Mass Effect: Andromeda - Review @ RPG Site

[Damian]

I meant that I'm able to play Ryder as if I was the one writing his responses. I didn't mean I was able to play myself.

I wouldn't be a good fit for a heroic Bioware character - or indeed any heroic character

That said, I wouldn't say it's much of a comedy. It just has more levity than the original trilogy.

So can you play the main character as a hero? Like in terms of the choices in dialogue available to you?

 

[NewDArt]

So can you play the main character as a hero? Like in terms of the choices in dialogue available to you?

I don't think you can avoid being the hero

 

[Damian]

Anyway I do see a comedy in there as much as i see WWE wrestling shows as comedy, except the characters arent as pretty which as i said is to my benefit. We'll see when i play it.

 

[Couchpotato]

As I said before I will wait to buy the GOTY Edition in two years with all the patches, and fixes. That's if BioWare and EA decides to bundle all DLC content this time.

Time will tell I guess.

 

[wolfgrimdark]

Cora is my favorite - but that might have something to do with her also being the most attractive

Just did her loyalty mission yesterday and it was great. The post-mission dialogue was done well, and the romancing has been suitably subtle so far.

The game has been pleasantly free from ultra-obnoxious characters - which is a new for me, for a Bioware game. Not a big fan of Kallo and Gil - or their predictably derivative interplay, but they're not that bad.

I expected to Hate Peebee - and she's certainly the most Bioware-ish in-your-face character so far, but she's growing on me.

She also offered me Zero-G sexual intercourse - but I had to turn her down. I'm a one-woman kind of guy in games as well as IRL

More quoting to say welcome back

Gil is a bit odd but considering who I am he is my favorite option as a companion even if he is stuck on ship (not a follower) and I know a few people like him in real life so I am okay with him. For someone watching my back pretty happy with Cora. She will be a main stay in all my missions. Still trying out some of the others.

I am enjoying the game but I admit to not being overly critical of games in general. I am still happy with my 7 rating and according to the game I am now 20% complete … so got a long ways to go yet and since I have limited game time will probably be a bit before I finish. Plus a one time play though most likely so not in a rush.

A variety of things that bug me with the game if I focus on them too much though. For example logic issues. Like how come the Kett couldn't understand anything then a short while later everyone seems to speak the same language? I have to assume some kind of technology lets them all learn language really fast or its being translated. Like with a babel fish. Anyhow I enjoy the game more if I try not to think about those things too much

I also have a new PC arriving in 3-7 days and its a real beauty so will be looking forward to trying out all my favorite games on it which will slow my MEA down a little more.

Side comment on being the hero - I see this game much more as playing the good person. I mean you joined the whole thing to explore and help humanity so it really doesn't make sense (to me at least) that there should be an "evil/bad" option. I think the idea is you are out doing a good thing in general.

Also a little different from ME1-3 with Shep where you were more a war vet fighting a war and hence being dark and sarcastic or punching people seems a little more plausible.

… Not that I would mind being able to punch Peebee, Addison, or her dickwad assistant.

 

[azarhal]

A variety of things that bug me with the game if I focus on them too much though. For example logic issues. Like how come the Kett couldn't understand anything then a short while later everyone seems to speak the same language? I have to assume some kind of technology lets them all learn language really fast or its being translated. Like with a babel fish. Anyhow I enjoy the game more if I try not to think about those things too much

It works like in Star Trek…

Just like in the trilogy, the omni-tool does the translation live (mentioned in ME1 Bring Down the Sky DLC), but the translator program needs to be updated when new species are meet (SAM work on the translation, it's mentioned a few times early on). If you read Kett and Angaran datapads, you'll see mention of "this is a translation from language X". Also, (tiny spoiler) you aren't the first Milky Way people the Angaran and Kett meet, they had a jump start in understanding the languages. You need to pay attention to ambien comments and read datapads to know that though.

 

[wolfgrimdark]

It works like in Star Trek…

Just like in the trilogy, the omni-tool does the translation live (mentioned in ME1 Bring Down the Sky DLC), but the translator program needs to be updated when new species are meet (SAM work on the translation, it's mentioned a few times early on). If you read Kett and Angaran datapads, you'll see mention of "this is a translation from language X". Also, (tiny spoiler) you aren't the first Milky Way people the Angaran and Kett meet, they had a jump start in understanding the languages. You need to pay attention to ambien comments and read datapads to know that though.

