• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

MASS EFFECT: ANDROMEDA Gameplay Series #3: Exploration

It sucks I'm one of the very few people that loved the big empty worlds of ME1. I wish theyd throw some in there, makes the galaxy more realistic.

And it was compelling to drive over this entire useless world and finding like one artifact, that felt like you are the only one to ever find it. I DUNNO

I know that feel bro. Unfortunately heavy use of empty space is so aggressively criticised that it's default "bad" for some people. I love my stretches of nothingness.

I know man. You can't have that anymore in mainstream games because a big chunk of the audience doesn't like traversal for the sake of mood and atmosphere. Part of me is still hoping for it in Andromeda but it's gonna come with a lot of bar-filling.

I suggest you try out Elite Dangerous or Space Engine for your realistic-scale space exploration fix.
 
It sucks I'm one of the very few people that loved the big empty worlds of ME1. I wish theyd throw some in there, makes the galaxy more realistic.

And it was compelling to drive over this entire useless world and finding like one artifact, that felt like you are the only one to ever find it. I DUNNO

One of the reasons ME1 was the best imo. Finding an isolated prothean pyramid was so fucking cool even if it wasn't anything that special lol.

And I'll keep hammering this point on, the music in ME1 was so much better in tone than anything following and it seems like it'll be the case once again.
 
One of the reasons ME1 was the best imo. Finding an isolated prothean pyramid was so fucking cool even if it wasn't anything that special lol.

And I'll keep hammering this point on, the music in ME1 was so much better in tone than anything following and it seems like it'll be the case once again.

Preach it.
 
The problem with ME1 is the worlds were so pointless. It'd be one thing if you came across something actually interesting or special, an alien artifact that adds backstory or something to the characters.

Instead a lot of the times it was just the same old boring copy + pasted bases and nothing really special.

They went for quanity>quality in ME1 exploration.

Not to mention the world designs, it was like someone hit the random generator and just let it be. The planets didn't really have an atmosphere to them or feel like living breathing worlds that you were exploring.
 
Game is looking really good. Are we finally getting hype yet? Are the haters still in full swing? I haven't seen anything yet to discourage me from my pre-order. People harping on facial expressions, body proportions, animations, you guys are crazy. The game looks fine and I think you guys are just looking for excuses. If you don't want to buy the game because reasons then it's your loss. The only thing that remains a mystery to me is the story. I really enjoyed the original trilogy faults and all so I'm hoping this one is good as well. Counting down the days.
 
"Over 100 planets in MEA, with a handful of them to land on..."

A handful.

So, 5 total planets to actually explore? Hmm

I assume it's much more than that. We shall see soon enough.
 
I know man. You can't have that anymore in mainstream games because a big chunk of the audience doesn't like traversal for the sake of mood and atmosphere. Part of me is still hoping for it in Andromeda but it's gonna come with a lot of bar-filling.

I suggest you try out Elite Dangerous or Space Engine for your realistic-scale space exploration fix.
You can have it, but all "empty" spaces are not created equally.
 
"Over 100 planets in MEA, with a handful of them to land on..."

A handful.

So, 5 total planets to actually explore? Hmm

I assume it's much more than that. We shall see soon enough.

This is what concerns me a little. The game is supposed to be about exploration yet a handful to land on ? I'm not expecting every planet to land on but when they say they took the exploration side of mass Effect 1 as inspiration, I don't see how they have there.

It seems the complaints were about a few of the quests themselves with driving around in the Mako looking for anomalys and so on. If you are going to a new galaxy there is a ton of ideas you could use for side mission stuff.
 
This is what concerns me a little. The game is supposed to be about exploration yet a handful to land on ? I'm not expecting every planet to land on but when they say they took the exploration side of mass Effect 1 as inspiration, I don't see how they have there.

It seems the complaints were about a few of the quests themselves with driving around in the Mako looking for anomalys and so on. If you are going to a new galaxy there is a ton of ideas you could use for side mission stuff.

I think that even having a single planet would be blowing Mass Effect 1's exploration element out of the water.

