two new actual races in an entire new galaxy?? The door is wide open to have all new races be introduced and we get two.

Yeah, it does feel a bit scant. Story-wise, it seems that the Jardaan basically had the whole galaxy settled but had to leave suddenly when the Scourge came, and they left behind the Angara. So the somewhat emptiness of Andromeda is explained, but it does feel same-y.

It's fine they wanted to have some ones from the first trilogy be in the game, it makes sense. Maybe we'll expand to outside the Helios cluster in sequels (if they are made)?

Really hopeful that we reach beyond Andromeda and encounter some new species in the sequel, or the Jardaan return in a major way.
 
-waits patiently for more people to finish the story-

The story really picks up towards the end though, from the revelations from Alec's memories to the cinematic sequences/set pieces during the last mission shit was hitting the fan left and right lol.
 
-waits patiently for more people to finish the story-

The story really picks up towards the end though, from the revelations from Alec's memories to the cinematic sequences/set pieces during the last mission shit was hitting the fan left and right lol.

The feeling of the last mission -- especially that one shot where you crest over a mountain with the Nomad as all the factions you've befriended swoop into the frame above you -- was chilling. Really captured that epic, end-of-the-road feeling from some classic final levels.
 
Whoa! I only meant there is a massive mainstream fanbase for this series -- the kind of gamer who names "Mass Effect" among the only two or three franchises they care about. I highly doubt that middling reviews and talk on Twitter / NeoGAF will leak into that group and significantly affect sales, but I left the possibility open.



The Remnant technology and the Angara species were created by an advanced alien race, the Jardaan, who left Andromeda when the Scourge weapon was used against them. We don't see the Jardaan by game's end, but the question of who they are and whether they'll ever return to their home is looming.

The Kett, a galaxy-trotting species, are led to Andromeda by the Archon, their general and one of several Kett generals leading similar armies to other galaxies. The Kett possess an ability translated as "exaltation" that incorporates the genome of a victim species with their own; they absorb other alien races, ending their lives and inheriting their desirable traits on the path to evolutionary perfection.

The game's primary conflict is the Archon seeking to seize control of Meridian. For much of the game, what Meridian is is unknown, but we know it's connected to the terraforming Vaults on planets. We find out that Meridian is a planet-sized Dyson sphere, a "seed world" with incredible biological diversity built on the inner wall of a giant globe. It was built by the Jardaan for cross-planetary terraforming, like a command hub and supplier for all the Vaults. By reversing its commands, the Archon can practically end all life in the Heleus Cluster of Andromeda, making the process of exaltation trivially easy. Ryder and the Tempest crew are seeking Meridian for its terraforming power--what better way to turn inhospitable planets into potential homes? It becomes a race against the Archon to find out what Meridian is and save it / use it.

The Virmire-esque choices in Andromeda don't really materialize into meaningful outcomes by game's end, in my experience. The flavor of the ending battle is affected by the planets you visit and factions you befriend.
That sounds really boring. My wife is playing but I'm not really feeling it.

Not really, from what I've played (full story and ~70% game completion). It's mostly references -- meeting a Turian who was a Spectre before coming over, people being glad to have left behind the Council, Alec Ryder and Liara maintained correspondence for a time over her research, etc.

The timeline is straightforward: the Initiative departs the Milky Way between ME2 and ME3, but because it's a 600-year cryo-sleep journey, the people that volunteer for the journey wake up far, far into the future with no knowledge of the Reaper invasion and battle that happened 600 years ago.
Nothing significant then? You'd think after 600 years the Milky Way species would have the tech to get to Andromeda before the Initiative does.
 
The feeling of the last mission -- especially that one shot where you crest over a mountain with the Nomad as all the factions you've befriended swoop into the frame above you -- was chilling. Really captured that epic, end-of-the-road feeling from some classic final levels.

Yeah I really loved it, Meridian in general was gorgeous. I managed to get a shot of it in the midst of all of the fighting going on. Love the Dyson sphere approach since it made it a lot more breath-taking. That part when you first break through the clouds into Meridian and Kallo is like "the gravity is reversed!" and the Tempest does that little flip was very cool.

 
So I'm only 10 hours in at the moment, but my impression so far is that Sam is the new version of Kojima's nanomachines. I mean, Bioware just used Sam as an excuse to let you talk to your sibling while they're in a coma. What the hell is this shit Bioware......
 
