The Red Headed Step-Child of the Mass Effect Universe

Usually I opt to re-play one of my favorite series during the summer months when I have lots of time.  This summer I decided that it has been awhile since I had delved back into one of my favorite series, Mass Effect.  In general, I'm content to play through the three core ME games (which are now nicely bundled together in the Legendary Edition).  This time around, I decided to revisit Mass Effect: Andromeda, the newest, but most reviled game in the series.

I'm part of a very awesome Facebook group of Mass Effect fans (you can find it here--it's very well moderated and one of the least toxic fandom groups you will find) and a question that gets regularly asked is by new players who want to know if Andromeda is worth playing.  In general, the feedback is fairly divisive.  I'm here to say yes, it's worth playing, but just know that it's not the same experience as the core trilogy.  They definitely made an effort with Andromeda to incorporate more open world gameplay and less of the dialogue heavy interactions with squadmates. 

The Andromeda squad.

Part of me has always thought that Andromeda gets a bit of a bad rap.  So many people act like it is an absolutely abysmal game and it's not (although, it's definitely not of the same caliber as the core trilogy).  There are some things that it does pretty well--the combat is some of the best in the series and is challenging at the upper difficulty levels.  It's not perfect, I do wish they had left the ability to give commands to your squadmates (...and that they didn't feel so utterly useless), but it's definitely fun.  The squadmate banter is also highly entertaining and helps to make those long stretches of exploration a bit more fun.  The planets you visit in Andromeda are quite stunning too and piloting the Nomad definitely beats the Mako.

As I've been playing back through it, I've also remembered the things that make it less enjoyable.  The open world format is...mostly okay.  I dislike the fact that they sprinkled lots of interesting Kett outposts, crash sites, and smaller Remnant sites but gave players basically no impetus to stop and interact with those sites (yes, there are the random "task" missions that ask you to find certain objects, but those are some of the most annoying in the game).  In previous playthroughs I've had very few bug/glitch issues, but this time around is my time, I guess.  I've found my Ryder falling through planets just as I have landed on multiple occasions; I've had my Ryder fall through a set of stairs and get stuck...and then found that it had autosaved under the stairs (luckily I had another recent save to re-load).  I absolutely hate the way that Kadara Port is divided up into two separate zones the require you to load into them (and that the doors there are frustratingly slow to open--why do they need so many stupid doors anyway?) The story feels a bit underwhelming too--it's a bit of a re-hash of the Mass Effect story but with different evil aliens with semi-understandable motives.

If you're looking to check out Andromeda the "deluxe" edition can be purchased on Steam for $39.99.  That price seems a bit crazy to me, but you can also subscribe to EA Play for $4.99 a month and check it out.  I've seen it on sale for very cheap, so that is probably the best time to purchase.

Inching Up--Finishing my Third Andromeda Playthrough

 Just last night I finished my third full Mass Effect:  Andromeda playthrough.  I've found that with every completion that I generally walk away feeling slightly more positive about the game.  Even after three mostly completionist playthroughs (I did not attempt to complete all the optional side tasks because I get irritated at the mostly random nature of actually finding them) Andromeda just doesn't quite stack up to the original ME trilogy.  Just a note that this might be a bit spoiler-y for those who haven't played Andromeda yet.

Things that still bug the k-rap out of me:

--I am still completely boggled by the plot hole around the use of mass relays.  In the OT a very central part of the story is the use of mass relays to facilitate almost instantaneous travel throughout the galaxy.  There are multiple plot problems with the mass relays:  1.) they were created by an alien race in the Milky Way 2.) according to the ending in ME3 they all were destroyed when Shepard used the Crucible (this in itself is a big plot problem because in earlier games it is mentioned that destroying a mass relay will release enough energy to annihilate an entire star system) and even though the technology was being researched it still wasn't fully understood 3.) THERE ARE NO MASS RELAYS IN ANDROMEDA...and yet, the Tempest can travel between systems.  There's absolutely no explanation for this, and I suppose that if you're a new player it's something you wouldn't even be aware of.

