Andromeda Initiative--You See me Rollin'....In My Nomad.....

The most recent installment in the informational series for the Andromeda Initiative came out sometime recently.  Part three deals with the new vehicles that will be a large part of adventuring in Mass Effect:  Andromeda.  Each thin little slice represented in these videos makes you hungry for more Andromeda information.  It also leaves you with many unanswered questions....  Let's obsess over the Tempest and the Nomad!

Here's the video:

My first impression of the Tempest was a positive one.  The general outline is very similar to the Normandy so it feels familiar, but it also felt....lighter and sleeker.  One of the bigger differences that was pointed out is that the Tempest is more of a stealth ship than the Normandy.  It doesn't have heavy shielding or the big guns that we all spent numerous minerals upgrading.  I like the idea of a ship that has more of a special-ops type of feel.

One of the impressions that is a little confusing to me is the actual size of the ship.  To me the Tempest feels like it should be smaller than the Normandy.  In the few shots where we got to see the interior of the ship it didn't really feel smaller.  The bridge feels considerably bigger than in the Normandy.  It also looks like they are combining the War Room (more of an intel gathering and communications hub) with the actual CIC.  Does this mean there are no elevators?  I don't know if I could survive without elevators.....

Overall the interior felt sleek, refined, and somehow lighter to me.  The captains cabin looks very spacious--but, no fish tank?  I demand fish!  It feels like a roomier, friendlier space that will lend itself to conversations with crewmates...and maybe some light space lovin'.

I have to admit that a small part of me was sad when the voice of the new pilot, a Salarian named Kalo'jan (I have no idea if that spelling is even remotely close), introduced the Tempest.  It's just not the same without Joker!  The idea of having a Salarian pilot is interesting.  The crew seems to be very diverse and made up of members of all the Council species.  This also leaves me with questions.  Is the Andromeda Initiative a Council thing or an Alliance Military thing?  I am interested to find out.

The second part of the video deals with the Nomad, which is the spiritual successor to the Mako.  Remember the weird, janky planetary driving in the original Mass Effect?  There was something simultaneously fun and frustrating about piloting that beastly vehicle.  The Nomad looks comfortingly similar to the Mako, but also manages to look much more advanced.  I didn't notice a weapon and get the impression that the Nomad is mostly for speedy ground transportation.  This tells me that the worlds are going to be large and have plenty of room for exploring.  

Another of the Nomad's functions appears to be in gathering minerals.  There is mention of the Nomad carrying probes that can be dropped to remotely mine.  Does this mean there won't be any planetary scanning?  We can only hope.

These two new vehicles both have managed to capture the familiarity of previous games with improved looks that somehow make them feel more modern and advanced.  I still have many questions about the crew and the mission.  Here's to hoping that more of that is covered in the remaining three videos.