Mass Effect: Andromedawas a controversial game among the fan base, to say the least. Its stark deviations from the original trilogy and its lackluster graphics left much to be desired, and while the game was widely panned,recent reevaluations have found that the game has more to offer than was initially thought.
Specifically, many of the game’s mechanics could be seen as improvements on the originalMass Effectgames, ones that should not be forgotten asMass Effect 5draws closer to release. From streamlining the game’s combat, toproviding players with more variety in their level-ups, and changing the ways in which the world itself is explored, there are many things in this game that the next entry in the franchise should definitely keep in mind.
Andromeda’s Combat Felt More Fluid And Flexible
Faster Movement, More Dynamic Powers
Part of this is no doubt due to the time between the release ofAndromedaand the original trilogy, but the more recent game felt much more fluid in its combat.Andromeda’s protagonist, the Pathfinder, was able tojump and zip around the map, quickly transitioning between powers and weaponry, a far cry from the slower and often clunky combat ofMass Effects 1and2.
After 7 Years, I’m Ready To Return To Mass Effect: Andromeda
Plagued by a rushed development and a bug-riddled launch, Mass Effect: Andromeda has a bad reputation, but I’m ready to give it another chance.
If the new game in the series keeps anything from its direct predecessor,it should be the enhanced maneuverability of the protagonist.Especially in a game set in space, being able to incorporate gravitational differences and environmental features into combat feels essential. TheoriginalMass Effecttrilogywas amazing, but its combat was never its strongest aspect, and there’s an opportunity here to do something different to make that part of the game more compelling.
Open-World Exploration Works For The Mass Effect Universe
Larger Worlds With More To See
This next factor is one on which the audience is divided on, butan open-world concept (or at least openly explorable zones) could work really well forMass Effect. It’s a game that puts space exploration at the forefront, after all, and the small area sizes ofMass Effect 2and3could often feel limiting. Being able to branch out a bit more and see more of the alien worlds was a compelling part ofAndromeda.
Andromedaincluded side quests and boss battles that could only be found and completed if the map was well-searched, making the exploration feel somewhat rewarding and worth the time to complete.
Granted, there are definitely a lot of ways that open maps can backfire. The originalMass Effectis the perfect example of that, withexplorable planets that were almost completely barren and boring to map out.Andromedaitself did not pull this off perfectly, with large swathes of its maps being empty or filled with repetitive combat, which is definitely an area whereMass Effect 5should deviate fromAndromeda.
The way to perfect this part of the game most likely lies in the nature of the open world exploration presented to the players, and the vehicles by which they can navigate them. Both inAndromedaand the firstMass Effect,the rough handling of the vehicle used to explore planets hurt enjoyment of the game immensely. Open world games for theMass Effectfranchise need to be compelling to explore, with objectives worth finding and controls that don’t frustrate the player base.
Classes Should Be Less Restrictive In How They Determine Player Powers
Enabling More Impactful Choices In Character Leveling
Lastly,Andromedabenefits somewhat from the way it handles classes,letting players mix and match their abilities as they level up and switch their class at certain times. It provides a lot more freedom in how the game could be played than in the original series, which offeredsix classes to playwith set abilities for each. Each of the main types of abilities for characters in theMass Effectgames, from biotics to weaponry to tech, are interesting to use, and players should be able to try them each out without having to start a new game.
There’s also an opportunity in the newMass Effectgame for the kinds of powers a player has to influence dialogue options. The original trilogy andAndromedaonly ever touched on this briefly, with very few lines or options available for players to express how their own power sets relate to certain decisions or relationships.The new game should make the powers one picks to wield matter in more than just combat, able to influence decisions they make or ways they interact with the environment.
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Mass Effect: Andromeda
BioWare’s fourth entry in the sci-fi RPG franchise, Mass Effect: Andromeda, puts players into the shoes of Sara or Scott Ryder, a young recruit who has recently awakened from a 600+ year cryosleep on a journey to colonize new worlds for humanity. In the game, players will traverse an open-world galaxy to explore the deepest reaches of space while contending with the Kett, an alien race set on impeding humanity’s efforts.
