This isn't Mass Effect 4 -- remember that

I see a lot of bellyaching here and on reddit, and on a couple of facebook groups I'm in, and on twitter, and a lot of it is super-hostile. Funnily enough, in these same spaces I always see a lot of complaints about the original trilogy. But when it comes to Andromeda, the original trilogy is some perfect ideal held up with reverence, and where Andromeda strays from its formula is nothing but folly.

(nevermind that in the case of both the Mass Effect and Dragon Age trilogies, Bioware's comparable big game series of the last decade, all three games are different beasts from one another, and the very same people who say they changed for the worse as the series went on also seem to agree that the first entries are clunky messes)

Andromeda isn't ME4.

Andromeda is like a soft reboot. It's a new game, potentially a new series, that leverages lore and design decisions made and learned from in the last one in order to revamp things for the future. Think of it not as a sequel that must build off the back of its predecessors but more as a newly designed IP, which has been built from the ground up to be better and more fun. It is inspired by Mass Effect in much the same way as it can also take gameplay or even lore inspiration from other successful franchises -- Destiny, Warframe, Witcher, etc.

You think tech armor should be an identical power in this game, like they owe it to you somehow? The tactical pause wheel is vital to this game? Every biotic power, pull, lift, throw, should return, exactly the same? The running and jumping (or lack thereof) and cover should be the same?

Incorrect.

This is a new game, and they're not constrained by the same design decisions. They can redesign old ideas to be better. They have decided that a faster-paced game with only three active powers at a time is objectively more enjoyable and fits better with the kind of game they want this to be -- and there is nothing wrong with that.

That's why powers are being revamped and certain things are being folded into one another. That's why Warp is now being remade into something better. Why barrier is now a passive boost. Why there are no strict classes. They're taking another crack at old ideas, free from old shackles that they were stuck with through the whole trilogy -- and that's incredibly exciting.

If you're upset that it's not the same, well, yeah. It's not supposed to be the same. They owe us nothing, certainly not adherence to old, dated design decisions that are arguably poorer than the new alternatives we're seeing here.

I think we should all keep that in mind.

What makes it Mass Effect? Great characters, story, exploration and lore (and good gameplay.) Mostly those are Bioware bullet points for all their games. Mass effect is obviously Sci-Fi as well.

Of course the old lore and tech will come into play here, since it is the same universe. Element Zero isn't going away. We know Krogan, Asari, Turians and Salarians are in it as well. So not sure how much of a soft-reboot it is while keeping a lot of the hallmarks. Just no Shepard, no Reapers, totally different galaxy. Stakes may not be as high but will still be Mass Effect.

However, I dont like the new Mass Effect logo. It is because this are only white letters. ME had this cool black outline and this silver progress and a blur effect. The MEA logo is lame and boring.

You are right...because somehow internal consistency means nothing and of course Bioware should be excused for not having the ability to have the writing/mechanics serve the established lore and not make the lore bend backwards to fit the shoehorned mechanics or lazy writing...

Yes, makes total goddamn fucking sense


How about we do point out what we see a silly and off putting so that the Bioware staff is aware of it and its members are driven to improve rather than pat themselves on the back reinforcing the narrative that Bioware is a collection of special amazing snowflakes that are never wrong in spite of it all?

-takes a deep breath-....I need a drink.

Oooooh.

Usually time related stories can be a bit hit and miss, but I think you're one to something here.

I think if that is true and it does play on themes of time dilation and maybe even time travel, it has the potential to be an outstanding story, maybe dare I say it superior to the entire original trilogy.

Damn it would be amazing if it delivered on this front.

I applaud your ability to know all of the plot holes and lore inconsistencies of a game that you haven't even played yet.

I applaud you for preemptively giving Bioware a pass on all of them because "new game"

charming but in reality Bioware has before, and will again, break their own lore and make dumb writing decisions....some of which we have already seen in previous games. Like many I hope this will not be the case but if it will be then just because this is a new game I am sooooo not giving them a pass on them.