Mass Effect 2's loyalty missions will return in Mass Effect: Andromeda

Mass Effect: Andromeda will bring back one of the best parts of Mass Effect 2.

Although Mass Effect: Andromeda is set on a new galaxy, starring a new cast of heroes, the game is going to borrow some elements from earlier entries in the series.

One of the very popular aspects of Mass Effect 2 was loyalty missions. These sent you on a trip with each of your crew members to help them out on specific missions. They helped you get to know them more, and were each very unique.

Thankfully, after dropping them in Mass Effect 3, BioWare has confirmed their return in Andromeda. Speaking to Game Informer as part of the magazine's cover story, creative director Mac Walters said he loved these missions.

"As a writer, one of the things I loved was the freedom to say 'I know this character is coming along,' so they can carry a lot of the narrative," he told the magazine. "That made my job easier, but it also made it more fun, because I could tell a more specific story in one of those missions."

Loyalty missions are just one part of the game's vast side content. According to Game Informer, side missions include other exploration activities, and a few surrounding the mystery of the Ryder family.

As such, you won't be punished for skipping them, and you'll even be able to play them later after finishing the main campaign.

"The big difference between this and ME2, where you did a loyalty mission and that all impacted the ending, is that they’re much more optional in this case," the creative director revealed.

"If you don’t want to engage with them, you don’t have to. If you want engage with them after the critical path is done, you can do that."

If you missed it, you can watch today's big trailer here. It sets up the game's story, but you won't see proper gameplay until The Game Awards in December.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is out spring 2017 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.