--Minor gameplay issues.  Let me list them:  1.) the weird camera angles that make it difficult to hear dialogue when in a conversation 2.) I seriously wish mining zones would appear on your map in a marked zone as opposed to one marker that requires you to puzzle out their boundaries 3.) I may have missed it through all three playthroughs but a hotkey for quick weapon swaps 4.) the annoying layout of Kadara--why the swapping between zones and the stupidly slow doors? 5.) companions who are almost completely useless in combat 6.) occasionally weird facial animations for Ryder.  I could probably think of more, but I digress....

--The main storyline is weak in comparison to the OT.  I am always amazed at how short it really is and how unsatisfying the ending is. There has always been a part of me that feels like they followed the "formula" for a ME game a bit too closely--If there are future games I hope they try for something a bit more unique.

Things that I enjoy:

--Beautiful worlds to explore.  ME1 had a nice space exploration feeling but the other games in the trilogy were much more focused on more story based aspects.  I am glad that Andromeda returned the series to the wonders of exploring a new galaxy.  Tooling around in the Nomad across the various worlds in the Heleus cluster is enjoyable.

--Combat in Andromeda is better (in some regards!) than in the previous games.  It's much more mobile and Ryder feels like a combat badass.  With that said though, I do miss the ability to issue commands to followers and to more effectively utilize the combo system.  It is almost impossible to get your  companions to do what you want them to do in combat and they end up dead more often than not.

--Companion banter is funny and helps to bring some levity to periods of exploration.  It's fun to swap out squadmates and see where the conversation ends up.

Jaal's romance is 🔥😘❤

--A wide variety of romantic choices.  This time around I chose Jaal as the partner for my Ryder and it's always fun to see how the relationship plays out.  Lemme just say here that the Jaal romance has one of the spicier romantic scenes--it made me laugh because I remember the controversy over ME1 and the fact that Shepard could hook up with Liara (there was an actual news story about it because some people were very scandalized by the entire concept).  Well, good thing those people have moved on from worrying about fictional alien/human sexual relationships in video games because I think Jaal and Ryder would cause them some internal panic. 🔥🔥🔥 It's also interesting that they threw in the option for casual hook-ups (which I haven't really checked out due to my innate fear of messing up relationships).  The relationship aspect has always been something I enjoy and Andromeda does it well.

In conclusion, a silly hypothetical ME question:

If you asked me "would you rather have an OT remaster or a new Andromeda game" I would lean decidedly toward a new Andromeda game.  It's not that I don't absolutely love the OT, but I am highly skeptical of remasters--most of them feel like simply slapping a new layer of paint on the game in an effort to make more cash.  The OT remaster rumors have been popping up occasionally and I always take them with a grain of salt.  If they decided to offer the remaster for free to people who already own the original games I would snatch them up in a heartbeat.  If there was an option for a remake of ME1 where they fixed the wonky-ass combat...maybe, just maybe I would think about spending some cash.

It saddens me that Andromeda never got DLC and that there are major cliffhangers (the benefactor?  the murder of Jien Garson?  the Kett Primus?  the Quarian Ark?) that could possibly never be answered.  My hope for the survival of BioWare and any future ME games is hanging on the upcoming Dragon Age game--if it does well I think there's a chance we could possibly see another Andromeda game. 

Space Magic

The bad news is that lately I haven't had a ton of time to spend gaming.  I've been halfway paying attention to gaming news but haven't seen much of note.  I'm excitedly eyeballing the recent full release of Hades and looking forward to diving back into the roguelike Greek underworld.  For now though, I'm continuing to spend my time playing through Mass Effect:  Andromeda.

Pre-terraformed Kadara is a bit hellish, but still pretty.

