Character Creation in Mass Effect Andromeda
When you first boot up Mass Effect Andromeda, you’re going to have to create a character to take out into the unknown as you explore the Andromeda system. This latest entry in the celebrated series allows you to do quite a bit to really personalize your avatar, and it all begins with the Character Creator menu.
There are several menu under this menu:
Gender – The first option. Allows you to create either a male or female
Customize Appearance – We’ll break this one down shortly, but it’s where you work out the actual appearance of your Ryder.
Choose Training – Class selection. While you’ll be able to fine tune it later on, this sets you up with a specific set of skills and stats for the start of your adventure.
Choose Name – Every hero needs a name.
Customize Twin – Yes, you can make sure the the gender you don’t pick still looks exactly how you want them to look.
Customize History – Give yourself a neat little background story to take into the new worlds.
Upload Character Data – You can upload your character to Mass Effect Andromeda’s servers so you can use them again in the future or so that others can use your design.
Import Character Data – Import a design from the servers.
Confirm & Start Game – After everything is setup to your liking, you can choose this option to officially begin Mass Effect Andromeda.
All of the options here are pretty self explanatory, but the Customize Appearance option brings up an entirely new menu with plenty of choices to make, so let’s break that down next.
Customize Appearance
This menu option brings up a new screen with several tabs (which you cycle through using the bumpers on your controller).
Presets – Allows you to choose between multiple faces that have already been created so you can jump right in. You can also customize each preset with the following options:
- Skin Tone – Set your character’s tone from light to dark.
- Brow – Adjust the height and depth of your eyebrows.
- Cheek – Adjust height and width of cheeks (for a rounder or more slender face), then adjust cheekbone width to help determine the shape of the face.
- Chin – Adjust Height, Depth, and Width of the chin as well as the width of the Jaw.
- Eyes – Adjust Height, Depth, and Width of eyes.
- Mouth – Lip Thickness, Mouth Height, Mouth Depth, and Mouth Width are the options here.
- Nose – Height, Depth, Width, and Nose Size can be adjusted under these options.
Custom – Allows you to have more control over your appearance through a multitude of options. If you select to change anything on any of the Presets, they will become Custom.
Hairstyles – This is how you pick what kind of hairdo you’ll be sporting in that entirely new galaxy you find yourself in.
- Hairstyles – Cycle between 12 different styles for each gender.
- Hair Color – There are a lot of hair colors to choose, from natural tones like browns, blondes, and blacks, to more bright offerings to really make your Pathfinder stand out.
- Facial Hair Type (Males Only) – Will allow you to choose what type of facial hair options you have. The color will automatically match whatever you choose for your head, so no mixing and matching unfortunately.
Eyes – Time to give a bit more customization to those eyes of yours.
- Outer Color – Adjust the color and tone of the outside of your irises.
- Inner Color – Same thing but for the inside, allowing for some trippy looks.
Makeup Customization – This is where you can start to get all dolled up (or become a frightening warrior if that’s more your taste). There are several options that will really allow you to create someone truly unique. All allow for style and opacity, and can be used on either gender.
- Eyliner Style – Adjust the shape of your eyliner from neat to messy to running down your face with tears.
- Eyeliner Color – Give it some color to make it pop.
- Eye Shadow – Shape and type.
- Eye Shadow Color – Even more color for your face.
- Lipstick Style – Shape and style of lipstick
- Lipstick Color – You know the drill.
- Blush Style – You’ll have the option for style and opacity for this one so you can decide how light or heavy you want to apply this makeup.
- Blush Color – Give those cheeks of you a bit of colorful life.
Scars & Tattoos – Time to add a bit of character to that face of yours with a selection of scars and tattoos to represent you and your journey through space.
- Scar Tissue – Choose the style of scar, from burns to vicious slashes, and then determine their intensity. Do you want them deep and visceral, or light reminders of battles from the past?
- Tattoo Designs – Choose any permanent markings for your face/neck area.
- Tattoo Color – Make sure the color of your ink suits your style.
You’ll be able to set up all of these parameters to your liking to have a true, one of a kind Ryder in the Mass Effect Andromeda universe.
For more on Mass Effect Andromeda, be sure to check out our ever-expanding wiki guide.
About the author
