Mass Effect 3: Information Blowout from GamesCom news

We have a lot of Mass Effect 3 details for you from GamesCom courtesy of PhatSeeJay from GiantBomb. We have listed everything for you below.

• The CE Robot dog is possible to interact with aboard the Normandy, like having it follow you around, play fetch and it apparently has a story to it. No details on whether it’s combat able or not though.
• Character creator will get a lot more hair styles and facial features in ME3. So expect the hairstyles from the femShep competition to make it into the CC.
• They are considering an Uber achievement for all three games. What that is exactly is they don’t know, but they want to reward their long term fans.
• All squad mates will get their story and closure for ME3 even if they might not be a permanent squad member.
• We’ll see more of the Yahg (The former Shadow Broker)
• Not loyalty of people, but loyalty of races. Less focus on building loyalty with squad members and more on the various races. So expect previous loyalty and decisions to play a part in this.
• XP system goes back to ME1. No details but they won’t do the mission summary XP from ME2.
• The fate of the squad mates will not always be up to the player and decisions that feels right can prove to be harmful.
• The banter will be increased significantly since the squad member group is smaller this time.
• The ending of ME3 will give closure to the trilogy so don’t expect answers on post ME3 DLC until the game is out.
• There will not be an SDK after Mass Effect 3.
• Joker-EDI romance is being “looked at”.
• Aside from the Krogan princess, we will apparently not see female counterparts of turians, salarians and so on in ME3 either.
• Mods for ME2 has to be remade for ME3.
• Thane is still alive in ME3 (if he survived the Collector Base).
• Kelly Chambers will return.
• Romance between Joker and Shepard is a case of “you have to play it to see it”.
• If Hammerhead or Mako returns it’s closer to critical path missions. Don’t expect exploration using these vehicles.
• The Normandy will be upgraded by the Systems Alliance, so resource gathering for the ship is not likely this time.
• The geth quarian conflict will be concluded.
• Existing music from ME1 and ME2 will make its way into ME3.
• Side quests will pretty much always be in line with the critical path story.
• Classes will get new powers with up to six different ways to customize each power.
• Squad mates appearances and armor will be possible to customize again.
• Seems Cerberus will be a full blown antagonist and not possible to align with in ME3.
• They have DECIDED about whether you’ll get to see Tali’s face or not
• There may be time sensitive story elements though it will be more focused ones like the Normandy crew.
• ME3 will make you cry!
• There will be a larger variety of environments compared to ME2.
• Heavy melee will pretty much always kill a target, but defensive factors like armor, barriers and shields will affect the outcome. Also don’t try to melee an Atlas mech.
• There will be mini games though no announcements.
• We may see Quarians without masks. Whether that would include Tali or not was left unsaid.
• The choices you make in the trial at the beginning of ME3 will set the tone for the future in the game.
• James Vega’s voice actor will be announced really soon and is apparently a closely guarded secret, since he’s really awesome.
• Indoctrination seem to play a role in ME3, possibly including party members.
• Kal’Reegar will return in ME3.
• They are discussing possibilities of missions that ties back to your background choice for Shepard.
• You have a lot more romance options in ME3. Possibly not limited to party members.
• You will be able to change class if you import your ME2 Shepard to ME3. Though you will have to start from Lvl 1 while kept class will get Import+ perks.
• Legion will return with a larger role in ME3.
• There may be a ‘special’ import for saves where Shepard died. The interest is clearly too big for them to simply ignore such a treat.
• Miranda will be back and has unfinished business with Shepard.
• Shepard’s SPECTRE status will play part in ME3 and change things if you had the status reinstated in ME2.
• Conrad Verner’s back.
• Normandy will be the SR-2 with an Alliance paint and some redesigned interiors. Joker will apparently be happy with it.
• How many team mates you speak to at the same time aboard the Normandy depends on the context of the missions.
• You’ll have debriefings after each mission that are deeper than ME2, but you are still likely to only talk to the squad mates one on one outside of that.

Source: Gamingbolt.com