Anyway, they've said that the smallest planetary zone in Mass Effect Andromeda is larger than all of Dragon Age Inquisition, so let that sink in for a minute. There'll be enough exploration. It's also their biggest game to date. I don't think we'll have anything to worry about in terms of the quantity of content.
 
Okay this is one of the prettiest environments I've seen from a current-gen title after UC4.

I would love to see a Decima vs Frostbite battle.
 
"Over 100 planets in MEA, with a handful of them to land on..."

A handful.

So, 5 total planets to actually explore? Hmm

I assume it's much more than that. We shall see soon enough.

Based on Mac Walters' tweets, I believe there's quite a large number of planets you'll visit throughout the game but only a select few of them will be these large open zones ripe for exploration.

I just can't wait to explore the Nexus for the first time.
 
I think that even having a single planet would be blowing Mass Effect 1's exploration element out of the water.

Anyway, they've said that the smallest planetary zone in Mass Effect Andromeda is larger than all of Dragon Age Inquisition, so let that sink in for a minute. There'll be enough exploration. It's also their biggest game to date. I don't think we'll have anything to worry about in terms of the quantity of content.

You know the side quests in the first game where you land on Earths moon or you find a distress signal on a shuttle orbiting some planet in another cluster? Things like that I was getting at, variety of environments and places to go in the galaxy itself. That sense of discovery and going to all different places in your ship.

I understand what you are saying with regards to a single planet but I feel limiting the number of planets to actually land on kind of takes away that discovery feeling and I thought the story they have gone with would of been perfect for that in terms of side quests.
 
"Over 100 planets in MEA, with a handful of them to land on..."

A handful.

So, 5 total planets to actually explore? Hmm

I assume it's much more than that. We shall see soon enough.

Yeah it sounds a bit disappointing if there's actually only 5 or so planets you can drive the Nomad on. Although I guess the term 'handful' can be interpreted in different ways. 10-15 planets to explore could still be considered a relative handful compared to 100+ total planets.
 
These Gameplay series videos have all been fantastic.

The IGN extended gameplay really dampened by hype from the first two.

I'll wait on GAF-impressions for this one. Pick it up when theres a price drop or a complete edition releases.
 
"Over 100 planets in MEA, with a handful of them to land on..."

A handful.

So, 5 total planets to actually explore? Hmm

I assume it's much more than that. We shall see soon enough.


Well, it's not like they said a handful of cities or states. They said planets. If they went the route of Xenoblade X they would only need one planet. A planet can be very varied if they design it as such. If they took Xenoblade and cut it into fifths and had each portion be a different planet instead of it being connected would that make it better?
 
Are you telling me there is an ancient evil that must be defeated?!
The Kett don't seem that ancient.

The Remnants are the ancient ones but they seem to function more like Precursors/Protheans breadcrumb trails.

Edit: your avatar is bothering me a lot :|
 
You know the side quests in the first game where you land on Earths moon or you find a distress signal on a shuttle orbiting some planet in another cluster? Things like that I was getting at, variety of environments and places to go in the galaxy itself. That sense of discovery and going to all different places in your ship.

I understand what you are saying with regards to a single planet but I feel limiting the number of planets to actually land on kind of takes away that discovery feeling and I thought the story they have gone with would of been perfect for that in terms of side quests.

Those large planetary zones aren't the only locations you'll visit I believe. I think there will also be more linear thing, or smaller locations. But I'm a bit unclear on the specifics of that.

Regardless, it'll probably be 5-7 large planetary zones, seeing as how there are 7 habitable planets supposedly. Those would then be your sprawling areas. But if I'd have to make a guess, you'll still find those "signal" type things, but it might take you to a more isolated and much smaller map, or even a linear map like the inside of a derelict spacecraft or something. We'll see I guess.
 
Those large planetary zones aren't the only locations you'll visit I believe. I think there will also be more linear thing, or smaller locations. But I'm a bit unclear on the specifics of that.

Regardless, it'll probably be 5-7 large planetary zones, seeing as how there are 7 habitable planets supposedly. Those would then be your sprawling areas. But if I'd have to make a guess, you'll still find those "signal" type things, but it might take you to a more isolated and much smaller map, or even a linear map like the inside of a derelict spacecraft or something. We'll see I guess.