The game's primary conflict is the Archon seeking to seize control of Meridian. For much of the game, what Meridian is is unknown, but we know it's connected to the terraforming Vaults on planets. We find out that Meridian is a planet-sized Dyson sphere, a "seed world" with incredible biological diversity built on the inner wall of a giant globe. It was built by the Jardaan for cross-planetary terraforming, like a command hub and supplier for all the Vaults. By reversing its commands, the Archon can practically end all life in the Heleus Cluster of Andromeda, making the process of exaltation trivially easy. Ryder and the Tempest crew are seeking Meridian for its terraforming power--what better way to turn inhospitable planets into potential homes? It becomes a race against the Archon to find out what Meridian is and save it / use it.

So many generic Sci-Fi names in one paragraph...
 
That sounds really boring. My wife is playing but I'm not really feeling it.


Nothing significant then? You'd think after 600 years the Milky Way species would have the tech to get to Andromeda before the Initiative does.

Yeah, nothing significant. It's very much a soft reset for the series with scant references.

It's important to note that I have not watched *any* of Alec Ryder (the father's) memories in the Alliance; I'm waiting until I unlock all of them first. And I've heard that those add some significant intrigue to the plot in some way.
 
It's important to note that I have not watched *any* of Alec Ryder (the father's) memories in the Alliance; I'm waiting until I unlock all of them first. And I've heard that those add some significant intrigue to the plot in some way.

They definitely do and I would argue that it is some of the most interesting stuff in the game. What makes me curious is why they decided to tie that progression to fetch quests rather than make it more interwoven with the main narrative. I can understand them trying to get people to "explore", but SAM even says as you progress in being Pathfinder, more will unlock. Running around collect x number of eidetic triggers doesn't feel like Pathfinder progression and more like saying that they need a hook to get people to explore these open worlds more. You would almost think it would be tied to outpost unlocks or certain story beats. Luckily, I unlocked the last couple of memories as the game was really ramping up towards the end so it added to the experience of it all, but because it is a collection quest some people may not bother and they miss some really interesting stuff.
 
So I'm only 10 hours in at the moment, but my impression so far is that Sam is the new version of Kojima's nanomachines. I mean, Bioware just used Sam as an excuse to let you talk to your sibling while they're in a coma. What the hell is this shit Bioware......
I came across this scene on YouTube. I couldn't believe it, either. Considering that comas by definition involve a complete lack of conscious awareness, BioWare's really stretching it with SAM here. Also the fact that your sibling says "I need to go now" at the end of the particular conversation I watched made me fall out of my chair laughing.

Other moments are equally off-putting. Yelling one-liners after running over things with the Nomad? Liam bragging about shooting enemies in the face? Cora congratulating you on headshots? These people are psychopaths lol...
 
All spoilers from the memories. Even though this is the unmarked thread marking these as this is of course optional progression and contains some super cool reveals for ME trilogy fans.

The moment that Garrus' father shows up (with the same voice actor putting on a slightly older affectation) made me jump the fuck out of my seat. And man, that last voice log of Liara's, recorded during ME3, when she thinks everyone might die - it's a great touch.

The fact that Alec and then later by association Scott & Sara are the only people in Andromeda aware of what happened in the Milky Way with the Reapers - but unaware if anybody survived or if Shepard's plan worked - makes for a really interesting wrinkle in a future game. I genuinely do wonder if the Reapers ever touched Andromeda - I wouldn't be surprised if we did.

And man - yeah, the benefactor has to be The Illusive man, right? I was really expecting a voice log from him, but they sure just left that thread dangling, huh? Jien Garson dead, the trail of who killed her and who the benefactor was cold...
 
Yeah, but I'm sitll not sure when the game is set. Were the ships launched before the Citadel was attacked in ME1 if no one knows anything except 1 person?

The ME1 attack was covered up and Sovereign was sold to the public as a Geth flagship, not a deadly new type of enemy as it was. This is all covered in ME2. Only the top military and council brass know about the Reapers and most of them don't believe Shepard's story.

The Andromeda ships leave the milky way after the conclusion of ME2 but before ME3 starts (and before the Arrival DLC) - at this point rumours are swirling about what Shepard's crew claims but there's nothing concrete.

In the period where the ships are in deep space and everyone is in Cyro but before the ships leave radio range of the Milky Way Alec picks up some messages - chatter from during the Reaper attack, and a message from Liara recorded during ME3. This is why he's the only one who knows what happened, but even he doesn't know how things concluded.
 
Yeah, but I'm sitll not sure when the game is set. Were the ships launched before the Citadel was attacked in ME1 if no one knows anything except 1 person?

