Mass Effect: Andromeda

Josey Wales

Today is N7 Day so Bioware are currently teasing the next Mass Effect game on Twitter.

For me Mass Effect might be the best new IP of this current generation. Its either that or Assassins Creed. So I'm really looking forward to a new game in the series.

Off-screen image



One thing to note in the image linked above is the developer is using a 360 controller. I hope this is not a cross-gen game.

Another Tweet



There are other tweets on Michael Gamble's Twitter account.

Captain Chaos

Could be a 360 controller connected to a PC. But seeing as EA still have their fingers in the cookie jar ME4 could well be on everything.

Josey Wales

If they are teasing this now it is a good bet we will get a full reveal trailer at the VGAs in December.

CatInABox

There's no socket for the play and charge kit, so it's a PC controller.

Zero-Cool

Next gen mass effect could be all types of awesome. The rpg of the 1st, the action of the 2nd, epicness of the 3rd! Don't mind a new story with new characters but would love to see Tali make a return.

Mickeroo

Why would they not make a massive IP like Mass Effect cross gen?

Josey Wales

Mickeroo wrote: »

Why would they not make a massive IP like Mass Effect cross gen?

I'm just hoping as a fan that it is next-gen only. But from a business perspective it makes total sense to do a cross-gen release.

Mickeroo

Josey Wales wrote: »

I'm just hoping as a fan that it is next-gen only. But from a business perspective it makes total sense to do a cross-gen release.

Oh wait, I actually completely misunderstood and thought you meant that you wanted it PC only or something. cross platform not cross-gen, d'oh

Zero-Cool

Id say there would be a problem moving saves between gens as at the moment if you upgrade your current gen game of assassins creed to next gen version, the old save wont carry over.

Hope it stays next gen.

Pushtrak

I wonder if anyone here is going to take a stance I've seen elsewhere. I've seen people posting they'd refuse to buy another Mass Effect game if it doesn't feature Shepard.

Josey Wales

Pushtrak wrote: »

I wonder if anyone here is going to take a stance I've seen elsewhere. I've seen people posting they'd refuse to buy another Mass Effect game if it doesn't feature Shepard.

Really? I find that absurd. Shepard was a great character but his/her story is over. It's time for something new. The universe that they created is the real star of the Mass Effect games. A new game with new characters and story would give us the opportunity to further explore the universe. It would be a real shame to retread old ground.

Mickeroo

Pushtrak wrote: »

I wonder if anyone here is going to take a stance I've seen elsewhere. I've seen people posting they'd refuse to buy another Mass Effect game if it doesn't feature Shepard.

I'll play it regardless but would prefer if Shephard isn't in it tbh. Would like to see a new story set in the same universe maybe some time after the events of the trilogy.

Zero-Cool

Set after the trilogy would be ideal. New characters but maybe the odd reference to 'the great war'. Can't believe fanboys throwing hissy fits if shep isn't in it. He had an epic story, leave it at that.

Kiith

With how ME3 ended, I'd be surprised if we see anything other than a prequel.

Pushtrak

Josey Wales wrote: »

Really? I find that absurd. Shepard was a great character but his/her story is over. It's time for something new.

Totally agreed. They were saying how much they loved the characters. I tried reasoning with stuff like they'll create cool characters again, and Shepard is done. His/her story is done. My only preference about the game is that it is of a high quality. That's it.

Skerries

Kiith wrote: »

With how ME3 ended, I'd be surprised if we see anything other than a prequel.

or do a reverse of The Old Republic and go far into the future to the next big cataclysm

I'd love a prequel game, where we see the people that originally created the Reapers.

Mickeroo

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd love a prequel game, where we see the people that originally created the Reapers.

If they do a prequel it will be centered around that big battle Shephard was famous for I'd imagine.

Awh man. I really think the Reaper one would be excellent, mainly because they could do it with a real sense of foreboding; they have no idea what is coming.

Mickeroo

Deleted User wrote: »

Awh man. I really think the Reaper one would be excellent, mainly because they could do it with a real sense of foreboding; they have no idea what is coming.

