Official Thread Mass Effect: Andromeda

Rate Mass Effect Andromeda

  • 5/5

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 4/5

    Votes: 5 26.3%
  • 3/5

    Votes: 12 63.2%
  • 2/5

    Votes: 2 10.5%
  • 1/5 My face is tired

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    19
I woke up a little early this morning and got probably 90 minutes in.

I will definitely say that the "tutorial" system is insufficient at best. I didn't figure out how in the world to raise my health back up until I literally stumbled across a health healing box or something near an ammo dump after having cleared out a story mission, the first one where the enemies came in waves on shuttles. I picked up a weapon there as well but I must have clicked through the message about that explaining how to change weapons because I still am stuck with my default pistol and the AR picked up earlier in the mission. I wouldn't have known about the ammo boxes if I hadn't seen a multiplayer video on the Y'alltube because I wanted to see some gameplay with no spoilers whatsoever. Because of the health thing, I ended up dropping down from Hardcore to normal after about four deaths, which is unfortunate but had to be done.

I did notice some janky animations and I hate that the conversation icons telling what type of choice they are don't stand out well at all. I sit too far from my TV and my eyes suck even with glasses, and while I can read all the text as long as it's contrasted properly, those icons are really tough sometimes because of the lack of contrast. I don't think it will really bother me because I'll just say what I'm going to say because it's what I want to say, but seeing the icons helps sometimes clear up vague statements.

For the most part, though, I like the game. I'm not far enough into it to make any real observations, but it plays pretty well to this point.
 
Got an hour in this morning. Picked up where the trial ended. I thought the combat was nice and fluid. Some of the animation is janky but didn't deter from an overall nice experience so far. I can't get over some of the character's psycho eyes though. I'm going to try to get into PeeBee's pants....
 
Got an hour in this morning. Picked up where the trial ended. I thought the combat was nice and fluid. Some of the animation is janky but didn't deter from an overall nice experience so far. I can't get over some of the character's psycho eyes though. I'm going to try to get into PeeBee's pants....
PeeBee wants your peepee.
 
I woke up a little early this morning and got probably 90 minutes in.

I will definitely say that the "tutorial" system is insufficient at best. I didn't figure out how in the world to raise my health back up until I literally stumbled across a health healing box or something near an ammo dump after having cleared out a story mission, the first one where the enemies came in waves on shuttles. I picked up a weapon there as well but I must have clicked through the message about that explaining how to change weapons because I still am stuck with my default pistol and the AR picked up earlier in the mission. I wouldn't have known about the ammo boxes if I hadn't seen a multiplayer video on the Y'alltube because I wanted to see some gameplay with no spoilers whatsoever. Because of the health thing, I ended up dropping down from Hardcore to normal after about four deaths, which is unfortunate but had to be done.

I did notice some janky animations and I hate that the conversation icons telling what type of choice they are don't stand out well at all. I sit too far from my TV and my eyes suck even with glasses, and while I can read all the text as long as it's contrasted properly, those icons are really tough sometimes because of the lack of contrast. I don't think it will really bother me because I'll just say what I'm going to say because it's what I want to say, but seeing the icons helps sometimes clear up vague statements.

For the most part, though, I like the game. I'm not far enough into it to make any real observations, but it plays pretty well to this point.
I played on hardcore and didn't have issues, but you do need to stick to cover till you upgrade defenses some.

As for weapons, you can not change your loadout on. the fly,only on the tempest or those beacon things that protect you from the enviromental hazards.
 
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I played on hardcore and didn't have issues, but you do need to stick to cover till you upgrade defenses some.

As for weapons, you can not change your loadout on. the fly,only on the tempest or those beacon things that protect you from the enviromental hazards.

Not even sure what the beacon thing is - is there one on the first mission?

