Mass Effect 4: 12 Brand New Features You Need To Know About

4. Remnant Vault Raids

Alongside battling your way through the shooter-heavy outposts mentioned earlier are more RPG-like Raids, albeit ones with a twist; environmental puzzles and enemy waves you'll manually trigger based on how much you think you can handle.

Bioware note that this is where some of the strongest challenge comes from, as there are two main variations depending on your playstyle and penchant for voluntary difficulty.

First up are the basic 'Remnant Vault Raids', where after grabbing certain artefacts you want to take back home with you, the Raid's defences will activate; comprised of "traps" "defence robots" and sometimes a "change the architecture of the vault itself to stop you from escaping". All very Indiana Jones and all very risk/reward, as if you can make it out in one piece the spoils of that particular plunder are yours to keep - die, and you most likely lose everything.

Secondly, you have the Elite Remnant Vault Raids which are far rarer, only being accessible after you've obtained a specific item; the 'Star Keys'. Essentially these are just a step-up from the other Raids with bigger rewards and far more intricate puzzles to solve before you can escape. It's worth noting the Khet patrols make an appearance in the description of this stuff too, as they're apparently going after the same treasure as you.

Whether that means you'll be playing 'catch the artefact' with a pack of hunters as you all vie for control before making it out is up for debate, but as a frantic mode where everyone - including the A.I. - is embroiled in a battle of wits and firepower, well that sounds mighty enticing right now.