Yeah would be a great idea. If they go the prequel route though I just can't see them leaving Shephard out, really hope I'm wrong though.

calex71

They need to have AAA++++ game not just a next gen look at the pretty colors game for me to even look a trailer of anything they do now after DA2 and ME3, they made mugs of us with the ME series and more so with the DA one, yeah sure no one will notice those recycled dungeons at all , at all :rolleyes:

Mickeroo

calex71 wrote: »

They need to have AAA++++ game not just a next gen look at the pretty colors game for me to even look a trailer of anything they do now after DA2 and ME3, they made mugs of us with the ME series and more so with the DA one, yeah sure no one will notice those recycled dungeons at all , at all :rolleyes:

Still not got around to DA2 but I think ME3 gets a bit of an unfair rep. Yes the ending was an absolute steaming pile of pooh, but up until that final 5 minutes I thought it was a hell of a game. Some of the best parts of the entire trilogy happened in the third game imo.

GTR63

Pushtrak wrote: »

I wonder if anyone here is going to take a stance I've seen elsewhere. I've seen people posting they'd refuse to buy another Mass Effect game if it doesn't feature Shepard.

My worry is franchise fatigue. I just wish they'd leave it a while as Bioware now aren't the Bioware of years past, as has been said their last few titles were missing just that little something.

Kiith

I'd still say it'll be set during the first contact war between the turians and humans. Proper early exploration, and lots of new races to meet.

No Reapers at all please, bar subtle hints in ruins.

COYVB

the wife knows a chap on the dev team. he knows my line of work though so hasn't given me much out of self preservation lol

i do know they've been working on it for a while now though, and it'll probably be out sooner than people think

johnny_ultimate

Pushtrak wrote: »

Totally agreed. They were saying how much they loved the characters. I tried reasoning with stuff like they'll create cool characters again, and Shepard is done. His/her story is done. My only preference about the game is that it is of a high quality. That's it.

If you're dealing with the sort of obsessed, illogical fan who claims they'll boycott a game if they don't get exactly what they want (what a sensible way of looking at culture!) then reason is probably the incorrect approach, alas. You can also bet they'll be first in line, regardless.

The whole point of Shepard was they were something of a blank slate (and with the male, the voice acting didn't go particularly far beyond that), allowing users to drive their own growth and development. If any series has suited a hit restart button, it's this one.

I'm not confident Bioware is a particularly strong studio any more - I had issues with ME3 far and beyond the ending, mostly it's extraordinarily unimaginative core gameplay and level design (admittedly leftovers of the previous games very much taking their toll) - so don't have any major interest in a sequel personally. Will wait and see what they come up with.

Nody

I'll buy it in a 5 EUR sale basically; ME3 was ok to boring (far to my on rails game play) and I played it through to complete it but was not rushing home to eek out another minute doing it (I played it a year or two after release).

If I had free choice I'd love a open universe approach ala Skyrim to go explore the different races and worlds and their problems. Don't need to have a "OMGWTFBBQ Universe is dying" storyline but keep it simple about revenge or finding out what happend to your family or similar (and need to do favours to earn the information as you're a unknown) with a ton of side missions (can even make them mutually exclusive so you have to side with one race over another limiting what weapons/quests you can do) and possibly even some space combat (I say that tentatively as it's a quite a leap to get some X-wing style combat in there).

degrassinoel

Mickeroo wrote: »

If they do a prequel it will be centered around that big battle Shephard was famous for I'd imagine.

Bioware are really vague but they have said it wont have Shepard in it at all. I'd be hoping for something like the first contact war but i'd hazzard a guess it'll be set in the time that shepard was dead in ME2.

ancapailldorcha

I hope EA allow enough time for a finished game this time. It'd be nice if most of the choices actually mattered this time as well as opposed to using the same art assets and level design for both scenarios,

ie the Rachni Queen, Legion, etc...

I've no idea how a sequel to the Shepard trilogy could possibly work unless they properly address the Mass Effect 3 ending problem instead of papering over it. A prequel set in the first contact war with the Turians would probably be the best option in my opinion.
Until I hear more, I think this'll be a sale purchase for me. I love the games but some of the Mass Effect 3 DLC was ridiculous.

TheIrishGrover

Pushtrak wrote: »

I wonder if anyone here is going to take a stance I've seen elsewhere. I've seen people posting they'd refuse to buy another Mass Effect game if it doesn't feature Shepard.

They're idiots. This kind of fan annoys me. Extremely vocal and with a strange sense of entitlement: I want a Shepard game and if I don't get it I'll petition you and go "waaaaaah" at the top of my voice on every game site around."

Personally I don't want to see Shepard. I think this cycle has been done and dusted. It had a start, middle and end.

