Mass Effect Previews
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In combat, you'll be able to switch between all of the characters under your control on the fly, and we're told that the artificial intelligence of those accompanying you won't disappoint. However, you'll have the option to give them simple commands using the directional pad and even to issue more complex orders by pausing the game and using a Full Spectrum Warrior-style interface. The whole screen gets a yellow tint when you pause the game in this fashion--it's overlaid with a tactical-looking grid--and your colleagues are represented by 2D icons that almost look like chess pieces. Using this interface, you can tell the other characters where you'd like them to go (behind cover, for example) and which of their abilities or special powers you'd like them to use. It's an interesting control mechanic and one that promises to afford you a far greater degree of control over your allies than most.
And a snip from GameSpy's article:
Mass Effect's galaxy will be wide indeed, as evidenced by the maps we saw today. Via a series of gorgeous in-game charts, you can get views of varying scope on the Milky Way -- from entire star clusters to individual solar systems. There will be a metric crap-ton of planets, if what we saw was any indication, and though only a definite minority will be populated enough to host story elements, you can go down and explore the surface of any one. It's truly a vast galaxy that's being created here, and the potential for post-release content is quite promising.
Both sites also have new screenshots available, so be sure to check those out as well.
