How 'alien' is Mass Effect Andromeda going to be?

I actually don't really get "attached" to the characters... I usually just try to pick things that will net me the most gain when doing things/conversing with NPCs. Don't get me wrong, I love having NPCs in the game that have a lot of depth and come across somewhat human, but that said, I play these games for what I get out of it, not for what experiences I like from the characters. And I say this as BW being one of the three developers that I would buy almost whatever they put out. I just don't think the relationship to characters is the most important thing in these games for me.

Underlined: why, if the characters are not important to you (beyond appreciating them being multidimensional)?

Underlined 2: what do you get out of it? You don't have to answer if you don't want, it just seems a bit of back and forth to me.

BioWare NPCs are fairly unique in the connections they evoke. I think that's undeniably their biggest selling point. At the height of my fandom I distinctly remember other games I tried to play feeling lonely, with their setting and narrative not as vibrant as a result. And I come from an FPS background where NPCs are at best temporary sidekicks and my only friends turn people into fine red mist. Even other games with awesome characterization didn't come across the same way (not knocking them now) because I didn't "choose" to "develop a relationship" with them.

It's powerful stuff, and I think it does a number on you even if you don't realize it.

Initially, they were interesting example of non-humanoid races.  

But the sequels did turn them into a joke with all the "Blasto" and "biotic god" and "Elcor Hamlet" stuff

I wouldn't either, its just the ratio of Blasto to non-Blasto representation that we are given. Sure a comedic character who's an alien is fine, but when that comedic character takes up about 90% of all interactions with said species the allegations of being made into a "joke race" start to become more applicable.

One single encounter with Blasto that was side-content in a DLC that was entirely played for laughs that you'd never see unless you owned 2 DLCs (The Citadel AND From Ashes) is 90% of the interactions with a species?

Whatever.  Blasto's existence did not color my view of the hanar as a whole in the slightest.

You're forgetting the numerous Blasto ads streaming over the PA system on Illium in ME 2, and the Citadel in ME 3.

Those constant running gags accounted for more Hanar content then the actual discussions you could get with other Hanar in person. I don't even recall Shepard even being able to speak with a Hanar in ME 2, and in ME 3 you only get two very small scenes with those aliens outside of Blasto himself in the Citadel DLC (though one scene does require From Ashes). Everything else you can get of out them is a codex entry (copy/pasted from ME 1), and those same Blasto advertisements.

You're forgetting the numerous Blasto ads streaming over the PA system on Illium in ME 2, and the Citadel in ME 3.

Those constant running gags accounted for more Hanar content then the actual discussions you could get with other Hanar in person. I don't even recall Shepard even being able to speak with a Hanar in ME 2, and in ME 3 you only get two very small scenes with those aliens outside of Blasto himself in the Citadel DLC (though one scene does require From Ashes). Everything else you can get of out them is a codex entry (copy/pasted from ME 1), and those same Blasto advertisements.

I thought the Blasto jokes were about human ignorance of alien cultures. Those films weren't hanar productions. (Main games only; haven't played Citadel.)

I enjoy Lovecraftian elements to my science fiction and fantasy settings as well, and prior to the Catalyst showing up and completely butchering the Reapers' previously established character I found them to be fascinating villains. That being said, I do feel that BioWare could have explained the nature of what the Reapers were without actually "explaining" them.

What I mean is that this being a science fiction universe, people are going to want explanations and reasonings behind why things are the way that they are, and as such a blanket statement of "Beyond your comprehension" wouldn't fly. That being said, they shouldn't have spelled out word for word the exact nature of the Reapers/Catalyst and the purpose behind the cycles. Not only is it rather illogical to expect to have everything about a billion + year old conflict neatly laid out in precise detail, but it just defeats the point of the Reaper's characterization. Personally, I think it would have been better if the galaxy discovers that the cycles are indeed the result of a program or machine directive, seeing as how the Reapers themselves are create beings, but that no one, not even the Reapers, knows why such a directive was enacted in the first place.

No creator race to magically show up and explain everything. No bulleted list buried in the depths of the Reapers' code with detailed information on their true function. Just an ancient order to harvest the galaxy every 50,000 years. Why were the cycles enacted? Was it because of a synthetic uprising? An ancient species that decided to commit self genocide, but ignored the repercussions of leaving their murder weapon on autopilot after they were gone? No one would know and it would maintain that fear of the unknown that the Reapers' fostered. Speaking of which, such an "explanation" for their motivations could also be worked into the underlying themes of control vs. forging ones own destiny. Maybe Harbinger and other Reapers like him viewed the cycles as a sort of divine mandate, the goal that gives them purpose. Maybe their single minded pursuit of a directive even they know nothing about is what truly sets them apart from the species of the galaxy who choose to fight back and try to innovate solutions. Etc.


But anyway, back to the topic of Andromeda's 'alien' elements, I wouldn't mind seeing some more Lovecraftian depictions in the new galaxy.

You're forgetting the numerous Blasto ads streaming over the PA system on Illium in ME 2, and the Citadel in ME 3.

Those constant running gags accounted for more Hanar content then the actual discussions you could get with other Hanar in person. I don't even recall Shepard even being able to speak with a Hanar in ME 2, and in ME 3 you only get two very small scenes with those aliens outside of Blasto himself in the Citadel DLC (though one scene does require From Ashes). Everything else you can get of out them is a codex entry (copy/pasted from ME 1), and those same Blasto advertisements.

Kind of a reiteration of the previous post, but has anyone picked up any signs of 'alien' elements in the twitch streams and other single player showcases? No spoilers, just a straight up yes or no will do.

I am trying to save myself from spoilers, but I would really like to know if this new Mass Effect still has some of that 'alien' side to it.