Last night I spotted Mass Effect 3 sitting dormant in my Steam library, and through all the pain and disappointment that the game still manages to impart on me (Different coloured endings, my arse) I still couldn’t help thinking how great the Mass Effect Trilogy was. This of course got me thinking about the Upcoming Mass Effect Andromeda. Specifically, how I imagine it could be with all the worse bits of the earlier games removed, and all those juicy awesome bits left in.
So the trailer is below, and it certainly does look really good and it looks to be heading in the right direction for me.
Diverse Endings
Right let’s start with the obvious one, that is in short a thinly veiled criticism of Mass Effect 3. It was the same ending! What were you thinking Bioware! How could you do it to me? Ok, so the wounds are still fairly fresh. In Mass Effect Andromeda I want the overall storyline to have many different endings, not different coloured endings but actual bona fide endings that are very different. More importantly, I want these endings to be dependent on major plot events and activities performed by my character not whether I’ve mined enough titanium or spent days hopping endlessly across the galaxy delivering gadgets and doodads to every man and space-dog.
A Whole New Story
At first I liked the idea of everything joining up. So that the end of Mass Effect 3 was linked to how your game in Mass Effect: Andromeda would start. Then I realised that this just wouldn’t happen. It would be very difficult to drag in details from all three prior games, across various console and computer versions plus factor in everything in a new beginning. Then I found out that the galaxy in which ME:A is set is many years in the future and several million light years from the Milky Way. Now I’m going the other way, I want this story to be a completely different story with completely different characters and no cross-over what-so-ever. OK, so maybe Commander Shepherd can be briefly talked about in the odd conversation, but he should be treated like Robin Hood (more of a myth than a man.) Let ME1-3 and let’s start again with Mass Effect Andromeda.
Planetary Exploration
In Mass Effect 2 & 3 you couldn’t explore planets at all. You could mine them for resources or scan them for artifacts but there was no sense of exploration. Mass Effect 1 had kind of the right idea, you could move around on planets on the incredibly bouncy MAKO vehicle, but you could only explore a bit of the planet and apart from one or two things to explore, it was basically a barren rock devoid of purpose. Allow me to explore planets in Mass Effect Andromeda. I want to find hidden treasures, tech and temples. Help people who may join my crew, or find side missions that send ripples through the storyline. Bring in an element of exploration and I will be very happy.
Non-human Playable Races
A little thing, but Commander Shepherd always had to be human, this worked for the storyline of the original three Mass Effect games, but hopefully the next story allows some variation within the character creation. After all, most races seemed to speak English anyway so it’s not like they’d have to record millions of new voice lines. Plus new races add possibilities in regards to reactions, and the way events play out. A Krug would be more likely to choose and excel at violent interactions, while Quarians would have advantages at anything cerebral. Obviously, it wouldn’t be these races as they are set firmly in the Milky Way but I’m sure the same could work for the races in Mass Effect Andromeda. Though there’s an Asari in the trailer, so there could be some race cross-over. I doubt that this will be the case. I think the new protagonist will be a boring human being. Pfff.
‘Optional’ Multiplayer
The last part for me involves the multi-player mode and how it was so tied into the ending for Mass Effect 3. For those not aware in Mass Effect 3 you had to play the multi-player modes in order to build up your Galactic Readiness. The higher your score the more it contributes to the better ending in Mass Effect 3. This is a nice idea, except for the fact that it ticks away from every day you don’t play multiplayer, and these days it’s damn near impossible to get a multiplayer group quickly. It’s one of the main reasons I can’t bring myself to play ME3. However, I do like the idea of multi-player being included within the game and to a point I don’t mind that it’s tied in to one or more of the endings, but it shouldn’t be linked to all endings. In other words nobody should be forced to play multiplayer so see a better ending.
So, excitement is building for Mass Effect Andromeda and apart from the odd trailer or snippet of info, we’re still kind of in the dark. I’m optimistic about MEA and feel they will actually do a good job. Although, as far as I am concerned we won’t really know until we get to the end of the new trilogy.
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Jim Franklin
Jim Franklin is a freelance writer, living in Derby UK with his wife and his player 3. When time allows he likes nothing more than losing himself in a multi-hour gaming session. He likes most games and will play anything but prefers MMO's, and sandbox RPG's.
I absolutely love mass effect. Played the trilogy 2 times, on ps3, and I’m thinking about playing a 3rd time right before andromeda comes out. A 1st renegade playthrough , could be awesome. One of my top 3 games EVER.
BUT,
I already imagine the worst things, for andromeda.
– the game will be cut in 3. We can already expect an andromeda 2 3, later on
– as an industry standard, we can expect a big chunk of the game being served as dlc. But unlike mass effect 1-3, where we got the full games, and dlcs were extra created content, andromeda dlcs will be taken from the main game, and coded during the main game. As a result, andromeda full/main story will be 20-60 hours shorter, because they grabbed those 60 hours of gameplay, and made 2-3 dlcs.
