Mass Effect: Andromeda
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The fourth Mass Effect stands apart from the original trilogy. No Shepard, no Normandy, and no characters from the previous games, although the "high-tech" visual style and the space opera setting are recognizable. Andromeda is set even further in the future, hundreds of years after Mass Effect 3. The protagonist (who is customizable) is a Pathfinder, a member of an expedition to the Andromeda galaxy. She or he bears the surname Ryder and has a twin - whatever gender you choose, it will be the opposite. Ryders traveled billions of miles from our Milky Way galaxy on the space ark Nexus. The ship is carrying thousands of passengers in suspended animation, and the Pathfinders’goal is to find them a habitable planet to call home.
Andromeda is heavy on the plot, there are many dialogues and cutscenes that may make you feel like watching a movie. The dialogue options usually define how your character is perceived by the others rather than actual plot forks. The action is played like a third-person shooter, allowing you to aim and take cover. Enemy AI reactions will vary, forcing you to employ flexible tactics. Weapons and gear can be improved through an intricate crafting system that requires you to research an upgrade before it can be assembled.
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System requirements for PlayStation 4
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Mass Effect: Andromeda reviews and comments
Final Score: B+
Most bugs are fixed by now and facial animations are not as shit anymore, speaks volumes when I list that as a positive.
With those out of the way, the game falls short in everything, even in the pros I mentioned. The story and lore is painfully unimaginative and takes way too much inspiration from the older games. The antagonist is a cartoony villain who fails to make any impression, ME 2 did it better.
Quest design while not bad, failed to impress me. Most boil down to fighting recycled enemy or scanning items. Some do have interesting sub plots but that made searching for them more disappointing when most end up bland and repetitive. Romance quests range from meh to okay.
Crafting has too many steps with a very unintuitive menu. I would argue cover shooters doesn't work well in open world games.
Despite landscapes looking gorgeous, you'll mostly be travelling in various types of bland desserts. Apart from a few locations nothing feels "alien". Facial animations while not comically bad, is still not good.
For a game about adventure across an uncharted world and taking risks, the developers played it too safe and made a disappointing entry in an once excellent franchise. Play it if you only care about combat and eye candy texture/ lighting.
Once this is understood and accepted, ME:A turns out to be a great game.