Let's Not Write Off Mass Effect Andromeda Yet

HPP: In the wake of all the news about Mass Effect Andromeda's faults, one brave journalist wants to remind us why we really love these games in the first place.

[derkasan]

I guess we'll know on Tuesday.

[RedPill86]

EA access showed more than enough. Glitches from ME3 still exist and it's a new engine..These guys couldn't code their way out of a paper bag. It's awful. Avoid it completely.

[Krysis]

It's weird I have not run into a single glitch or bug. I mean the facial animations are a hot mess but no bugs for me. Oh and ME 3 and Andromeda were coded by 2 totally different studios. I wonder how many people just follow the hate mob cause that's what's cool these days

[OpieWinston]

Armchair Dev right here... Yeah because coding is so easy. And the facial animations problems are because of the character customization on the Ryders. Then again I haven't seen anything that was really that bad in my playthrough.

I'll continue exploring the Andromeda galaxy and putting quite a few hours into this game.

[RedPill86]

I see we have some Profesional liars here.

You cannot jump and boost without some kind of bug happening 50% of the time. Saying you haven't seen a bug proves to all of us you don't know what a bug is OR your standards are so pathetically low you probably shouldn't talk as you're giving people false hope.

[Rebel_Scum]

A new engine doesn't mean everything "broken" or glitchy in the old engine is fixed. Some might be, some might not. Rather than act like a dick why not give more context into your comment as to why they should avoid it rather than shit on the developers.

Right now your comment reads like a rant with no base argument to support it. Saying "some kind of bug happens" means nothing to back yourself up either.

[UltraNova]

I wont give up on the game, I ll just get the GotY edition, hopefully it will get better by then.

[Tankbusta40]

I'm going in optimistic, really hoping for the best.

[Captain_Tom]

There's nothing wrong with hoping for the best. But hope should never distract you from reality, and the reality is this looks like a massive f*ck up.

[Pintheshadows]

It feels like it as well. It's a shame as they have the most RPG elements in here since ME1, but everything else just feels a bit average.

And I am wondering where the likeable characters are as well.

[Tankbusta40]

@captaintom

From the people I've talked to that have played it on EA access they say the combat is good etc, the facial animations I can live with being bad. Nobody knows the whole story so claiming it's terrible is an over reaction. The Internet is full of that. If you remember correctly mass effect one had awful controls and other problems and the game was still good. Internet outrage is often over blown which is why I am optimistic.

[opinionated]

I'm going in pessimistic lol. If it's not as bad as people are crying about then it will be a pleasant surprise.

[Captain_Tom]

@Tankbusta40, Cupofjoe, and seemingly everyone else

I am not at all concerned about the animations. I am concerned that literally everything about this game screams lazy cash-in.

Almost no new races, the old ones are just as shallow as ever, and the game is more linear than ever,

[krontaar]

Too late. Bring on persona 5!

[_-EDMIX-_]

Both.

I was never buying Mass Effect simply to look at.

[Antnee534]

Idk anymore I just heard the choices you make in this game won't effect any future games. That instantly takes away from what made the 1st three some if the best games last gen

[_-EDMIX-_]

Buddy I could care less

for god sakes some of the choices in the first game like Ashley or Kirilenko or light-skinned black guy vs. dark skinned black guy were pointless!!!!

I only made my choice based on liking Keith David lol

I don't could care less about the stupid system that they had in place just focus on making a damn good game , the dumb gimmicks that they had with that was almost pointless.

[Captain_Tom]

Then what did you like about ME?

It's combat was solid, but not special. It's graphics were good, but not great. It's story was decent, but not the best.

The choices and characters are what made the series. If that's not what you liked, I am curious as to if you even really liked it lol

[Pintheshadows]

So basically, you didn't like the one thing that made Mass Effect feel truly unique?

And you're going as far as to call it pointless. You're full of it.

And it's Kaidan. I have to wonder if you have actually played the games at this point.

[_-EDMIX-_]

"It's combat was solid, but not special. It's graphics were good, but not great. It's story was decent, but not the best."

To you

Did you think of the points you made are fact? They are subjective views.

I liked enough for the story and narrative to continue the series.

I fully understand it wasn't the greatest story ever told in a game , I very much understand it's combat was nothing like Resident Evil 4 or Gears of War.

Have you not recognized​ that people are not playing games as simply to play only the best and ignore all else?

That would be like suggesting someone to only watch Scorsese films and nothing else or to watch Citizen Kane and nothing else.

I don't need to fight you or convince you that I like to series, it is my personal opinion to play the series for the reasons that I like.