– because that’s where blizzard and rockstar make their billions,
Andromeda will have a mandatory multiplayer game, a la over watch, with dozens or hundreds of customizable characters, with millions of purchasable skins, weapons, emotes, dances, colors, weapon parts, etc etc, that people may get, by opening loot boxes. Playing multiplayer will give gamers loot boxes, they can also find some, while playing the single player game.
Overwatch, gta online, they are making 500 millions, in just 2 months. Why would bioware/EA say no to such millions, specially when they know there will be 30-40 million people playing the game, on consoles and pc..?
We can expect a clever ‘readiness’ system, based on multiplayer, fun to play, where people will spend 200, 300 bucks A WEEK. They will make some type of leaderboards, by countries (usa, franxe, japan, etc), where the final score will depend on wins, deaths, etc, quality of gear (ohhhh, you want better gear, you can’t obtain with random loot boxes? Just spend cash on them !)
Unfortunately, the game won’t have
– a fantastic co-op mode, where real people could replace our team mates
– a long story. The game will be much shorter, for sure, so they can make andromeda 2 and 3
– random generated planets, with random loot, resources, etc, that we could explore via our Makko, instead, there will only be a little dozen planet surfaces to explore
– different races as main character. That is simply impossible, because that would mean like 10-15 possible races, x2 (male, female), with millions of recorded sentences, with different voices, etc. No way it can happen
– a different mood, other than renegade or paragon.
-etc etc
Bad things we can expect:
– call of duty-like shooting sequences
-trophies locked behind online multiplayer, to force gamers who want some trophies, to go online. As i explained above, EA will do all they can, to make us play the online multiplayer, to make us spend a few hundreds bucks, when, all we want is play the single player main story.
i already know this gonna be a nightmare. They want some extra 200-400 bucks, from each gamer, and they will get them, by using the most shady techniques. No one will escape the ‘readiness’ thing, and in order to progress, no one will make it, without buying special stuff, with real money.
ME: andromeda is probably the game i desire the most, after uncharted 4, and god of war 4. But i already know EA will milk the franchise, and will turn the game, that over 40 million fans will be playing, into a micro transactions / in-game purchases F E S T .
And when i think about that, it makes me sad.
mark my words, regarding the overwatch/gta online game play clone, to make people buy all kinds of upgrades, items, perks, etc. If they manage to make each gamer spend a little 50 dollars on in-game purchases, x 40 million gamers, that alone will make 2.5 billions CASH. Who would say NO to that?
Unfortunately, I think you could right on a lot of those points. I’m almost positive there will be three games, though if the storyline is engaging and there is plenty of it a la 1-3 then that’s ok. I just hope that Bioware looks at the first trilogy, really looks at it and takes note of what the fans liked and disliked.
There’s still a lot to be divulged so maybe we’ll both be wrong and maybe, just ,maybe Mass Effect Andromeda will make make the first ME trilogy look like a snoopy cartoon.
steve
8 years ago
Another thing,
With a 40 million fan base, who played the entire game 2, 3, 4 times, and spent between 500 and 1000 hours playing it,
We can already expect there will be some special versions, like general, officer, commander, lieutenant… that could cost from 120 to 500 dollars. I could imagine a 500 bucks pack, with a big normandy ship, with leds, et , great quality, along the main character. All, with a relative big size and dimensions.
Better: because of the 30-50, or even 100 diferent races we might come across, while playing ME andromeda, the sequels andromeda 2 and 3,
I wouldnt be shocked at all, if EA/Bioware just started selling ammibo-like figurines, male, female, kids, mekko different weapons and different spaceships.
They could make, for example 10 different krogans, like a mix of male and females, with different colors, faces, etc. And another 10 different Asaris… etc etc.
Of course, they could all handle weapons, shields, etc, in different positions.
There could also be a makko, several big different airships, with different mods, with blinking leds, sounds, etc.
One could easily create a nice 15 krogans battalion. 5 asaris, turian, 5 quarians, 3 salarians, all holding diferent weapons.
for a fan collector, it would be a fantastic opportunity to have our favourite characters and troops, ready to playalone, with kids, etc, or simply standing next the tv or console.
THIS is something that could be coold, EA could make some extra millions, and maybe we could get a code with each figurine, that we could redeem against some ingame bonus.
Yes, I’m sure it will follow the same model as Dragon Age Inquisition. DLC packs for the main game, and then loads of things you can buy for the multiplayer that don;t really effect the main game.
The whole merchandising bandwagon will be jumped on for sure, and from their perspective why not. If people are going to pay the money why shouldn’t they sell the brand. Having said that, it does piss me off a little.
I absolutely love mass effect. Played the trilogy 2 times, on ps3, and I’m thinking about playing a 3rd time right before andromeda comes out. A 1st renegade playthrough , could be awesome. One of my top 3 games EVER.
BUT,
I already imagine the worst things, for andromeda.