Thanks. My memory isn't good enough to remember much of the ME games since it was a while ago and only played once. But I figured it was some kind of technology - just missed the connection. I am reading the datapads but missed mention of previous encounters or maybe haven't gotten that far (only about 25% in after tonight's playing). Not a big lore buff with the ME games like I am with FO and Skyrim where I have a stronger connection to the game world. But will try to pay a little more attention.

 

[NewDArt]

More quoting to say welcome back

Thank you

A variety of things that bug me with the game if I focus on them too much though. For example logic issues. Like how come the Kett couldn't understand anything then a short while later everyone seems to speak the same language? I have to assume some kind of technology lets them all learn language really fast or its being translated. Like with a babel fish. Anyhow I enjoy the game more if I try not to think about those things too much

I don't know that they don't understand you - it seemed more a case of not really caring enough to speak your language when you first encountered them.

Though, I have to admit I was more caught up in the scenery to really follow things precisely

 

[ChienAboyeur]

After finishing to watch streams and catching enough of ME:A, the review has a point. MEA manages to be a ME product.
It was not a given because the three other ME are different enough with various receptions from various people.
MEA collects enough of each to claim the title of legitimate heir to all of them.

With this milestone achieved, the next step is the expansion into further episodes, which should mark the start of the ME series in Andromeda as this episode is more of a transition.

Also the story hints at a fair number of incoming dlcs.

 

[joxer]

As I said before I will wait to buy the GOTY Edition in two years with all the patches, and fixes. That's if BioWare and EA decides to bundle all DLC content this time.

Bugs are, considering how big the game is, rare. Many of them are avoidable (for example distorted sound post turian ark fixes itself by game restart, or hostile environment because trashmobs are invisible solved by suicide, or locked progress solved by not using displacing tech/bio skills only guns in vaults final rooms, etc).
I don't think horrible animations and even worse UI will ever be "fixed", so buy now.

according to the game I am now 20% complete … so got a long ways to go yet and since I have limited game time will probably be a bit before I finish. Plus a one time play though most likely so not in a rush.
…
I also have a new PC arriving in 3-7 days
…
Not that I would mind being able to punch Peebee, Addison, or her dickwad assistant.

I'm currently at 87%, normal difficulty. Please do not rush it! We're not IGN reviewer, save the mainstory rush on insane dif. for NewGame+.
Here's hope the new PC is i5 with GTX 1080Ti.
Peebee is… Ah well, acts first, thinks later. If she thinks anything at all. Addison is just a grumpy old bitch, instead of punching her use lowerleft dialogue option. It's sad you can't get her fired although you'll (unless you skip sidemissions) discover her mistake which she'll want to keep secret - never accept "hushmoney" from these perfect people!
With such boss no assistant can be great, but he'll let you bring three specific specialists from cryo to Eos and also you'll be able to solve certain protests peacefully. You still can't save him from his bad workplace, he's basically a victim and didn't deserve to be punched.
IMO.

 

[Melvil]

While I enjoy the game at about a 6/10 quality rating, I had to shelve it in anticipation of polish patches. Some of you may not be aware, but dialogue options with your crew do not update the root option in the conversation tree, so you have likely missed TONS of dialogue with your companions between missions as it appears that no no options were available. In truth, new options were available but they were not obvious because the root dialogue option remains grayed out.

I have also run into many quest killing bugs where monsters do not spawn during a fight, and due to the way saves are handled during "plot" action, I have lost much time replaying boring combat segments praying that the boss will spawn next time.

I think this game will be good by Christmas

 

[NewDArt]

While I enjoy the game at about a 6/10 quality rating, I had to shelve it in anticipation of polish patches. Some of you may not be aware, but dialogue options with your crew do not update the root option in the conversation tree, so you have likely missed TONS of dialogue with your companions between missions as it appears that no no options were available. In truth, new options were available but they were not obvious because the root dialogue option remains grayed out.

I have also run into many quest killing bugs where monsters do not spawn during a fight, and due to the way saves are handled during "plot" action, I have lost much time replaying boring combat segments praying that the boss will spawn next time.

I think this game will be good by Christmas

Hmm, that doesn't sound good.

I did notice that you could get new replies when picking "grayed out" dialogue options - but I thought that was only when said option had more than one secondary option available.