The arks took off in 2185 just prior to the Arrival DLC.

Edit: Yeah see above lol. Good explanation.
 
I have two questions:

Do we have see or hear Shepard?

Is Cora Harper related to Illusive Man at all? Same surname and all...
 
Not a lot of people conversing about the story but I'll throw in my thoughts and observations.

Some thoughts...

1. The main plot felt like Halo meets Mass Effect, which was neat, but the way the Kett were presented was kind of lame. They felt like a mustache-twirling, vaguely religious version of the Collectors.

Not really, there's actually a lot of depth to the Kett if you explore the sidequests and interactable objects of theirs. There's a side-quest where you can find out who betrayed the Salarian Ark and if you choose to let the person go in exchange for information about the Kett you can learn quite a bit.

-They have a galaxy spanning empire, with the Archon's forces just being a relatively small detachment. There's an actual government and they also seem to have a senate of some kind.
- There's a fracture within the Heleus Kett expedition. You can work out a deal with the Primus (the female Kett you see walk away after the credits) that she won't stand in your way if you choose to take out the Archon because the Archon's taken his obsession with the remnant too far.
- They have at least 12 vassal races that serve them, some of which deliberately sterilized themselves from being worthy of Exaltation. One of them is also a race of nomads. Lots of potential here for a plot of uniting at least some of the vassal races against the Kett empire.

Plus a lot of smaller stuff I'd have to go back and re-read.

In terms of choices I made that I'm interested to see how they pan out:

- I saved Pathfinder Reaka (Salarians), I let Pathfinder Sarissa maintain her position despite abandoning the Matriach, and I let Avitus assume control of the Turian pathfinder position.
- Chose Prodromos mayor August Bradley to be the ambassador at the end.
- Focused on scientific outposts.
- Saved Sloane Kelly from Reye's attempted assassination.
- Gave the remnant starship core over to the Krogan colony to gain Morda's support for an initiative colony on Elaaden.
- Stopped the ex-Cerberus scientists from performing mind control experiments on Kadara.
- Blew up the Kett base, gaining the Moshae's support but also pissed off Jaal.
- Let the Angara holding the contagious (yet degraded) virus go in exchange for the ladies life.
- Destroyed the ancient AI on Voeld to save the Angaran's life.
- Prevented Drack from killing the guy who orchestrated stealing the Krogan Seed vault in his loyalty mission.
- Told the truth in all the TV interviews.

Plus a bunch more decisions I can't remember all at once.

Some things I thought were really cool:

- Having a planet named after you for completing viability for all 5 planets.
- The crashed Hyperion is now a port and the center for humanity on Meridian. (It also seems that Humanity has an overall claim to Meridian now as well)
- Ryder being the only one alive in Andromeda that knows about the Reaper invasion.
- There's a Quarian Ark with all the other Milky Way races in Andromeda and you'll probably have to go rescue it.
- Conrad Verners sister
- Minor story mention of Overlord, the Illusive man, and some other Cerberus stuff.
- The nod to trilogy characters like david anderson, warlord okeer, etc.

I also romanced Cora, really liked her character and how she evolves just to be happy at Scott's side and being at peace with life and her role. I'm sure many will disagree but I feel that she's what Miranda should've been.

Thoroughly enjoyed the game, though the credits music could've been a better choice but oh well.
 
Guys, I don't get why in the end Ryder didn't use Meridian for terraforming planets (at least, several planets selected for colonization). It completely make sense considering Meridian terraforming capabilities. That was the goal, basically.
 
Guys, I don't get why in the end Ryder didn't use Meridian for terraforming planets (at least, several planets selected for colonization). It completely make sense considering Meridian terraforming capabilities. That was the goal, basically.

Isn't it pretty heavily implied in the aftercredits scene that they're still deciphering the Jardaan language on Meridian to figure out how to utilise all of its capabilities? They definitely did begin the full terraform process on the five colony planets + Meridian, and I presume other planets will get done when they figure out precisely how to. The original turian planet at least can no longer be terraformed at all.
 
Finally completed the game today, and certain quests and plotlines are certainly heads and tails above most of the game. Especially near the end. The "additional tasks" really shouldn't have existed.

Are we assuming that "The Benefactor" is the Illusive Man? I can see why that is very likely, but unless I missed something it could easily be someone totally different (especially given the urgency of saving all Milky Way races and not just Humans). Also - the Benefactors agents are clearly still active due to the murder of Garson. I'm surprised they just drop this thread and it didn't pick up as it is the biggest unresolved mystery. Overall the Ryder family quests were the best in the game, imo.