Yeah time will tell. I wish they had been a bit more specific on it.
 
This videos series makes the game look absolutely incredible, but when IGN show uncut gameplay and it looks like trash again.

Who to believe?
 
whew.png
 
A hundred planets to discover with only a "handful" to land on sounds like Mass Effect as usual, as it was the case for all of the games. Difference being in the first Mass Effect it offered actual exploration (albeit, rather barren) over the linear shooter levels of its sequels.

If there going to be far fewer planets to explore, I would hope their scale is quite vast to make up for it. Were that the case, I would be perfectly content. As was said earlier in the thread, quality over quantity. Fewer but more memorable experiences over many forgettable ones.


In terms of the Kett, I think the role they may play is simply being xenophobic natives of Andromeda who are unwelcoming to our Milky Way races and are taking extreme measures to fight them off. I feel they will play a more political enemy. Whereas the remnant remind me of Halo in a way, in that they're the servants left behind by a forgotten race, forever monitoring their lost master's relics. I feel they will foreshadow an "ancient evil" that will awaken and endanger the galaxy, though hopefully it isn't entirely a rehash of the Reapers.

Do correct me if I am wrong and I am completely ignorant of some information about either of them.
 
I know that feel bro. Unfortunately heavy use of empty space is so aggressively criticised that it's default "bad" for some people. I love my stretches of nothingness.
Word. I hate feeling like I have to stop every 3 seconds to pick something up. As long as the environment is gorgeous and interesting, I don't mind traversing large spaces.
 
This game in 60fps looks so good but I know the MP won't be active on PC after the first couple of months.

Assuming nothing goes horribly wrong, the multiplayer will be active on PC for probably the next 5 years actually if ME3 is any indication.
 
I think that's what he's talking about. I don't think there was more than one 17 minute long video.

I see IGN put the first 13 minutes of the game on their YouTube channel today. I assume that's what was being referred to because the other video came out days ago.
 
I see IGN put the first 13 minutes of the game on their YouTube channel today. I assume that's what was being referred to because the other video came out days ago.

Oh yeah, sorry. I missed the "today" in his post.

Still though, got me wondering. How was the uncut gameplay from a couple of days ago "trash"?
 

ME1's soundtrack was just so perfect. The game has so many obvious flaws but I still love it (and it's my favorite in the series) mostly for its killer atmosphere, largely due to the music and art design that seemed more inspired by 70s/80s scifi pulp. The story was a lot better too.

The music I've heard so far in Andromeda just sounds so uninspired and bland. I think it's just another case of game developers copying Hollywood trends. Most modern blockbusters don't really focus on their scores these days; they mostly use music for mood rather than memorable melodies/motifs. I felt the same way about Uncharted 4 compared to its predecessors. I'm not saying the music is objectively bad or anything, I would just prefer memorable melody.
 
I for one welcome the return me 1.
Me2 was excellent but it lacked the feeling of exploring space that 1 captured beautifully.
I wouldnt even mind empty planet pitioss style dungeons
 
Oh yeah, sorry. I missed the "today" in his post.

Still though, got me wondering. How was the uncut gameplay from a couple of days ago "trash"?

- Annoying Ghost like companion robot constantly yapping
- Voice acting seemed weird
- Combat came off as boring without the power wheel
- Mission design of "go to things and scan them"

What was shown looked very much like a bad TPS Destiny. Again, the stuff in this video series looks great.
 
Word. I hate feeling like I have to stop every 3 seconds to pick something up. As long as the environment is gorgeous and interesting, I don't mind traversing large spaces.

This is part of the reason I'm one of the only people in existence who enjoyed the Hissing Wastes.
 
Elite is not very similar to ME1

Yeah I know, but I just meant that if he liked the whole exploring barren planet stuff then there is plenty of that in Elite. I wasn't saying, "well then you should go play this instead and stop complaining." It was just a heads up that if you like that kind of thing then Elite has tons of it.

I even mentioned after that that I would like to see the same.
 
the exploration video really sold me. This seems like what ME always needed to be - focus on exploration, bigger environments, fully rendered objects in solar systems. Can't wait.
 
Top Bottom