For future Mass Effect, what are deal breakers for you

One can generate a lot of data procedurally fex. I bet all the planet heightmaps are done such and then hand edited. From what I gather from the data available in MEA these planets would have had small missions on them instead of larger areas to roam... but we'll never know as they were not included in the game.

But as such, generating something procedurally does not mean open worlds as such, its just another way to create stuff... its hard to explain kinda

I dont believe in 100% procedural generation, as in "nobody touches it afterwards" - as there are always things to touch even when you generate the geometry and we are not generating it for the sake of "has to fit small space" like in demoscene 4KB intros for example.

In ME1 some of the planets have smoothing in some places, most of them did not (I dont know whats the reason behind this, maybe the amount of geometry was too much for X360  back then)

Actually would be ok with generated planets (always the same seed, not randomly generated every time from new seeds) if there was the MEA style planned missions they dropped.

Read about the missions etc. here: bsn.boards.net/thread/14800/me-andromeda-cut-content

Some info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_generation  - www.davidepesce.com/2020/02/24/procedural-generation-in-game-development/

I don't know why developers want to give as much content as possible, with quality being secondary. Is that really what most people want? I tend to like games the more I play them over and over and learn all the minute details. That couldn't happen if each playthrough was different. It wouldn't make for a memorable game. I can see it working in multiplayer but not in story-based games.

I like to see Shepard return. His/her story is not finished. It wouldn't be hard to bring back Shepard. Bioware has their get-out-of-jail-free card when the guy said the details have been lost over time. It happened so long ago. I bet the story told to him is different from the one he told the kid. Then he says, one more story. I like to hear that story. I posted this idea having Shepard return. 

It wouldn't be hard to explain why some characters would not show. Zaeed, his voice actor, Robin Sachs(RIP), died several years ago. He wouldn't make a return. Look at Jacob. He's going to be a father. I doubt he would show up. He wants to stay with his family. Kasumi wants nothing more to do with big missions. She said as much in ME3 even though she helped with the crucible. Samara would likely remain on Thessia helping the planet rebuild, and to make up for lost time with her daughter. She might have a cameo, if Shepard were to return to the planet. Grunt will likely remain on Tuchanka to rebuild Aralakh Company. He could have a cameo in ME4. Maybe be part of a mission. Legion, Mordin and Thane would not return for obvious reasons. Although it would depend on what those lost details are the guy mentioned. Jack could stay with her students. Or she may feel they can handle things without her for her join Shepard. Miranda could join the roster. Javik might return. At least for part of the game. Garrus, Tali, Liara, A/K would likely return. In the case of A/K, they did become a spectre in ME3. Would the council want them to do spectre stuff? Vega could show up at the beginning than leave to join the N program. Well, at least help rebuild it. edi would not return. It wouldn't be hard for the crewmembers to return. 

I left Wrex for last. I know he's popular with fans, but to have him around, the genophage has to cured. Did you know he can be alive, if the genophage is sabotaged? I know because I've done it. Haven't tried with the remaster. I would guess he can. How do you keep him alive? Read this post. I would doubt Bioware would have that happen. The genophage is either sabotaged or cured. But again, it depends on what details the guy is referring to.  Either way, it wouldn't be hard to have Shepard and some of the characters return. 

It's not really immersive to have to slaughter my way through the same pod of respawning bears (or space bears) over and over each time I want tot travel from Point A to Point B...

My only deal breakers are

1.if they stick with Ryder and crew and the reviews indicate they feel the same in personality, or if the new crew/protagonist is described as like Ryder I'll pass.

2. If the marketing doesn't focus on why it has a good story/good game-play but instead on whatever is the current trend in virtue signaling is I'll pass until its bargain bin if I get it at all. From my experience if that is what they market not only is it done poorly but the story/game will suck. And then reviewers are even less likely to be honest about it on all sides. If they just happen to have it in without marketing it, not only is the subject handled better but the story has a chance of actually being good.

True, though if Grunt has a cameo, especially if the scene takes place on Tuchanka, it would be hard to avoid seeing Wrex. Unless there's dialogue saying Wrex is doing krogan stuff preventing him from been seen in the game.

I like open world RPGs. Some do it better than others. I don't care if the next ME has an open world or not, though. I rather have a great story. But a linear game without side quests is a deal breaker.

I dislike MP games. I understand that others like it, but if the next ME turns out to be fully MP then that would be a deal breaker.