I don't need to convince someone of that.

The choices in the characters are technically what made the series for YOU

it was a take-it-or-leave-it for me, I enjoy how the characters were presented and I'm actually completely fine with a reset with different characters.

I'm not sure why you're having a hard time understanding that not everybody is liking the exact same things in this series as you , I'm not even sure how that's a surprise. 😂😂😂

How old are you?

@pin- "So basically, you didn't like the one thing that made Mass Effect feel truly unique?"

To you...

That was never the reason why I actually played that series.

Maybe you did..

That's nice I find it strange you guys are having an extremely hard time understanding that people have different views than you guys that you think that all art with robotic and we all needed to like the exact same things for the same reasons?

🤔🤔🤔

I chose to have Ashley live and clearly I didn't care enough on about his character to even care to remember his name. Lol 😂😂😂

Are you guys so salty that there are people that played this entire series that don't feel the same way?

Get over yourself please, I'm not sure why Fanatics of the series turn into religious zealots if you don't see things the same way.

No.

I never played the Mass Effect series for the meaningless choices. I even bought all three Mass Effect series through different ways because I could care less about how the story was. Over.

I own the first mass effect on PC but not for steam, I own Mass Effect 2 Steam and I own rhird Mass Effect on PlayStation 3.

I didn't even care to have any of that information transfer it over it was not important enough that it controlled the entire game for me.

For me bud, FOR ME! LOL no hard to understand.

[Pintheshadows]

Well, all I am saying EDMIX, is that by ignoring that side of Mass Effect you missed a lot of the detail and nuance that I experienced by playing through all 3 on multiple different saves. I'd even go as far to say that you should make a concerted effort to go back and play them all just to see the excellent little changes that are otherwise non existent.

'I never played the Mass Effect series for the meaningless choices.'

Then we are at an impasse, as that is one of the stupidest statements I have ever seen on this website. Call me a 'fanatic' all you want but that is one of the f'ing pillars of the entire Mass Effect franchise. Next you'll be telling me that you didn't care for any of the characters in ME2.

[RedPill86]

You know, or just write it off. One of the clunkiest turds I've played in a long time. Unacceptable for AAA.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Except technically speaking the first 3 Mass Effect had terrible facial animations as well as awkward animations

[Pintheshadows]

And those games all came out last generation so that isn't an excuse. Nor is it an argument.

It's shoddy work (the textures in any outdoor environment are pretty shameful), and it isn't this games only problems. It feels like a lazy tribute to Mass Effect that has somehow regressed in almost every area apart from combat. And combat is ruined by the god awful AI.

And the writing is just cliches. Every cliche you can think of, it's here. And they all just smack you around the face. And after 4 hours with the scanning mechanic, I am already sick of it. The game uses it as a crutch, and it just isn't fun in any way.

[RedPill86]

It's the glitches I'm talking about. Like dying in multiplayer, being revived and unable to walk in particular directions. This is a glitch that's travelled across engines. Pure stupidity on their part. Facial animations have always been bad, them having a budget with the last 3 ME titles compared to the original was no excuse. This game on the other hand is the worst performing game by far. ME3 wasn't this bugged. Not to mention retaining all of the issues from ME3 multiplayer. Frame rate is the worst a ME game has ever launched with. The story is terrible. The UI is awful. The microtransactions are once again pathetic. This game is a sham. It's going against everything ME was supposed to be about.

[Krysis]

He has been spamming every article with his hate. I doubt he has even played it.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@pin-not saying it's an excuse, but if someone was used to this the previous generation what was new?

I'm not sure what you should know about the writing when did you complete the game?

🤔🤔

@red-glitches definitely suck but I have no plans to play the multiplayer.

Like zero

[Pintheshadows]

Are you kidding? I can only comment on the writing after I finish the game? The writing is dreadful. You only need to play around an hour to realise that, Even by game standards it is bad. Just riddled with dreadful cliches, painfully awkward lines, massive coincidences, and moments that feel like a 13 year old wrote them because they sounded 'cool'. The game is riddled with them in the 5 hours or so I have played. It's laughable.

And whilst it could turn in to a tour de force in writing and dialogue later, I severely doubt it.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@pin- don't play it.

Problem solved​

[Pintheshadows]

As I said before EDMIX, I am playing it. I just sat and played for an hour. If you don't like me criticising it, then, frankly tough. These are my observations. If you want me to list some positives then I will.

I really like the premise and the mystery of how the venture to Andromeda went FUBAR. I like the feel of the combat and there is a lot of stuff going on in terms of powers and classes available, weapon mods, and the added mobility is a plus. I also think that this is much more in line with the original ME in terms of being an RPG, especially if you just go through the menus in their entirety. There is a lot going on.

