Bioware Reveals Mass Effect: Andromeda Gameplay Trailer at Game Awards 2016

Mass Effect Andromeda

It might have been a long wait for dedicated fans of the upcoming Mass Effect Andromeda, but Bioware finally revealed an action-packed gameplay trailer at yesterday evening’s Game Awards (Dec 1).

Whilst the company has shown fans the game through dribs and drabs, via story trailers and tweets from devs, the gameplay trailer revealed last night is the most we’ve ever seen of the upcoming game, due to be released in Spring 2017.

 

GAMEPLAY

The footage shows us a glimpse of the hugely varied areas we’ll be exploring as Ryder, a Pathfinder leading the Andromeda Initiative to find a new home for humanity, as well as many different enemy types, both human and alien.

The trailer reveals there are already many bases built by other arrivals from the Milky Way, and it seems Ryder must bargain with these landlords or destroy them to ensure the safety of everyone aboard the arkship.

The game certainly looks like a Mass Effect entry, with the game’s patented dialogue wheel, dialogue interrupts and space magic combat, though the whole thing has seen both a cosmetic and functional overhaul, with Ryder now able to use a jetpack, new weapons (including melee weapons) and abilities to make the game more frenetic.

Interestingly, Ryder is shown using a biotic charge attack from mid-air, and the devs have previously stated he or she will not be tied down to one class, such as soldier or sentinel. Previously, only Vanguards could use biotic charge, so it will be interesting to see how that is handled.

Crafting is also shown, and a voiceover tells us that whilst we get everything we need to start us off, such as the Tempest, Ryder’s ship, the rest is down to us. Players must find resources wherever they can and craft what they need.

Once again, the six-wheeled exploration vehicle Nomad, a descendant of the Mako from the first game, makes an appearance, and we are also given a more detailed look at the environment scanning equipment we’ll be using.

 

SQUADMATES

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The trailer also shows us a glimpse of three new squadmates, a krogan (who could be Drack, a name which has been previously mentioned in leaks) and a female turian, who has so far stayed out of the limelight, as well as a character we don’t see called Reyes. Previous information has also made mention of a human squadmate called Liam, and we’ve been shown scenes including Peebee, an asari squadmate.

As a side note, in the later part of the video, we’re shown a glimpse of a mission entitled ‘Vetra loyalty mission’, so this may imply the name of another squadmate, though this isn’t confirmed.

Andromeda is set 600 years after Mass Effect 3, but has the Ark ship leaving the galaxy prior to the game’s polarising ending, and sees the Ryder siblings setting out as Pathfinders of the Andromeda Initiative to search for a new home for the troubled people of the Milky Way. The Pathfinder is described as a ‘guide, explorer and soldier’, an interesting combination.

 

RELEASE

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The trailer does not reveal a specific release date, though previous information has hinted towards the end of March, though preorders for the regular, deluxe and super deluxe edition are now open.

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