The Mako is back, sans gun, and I cannot be more underwhelmed. But wait, you say, it's customizable. Goddess, IT'S ALLIANCE PROPERTY. You'd think an army would have higher priorities than allowing their personnel to make their tanks look pretty. I could not care less what the Mako looks like as long as it is manoeuverable. The first time I drove a Mako, I managed to get hooked over some metal scaffolding while driving at ground level. (Don't ask me how. I haven't been able to reproduce it since.) Suspended at a nearly 90 degree angle, my thrusters were useless and I was forced to restart the whole disastrous mission because autosave in the original Mass Effect is infrequent enough to be practically nonexistent. My Commander Shepard was not happy.
From the footage shown at SDCC, I was unable to discern the increase in agility the developers claim distinguishes this incarnation of the Mako from its predecessor. I suppose it is too early to pass judgment. I, personally, would enjoy more banter in the Mako and the ability to see from the interior of the vehicle, as it seems we are fated to spend a significant amount of game time in it.
As for other content, I'm going to assume the new alien species we will encounter have somehow activated their own Mass Relays and managed to make their existence known without being blown away by the Alliance, the Turians or Krogan. I wonder if they will stand idly by while we strip their neighbouring planets of platinum, palladium, and iridium.
From what I've seen, the next Mass Effect isn't coming out any time soon. I'm predicting 2016 at the earliest. I'll make another prediction: I won't be pre-ordering the game.