I would love to see a story set either in the first cycle or the Prothean cycle. The thing is, I just want another Mass Effect game on the next gen (All 3 platforms please: XB1, PS4, PC). One the DEVELOPERS want to create. They have not let us down yet and I trust their skills as creators. If Shepard is in it, fine, if not, fine. Please do NOT pander to the idiot but vocal minority.

As for a launch date? Nah. I can't see anything happening until about this time 2015. We'll get a 3 sec logo/menu tune teaser at E3 next year and that'll be it. No footage, no dialogue, nothing. Maybe a Prothean saying something or, if Shepard is involved, there may be a dialogue over a black screen along the lines of: "He lives?". That'll be it.

Then around this time next year we'll maybe see some footage/a trailer. Then in Jan/Feb it'll be pushed back to March 2016

Pushtrak

Mickeroo wrote: »

Still not got around to DA2 but I think ME3 gets a bit of an unfair rep. Yes the ending was an absolute steaming pile of pooh, but up until that final 5 minutes I thought it was a hell of a game. Some of the best parts of the entire trilogy happened in the third game imo.

I think ME3 gets far worse than it deserves too... As for DA2, well it wasn't one of the worst games ever so in that sense it's going overboard, but I really wasn't happy with the game.

The combat wasn't as good, the story wasn't as good, excess reuse of the same room types and it wasn't a proper story in the sense of an ending. It was basically a "wait for part 3" thing which I didn't like at all. It didn't wrap up well at all.

Awakening was great, and while not all DLC was of a high quality, Awakening was fantastic. I'd have been a lot happier with DA 2 if the end product had been that and paid the price I paid for DA 2 for Awakening, whereas paying what I had paid for Awakening is too much for DA2.

ancapailldorcha

I actually preferred the combat in ME3 to that of ME2 (one of my all time favourite games). It was more open, Shepard felt more agile and enemies would actually try to flank you as opposed to just waiting for you to break cover.

degrassinoel

the co-op multiplayer in ME3 is honestly one of the overlooked gems of the franchise too.

I know i'm a fan of the franchise and hell i even liked the ending and all the dlc's but i think the game itself does get a bad rap that's not really warranted. I have faith in bioware to release a game worthy of the ME universe in the next installment. it just wont have Shepard, that in itself is testament to the trilogy.

Klair88

Loved all Mass Effects. Would love a Prequel where you are a Prothean Trying to stop their Catalyst, or a future series where different characters try to stop the next one. Can't Wait to play it on Next Gen Consoles too!

Pushtrak

Klair88 wrote: »

Loved all Mass Effects. Would love a Prequel where you are a Prothean Trying to stop their Catalyst, or a future series where different characters try to stop the next one.

Have you played 3? Nothing in the future will continue on with stuff from the trilogy, and if it was the Protheans, while it might illuminate certain areas, there wouldn't be the suspense. It'd be perfect for a movie or something, but as a game, it'd be redundant.

Shiminay

I thought ME3 was a fantastic game. I also loved ME2. I fking despised ME1 though, it was one of the most boring and unengaging hour of a game I've ever played - I just couldn't play any more of it, it was utter horse sht for that first hour. I've spoken to some of the ME team's senior people about it when I was at an EA event and getting my first look at ME3.

I think the whingers about the ending of 3 that time should all have been shot into the sun, we'd have a much better world for it. These are the same dickheads who now won't play the game unless they can be Shepard? Please do us all a favour and gather yourselves together in some place with high walls that we can easily fill with water...

Anyway, as mentioned, the Multiplayer, which so many people had pre-judged to be a tacked on waste of time (myself included!) was one of the most genuinely enjoyable game play I had for 2012.

I think we've got the opportunity to see some really interesting stories being told and played out in game format with this universe.

I'd personally love to see an episodic based series - Tales from the Citadel or something that would take on a 3 or 4 hour chunk of game every couple of months based on each of the major races and some of their "defining moments" in history - the release of the genophage, the first contact of humans and turians, etc. All of which could hint and tie back to a bigger story that brought about the forming of the first council at the Citadel or something like that. I'd love to see the "space opera" part back in full swing.

*hopeful excitement* I also really want to play as an elcor.
:pac:

ancapailldorcha

Shiminay wrote: »

I think the whingers about the ending of 3 that time should all have been shot into the sun, we'd have a much better world for it. These are the same dickheads who now won't play the game unless they can be Shepard? Please do us all a favour and gather yourselves together in some place with high walls that we can easily fill with water...

