The Mass Effect series has defined itself for making RPGs streamlined yet still carry consequences.. up to a certain point. The Paragon/Renegade system that entails the conversation wheel Bioware introduced with the series makes it easy to know exactly each decision mean.
However, it can be approached in a pretty linear, and boring manner. Paragon responses make Commander Shepard all goody-to-shoes while Renegade responses make them either pragmatic, a badass or a jerk. With the game promoting you to stick with one of the morality for maximum rewards, it makes most of the conversation choices obvious. Why mix and match when you can do two playthroughs, one for all Paragon choices and one for all Renegade?
As such, Andromeda will see that being replaced. Speaking with Official Xbox Magazine, creative director Mac Walters explained the change:
“The reason they’re gone is because they felt very Shepard – they were very tied to the Shepard character, so they didn’t really make sense if we weren’t going to have Shepard as our protagonist.”
What it will be replaced with is a choice between agreeing and disagreeing. “With agree and disagree it changes by the circumstance and it changes by the character you’re talking to, so you have to actually be more engaged in what’s going on, to know if you’re going to do that,” Walters added.
Add to that, certain conversation points let you respond with specific tones as well.
All of this seems to feel more like how Bioware handled Dragon Age: Inquisition. Choices are not as clear cut good and evil, with the bigger choices you made have you dealing with the consequences. Sure, in the bigger picture it still didn’t matter as much, but at the heat of the moment it certainly feel impactful.
We will see how the conversations play out in Mass Effect: Andromeda soon enough as its release date of March 21 inches closer.