Mass Effect Andromeda (2016)

[escrow4]

How can this be missing from here?

http://blog.bioware.com/2015/06/15/introducing-mass-effect-andromeda/

Fallout 4 sure, but the new Mass Effect MMMMMMMMMMMM.

"While we aren’t ready to go into too many details just yet, as you saw in the trailer and can tell by the name, this game is very much a new adventure, taking place far away from and long after the events of the original trilogy. You will play a human, male or female, though that’s actually not the character you saw in the trailer (more on that later). You’ll be exploring an all-new galaxy, Andromeda, and piloting the new and improved Mako you saw. And through it all, you will have a new team of adventurers to work with, learn from, fight alongside of, and fall in love with.

We built this trailer in Frostbite™, our game engine, and it represents our visual target for the final game. We are thrilled by what we’ve already been able to achieve in bringing Mass Effect to Frostbite and by putting our entire focus on PC and current gen consoles. With the time remaining in development, we’re excited about the possibility to push things even more."

 

[sandorski]

I hope it's good. That reminds me, I still need to finish ME3.

 

[TheVrolok]

I hope it's good. That reminds me, I still need to finish ME3.

ME3 sucks, EA ruined it, shit, etc. shit, garbage ending, ruined the franchise, etc. etc.

/typical AT

I thoroughly enjoyed ME3 and didn't mind the ending (admittedly I first played it after "the patch.") Also, a buddy of mine has highly recommended "The Citadel" DLC (I think that's the one) which basically adds some wrap up at the very end of the game (epilogue like I suppose) for many of the characters in the series. I plan on getting it for My Next Playthrough (tm).

Stoked for "ME4."

 

[darkewaffle]

The Citadel DLC basically gives you the opportunity to do all sorts of schmoozing with your crew prior to ME3's final mission. It's a nice send off of sorts loaded with references, inside jokes, a few guest appearances and getting to see your crew letting their hair down basically. It doesn't have the 'gravity' of the interactions you see between the characters in the base game, but it's fun to see different sides of them.

 

[rivethead]

I didn't mind ME3 at all. In fact, I quite enjoyed it.

BUT.......

It appears the gaming world is out of new, fresh ideas, just like Hollywood is with movies.

 

[Blitzvogel]

I'm sort of skeptical about this new ME game. The third one did have a horrible ending, and honestly all the ME games had "meh" endings. There was always something lacking about the way they wrapped themselves up, and I think it was more a limitation of the gameplay versus the scale and grandeur of the ME universe. BUT at least the actual gameplay and character development is good across the entire series. I played as FemShep, which I'd recommend over monotone, bald, military-cliche male Shepherd.

 

[s44]

This is basically the Stargate: Atlantis version of ME.

 

[darkewaffle]

I'd actually say the gameplay was the biggest weaklink in the series lol. It got better from game to game but the whole unibutton contexual control scheme was maddening (and I'll never know whey they got rid of the weapon swap keybinds from 1->2). I don't really enjoy 'cover shooter' as a style period. I'd rather play it as an FPS or a straight up third person action game instead of trying to straddle the two.

 

[Man I Suck]

Hey, we can't rectify our complete pissing away the end of ME3 so... screw it! WHOLE DIFFERENT GALAXY! Yay! Give us your money!

Hahahahahaaaaaaa.... no.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

I'm sort of skeptical about this new ME game. The third one did have a horrible ending, and honestly all the ME games had "meh" endings. There was always something lacking about the way they wrapped themselves up, and I think it was more a limitation of the gameplay versus the scale and grandeur of the ME universe. BUT at least the actual gameplay and character development is good across the entire series. I played as FemShep, which I'd recommend over monotone, bald, military-cliche male Shepherd.

Hey, we can't rectify our complete pissing away the end of ME3 so... screw it! WHOLE DIFFERENT GALAXY! Yay! Give us your money!

Hahahahahaaaaaaa.... no.

At the very least I'd say I'm extremely skeptical. I loved the ME series (save for the terrible ending of ME3...wtf was that?), and it was the first game/series my girlfriend played from start to end...even she hated the ending.

All I can say is Mass Effect = Stopping the reapers. It had a sense of urgency paired with a great backstory and a bond with the people you shared your ship with. I have a feeling that if this game doesn't have those things then it won't be Mass Effect, but I also feel like if they do follow that same formula then it'll just be another cash cow like Assassins Creed.

