Andromeda’s Key Advantage for Mass Effect 4

The Mass Effect series is at this weird junction. Mass Effect 4 is eating up BioWare’s attention now that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is out, but everyone’s got high hopes. Seriously, we’re all itching for that rich storytelling and those epic squad vibes from the first three games. But wait! Mass Effect: Andromeda did have its standout moment. Combat — remember that? Totally nailed it.

Here’s the thing: Andromeda might’ve been kind of a mixed bag critically, but let’s not forget how people loved the combat. Fast-paced, smooth, with these crazy skill trees and customizable loadouts. It wasn’t just new mechanics; it was like this modern twist on the Mass Effect style. Anyway — wait, I lost my train of thought. Oh right, the evolution thing.

So, Andromeda’s combat… What made it tick? Jetpacks! Yeah, it brought this whole new level of play. Suddenly, you’re not just running and shooting; you’re flying around, coming at enemies from all angles. Made fights way cooler to watch — and, you know, actually do. You couldn’t just duck and cover like before. You had to think and move. A lot.

The cover system — man, that was something. Gone were the days of fumbling to snap into cover. Now, you’d just casually slide behind something. Felt natural, fluid. Like in DOOM or Titanfall 2. It was a game-changer compared to the old stop-and-pop style. Wonder if anybody else noticed this, or if it was just me being a nerd.

And, oh, the loadouts! So flexible. Like, you weren’t stuck with one class. Mix and match powers across trees. Want to be a biotic-sniper? Go for it. A shotgun engineer? Sure, why not. It was freedom. Encouraged messing around and crafting your ultimate character.

Mass Effect 4 should, I think, take some notes from Andromeda’s movement stuff. But — and it’s a big “but” — don’t mess up like Dragon Age: The Veilguard. That game? People said it was too much “me, me, me” during combat. Where’d the team spirit go? It was like everyone else disappeared.

Mass Effect 4 should remember it’s a team game. Take the cool Andromeda moves and put the squad back in action. Imagine pulling off power combos with squadmates again. There’s gold there if done right.

Let’s also talk about Andromeda’s “open-world” problems. Big planets, great scenery, but so… empty? BioWare needs to tighten that up in Mass Effect 4. Make it more like Mass Effect 2’s mission-focused approach. Keep it meaningful.

And Andromeda did one thing really well: family dynamics. Ryder siblings — their story wasn’t just about saving the universe. It was family drama too. That angle? Goldmine. Mass Effect 4 could dig into that emotional space — less jokes, more depth. Legacy, leadership, family. Heck, maybe the new hero’s cleaning up Andromeda’s messes back in the Milky Way.

Also, let’s give companions more room. They should be co-stars, not extras. That’s when Mass Effect really shines. Make the AI smarter, combat moments more team-focused. Let everyone play their part.

So yeah, lots for BioWare to chew on. But if they get it right, Mass Effect 4 could be legendary. Fingers crossed.