Last week I spent time feeling annoyed with some minor design flaws in Andromeda, but this week I am feeling more positive about my experiences in the game.  One of the things that I do enjoy about Andromeda is the beauty of the settings within the game--whether you're in the desert splendor of Eos or the icy, wastes of Voeld, the planets look great.  I've been pondering which planet is my favorite from the game and I would lean toward Kadara.  There's something beautiful about the way they made the planet have a slightly grassy feeling but combined it with an almost aquatic/coral reef type of environment.  I also always have a soft spot for the less reputable planets and settings--they're just more fun!  Sure, Kadara might be crawling with outlaws and criminals, but that just gives it  more personality.

The perennial "hardest decision" in ME games has also rolled around--to romance or not to romance, that is the question.  My former Ryders have struck up relationships with various crew members (namely Liam and Peebee) so I've been trying to branch out to the other romances that I haven't experienced yet.  This time around I decided it was time to strike up a relationship with Jaal, the squishy, pink, Angaran sniper.  I have read that it's one of the sweeter romances in Andromeda, but I'm in the early stages and haven't seen much of it play out just yet.  It always feels a bit weird to romance the alien members of the crew (with the exception of the Asari who are very human-like).

I've also finally got to the point in my playthrough where vanguard has gotten much more enjoyable--my charge ability fully refills my shields so I can blast across the battlefield and shotgun blast almost everything (architects excluded) right in the face.  It's highly enjoyable...would recommend (even though early going vanguarding was pretty painful).  My Ryder is now an official shotgun wielding badass (*although not really much of a badass because I just can't play real "badasses"--paragon all the way).

Overall, I'm having fun with Andromeda.  Sure, there are things you can diss, but when push comes to shove, I generally find that I'm completely absorbed in what I'm doing in the game.  So, if you're one of the people asking "should I play Andromeda," the answer is yes, you should play it (I follow a popular ME fan group on social media and this question comes up all the time!).

Why Can't You Just Talk to Me? Irritation in Andromeda

 It was a bit of a slow gaming news week--I didn't encounter anything that piqued my interest (apparently the PS5 ordering has been a complete and utter clusterfunk, but I'm not part of that crowd), so I thought I would give some thought to my current Mass Effect:  Andromeda re-play.  I've been playing for awhile now and have settled back into the groove of the game...and, it's still mostly the mixed bag that I remember.  I've encountered some small, but nonetheless irritating issues that I vaguely remember from previous playthroughs.

Issue #1

I jog my Ryder (who looks basically identical to another Ryder I created....I'm bad at the character creator, can you be bad at that?) over to an NPC either to strike up a conversation or to turn in a mission.  My squadmates are lingering somewhere in the background when I hit the "e" button to initiate the conversation.  The NPC talks and it's fine.  Ryder talks and it's still fine.  Things get annoying when the NPC/Ryder says something and one of your squadmates responds...but, they're off in the background somewhere and the camera is fixed, so you can't hear anything that they're saying!  I'm stuck looking at the POV of my Ryder and just silently standing there....I had forgotten about this issue but now that I've encountered it multiple times, I'm freshly annoyed by it.

Should you play Andromeda?  Yes, with some warnings.

Issue #2

I've reached the point in my playthrough where I'm fighting the Remnant Architects (I like to think of them as "space dragons" because they operate on very similar principles to the dragon fights in Dragon Age:  Inquisition).  The Remnant Architect fights are designed to be boss fight-like encounters--long, drawn out rumbles with a big baddy.  My main point of irritation has to do with the fact that the encounter doesn't autosave when you take down one of the "leg" conduits.  It would be so nice if you didn't have to completely restart the encounter when you die.  Last night I was fighting the Architect on Voeld--probably my least favorite fight location in the game (you have to deal with environmental hazards and the battleground is spread out in a weird way with cramped locations offering the best cover but being difficult to move in)--and it was a huge pain in the buttocks.  Part of me wishes they had spiced up the Architect fights a bit--there is no variety in the tactics of the fight, once you master the pattern it gets very rote.

Since my current Ryder is a vanguard build, I also get irritated at how useless certain ability sets are for the Architect fights.  You really can't charge/nova at all (I'm not quite at the point where I have enough points to create a swappable ability set for just the Architect fights).  I just want to punch an Architect in the face!