I would have been happy if it just ended with 3.

 

[smithkt]

This is basically the Stargate: Atlantis version of ME.

Fine with me. I enjoyed Atlantis.

 

[ikachu]

I think I'm kind of burned out on ME games... but I guess there are some interesting possibilities when moving the setting to a new galaxy (diplomacy, building an outpost, etc..). But, I don't know if I'm interested in playing another cover-based, regenerating-shields shooter.

 

[escrow4]

I'm looking to this way more than Fallout 4.

 

[RampantAndroid]

ME1 had a lot of moments I loved. As awful as the Mako was on planets, I loved being able to land on a planet, roam and look up. Whoa, I'm on a different planet. On that planet above me, there's a huge scar. Cool!

All of that was gone from ME2/3 - 2 and 3 played better in same ways, and still had a lot to like, but ME1 is still the best in terms of immersion for me.

I'll wait for this new one, albeit with low expectations.

 

[the unknown]

Wow that looked really good. The Mass Effect universe is probably the best sci-fi game world out there. I hope Shepard's story and the Reapers are over though... they have so much more to explore besides those two things.

 

[Zenoth]

As I understand it, so far at least, Andromeda is essentially a reboot of the franchise. They won't label it as such of course. But moving to another galaxy is an obvious move to avoid / shrug off the otherwise complexity (to say the least) of having to establish a "canon" continuity from one of the three (excuse me, four) endings; they would have had to do it had it been a real sequel per se.

I might be wrong, since they do say that it takes place "long after the events of the original trilogy". That, technically, could still make Andromeda a "sequel"... I suppose. But claiming that it's happening anywhere in the timeline of the franchise "after" the original trilogy would practically mean nothing if - ultimately - within the game itself there's next to zero mention or even the slightest reference(s) to what actually occurred at 'x' point in the "original trilogy" (or as they'd probably say within the game "a very long time ago", without even giving a hint or implying at the number of decades or even centuries).

That brings them (BioWare) to square one in my book. They move the franchise to a new galaxy, gives it a new birth, new cast, new "main" issue(s) to deal with, but you leave the Milky Way, Shepard, Reapers, a couple of alien species and perhaps even the Mass Relay network as well behind. That's pretty much a reboot to me, but that's not to say that Mass Effect "5" will be a sequel to Andromeda, or that BioWare Montreal is currently (or has been) crafting a completely new trilogy. One thing is for sure, however, is that moving to a new galaxy is a smart move (I'm not joking). I mean if they happen to screw up Andromeda's main story arc by torching any possible future titles within it by once more providing a really dumb ending then they can at least move to other galaxies still. And there's... a lot of other galaxies to get to if shit hits the fan in Andromeda. Anyone in for a possible Mass Effect: Whirlpool ?

I am genuinely intrigued by ME:A, and curious to see more of it. The CGI trailer didn't reveal much other than the fact that it's Andromeda and that we get to explore a "galaxy". I sure hope, however, that most gamers out there possibly waiting for it will realize that the devs' claim that we'll get to explore a galaxy is figurative at best. We should have realistic expectations instead to make sure we don't get "shocked" (perish the thought) that yet another AAA title didn't deliver even half of what it was "advertised as" (or, of course, that it wasn't what "they promised us! they said it was a GALAXY in that trailer you remember guys?!"... yes, because four years is enough for any development team on this planet to create an actual galaxy to explore).

So anyway. I'm curious, and honestly actually happy that for all intents and purposes it seems to be a reboot. I'm welcoming that much more than I would have if it had been a spin-off happening...say...between the events of ME1 and ME2 when Shepard was presumed dead for example, or a prequel happening during the First Contact War. I say yay to the setting they chose for Andromeda, it was rather bold (albeit somewhat predictable too). There was no way anyone out there would have wanted to deal with the mess that would have been to figure out something canon out of ME3's crap for a "proper" sequel, and I salute them for not going there.

 

[the unknown]

Interesting thoughts... to me it seems Andromeda is "the wild west" and people are settling there from the Milky Way. Maybe N7 are the guys to clear the way for these people. Just the vibe I got from the music and panning through the planets to find the right one.

And yeah I am happy too that they're not doing a direct sequel or god forbid a prequel. This seems like they're allowed to explore whatever concepts they want with no restrictions.

