Mass Effect Andromeda: 10 New Gameplay Features That Will Change Everything

In addition to revamped ranged weapons, the Pathfinder will also come equipped with a bunch of new close-quarters gear. Mass Effect 3 tried to make melee combat feel more satisfying than ‘Press B to Elbow’, by introducing the omni-blade, an admittedly nonsensical omni-tool attachment that allowed players to perform melee takedowns.

Andromeda’s approach feels very much like a continuation of this, albeit with a lot more variety and scope for customisation.

You’ll be able to equip large hammers, which take more time to swing but do more damage, as well as faster, more precise shivs and swords. From what we can glean from BioWare’s combat trailer, the omni-blade will also be returning.

This expansion of melee combat will be great news for players who prefer the close-quarters, Vanguard-style of playthrough, opting to dip in and out of firefights to deal heavy damage head-on. A lot of these new combat features seem to be taking pages out of Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer playbook, which opened up a ton new skills and playtypes through various free updates.