I might have been able to continue on hardcore had I realized how to refill health - I kept looking for something like the omni-gel or something in the weapon/power wheel, and found nothing. I'm still not sure if every ammo box has a health box next to it or it was just that one location, though. I may play a little more and then start over once I feel a little more comfortable with the mechanics, since I'm still pretty early in the game. I might need to fire up the Y'alltube on lunch and see if someone who's played a little longer is doing a playthrough and can explain some of this a little better than the game seems to.
 
An EA game with launch day server issues...nah, that would never happen.

Don't you dare disparage SimProgressBar! Just because nobody could 100% that in the first day or three doesn't make it a bad game. :crazy:
 
Not even sure what the beacon thing is - is there one on the first mission?

I might have been able to continue on hardcore had I realized how to refill health - I kept looking for something like the omni-gel or something in the weapon/power wheel, and found nothing. I'm still not sure if every ammo box has a health box next to it or it was just that one location, though. I may play a little more and then start over once I feel a little more comfortable with the mechanics, since I'm still pretty early in the game. I might need to fire up the Y'alltube on lunch and see if someone who's played a little longer is doing a playthrough and can explain some of this a little better than the game seems to.
Not sur you can change weapons untill you get to Eos.
 
PeeBee wants your peepee.

tumblr_lv5aabZKin1qdn2zy.jpg
 
Not sure what to say. On one hand having worse animations than a game from 10 years ago is unacceptable. On the other hand it just goes to show how spoiled we are. If everything else about the game is stellar then it is what it is. What really matters in the end? The gameplay or some stiff animations. Clearly the B team was at work here. Rather have a game that's rough around the edges but great when it matters than no game at all. I'm glad they made it. We don't have any other massive open world sci-fi games on this scale.
Point is people trust them. I trust them, & they cut corners.
I preorder without looking at any preview. They betreyed that trust. I paid 70€, & that a lot of money.

I don't think it will be a bad game, but the argument is that same $ & time could be spend on a more polished game.
 
Point is people trust them. I trust them, & they cut corners.
I preorder without looking at any preview. They betreyed that trust. I paid 70€, & that a lot of money.

I don't think it will be a bad game, but the argument is that same $ & time could be spend on a more polished game.
You can make that argument for every game, so not a good argument really.

70 is alot of money, so why are you risking it by trusting a company? Bioware have always cut corners and yet you still trust them.
 
I just watched a romance scene (for research) and noticed the animations and faces are quite impressive.
 
I am so ambivalent about this game. Mass Effect is one of my favourite franchises and I am trying to remain impartial despite all the glaring issues. Firstly the design of this game is just not going to work in 2017 anymore, reviews can attest to that. Inquisition got away with it in 2014 but after the Witcher 3 and Horizon filler quests just will not do.This structure is putting me off as I found it to be the most frustrating element of Dragon Age Inquisition. Bioware seemingly missed the memo on what quests are. They are not collectible hunts but actually interesting stories to add depth and meaning to the games world. BIGGER is not always better and in this case I would have much rather a more focused game with stronger narrative and streamlined exploration like Mass Effect 2.

The bugs, jankiness and animation are not good, I will never laugh or berate developers for poor animation or jankiness though because game development is tough and difficult. I don't blame Bioware, it is clear this game needed more time but EA has seemingly rushed it out. That is on EA to have some balls and delay it. It benefits no one having a rushed product, not the developers, publisher or fans of the series. Still despite these issues they cannot be ignored, it is not so much the animation and jankiness which concerns me but the vast array of bugs I have read about concern me greatly. I don't know whether DICE could not assist them with the engine, but either way someone has messed up because I always thought frostbite was a top engine but maybe it's not suited to RPG's? IDK Inquisition ran well though.

I am impressed with the visuals of the planets and affects they look really good and the visuals are striking. Also the combat looks great, fluid, deep and lots of flexibility so there has definitely been improvements and refinement in the game which is good.

