Mass Effect Andromeda 3rd Gameplay Episode released and Opening 13 minutes videos released
EA and BioWare have released the latest in the series of gameplay videos that looks at the various aspects of Mass Effect: Andromeda and in this video we take a look at one of the key features of the series, exploration and discovery. On your journey to discover a new home for humanity, many wonders and dangers will cross your path and the video below gives us just a hint as to what to expect.
Below you will also find added details on the “Exploration & Discovery” of Mass Effect: Andromeda via the official press release, along with a briefing video detailing the ideal homelands for humanity.
Also as an added bonus courtesy of IGN First, the first 13 minutes of the game has been released, however for spoiler reasons, I won’t be watching the video, so it’s up to you whether you do the same and if you do, enjoy.
Finally if you were looking forward to taking part in the multiplayer beta (to be honest I forgot that this was even happening), then sadly that beta will be no more. The news was revealed on the BioWare blog where it was also announced that you will be able to play the multiplayer at PAX East. No details were given; it just simply read “While we will have live multiplayer at PAX East, there will no longer be a multiplayer tech test for players at home. Thank you to everyone who signed up. We look forward to seeing you in Andromeda.”
Mass Effect: Andromeda will release in North America on March 21st and “worldwide” (because the rest of the world clearly doesn’t count) on the 23rd for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
Exploration, Discovery, and Crafting in Mass Effect: Andromeda
Welcome back to the Mass Effect: Andromeda gameplay series. In our first two videos, we took a closer look at weapons and skills, and then profiles and squads. In this instalment, we’re diving straight into the heart of Mass Effect: Andromeda – exploration. The Andromeda Galaxy is filled with worlds to discover and diverse locations to explore.
The Galaxy Map
The story in Mass Effect: Andromeda takes place in the Heleus Cluster, a portion of space populated with dozens of star systems. You can navigate these systems using the Tempest’s onboard Galaxy Map and see everything that exists outside your ship’s many windows in real-time. Planets, moons, space anomalies, and starships will all be visible from the Tempest.
As you look over the map, you’ll see dozens of systems and over a hundred planets in the Andromeda Galaxy, including several that you can explore on foot. That’s where your adventure will begin in earnest.
Planets
Each world visited will have its own story, characters, and—of course—challenges.
In our gameplay video above, the world we’re visiting is Elaaden. When you explore the opening landing area, called Paradise, you’ll quickly discover that the heat on Elaaden can be deadly, that water is scarce, and that mysterious ancient artifacts are scattered across the landscape, guarded by dangerous remnant creatures. To make a life on Elaaden, you have to be desperate – or Krogan.
Yet even the Krogan aren’t happy, and they don’t trust anyone from the Andromeda Initiative – least of all a Pathfinder. How you deal with the Krogan and the challenges that go along with them will ultimately determine success on Elaaden.
The Nomad, your all-terrain rover, is key for quickly covering the expansive landscapes throughout the Andromeda Galaxy. You’ll be able to enhance the Nomad with a series of functional upgrades designed to give you better Turbo Boost, higher jumps, better handling, and more.
Forward Stations
While exploring, one of your objectives will be to discover locations where you can call down Forward Stations. Once found, each of these Forward Stations acts as a fast travel point, allowing you to change your loadout or call the Nomad if it gets lost or destroyed. It also allows you to resupply, while protecting your team from any environmental hazards.
In some locations, like the dunes on Elaaden, you’ll be exposed to localized and/or global hazards, such as extreme temperatures. The Pathfinder and the Nomad are both separately outfitted with Life Support systems that help protect against these hazards, but once these systems run out of energy, you’ll need to find a safe location or a Forward Station to recharge them.
Outposts
When travelling throughout a planet, you’ll discover new areas to explore, characters, and storylines. Ultimately, all your discoveries will help raise the Viability of the planet, which in turn lets you to create an outpost and upgrade the Nexus – the Andromeda Initiative’s space station.
Before a planet can support an outpost, you’ll need to raise its Viability to at least 40% by countering threats, allying yourself with the locals, solving environmental problems, and accomplishing specific tasks related to that planet’s story. In the case of Elaaden, for example, your relationship with the Krogan ultimately determines whether the viability of an outpost.
Additionally, your exploration and discoveries nets you Andromeda Viability Points (AVP). Attaining certain AVP thresholds makes upgrading the Nexus possible and wakes up more colonists from cryo-sleep. Which colonists you decide to wake up determines what perks and advantages you’ll be able to utilize. Want to get an edge in research and development? Wake up scientists. Need more combat prowess? Rouse the military personnel. Want some help with trading? Call in the merchants. The choice is yours!