ADVICE: for beginner players

Well it is a slow burn. You will be talking to a lot of people. So if that's not your speed then that is really fine. However there is a lot of other things the game has to offer. The combat is pretty legit. My only real advice on this is to try limiting the amount of time you spend mining.

I can't say what'd be fun for you, so these are personal recommendations, obviously.

But I wouldn't go the soldier route, I think it's a typical choice? But there are other play styles that are more entertaining than waiting for the enemy to pop out of cover. I found the vanguard play style to be fun, fast and chaotic.

I'd recommend ignoring all additional tasks, the  ones with a quest marker. Other side quests in which the game tries to tell you to take, I suppose you can take.
There's a pop-up message telling you to talk to said quest giver, when passing them by.

There's a lot of people to talk to in this game, but unless they are part of the quest or important to your story, they're fine to ignore. In general you just get the option to ask about them, and why they joined the initiative, and for some reason they'll give you their life's story. However, after making an outpost you can get a quest there that lets you fight the architects (ME:A version of DA:I dragons,) I don't know if there's anything signifying it's importance over other side quests. 

When you come to a new world, I'd focus on reaching the remnant vault first and get that out of the way.
Also deploying all the Forward Stations.

It doesn't seem to do this early in the game, but eventually the scanner will tell you when it can be used. Also, you don't need to use it. You can buy weapon and armour schematics (you also find them among loot), if you find the scanning tiring.
It's not necessary to deplete mineral zones, just keep the mineral info window open as you drive past, and if you get anything drop the extraction thing... No need to be thorough, as you'll pass many of them as you go. Also, you can get various stuff from the cryo pods.
I'd say ignore scanning planets from the Tempest, just check out the anomalies that's in the system. Seems like that's more rewarding.

To get out of the journal and map quickly, press tab. You can't use the same button to get out of the menu as you did getting in. Otherwise you have to use "Esc" a minimum of 2 times, sometimes 4, to get back into the game.

Yeah, most of the conversations are incredibly dreary. The writing in this game has much bigger problems than "my face is tired". It's the utter inability of the writers to flesh out the world and make the people you meet compelling. There was this chick at GameSpot saying it feels like someone's first creative attempt. Can't agree more.

So unless you want to hear dozens of insufferably dull background stories I'd just pass on most of the optional conversations. Also I personally avoided all the unmarked fetch quests - those were pretty infuriating, without quest markers you'd have to scour all those giant maps inch by inch to find everything. Just don't bother.

I probably still would do most of the other additional tasks, like scanning minerals and collecting herbs etc., unless you're too bothered to jump out of the Nomad and take two seconds to pick a flower while you passing through. They fetch good amount of XP and levelling in this game is rewarding.

Save at every point the game lets you.


Theres a favourites section for combat profiles.

Bring up your weapon wheel.

Press square on PS4, assign your profiles and powers.

This lets you switch between profiles and power loadouts during combat.

You can quickly bring up the wheel press square and and pick.

You can make this more effective by quickly swapping weapons to suit your new profile and power load out.

Make that even more effective by bringing consumables to suit your favourited profiles.

Get ready for a lot of talking early on in the game.
Scan everything
Keep an eye on your inventory space( especially if you like picking up everything like me)
You can respec your character anytime so feel free to try anything you want.