Now my biggest frustration after reading multiple reviews is just how safe this game is. I gets it's a new team taking of the helm and controlling development but it seems like a rehash of Mass Effect. There barely seems like any new species or aliens, the game focuses on one big bad guy again. There was so much missed opportunities for intergalactic politics,warfare and exploration. The characters all look so uninspired and I think that is derived from most of them are from the same alien classes. It is lacking a freshness and a new take on the franchise. I look at the characters and don't get the intrigue I got from Thane, the excitement at meeting Garrus and fascination I had with Mordin. There seem to be no new exciting big cities to visit. I was hoping to see a place like the citadel but much bigger and more interesting. Places that paint pictures and depicted societies like Omega. The Nexus looks cool but that is based on the people we are controlling what about cities or towns on new uninhibited planets. Maybe they are in there but they have not done a good job of communicating that with people.

All in Mass Effect Andromeda looks like a Mass Effect game but one that was rushed and played it really safe which is a shame.
 
You can make that argument for every game, so not a good argument really.

70 is alot of money, so why are you risking it by trusting a company? Bioware have always cut corners and yet you still trust them.
You trust company that produce products you are happy with, & avoid theose that has a bad record. I do not see anything wrong, other than my trust is misplaced.

As a developer myself (in Automotive), I should know better that quality is often the team, not the company. Change of personal or management cutting corners often result in inferior product.
 
The one advantage of having this sequel many years after the trilogy in a galaxy far away should've been the ability to recreate that sense of wonderment and mystery. Instead Bioware re-used the same species and story structure. Similar game design when other open worlds have moved on. This one isn't getting my money or more importantly, 50 hours of my time. This should've been a no brainer purchase for fans of the original games.
 
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Over or under 2 weeks before this hits the bargain bin? I'm a Mass Effect fan and had every intention of getting it day one but i'm not shelling out $60 knowing it won't be long before it's cheap.
 
Unknown. EA only gave them 18 months for ME3 plus they haven been working on other stuff.

It started development in 2012 and the other studio Bioware studios helped so it probably had a rough development. Canceling the beta just adds to the thinking that it came in real hot.
 
You trust company that produce products you are happy with, & avoid theose that has a bad record. I do not see anything wrong, other than my trust is misplaced.

As a developer myself (in Automotive), I should know better that quality is often the team, not the company. Change of personal or management cutting corners often result in inferior product.
No you don't. You judge each product on its own merits.

The company is the team, and the big wigs set the goals, resources an ultimatly everything. To trust the "team" is to trust the company, and trusting a company. is extremely naive.

A good case in point would be Bungie. They went from making one of the iconic, high quality, well loved and critically acclaimed series to making Destiny, which isn't even close.
 
I have a hard time with the concept of "playing it safe" with games. Outside of gameplay advances (which are obvious) in what way should they have deviated with this game? In terms of improvement in presentation there is a laundry list, but if it does more of the same in its narrative, when the previous "same" helped to define its console generation, is that not technically good? I suppose the crux of it is, does it feel a part of the series style or is it more of a derivative, superficial recreation? To be bit wordy.

It seems like a similar issue people have with dishonored 2. I'm finally starting it up again and really don't get it, it's "more of the same," but that's exactly what I wanted when getting a sequel. I'm certainly praising it for its level design so far.
 
I have a hard time with the concept of "playing it safe" with games. Outside of gameplay advances (which are obvious) in what way should they have deviated with this game? In terms of improvement in presentation there is a laundry list, but if it does more of the same in its narrative, when the previous "same" helped to define its console generation, is that not technically good? I suppose the crux of it is, does it feel a part of the series style or is it more of a derivative, superficial recreation? To be bit wordy.

It seems like a similar issue people have with dishonored 2. I'm finally starting it up again and really don't get it, it's "more of the same," but that's exactly what I wanted when getting a sequel. I'm certainly praising it for its level design so far.

I think it is a combination of things, like...

New Hardware
setting
when it takes place
what sort of connection it has to previous game/s

Games like Mass Effect and Gears 4 had a great opportunity to really mix things up, but they played very safe. Dishonoured being very samey makes sense and was expected.
 
I just started playing Shadow Of Mordor, for the first time.

I think the cinematics are way better for this 3 year old game then what I've seen in ME.