Seriously? Every criticism about the ending is completely justified in my opinion. It wasn't just a bad ending, it seemed to be tacked on to get the game out quicker. The DLC was just a frail attempt to make up for it.
I think moving away from the Shepard character could only be a good thing. It would allow for a fresh take on the franchise and the wonderful world Bioware created.

Shiminay wrote: »

Anyway, as mentioned, the Multiplayer, which so many people had pre-judged to be a tacked on waste of time (myself included!) was one of the most genuinely enjoyable game play I had for 2012.
:pac:

Yeah, I had doubts there but I've sank so much time into it, I'm shocked. It could have done with some variation but was nicely explained by the story.

Zero-Cool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=739FETt44QE

Thargor

Ive lost a couple of days to the Mass Effect wiki since I spotted this thread:

http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Mass_Effect_Wiki

Great series, one of the best of all time. are the paperbacks any good does anyone know?

Zero-Cool

I wonder will the next ME use save files from the original trilogy if some old characters make an appearance and it's based during Shep's timeline.

I play Mass Effect again as I felt the story was wrapped up and was one of my favourite gaming series ever but I'm mad to play Citadel DLC. Lost all my save files and now tempted to get the ME Trilogy from PSN store for 20 euro

EDIT: Actually, have ME 3 from PS+ so might just download, play through again and get Citadel and finally watch that updated ending.

Kiith

sheehy83 wrote: »

EDIT: Actually, have ME 3 from PS+ so might just download, play through again and get Citadel and finally watch that updated ending.

It's worth playing just for the Citadel dlc alone. It really is a brilliant, and give you a proper send off for the crew.

Gbear

sheehy83 wrote: »

I wonder will the next ME use save files from the original trilogy if some old characters make an appearance and it's based during Shep's timeline.

I play Mass Effect again as I felt the story was wrapped up and was one of my favourite gaming series ever but I'm mad to play Citadel DLC. Lost all my save files and now tempted to get the ME Trilogy from PSN store for 20 euro

EDIT: Actually, have ME 3 from PS+ so might just download, play through again and get Citadel and finally watch that updated ending.

Almost certainly not. I can't see it being available on last gen consoles (it won't be released for at least 2 years according to the devs) and they've repeatedly said they're looking for a clean break from the Shepard storyline.

Generic Dreadhead

The one thing I hate about the Mass Effect Trilogy is I'll never be able to play it for the First time ever again :(:(:(

.ak

Actually replaying it now. Unfortunately the 1st one has aged a bit.

Thargor

.ak wrote: »

Actually replaying it now. Unfortunately the 1st one has aged a bit.

I thought the same watching someone play it a while back, the movement is so stiff and awkward, almost resident evil bad, which I had no recollection of at all, still a great game though.

Mitch Connor

Thargor wrote: »

I thought the same watching someone play it a while back, the movement is so stiff and awkward, almost resident evil bad, which I had no recollection of at all, still a great game though.

Readjusting to ME1 after 2 and 3 is jarring, no question. I found when i started replaying it, it would be horrible to play - but after an hour or two it is fine, and the game mechanics don't bother me.

Really wish the talk of a next gen trilogy remake had been true, would have bought them instantly.

Generic Dreadhead

.ak wrote: »

Actually replaying it now. Unfortunately the 1st one has aged a bit.

I never played 1, back in the day i only had PS3 and you couldn't get it on that, had to make do with the comic-decision intro thing. I don't feel like i missed much

.ak

Cormac... wrote: »

I never played 1, back in the day i only had PS3 and you couldn't get it on that, had to make do with the comic-decision intro thing. I don't feel like i missed much

I might just skip it, as the gameplay and loading is a bit tedious. At the time though it was the best thing ever.

Kiith

I showed a friend a trailer for it recently, to try and convince him to buy it. And now i want to play through it again. God damn it.

If you're playing it on the pc, get the HD texture pack. Makes it look so much better.

Generic Dreadhead

Now I never finished 3 (going back to it this weekend), got interrupted on my play through before by some major release but

That bit where the salarian goes in the lift :(:(:(

carti2k

Mass Effect 2 and 3 - best games. I will buy ME4 for sure, any signs that commandor Shepard will back? Or we will get new story without him?