I want to make things very clear. I am not an 'either this is amazing or the worst thing ever' kind of person. This to me, until it has been cleaned up with some patches, seems decent enough. I am certainly not saying it is Ride to Hell. I am just saying that it has some pretty large flaws that I am not used to seeing in this day and age, and most of them could have been fixed had this game just had a bit more time. It lacks the polish that I think everyone expects when they pay the full amount for a new game.

[Bathyj]

Hey C'mon, Mass Effect:Butterface might still be a real good game.

[Hugodastrevas]

Mess Defect: down Syndromeda

[Godmars290]

Mass Effect: Stroke Victims

Actually, could literally write it off as a condition caused from being in suspended animation.

[Bronxs15]

Glad I have EA ACCESS so i can play for 10 hours free before deciding if it's worth a purchase now, or if i can wait for the inevitable price drop.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Unless the game is virtually unplayable I don't write off any game only because there's so many issues with animations with lots of games that still happen to be amazing games.

Are people seriously pretending the original Three Mass Effect were just absolute Marvels in regards to animation?.

[Maxor]

My face is already tired of this. Bring on the game.

[Captain_Tom]

"Why we love these games in the first place."

Sorry but months ago the developers already confirmed:

-They hadn't yet planned out a sequel (Why would you not write out the entire trilogy first unless you didn't think this game was that good?)

-They called the sex scenes "Softcore porn". (Great, more 14 year old writers and directors in charge)

-They stated the game was more linear than the other ones. (Many complained ME3 was too linear)

I know I am being incredibly negative, but as someone who adored the other games so immensely that I bought them on multiple platforms: What is the benefit of this game turning out "Ok"? In my opinion what we know is that this will be "Ok" at best, and that would mean a trilogy of "Ok" games whereas one failed ME would mean they could start over sooner.

^I'm not seeing a whole lot of love. The original trilogy was great for 2007. But that was a decade ago! They need to completely reboot it with new characters, races, and a story that is completely thought out from the start. This is just a cash-in, and the harder it falls the better...

[arkard]

The harder it falls the more likely it is we will never see another entry in the series.

[Captain_Tom]

Do you really think bloody EA would let this cash cow die?

No. It just needs time, and the saga needs to be completely planned-out before they even announce part 1 of the new series.

[Pintheshadows]

My biggest issue with it is it feels like a rehash. They could have gone in bold directions with this game. New galaxy. 600 years in the future. Hearing that filled me with excitement. However what I have realised is I am walking around in the Nexus and hearing the same plot points that I have already experienced in the original trilogy. 'Oh, I am so surprised to hear a Salarian doesn't like the Krogan'.

It just feels like treading on old ground.

The unveiling of the Tempest tries to invoke the feeling of the SR2 Normandy being revealed with the music dramatically spiking, but this game doesn't earn it. It's just there because there was a scene like it in the old games. That is honestly how all of the 4-5 hours I have played feels. It feels like a Mass Effect title guided by the wishes of corporate board members, not a passionate team of developers who want to create something special. It also feels dated and uninspired. All of the combat encounters are so flat. Oh, you want me to guard this guy as he stands by a panel and you throw enemies at me that all just sit behind cover or run out into the open like headless chickens. Well, I have never done that before.

It's by the numbers in almost every conceivable way.

[_-EDMIX-_]

"not a passionate team"

🤔

When did you read their minds to know if their passion or dedication for this game? assumption.

Don't play it, simple.

[Pintheshadows]

I am playing it EDMIX. That is how I am figuring all of this out. Lived experience. Or gamed experience if you will. This really comes across as a game designed by committee. It has EA's board room stink all over it.

'What popular series do we have?'
'Mass Effect?'
'Good, pump one of those out'.

That is honestly how it feels.

What I want to know is, why are you surprised? EA has a track record of this leading back years and years. Just look at Dead Space 3 as a great example.

[fenome]

I'm not totally writing it off, I'm just not buying it day one. I've got games to play so I'm not too worried about it.

[PlayableGamez-]

I'm going to play this game no matter what.
But I am not picking it up day one because there are more interesting games that deserve my attention than this mess.
EA has been really messing up a lot of their promising IPs outside of their Sport games and Battlefield.
They screwed up Dead Space
They screwed up Titanfall
They screwed up Dragon Age
They screwed up Mass Effect

[_-EDMIX-_]

Because you could name a series past 3 entries where not a single entry has flaws?

