Mass Effect: Andromeda may be “far away” from the events of its predecessors, but fans shouldn’t be worried about it straying too far from the gameplay standard set by the Shepard trilogy. In a series of tweets, BioWare producers and designers established the game’s familiarity.
It’s no secret that many key staff members involved with the original Mass Effect games have left BioWare behind, but studio producer Mike Gamble made it abundantly clear that those politics won’t change the heart of the finished product. Andromeda is “Mass Effect in its very DNA,” he told one inquisitive follower. For those that prefer originality, however “It’s also fresh and brings something new to the universe.”
@GambleMike @AarynFlynn @TheDovahk Absolutely. And most of the new team members are big ME -fans-, channeling that passion back into MEA.
— Ian Spooky Frazier (@tibermoon) October 27, 2016
Further expounding on the team’s devotion to the series’ roots level designer Jos Hendriks clarified that “as someone who has worked on Mass Effect 2, Andromeda will absolutely feel like Mass Effect.” Design lead Ian Frazier also took care to mention that “most of the new team members are ME fans channeling that passion back into MEA.” In short, these BioWare folks are seemingly striving to situate the fourth franchise installment as a game made by the fans for the fans.
@TheDovahk @tibermoon @AarynFlynn @GambleMike As someone who has worked on Mass Effect since 2, Andromeda absolutely feels like Mass Effect.
— P0 (@Sjosz) October 27, 2016
Despite all this hype, however, there’s still a lot we don’t know about Mass Effect: Andromeda. The title made its debut back in E3 2014 and BioWare has been pretty quiet ever since. Major reveals and announcements lie in wait for N7 Day on Nov. 7, but, up until now, the most detailed look at the title came from a short gameplay demo at September’s PlayStation Meeting. We know the plot’s two main Ryder variations are siblings, and leaks suggest a story about an expedition to Andromeda to find a new home for humanity.
Of course, one aspect that fans would like to see changed is the choiceless ending of Mass Effect 3. The conclusion was so heavily despised that it played a large part in its publishers at Electronic Arts being voted the “worst company in America” after the title was released. Before departing BioWare, senior development director Chris Wynn said “we will do what we can” to heal those old wounds.
Mass Effect: Andromeda comes to PS4, Xbox One and PC in 2017. Leaks suggest a March 21 release date.
What do you think of think of these tweets? Will Mass Effect: Andromeda feel like a true Mass Effect game? Tell us in the comments section!
