Mass Effect Andromeda Companion Character Details
By Derek Nichols 11 November 2016
Following its cinematic reveal trailer for Mass Effect Andromeda earlier this week, BioWare reveals new information on two potential squad mates in the upcoming title.
It’s been quite a wait for fans seeking more information on Mass Effect Andromeda but the floodgates finally appear to be opening. Things kicked off earlier this week on November 7, also known as N7 day in the Mass Effect community, as BioWare released the first cinematic trailer for the game which gave fans their first real look as many of the characters, enemies, and locations inside the game. Considering that Commander Shepard and his allies are no longer around, Ryder will be supported by a new ser of comnpanions, two of which have finally been detailed.
After going hands on with the game for its cover story this month, Game Informer was able to extract some new information about the pair of companions previously seen in various gameplay clips recently. First up is the ex-cop Liam, who’s brought on to act as security. BioWare describes him as youthful, enthusiastic, and idealistic with a tendancy to get somewhat frustrated when things don’t go according to plan. It’s safe to say that Liam will most likely be filling that best friend role previously held by companions like Garrus.
The other member is an Asari named PeeBee and unlike Liam, she can join the group after a specific mission is found and played in the game. Unlike Liam, PeeBee doesn’t mince words as she tends to get straight to the point and doesn’t care much for social etiquette. While she can be a little rough around the edges at times, writer Mac Walter describers PeeBee as someone who has a sense for adventure and has a very bubbly personality, unlike the other well known Asari from this series, Liara.
Interestingly enough, BioWare confirmed that its motivation during the creation process of the new team was to make each character feel completely new and fresh. The studio admited to cutting a character due to the fact that it had felt too similar to some old favorites from the trilogy series. While many of the characters may look familiar, BioWare is making an effort to ensure that each companion doesn’t fit into a specific mold or style players may expect of them.
In addition to new squad mates to meet and take on adventures, BioWare has also revealed that the traditional class system which featured heavily in the previous Mass Effect games will not be returning. Instead, a flexible skill system is being implemented, giving players the freedom of choice to acquire and use skills across multiple skill trees instead of locking their selection into a specific path. Though fans have yet to hear what kind of skills, loadouts, or abilities they’ll have to pick from, this new system should allow players to make their Ryder sibling completely unique from other players.
What do you think of Liam and PeeBee so far? What other races from the series are you hoping to see represented as a companion? Feel free to speculate in the comments below.
Mass Effect Andromeda launches Spring 2017 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Source: Game Informer