[Pintheshadows]

There is no game in history without flaws. That's a weak argument EDMIX. No one is saying this game has to be flawless, but the fact is it is riddled with flaws. And if it has this many flaws within 5 hours, it's hardly going to get better.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@pin- most of the flaws I'm seeing in this are superficial and based on animations or graphical assets this is irrelevant to me because the original Three are not mind blowing in this regard.

If the structure or the physical gameplay is compromised then I might care.

You've already revealed yourself to be some sort of religious zealot of this series so your opinion regarding it are becoming very irrelevant , especially when you fall into the colt fanatic category​.

"it's hardly going to get better."

Based on what? Did you complete the game? 🤔

[TheColbertinator]

Some of the new stuff in Andromeda will be cool like colonies and exploration but the overall design is do dull.

I trembled with excitement for Mass Effect last gen with each new release.

[Xristo]

Seeing past the wacky animations and dead eyes, I loved the trial. Looking forward to the full release!

[Donnie81]

I played about 4 hours today and walked away feeling kinda torn. I'm not the type of person that is super critical on games unless they are just a mess ill overlook tiny stuff if its fun. Graphically the game is ok but does lack that wow factor a lot of new games have had lately. I'm hoping it looks a lot better on the pro because that's where ill be playing it. It seems to be dumbed down in a bunch of ways from past ME games. I'm not gonna set here and rip the game apart but from the 4 hours I played I did enjoy. It has faults and probably won't be a goty contender like the last few games but the diehard fans should find enough there to enjoy. Those on the fence might wanna wait for reviews or even a sale. Ill probably buy it after I finish horizon zero dawn and nier. I'm a huge fan of the series and want this game to be amazing but early impressions tell me its gonna be a high 70s low 80s game. That's really good but the series has set the bar pretty high for itself and some might be a bit let down.

[00]

after watching a live stream the game looks and sounds terrible

[jznrpg]

I will find out for myself. By the time I get to it there will be a general consensus, but that doesn't mean I won't enjoy it.

[Godmars290]

I kind of wrote off the series with ME2.

Decent enough game, but as a story it was utter crap. And Bioware needs to be slapped with a wet fish for calling it a trilogy.

[MadMax]

This new team have a political agenda. Focusing more on sexism and racism, than actually delivering a great game. Taking a lone mad max type renegade like Sheperd, and replacing him with some pansy Will and Grace type character. Seriously, you got something to say, go protest some silly march. Leave your politically correct nonsense outta our games. I'm boycotting everything this new team does from here on out. There are just way too many other far better games out there, to be bothered with this shoddy crap. Game is full of problems and the developers seem kinda dickish about it. They rather talk about racism and sexism, while saying how they would love to bang aliens. Watched a recent interview with that jerk and he does not deserve any praise at all. Stay clear of this game at all costs people. It's a very weak attempt at a once great franchise. Do not be fooled.

[FPS_D3TH]

Holy arm chair dev Batman! I'm sure he games fine. I'm likening this outrage to fallout 4s graphics whining.

[joethetimelord]

Bioware's soul died a long time ago. Disappointing as recent news about Andromeda is, it's not surprising at this point.

[OB1Biker]

'In the wake of all the news about Mass Effect Andromeda's faults, one brave journalist ...'
Haha what?

[N7HeRO]

I only ran into like 2 or 3 bugs on my playthrough it was a minor stuff though..nothing to make me cancel my pre-order..Bioware is good at support for their games ..they'll fix the issues

[MasterCornholio]

Reviews are already coming out.

http://www.metacritic.com/g...

The game seems to be doing ok but nowhere near the great Mass Effect titles of the past.

[SaveFerris]

Bioware and EA have thrown the Mass Effect franchise under a bus, and then expected fans to lap it up like it was food from the gods. Though it seems that their are people out there who will defend the game and Bioware/EA until the bitter end, and that is okay because that is their choice. Meanwhile, Bioware and EA are working on a new game, which I don't know much about, but it'll likely be a $60 mmo type game, similar to Destiny, and come with a lot of microtransactions. Perhaps other may know more?

[Flewid638]

Yes, let's.

Mass Effect went from being a BioWare game to being an EA game. The reign of it's awesomeness is over. Better off sticking with PS4 exclusives for a higher probability of a polished title.

[WelkinCole]

I hope this is not a sign of things to come for Western RPG's. Its great Japan is on track again if we go by what critics are saying.

I mean even Horizon scored lower than recent high profile Japanese games.

From the sounds of it it seems like people are getting tiered of the same thing being done before with ME.

It feels like a lot of what happened last gen with JRPGs after PS2.