Are you saying there are hidden dialogue options behind "grayed out" options that formerly only led to a single secondary option, or?

Because then I will have to replay 45-50 hours of play

 

[azarhal]

I linked a reddit post about that in the MEA thread.

Basically, some dialogue options updates after missions, but the text stay grey.

 

[Damian]

Do you think that if they got well known voice actors and changed some of the dialogue, do you think that the average at metacritic would be 10 points higher? I think that might actually be the case. Many people are reviewing it from an RPG perspective, do you think that is wrong? Should they be reviewing it more as a single player MMO?

 

[NewDArt]

Do you think that if they got well known voice actors and changed some of the dialogue, do you think that the average at metacritic would be 10 points higher? I think that might actually be the case. Many people are reviewing it from an RPG perspective, do you think that is wrong? Should they be reviewing it more as a single player MMO?

The voice actors are just fine.

No, I think the primary issue with the game is that it has a slow beginning - and it doesn't make a particularly good first impression. I honestly don't believe (the majority) of professional reviewers play these huge AAA games like they're supposed to be played.

I think they're on the clock and feel obligated to finish it sooner rather than later, which is a very bad way to play a game like Andromeda. That would make all the optional side content feel like a big obstacle to your objective, instead of something pleasurable you can experience at your leisure.

So, it's that coupled with some unfortunate and very real issues with animations and NPC models.

 

[Damian]

The voice actors are just fine.

No, I think the primary issue with the game is that it has a slow beginning - and it doesn't make a particularly good first impression. I honestly don't believe (the majority) of professional reviewers play these huge AAA games like they're supposed to be played.

I think they're on the clock and feel obligated to finish it sooner rather than later, which is a very bad way to play a game like Andromeda. That would make all the optional side content feel like a big obstacle to your objective, instead of something pleasurable you can experience at your leisure.

So, it's that coupled with some unfortunate and very real issues with animations and NPC models.

I disagree with the voice actors being fine, the red headed Scottish(or whatever) lady has an over the top comical tone to her voice, others are speaking in such a way they sound really disinterested, others sound like they are trying to speak in phonetics. The voice acting goes a long way towards the presentation. ME:A is averaging 73% at metacritic which is like 20 points lower than the original trilogy. Which to me means "sub par" because most games dont go that low on average these days.

If you want the voice acting to be taken seriously you need to hire well known voice actors, so even when they do bad, the game is still forgiven I think.

 

[NewDArt]

I disagree with the voice actors being fine, the red headed Scottish(or whatever) lady has an over the top comical tone to her voice, others are speaking in such a way they sound really disinterested, others sound like they are trying to speak in phonetics. The voice acting goes a long way towards the presentation. ME:A is averaging 73% at metacritic which is like 20 points lower than the original trilogy. Which to me means "sub par" because most games dont go that low on average these days.

If you want the voice acting to be taken seriously you need to hire well known voice actors, so even when they do bad, the game is still forgiven I think.

As I said, I think the voice actors are just fine.

I can't really support your conclusion since I disagree with its premise

 

[Damian]

As I said, I think the voice actors are just fine.

I can't really support your conclusion since I disagree with its premise

So you dont think that having people like Martin Sheen as "the elusive man" made the game's original trilogy stand out and get higher scores? There were news articles about it IIRC from various gaming sites. That really was a big thing it made the average person take gaming seriously.

 

[NewDArt]

So you dont think that having people like Martin Sheen as "the elusive man" made the game's original trilogy stand out and get higher scores? There were news articles about it IIRC from various gaming sites. That really was a big thing it made the average person take gaming seriously.

There are similarly big names in Andromeda as well, including Clancy Brown and Natalie Dormer.

I think what made Mass Effect 2 stand out was a ton of polish and extremely streamlined gameplay.

I think Andromeda is much, much better, personally.

 

[purpleblob]

There are similarly big names in Andromeda as well, including Clancy Brown and Natalie Dormer.

I think what made Mass Effect 2 stand out was a ton of polish and extremely streamlined gameplay.

I think Andromeda is much, much better, personally.

Agree with both you and Damian. I liked ME2 best out of whole series (excluding ME:A which I havent played yet) because of the polish. But I also have to say voice acting is what made ME2 extremely enjoyable, high quality interactive movie.

You really think ME:A is better? Damn you are really getting me interested… argh… I still want to finish The Witcher 3 first though!!