Issue #3

Why, oh why, isn't it possible to swap out gear at any place in the field?  Yes, you can fast travel to a forward station (if you've found a few) but that can be a bit of a pain if you're in a new location.  I just want to be able to equip the hot new piece of loot I found!

I don't want to totally diss on Andromeda though; I've always enjoyed the combat and found it quite challenging and I find that with each new playthrough I enjoy the companions more.  It's still not the OG Mass Effect trilogy, but it's worth playing (especially now that it is available for extremely cheap).  I just wish they had fixed a few of these small, irritating things.  It's really a shame that the DLC was scrapped and that we'll never get a satisfactory end to the story.

Sitting in my Smoke Filled Room

Today it's hard to want to do anything.  The state where I live is dealing with catastrophic fires--luckily, I don't live close to any of them, but we're currently dealing with hazardous levels of smoke (the air quality index for the town where I live is so high that it's completely off the scale....by a lot).  I'm grateful to be safe and it's heartbreaking to see what has been happening throughout the West.  We're going to be contending with hazardous smoke levels all weekend and I'm currently feeling the effects--I've had an ongoing headache and my throat has started to feel very scratchy.  Even with all the windows closed and trying to barricade myself inside the smokey smell has made its way indoors.  So, I'm going to try my best to drum up something for this week even though it's hard to think.

Is the era of Andromeda hate over?

As a teacher, the first few weeks of school are generally a bit chaotic.  This year is no exception since I'm starting the year teaching fully online.  Much of my time has been spent trying to redesign everything for an online format.  I haven't had a ton of time to dedicate to gaming.  What time I have had, I've spent starting up a brand new Ryder in Mass Effect:  Andromeda.  What drew me back to this weirdly controversial title?  I guess it was a combination of seeing the "mostly positive" reviews on Steam and seeing a number of posts about Andromeda in a ME group I follow on social media.

I am fairly certain that the Ryder I designed is almost identical to one that I created in one of my previous playthroughs--I'm getting weird deja vu vibes that makes me think that I'm not very creative and will pick exactly the same features every time.  This time around I decided to play a class that I've always struggled with, vanguard.  Look, using the biotic charge ability is lots of fun, but my personal play style leans more toward shooting than punching.  I don't know if I just need more practice with using the abilities, but it seems difficult to charge into a group of enemies, then scramble back into cover before getting swiss-cheesed with bullet holes.  I also opted for some extra challenge and am playing on insanity mode (I don't know if I have finished it on insanity before) so it's a rootin'-tootin', my Ryder dying a lot, good times!

Andromeda got a ton of flak when it was released in 2017 and it's interesting that the reviews on Steam have angled toward the positive side.  I do think some of the scorn was unwarranted--the combat is fun, challenging, and much more mobile than in the original trilogy.  There are still things that bug me--the facial animation remains awkwardly wonky at certain moments--cringeworthily so, but I think there are plenty of things to enjoy.  The more open-world nature of the game is a change from the ME trilogy and lends itself to better exploration.

Part of me hopes that BioWare doesn't give up on ME and that in the future there is some resolution to the lingering questions that were left when they decided to scrap the DLC for Andromeda.  I'm keeping a wary eye on the development of the upcoming Dragon Age game as an indicator for the possibility of the continuation of the ME series.  Any way you look at it, a new ME game is probably way off in the future.

Stay safe commanders!

Newsy News

On my own personal gaming front, I sadly don't have much to report, plus, it's back to school time which means my time has started to be spent elsewhere.  Mostly I am exhausted and like to just plop down in front of something relaxing.  My go-to relaxing game continues to be PC Building Simulator.  Unfortunately, I've hit level 31, unlocked all the parts, and don't know if simply completing jobs is enough to keep me invested.  I'm on the hunt for another relaxing game to unwind with.

So shiny!  So chonky!