– the game will be cut in 3. We can already expect an andromeda 2 3, later on
– as an industry standard, we can expect a big chunk of the game being served as dlc. But unlike mass effect 1-3, where we got the full games, and dlcs were extra created content, andromeda dlcs will be taken from the main game, and coded during the main game. As a result, andromeda full/main story will be 20-60 hours shorter, because they grabbed those 60 hours of gameplay, and made 2-3 dlcs.
– because that’s where blizzard and rockstar make their billions,
Andromeda will have a mandatory multiplayer game, a la over watch, with dozens or hundreds of customizable characters, with millions of purchasable skins, weapons, emotes, dances, colors, weapon parts, etc etc, that people may get, by opening loot boxes. Playing multiplayer will give gamers loot boxes, they can also find some, while playing the single player game.
Overwatch, gta online, they are making 500 millions, in just 2 months. Why would bioware/EA say no to such millions, specially when they know there will be 30-40 million people playing the game, on consoles and pc..?
We can expect a clever ‘readiness’ system, based on multiplayer, fun to play, where people will spend 200, 300 bucks A WEEK. They will make some type of leaderboards, by countries (usa, franxe, japan, etc), where the final score will depend on wins, deaths, etc, quality of gear (ohhhh, you want better gear, you can’t obtain with random loot boxes? Just spend cash on them !)
Unfortunately, the game won’t have
– a fantastic co-op mode, where real people could replace our team mates
– a long story. The game will be much shorter, for sure, so they can make andromeda 2 and 3
– random generated planets, with random loot, resources, etc, that we could explore via our Makko, instead, there will only be a little dozen planet surfaces to explore
– different races as main character. That is simply impossible, because that would mean like 10-15 possible races, x2 (male, female), with millions of recorded sentences, with different voices, etc. No way it can happen
– a different mood, other than renegade or paragon.
-etc etc
Bad things we can expect:
– call of duty-like shooting sequences
-trophies locked behind online multiplayer, to force gamers who want some trophies, to go online. As i explained above, EA will do all they can, to make us play the online multiplayer, to make us spend a few hundreds bucks, when, all we want is play the single player main story.
i already know this gonna be a nightmare. They want some extra 200-400 bucks, from each gamer, and they will get them, by using the most shady techniques. No one will escape the ‘readiness’ thing, and in order to progress, no one will make it, without buying special stuff, with real money.
ME: andromeda is probably the game i desire the most, after uncharted 4, and god of war 4. But i already know EA will milk the franchise, and will turn the game, that over 40 million fans will be playing, into a micro transactions / in-game purchases F E S T .
And when i think about that, it makes me sad.
mark my words, regarding the overwatch/gta online game play clone, to make people buy all kinds of upgrades, items, perks, etc. If they manage to make each gamer spend a little 50 dollars on in-game purchases, x 40 million gamers, that alone will make 2.5 billions CASH. Who would say NO to that?
Unfortunately, I think you could right on a lot of those points. I’m almost positive there will be three games, though if the storyline is engaging and there is plenty of it a la 1-3 then that’s ok. I just hope that Bioware looks at the first trilogy, really looks at it and takes note of what the fans liked and disliked.
There’s still a lot to be divulged so maybe we’ll both be wrong and maybe, just ,maybe Mass Effect Andromeda will make make the first ME trilogy look like a snoopy cartoon.
Another thing,
With a 40 million fan base, who played the entire game 2, 3, 4 times, and spent between 500 and 1000 hours playing it,
We can already expect there will be some special versions, like general, officer, commander, lieutenant… that could cost from 120 to 500 dollars. I could imagine a 500 bucks pack, with a big normandy ship, with leds, et , great quality, along the main character. All, with a relative big size and dimensions.
Better: because of the 30-50, or even 100 diferent races we might come across, while playing ME andromeda, the sequels andromeda 2 and 3,
I wouldnt be shocked at all, if EA/Bioware just started selling ammibo-like figurines, male, female, kids, mekko different weapons and different spaceships.
They could make, for example 10 different krogans, like a mix of male and females, with different colors, faces, etc. And another 10 different Asaris… etc etc.
Of course, they could all handle weapons, shields, etc, in different positions.
There could also be a makko, several big different airships, with different mods, with blinking leds, sounds, etc.
One could easily create a nice 15 krogans battalion. 5 asaris, turian, 5 quarians, 3 salarians, all holding diferent weapons.
for a fan collector, it would be a fantastic opportunity to have our favourite characters and troops, ready to playalone, with kids, etc, or simply standing next the tv or console.
THIS is something that could be coold, EA could make some extra millions, and maybe we could get a code with each figurine, that we could redeem against some ingame bonus.
Yes, I’m sure it will follow the same model as Dragon Age Inquisition. DLC packs for the main game, and then loads of things you can buy for the multiplayer that don;t really effect the main game.
The whole merchandising bandwagon will be jumped on for sure, and from their perspective why not. If people are going to pay the money why shouldn’t they sell the brand. Having said that, it does piss me off a little.