Mass Effect: Andromeda gameplay video goes in-depth on combat

Mass Effect: Andromeda developer BioWare kicked off its “gameplay series” videos today with a deep dive on combat, showing off the options that the Ryder twins will have at their disposal when it comes to defending themselves.

The video offers the longest look yet at in-game footage of Andromeda, with five and a half minutes’ worth of action featuring both gunplay and special powers.

A voice-over introduces the various weapons that will be available in the game: melee weapons plus four types of guns (pistols, shotguns, assault rifles and sniper rifles). The firearms are split into three classes, depending on their origin. Milky Way guns are traditional ballistic weapons, firing physical projectiles at enemies. Remnant weapons use energy beams; they’re very accurate even with a high rate of fire, but will overheat periodically. Helios weapons can be plasma-based with heat-seeking projectiles, and some will let you charge up a strong pulse.

The video also shows off Andromeda’s three types of skills, which players can use to customize their fighting strategies. Combat skills allow you to use items like cannons, grenades and trip mines; they’ll do things like increase the damage output and accuracy of your weapons. Tech skills offer experimental weaponry like a flamethrower. Then, of course, there are biotics, which let you manipulate dark energy to bend the laws of physics to your will.

Check out the trailer for all the details on combat in Mass Effect: Andromeda. The game is set to debut March 21 on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One, and subscribers to EA Access and Origin Access will be able to play it five days early.