Mass Effect fans around the world were counting down the minutes until the newest game released.
Midnight of March 21 couldn’t come soon enough.
However, after the first week, it was glaringly obvious there were problems with “Mass Effect: Andromeda.”
An important mission could be easily “broken” and cause the player to lose hours of gameplay by simply engaging in distance combat. Complaints came flooding in, and about two weeks after initial release, Electronic Arts (EA) and Bioware pushed out a massive update to fix bugs and alter certain visuals. Many have also stated that the story line falls flat from the original trilogy, and the main characters, the Ryder twins, can barely compare to Commander Shepherd.
All of that being said, I differ from the greater majority.
Sure, I struggled with bugs and glitches, and watching my Ryder’s head spin around like she was possessed was off-putting. Was I a little underwhelmed? Perhaps. Was I confused by the new interface system and how combat worked? Sure.
But those are really the only two negatives. The environments the creators made, all the different planets to explore, are crafted beautifully. From the desert planet of Eos to the beautiful rainforest reminiscent of Avatar on Havarel, it is obvious the game designers took their time.
The new alien races introduced are well rounded and wonderful. The romance options are, as usual, progressive and complex. The personality construction is also way more complicated than anything seen in the original Mass Effect series. Instead of just “renegade” or “paragon,” every emotional option shapes Ryder into a truly unique character.
In terms of the storyline, I would argue it is grossly unfair to compare this new game with the original series. Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 focused on a completely different area of galactic enterprises than Andromeda.
The original trilogy was focused on warfare and the consequences of politics. It explored the life of Commander Shepherd and their struggle with a war that is inevitable, uniting the Milky Way species and political corruption.
In “Andromeda” it is more about trying to create a place for humanity to survive. Ryder has to navigate a completely unknown galaxy, create diplomatic solutions with the natives of Andromeda, the Angara, and fight off a madman who wants to take over and kill all the Milky Way species.
So, sure, maybe it is a little bit different from the original trilogy. Maybe people don’t particularly enjoy the storyline. Maybe it does seem to fall a little flat, but comparing an obviously separate game to the original that garnered massive numbers of fans is a little ridiculous.
All in all, I’m happy that some of the bugs have been fixed and I don’t have to call an exorcist when Ryder’s head spins full circle. I’ve enjoyed every minute of the storyline and the gameplay. The unique personality of my character has been amusing to watch and listen to in interactions with the environment around them.
Andromeda was meant to be the beginning of another series, and I think it accomplishes that. It will be exciting to see where Bioware goes from here.
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Cewhitley24