 

[dave1029]

Interesting thoughts... to me it seems Andromeda is "the wild west" and people are settling there from the Milky Way. Maybe N7 are the guys to clear the way for these people. Just the vibe I got from the music and panning through the planets to find the right one.

And yeah I am happy too that they're not doing a direct sequel or god forbid a prequel. This seems like they're allowed to explore whatever concepts they want with no restrictions.

My guess is it's a couple hundred years after the Reapers were defeated... interesting to note, I don't believe there was a single ME3 ending where the Reapers were victorious until the extended cut gave the fuck you ending. So the reapers losing is obviously canon. So with that out of the way: 200 years after, humans are the dominant species among the council races, a relay was discovered out in dark space, leads to andromeda. You lead the colonization of andromeda and over the course of the game you discover more reapers or some stupid shit like that. Or maybe andromeda's version of reapers.

 

[s44]

200 years after, humans are the dominant species among the council races, a relay was discovered out in dark space, leads to andromeda. You lead the colonization of andromeda and over the course of the game you discover more reapers or some stupid shit like that.

Eh no. Did you read the promo stuff?

Basically you're with a secret ark-type project that found a way to travel huge distances w/o relays and sent the best&brightest out of galaxy in case Shep couldn't beat the Reapers. In Andromeda, you find that a bunch of previous Milky Way civilizations did the same thing...

 

[Subyman]

Andromeda is absolutely a "reset" of the universe. I'm glad to see it. ME1-3 were fun, but I'm ready to see them do something different. Unfortunately, the trailer looked like more of the "world ending cataclysm" that ME so focused on. I could do with a smaller, more personal story line instead of saving the world this time around. I want the back-alley story, not a thousand-ship-crusade.

I haven't gotten super far in The Witcher 3, but I'm liking how they are so focused on Geralt finding someone while a war goes on around him. It is neat being a passive observer intersecting with the war from time to time.

 

[kyrax12]

This is basically the Stargate: Atlantis version of ME.

That's good.

It is a good breath of fresh air.

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's EA and nu-Bioware, so I'll wait until after it's released and reviews are in before getting excited.

Fallout 4 is "shut up and take my bottlecaps!" because I already know it will be a fun sandbox with a weak Bethesda main quest as always. Since they shafted Obsidian on the completion bonus for FONY I also know we're unlikely to get a good spin-off game but there will be mods.

 

[escrow4]

Andromeda is absolutely a "reset" of the universe. I'm glad to see it. ME1-3 were fun, but I'm ready to see them do something different. Unfortunately, the trailer looked like more of the "world ending cataclysm" that ME so focused on. I could do with a smaller, more personal story line instead of saving the world this time around. I want the back-alley story, not a thousand-ship-crusade.

I haven't gotten super far in The Witcher 3, but I'm liking how they are so focused on Geralt finding someone while a war goes on around him. It is neat being a passive observer intersecting with the war from time to time.

I found that to be a poor choice. It wasn't as immersive as II. You have Nilfgaard camping in the bottom of the map and there are no pitched battles. The main plot running around with Ciri and Dandelion was bland at best.

I too don't want save the world anymore. It a stale cliche. More plotting and intricacies with the world and politics/culture. The constant doom in games is boring. We have Greece in the real world for that.

 

[Blitzvogel]

ME1 had a lot of moments I loved. As awful as the Mako was on planets, I loved being able to land on a planet, roam and look up. Whoa, I'm on a different planet. On that planet above me, there's a huge scar. Cool!

All of that was gone from ME2/3 - 2 and 3 played better in same ways, and still had a lot to like, but ME1 is still the best in terms of immersion for me.

I'll wait for this new one, albeit with low expectations.

I loved the Mako, it was so much fun to drive around using the landing retro rockets to make huge ramp jumps in conjunction with the terrain :awe:

I had too much fun attacking enemy outposts with it as well. Ground exploration was sorely missed in the 2nd and 3rd games for me. I also can't stand the RPG moniker people slap on the games, as they are functionally shooters. Hell, the term RPG pretty much describes just about any game out there as you are playing a role, in a game. I understand that it's just a leftover term coming from table top RPGs slapped onto videogames but realistically the ME games, especially the 2nd and 3rd are 3rd person shooters.

 

[mundane]

I'm still waiting for ME3 GOTY/Complete. I may be waiting a /very/ long time.