As the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda steadily approaches, BioWare provides more and more gameplay trailers. The latest “Official Gameplay Series” trailer looks at how players can use squadmates and character profiles in combat.
Mass Effect: Andromeda is ditching character classes in favor of the new character profiles. Most of the profiles are named after an existing class and each provides bonuses related to those classes’ abilities. For example, the Engineer profile grants bonuses to Tech, and the Adept profile powers up Biotics. Profile bonuses become more powerful as players unlock more abilities.
Furthermore, gamers are not limited to one profile or set of skills. Players can change character profiles and abilities whenever they like, the game giving you the option to switch between four customized sets of abilities for quick and easy access. Gamers who can’t decide which set to specialize will be given the Explorer profile, a jack of all trades profile that grants bonuses to Combat, Tech, and Biotic abilities, albeit smaller bonuses than more specialized profiles.
In Mass Effect: Andromeda, players can create a three-man team from six squadmates, the smallest roster since the first Mass Effect game. These will include the humans Liam and Cora, the asari Peebee, the turian Vetra, the krogan Drack, and Jaal, a member of one of Andromeda’s resident sentient alien species. Unlike the player character, squadmates only have three active and passive abilities. On the upside, players can command them to take up positions in fortified locations, focus fire on one particular enemy, or prime or detonate a power combo.
Mass Effect: Andromeda will release March 21st for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.