The Nomad (Official Thread)

Because Andromeda is apologizing to all those original fans that said ME lost its direction after the first game, and BioWare don't seem to have any more creative ideas than taking people's suggestions JK.

Really now, what worries me is that they got the Need for Speed team to make the Mako controls or at least contribute and I fear it might mean the game is full of racing objectives or minigames, instead of using The Mako somewhat realistically like ME1 where it's meant for hazardous areas and simply transport and occasionally being a brute-force machine to enter an enemy compound. I really hope they don't make it "video-gamey" around using the Mako. They're already doing that with jumping and it's like they don't appear to get the point of what made ME1 so awesome, which was that most of the gameplay was incredibly contextualized to the story and not the other way around.

I say it's for:
One: Nice touch for veterans of the franchise as in "look it's the mako and it's back, I remember that! "
Two: Fan service. Some people were bitching about wanting the thing back (that was loooooong ago).
Three: We need a way of moving through planets, but in such a way that we can appreciate the open-worldiness. A shuttle acts just as a point A to B type of travel, whereas a wheeled vehicle is more "personal" for exploring.

Of course, if the damn thing wont even have weapons it's kinda stupid. Like, "here's team moving into a possible hostile world, let's not equip our vehicle with weapons, because what's the worst thing that could happen anyways? right? Right. No weapons whatsoever then" .

I liked the Mako in ME1. I'm only concerned with this version because it has no cannon. It makes me think that there will be no action. Am I just going to be driving around? No Thresher Maws erupting from the ground? No Geth like armaments I can mow down with my vehicle, and watch them fold up like origami?

Are we really just driving around? Am I going to need to stop every 2 seconds to scan some seaweed? Or will the Mako do it for me, as we drive? Maybe the interface is right in front of us, and bigger, and more interactive. We can scan things on the fly, and.....idk follow a beeping signal? How much driving are we supposed to be doing? It seems like alot of driving may ensue. And if we aren't fighting, then idk what we're doing.

Did they say it was completely unarmed? Or just that it did not have a cannon? Maybe it's got a minigun on it? Maybe we can upgrade it, and add whatever weapons we want! I would like that.

But just driving around "with no particular place to go" sounds boring. They better have a friggin radio, at least.

It sounds like a big part of the game, and with the whole exploration theme it seems we're going to be in that vehicle quite a bit. Yet it has no weapons which makes me think there will be no need for weapons while we drive. And that sounds boring.

Maybe we hop out and have battles, or we roll down the windows or something.

We'll see. I hope they talk about this on N7.

I just read Walters' interview with Redbull, and it does seem like the Mako is strictly for exploration. He did not say that, but his emphasis on wanting to "bring out the little scientists and diplomats" in us... ..and not just going combat zone to combat zone; getting to know these cultures and their tech, etc.

If there are actually things to do; cultures and civilizations to stumble upon; "People" to encounter that can get you involved in illuminating and intriguing mini sidequests, then Fantastic. As much as I like shooting things and blowing things up...and I do..I also love discovering things; putting a mystery together.

Right now, I'm just picturing wide open spaces that are dead, and I'll have to trudge through them to get to point B. Granted, that's probably erroneous, but that's what I'm seeing right now.

I do want a sense of danger, though. A feeling of unease. Not knowing what may be around the next corner. You know, being an explorer is actually very dangerous. You're not going to a new exhibit at the Smithsonian on a Saturday afternoon. You are taking your life into your hands in potentially extremely hostile situations; both environmentally and from other beings.

I expect the game to reflect that danger, and the precariousness of the situation we are in.

I do like the potential "archaeology" angle to it, if that's how it plays out. I hope they shore up the lore in this new game, and maybe future series depending on how this one goes.

A greater variety of different things to do in the game world would be awesome.

Hidden gun could do the trick. Along with some kinetic barriers perhaps. If we get jumped we race outta there.

I just can't imagine going to an alien world completely unarmed and undefended. Although, as Varric in DAI said, "That probably says something unfortunate about me," but there it is.

But sometimes you gotta pop the trunk and let 'em know.

I just want it to be engaging. I want to see on N7 day what they're doing with the Mako and their version of exploration; their definition of engaging activity that is not combat. I don't want to be stuck with 40 hours of gameplay that's all about scanning seaweed, or some such. I swear to God.

So, I do really want to see how BW has chosen to fill these landscapes/worlds; what approach have they used to keep me engaged as a player, and make me actually want to spend time there. I have hopes, but I need to know.

And just as BW's focus is on exploration and not just combat, my focus as a player is on not just sitting up here admiring your set piece.

I hope they show something fabulous on N7 day to allay these fears.

All we can do, though, is wait to see what is actually in the final product.  You're welcome to be a pessimist... doesn't bother me... and BTW, I happen to like ME3

We have the option of not using it right? I'd rather walk around to be honest.

Same old BSN.

There's so much panic and so many negative assumptions going on in this thread. We really need to wait until we have, well, any information before we start panicking, right?

I know they thought they were appealing to nostalgia when they dubbed this thing "Mako" for prerelease marketing purposes, but the probably should've just provided its true name. We could've been spared some "fanxiety", or at least changed it up a bit. It could've been, "The X better not suck like the Mako," rather than, "I hated the Mako. Why the Mako?"

If levels are big, we need transportation. Horses aren't an option, thus the vehicle. Try to relax, guys. It looks pretty damn cool, in the little footage we've seen; and they partnered with a studio that builds driving games. What more could you possibly want, at his stage?

For those that hate driving, I'm sure you could theoretically hop out and walk. I don't know how feasible this would be, considering hostile environments and distances, but I'm sure climbing out and walking are both features. That sounds more smartassed that I mean it to be. It just bears pointing out that this is a space exploration game, not a Dragon Age game. Astronauts on alien worlds would definitely be driving long distances whenever possible, not walking. The fact that BioWare provided you with a vehicle is a feature to be accepted graciously, not angrily or bitterly.

This thread hurts my sould. Broccoli, like the Mako, is awesome.

I didn't mind the Mako in ME1, it was the terrain design the made driving the Mako a chore. Just unleash your inner mountain goat!

The Mako is fun to ride with. Don't ruin our fun if you are one of the haters who's too lazy using the controller.