The story begins in 2819, with passengers on board the Hyperion waking from a cryogenic stasis. The arrival of the human ark signals the beginning of a new phase for humanity in the Heleus Cluster system, over 600 years away from the Milky Way. However, the Andromeda Initiative isn’t without its issues; separation during travel has caused a 14-month gap between the Hyperion and the other arks, with the Hyperion arriving last.
The Medbay and Generator Room
- (Tutorial) Use the camera and interact with objects
- (Tutorial) Dialogue wheel; Ryder response types
- (Optional) Check on your sibling (talk to Dr. T’Perro)
- (Optional) Learn more about the Andromeda Initiative from the Information Wall
- Follow Cora out of medbay
- Investigate the malfunction in the generator room
- (Tutorial) Use the scanner, then override the power terminal to reset the power relay
- Make your way to the tram through the west door
Hyperion Bridge and Locker Room
- Pick up your helmet
- (Optional) Scan and interact with miscellaneous objects (such as “Dad’s Good Luck Rock”)
- (Optional) Speak with the other crew members
- Pick up M-3 Predator
- Exit the locker room to report to the hangar bay
Wake Up
After the introduction cutscene, Ryder is revived in the Hyperion’s cryobay after a 600-year cryogenic hibernation. You are then introduced to the game’s dialogue system as an asari doctor performs an examination. In most conversations you can choose the tone in which Ryder responds: emotional, logical, casual, or professional. This dialogue system is largely for roleplaying purposes, allowing you to give Ryder a certain flair and personality. These small decisions generally do not majorly affect gameplay (except in rare cases, which are promptly noted throughout this guide).
The Hyperion runs into a malignant energy cloud, which disables the Hyperion’s artificial gravity systems. Here you learn the game’s fundamental camera controls. When directed, press the Camera Swap/Recenter button to direct your attention and camera over to Cora.
Report to Hyperion Bridge
Once you’re in control of Ryder, you’re free to explore the cryobay. Points of interest here include the Information Wall along the east corner and various datapads found on the cryo pod beds. You’re also presented with an optional task of checking on your sibling, which is added to your priority mission in the Mission Tracker at the top right of the screen. Note that the waypoint icon for the optional objective differs from the primary objective.
To check on your sibling, follow the optional objective icon and speak with the asari woman, Dr. Lexi T’Perro.
When you’re ready to continue on to the generator area, open the door to the west. The collision with the energy cloud has caused a malfunction. You’re tasked with scanning the generator in order to pinpoint the location of the fault. Power on your scanner, then highlight and scan the objects within the malfunctioning system using the button (or key) shown in the game’s helpful tutorial text.
Next, continue west into the tram. Activate the tram console to meet with Captain Dunn and Ryder’s father, Alec, at the Hyperion bridge. After they discuss Habitat 7’s Viability, Ryder and Cora begin making deployment preparations in a locker room.
When you’re back in control of Ryder, your next objective is to pick up protection: a helmet and a weapon. You can also examine a datapad and laptop in the area if you’re interested in reading supplemental background information. You can spark up a conversation with Kirkland and Greer to see how they’re doing as well. If you want to get down to business, grab your helmet in the east section of the room, then pick up an M-3 Predator from the weapons cache to the southwest.
Report to the hangar bay by opening the door near Cora. After the cutscene in the hangar bay, the scene changes to one in the deployment shuttle. You have limited control of the camera here as you peer out the shuttle window. As the shuttle breaches the Habitat 7 atmosphere, it is ripped apart by the planet’s volatile climate, and as a result, Ryder and Liam are separated from the rest of the crew.
