If you were hoping Mass Effect: Andromeda was closer to the RPG-style mechanics of Mass Effect 1, you may be disappointed to find that the game will be closer to a shooter like Mass Effect 3. Some new plot and gameplay details spilled out and they're quite interesting.
Gamespot captured some of the choice details from some info that came out of a BioWare survey that managed to find its way onto the internet (as usual). The slides reveal some very interesting things about the plot for the upcoming title due for release in 2017. I suppose I should put a (spoiler warning) here so if you want to go in blind when the game launches, you can.
For the upcoming Mass Effect, humans are the aggressors this time around and it doesn't sound like they're going about it peacefully. Here's part of a quote from the slide describing Mass Effect: Andromeda's core plotline...
Mass Effect: Andromeda takes players to the Andromeda galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way, where players will lead the fight for a new home in history territory--where WE are the aliens--opposed by a deadly indigenous race bent on stopping us, […]Experience the freedom to traverse and explore a planet-dense but seamless open-world galaxy, rich with discovery. Play as the leader of a squad of military-trained explorers in an intense third-person shooter, with deep progression and customization systems.
Very, very, very interesting stuff right there. So we know first and foremost that this is being labeled as a third-person shooter and not a traditional RPG. I'm sure sci-fi RPG fans who religiously loved the first Mass Effect will likely be disappointed, but it was obvious that they were leaning more and more towards the third-person shooter genre after they focused the series to play more like Gears of War after Mass Effect 2.
However, it's not all just about the big pow-wows from space age weapons. They do mention customization and progression systems, so hopefully non-combative character scaling is also still option. The ability to diplomatically talk oneself out of a dangerous situation was usually a staple in the Mass Effect series and it would be nice to see it return.
They also mention in the article that there will be “massive” interplanetary confrontations and that players will be fighting for all of humanity. Gamespot notes that the wording on the last slide could potentially point to the over-arching trilogy of new Mass Effect titles and not just the upcoming release of Andromeda. It's quite likely that whatever major conflicts they introduce in the upcoming game will carryover into any possible sequels, if the slide is to be believed.
The reaction to this news in the comment sections was interesting. Some people are a little tired of being what they call “Space Jesus”, a superhero type who must always save the galaxy. Some just wanted a more personal story where the consequences are suited better for making a “good” or “bad” character on a smaller scale.
Most others were just excited that they were getting some new news about Mass Effect: Andromeda. It's been a while, and most of the news has been centered around BioWare staff departing the company, which usually does not incite confidence in the community.
Anyway, the information is very interesting and it looks like we could be learning more about the upcoming Mass Effect title soon.
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