So, I was an MEA naysayer after the trial. I wasn't particularly thrilled with Eos. Didn't love it or hate it. Thought it could use huge work. It didn't feel like the games I knew and loved.
Well, some dude on youtube who got a copy of the game early has been throwing footage up online. This footage includes:
-- First contact with the Angara, meeting Jaal
-- Helping out Angaran planets and saving "the Moeshe", a scientist Angara lady who knows a shit ton about the Remnant.
-- Learning the Kett's secret (people were right about the Kett transforming Angaran's into Kett, as well as other races)
-- Getting on the Archon's ship and confronting him.
-- Kadara, and speaking with Sloan Kelly, Reyes and an Angaran traitor
-- There's a part on Archon's ship where SAM kills Ryder. No, I'm not joking. He fucking kills Ryder. I will say no more.
The reason this is so exciting to me is 'cause the footage was all ... great. Like, genuinely good. Way better than anything presented in the first 10 hours in the game. There were a couple of major decisions which seemed really difficult.
The first was on one of the two Angaran planets you have to help out with. You can choose to rescue a set of important Angara prisoners, or blow up the facility that's been running some pretty fucky experiments on them.
The second is on the Archon's ship. You can choose to rescue Drack's scouting team, or to save the Salarian Pathfinder's life. This is an especially great decision, as Drack is pissed if you choose the Pathfinder, but the Salarians/peeps on the Nexus are pissed if you let the Salarian Pathfinder die.
Mass Effect is back, people. These decisions have solidified that this game is so much more than what Eos gave us. And these decisions are all in the first few planets. How fucking exciting is that?
Also, some other notes:
-- There's some genuinely great interplay between the crew. They have these little chats in the comm room between missions where everyone is giving their opinion/participating. It really feels like a squad.
-- Jaal is so, so, so wonderful, and beautifully voiced acted.
-- Reyes is a badass and the scene with him on Kadara is one of the best I've seen in ME as a whole. Brimming with ambiance and atmosphere. Effortlessly cool. Really great scene.
-- Dialogue gets better. Not only does it get better, but "trying to be funny" becomes "actually funny". It's difficult to make me laugh, and there was a line in particular on the saving Moeshe (I think that's her name/title) mission that cracked me up.
-- Ryder blossoming into a leader is just that -- blossoming. There are scenes in this footage that show him being unsure of his abilities, and showing the crew being unsure of his abilities. As the story progresses, he gets a little more confident, and starts asserting himself more. REAL progression. It's wonderful.
-- Salarian Pathfinder is a lady, and I really enjoy the voice actress.
Honestly, I am so glad I watched these, even with this spoilers. The game doesn't suck. Holy shit -- the game doesn't suck. YES.