I forsee the Quarian Ark as obvious DLC.

Every system is 100% explored, yet overall Heleus is still only 93%. Why?

Getting a big scene about a planet named after you only to find the name didn't actually change was pretty stupid.

Romance is so awkward in the game. You can say the equivalent of "want to get a drink?" and suddenly folks are talking like you were the most important thing to them. I "romanced" the Asari reporter but the game almost didn't even acknowledge it. Exiled to "additional tasks". Ouch!
 
I don't think the benefactor is the Illusive Man. Assuming it's one person and not a group, my bet is that they are on the hyperion (still in one of the cryo pods maybe). The benefactor invested a lot of money and resources to ensure the andromeda initiative continued. Would make sense they would want to see how it all plays out as well as use it for his own intentions. Guessing we'll find out more in the dlc/sequel.
 
The Moshae is such an asshole. Gave her the ambassador position as it's their galaxy but with the pompous quips I may as well have given it to the Archon. Think I'm gonna regret that one.
 
Finished Andromeda recently, while I enjoyed it a lot I think its the weakest in the series.

The concept has so much untapped potential, its a shame. E.g: First contact with Angara should have been a bigger deal, a tense focal point in the story.

So Andromeda doesn't capitalise on it's OWN potential as well as it ditches a lot of good ideas the Milky Galaxy had.

In the end though I am excited to see what the next step is in the Andromeda galaxy, even if I was left disappointed.

---------

Jaal was a great addition, and Drack starting off like "The Krogan" of Mass Effect but turned into a character I had a lot of interest in.
 
Have I interpreted it correctly that the Kett are species who basically turn the Angara into their own? Is this exclusively what the Kett are, or do they do this to other species?

If the latter is true, where did the Archon even come from?
 
Have I interpreted it correctly that the Kett are species who basically turn the Angara into their own? Is this exclusively what the Kett are, or do they do this to other species?

If the latter is true, where did the Archon even come from?

They came from another planet (I don't remember the name) of a unknown system in the Andromeda galaxy where they have their Senate and stuff. The Archon is the one in charge of the exaltation on Heleus, I assume that higher ranked kett like the Archon, the Primus or the Cardinal all come from their homeworld.

The angara are turned into those basic kett soldiers (Chosen) but it seems that they can exalt any species.
 
I'm generally ok with the kett and their culture but genetic conversion is lame. It was done in the trilogy and this game should have had new tricks. Maybe just having an enemy that's like paragon shepherd x 1000 and is able to convince enemies to join their side.

The reveal of chosen being angaran was very similar to the reveal that the collector's were protheans. Just really wish they did anything else at all besides genetic conversion.
 
I'm generally ok with the kett and their culture but genetic conversion is lame. It was done in the trilogy and this game should have had new tricks. Maybe just having an enemy that's like paragon shepherd x 1000 and is able to convince enemies to join their side.

The reveal of chosen being angaran was very similar to the reveal that the collector's were protheans. Just really wish they did anything else at all besides genetic conversion.


I feel this is the same for most of the story telling. It all feels very familiar because it is not far removed from the trilogy. Despite taking us into a new galaxy and 600 year difference.

It didn't help that they left behind the most interesting species and only gave us two new ones.
 
The Angara knew English because they have contacted Nexus before, but most people from Milky Way can only speak their own language and can only understand other because they have omnitool translator, which means that the Angara actually heard a bunch of gibberish made of hundreds of languages and somehow they know English without the translator because of that.
Same with the Kett.
And the Kett are basically space Nazis.
 
I'm generally ok with the kett and their culture but genetic conversion is lame. It was done in the trilogy and this game should have had new tricks. Maybe just having an enemy that's like paragon shepherd x 1000 and is able to convince enemies to join their side.

The reveal of chosen being angaran was very similar to the reveal that the collector's were protheans. Just really wish they did anything else at all besides genetic conversion.

I do wonder why it felt so similar. I almost thought it was maybe intentional.
 
The Angara knew English because they have contacted Nexus before, but most people from Milky Way can only speak their own language and can only understand other because they have omnitool translator, which means that the Angara actually heard a bunch of gibberish made of hundreds of languages and somehow they know English without the translator because of that.
Same with the Kett.
And the Kett are basically space Nazis.

What ? Ryder is the first contact they had with the Milky Way species...

So did Peebee trick Ryder into having a kid? Isnt the Asari joining ceremony how they reproduce?

no.
 
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