Mass Effect: Andromeda · 10:42pm Mar 21st, 2017
So, this is going to be me talking about my first session with Mass Effect: Andromeda, a game I've been insanely hyped for. I'm going to break it into two parts: My thoughts before I play and my thoughts after I play.
Before Session
I didn't play Mass Effect 1 or 2, and I never finished 3, so my perspective on the series might be a bit warped and biased. That said, I fucking love ME. I find it so captivating and breathtaking, for the characters, the races, the very idea of exploring the vast reaches of the galaxy. It just feels so good! It takes the whimsy of childhood dreams of being an astronaut and maturing it for my more adult tastes. So it has a setting and a flavor that I've always loved. The combat was my only real point of contention with ME3, what with it not really knowing if it wants to be a third-person shooter, an RPG, or a strategy game. It felt so slow and stiff and generally unfun. I kinda just wanted to explore space more.
Andromeda seems to be solving that issue for me. From what I've seen so far (which, admittedly, isn't much) it looks like a competent shooter. Much faster and more mobile than ME3. That, plus next-gen hardware and a clean slate story-wise, I saw no reason to believe that this game would be anything but fantastic.
Then, I made the mistake of going to Reddit.
I know people hated ME3 (but, much like Evolve, I'm unsure as to why). And I knew that this game would be a bit rough 'round the edges on release. But, apparently, a couple of animation bugs makes this game a rotten, unplayable piece of shit, and I should feel bad for thinking otherwise. So fuck me for trying to enjoy something, I guess? (This kinda makes me a hypocrite, because I was telling anyone who would listen that No Man's Sky would be trash, maybe this is my cosmic karma). But, whether the internet believes it'll be good or not, I'm positive that I'll enjoy it.
So, now I'm gonna make my Ryder and report back after my first gameplay session.
The SP, yeah, some minor things, but its fun, the multiplayer does need some more work, but again, its solid and fun. Really, if you have fun, get your moneys worth, and can deal with butthurt me3 'fans' at times, take it how you will.
Its not perfect, by any stretch, but is it good enough for what it aims for, and against? Yeah, yeah it is.
Odd I found ME3 to have best gameplay out of the triology and fast paced. And I played it on outdated pc. So I can safely say you would not enjoy the first two. First game was slow and way more rpg oriented but it felt pointless to me and second is like 3rd but without weapon modification and weight system. As for story first game wins, second game gives good experience if you ignore stupidity of main story and third is split between awesome conclusions of things from previous games and... the questionable parts.
To understand the anger for 3rd game one must play triology and finish 3rd game. Sadly hate is justified but it is overestimated. At least I still loved the gameplay and the good story parts.
For Andromeda I am reserving my thoughts till I learn the story and see gameplay. I did not have any expectations for graphics as I knew it was going to be on the Dragon Age 3 engine and it rubbed me the wrong way.
Also eeeew redit.
There's a looot of weird graphical and animation bugs, but I haven't seen anyone complain about the gameplay itself.
Honestly, the only problem I've had with it so far is weird animation (a staple of Bioware games in all their series to be honest) and the fact that my computer was not made to handle a big this big. Aside from that, though, I love it. The dialogue can feel weird at times, but I can't tell if that's my actual thoughts or my brain nitpicking due to all the people I've heard saying similar. Over all it's nice so far.
I honestly never got the hate for ME3 though. :? I guess peoploe just expected a different ending? I personally liked it, but I guess coming to the series after the ending DLC was released help. Meh. My only issue is that the ending didn't give an easy happy ending for Shepard despite all their hard work, which isn't bad but made it feel really bittersweet.