New Mass Effect 3 details
Spoilers at the bottom.
A slew of Mass Effect 3 magazine coverage has been absorbed and summarised by the internet.
Non-spoiler information first, courtesy of Xbox World magazine and NeoGAF.
Mass Effect 3 develops melee fighting and each character class will have a special move. An Engineer will use an Omni-tool fire lash attack, for example, while an Adept will throw people back and stun them.
In Mass Effect 2, powers were upgraded three times and customised at the top, fourth tier; did you want a wider impact zone or a more focused blast? In Mass Effect 3 a Vanguard can tweak Charge to first slam an opponent harder, then do more damage, then be used more often.
What's more, powers can combine - a Concussive Shot can work with Cry Ammo to freeze a large area.
In Mass Effect 2, enemies advanced on Shepard's spot of cover throughout the battle. BioWare will enhance this for Mass Effect 3, abolishing the use of a single hiding spot for each battle. And movement will be essential to tackle some of the new game's harder enemies, as Shepard manoeuvres, undetected, to a rear blind/weak spot to deliver the fatal blow.
The opponents Cerberus will throw at Shepard include heavy troopers with enormous armour and Assassins with the same biotic capabilities as you. There are also Phantoms who wield blades.
But, don't panic, this time Shepard can do a roly poly. Or a commando roll, whatever you want to call it. Among other new moves.
Stop reading now to avoid story and character information.
I mean it: look away.
Your Mass Effect 3 squad will be smaller than your ME2 squad, which had 12 recruits. "We're focused on a smaller squad with deeper relationships and more interesting interplay in Mass Effect 3," Mass Effect overlord Casey Hudson explained.
"And we're bringing everyone back - every main character is in Mass Effect 3 somewhere."
Confirmed as Mass Effect 3 recruits are Garrus, Liara, Kaidan, Ashley and Tali (depending on if they're alive). Wrex sounds to be in the balance. Each character's equipment will be updated.
There are apparently no new romance options in Mass Effect 3. BioWare revealed that 70 per cent of Mass Effect 2 gamers weren't loyal to their Mass Effect 1 love interest. And this will have repercussions in Mass Effect 3.
Shepard has become an enemy of Cerberus because Shepard joined the Alliance. Why did Shepard do that? Because Cerberus is working with the Reapers. Why? We don't yet know.
Throughout Mass Effect 3, Shepard will venture to the homeworlds the Asari, Turians, Salarians and Quarians. And, of course, Shepard will explore Earth, including a Seattle-Vancouver mega-city before and after a Reaper attack. Shepard will also explore Mars.
Finally, the biggest spoiler.
Stop looking.
Shepard can pilot a 50-foot Cerberus Atlas mech. And he'll need firepower like this when fighting a 600-foot Reaper on one of the massive levels.
The scale of Mass Effect 3, BioWare said, will dwarf not only previous Mass Effect games, but also anything Unreal Engine 3 has been used for.