There has been some interesting gaming/hardware news this week.  NVIDIA announced its next generation 3000 series GPU's and, shockingly, some of them could actually be semi-affordable (although, I would say with the state of the world right now, I don't know how many people are going to be clamoring for even the cheapest of the new cards).  They rolled out their announcement with some gorgeous shots of the hotly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 featuring the much lauded, but little understood ray tracing.  I am very much looking forward to Cyberpunk 2077, but won't be trying to beat the ravenous crowds of hardware nerds to these fancy-shmancy GPU's.

Another piece of good gaming news was the announcement that The Witcher 3 is going to be getting a graphical update in time for the release of the next generation of consoles and this includes the PC version (PC Gamer Article)!  It has been a few years since I've delved back into TW3 and this update might just be the thing to start up another adventure with Geralt and pals.  CD Projekt is awesome.

This isn't exactly breaking news, but fairly recently EA decided to begin selling its games on Steam.  I am very excited about this prospect because I was never wild about Origin.  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like you can migrate your Origin games over to Steam (sadface).  Weirdly, one of the games I've been feeling a hankering to go back and replay is Mass Effect:  Andromeda.  For a game that was critically panned by many fans of the series, the Steam reviews are currently sitting at "very positive."  I guess time has softened those wounds....

Whether you're starting to scrape up some pennies with the hope of snatching a 3000 series GPU, waiting for TW3 to get all fancied up so you can play through it for the 20th time, or thinking about replaying a game you felt fairly meh about (I'm looking at you Andromeda), have a happy, long Labor Day weekend!

Microtransactions are the Bane of my Existence.

Lately I have found that there are many games that I would love to purchase.  My Steam wishlist has a whopping 20 items on it!  This is a lot for me..I usually pick five or less that I am interested in and don't add many more than that.  Even with a packed wishlist I have found myself unwilling to start dropping the cash to start ticking some of these games off the list.  Why?  Microtransactions.  It feels like what should be a fun gaming experience is all too often being driven not by what gamers enjoy, but by shameless money grabbing.

Just this last week this article came out.  A former developer who worked for BioWare (who has made some of my favorite RPG's in the form of the Mass Effect trilogy....and, also, Andromeda--which I disliked) stated that developers are pushed to make larger open-world games and especially to make sure they have some sort of multiplayer aspect.  Because gamers love multiplayer?  No.  Because it's easier?  No.  Because they are listening to what gamers actually want?  No.  Because you can make more money.  Period.  Although this isn't earth shattering news, I find it refreshing that someone is actually copping to this.

A lot of Mass Effect fans were very irked by the fact that Mass Effect:  Andromeda wasn't going to include any singleplayer DLC.  The only updates and support it would receive would be in terms of adding more multiplayer options.  This was a extremely disappointing because there were many hanging storylines that many understood would be resolved in the form of additional DLC.  But, at least we know why--money.

Another new game that I was highly anticipating was Middle Earth:  Shadow of War.  I enjoyed sneaking around and stabbing orcs in Shadow of Mordor so I actually considered paying full price to pick up the next chapter (I usually wait for sales).  Unfortunately all the reviews revealed that once you get to a certain point in the game microtransactions in the form of loot crates are really pushed on players.  Reviews reveal that the end of the game seems to be a huge grind that is designed to bore players into buying additional items just to make it go by faster.  Other reviews revealed that players are required to sign up for some sort of WB account right from the start and that from the first minute that microtransactions are pushed.  A game that I was highly anticipating has turned into an instant 

"no."

Some Deus Ex:  Mankind Divided microtransactions.

Sadly, Shadow of War isn't my only example.  Deus Ex:  Mankind Divided was another that I was really looking forward to but decided not to buy.  The clear cut greed gets even worse in this case--players could buy Praxis kits (items that grant you skill points) but these were only single use items.  In a singleplayer game....seriously?  Reviews also stated that the main storyline ends and that the only way to see the story resolved is through purchasing a DLC.  A...freakin' DLC...just to finish the main storyline!  Absolutely ridiculous.

I could keep listing off examples, but I think you get my point.  It has become completely standard fare for the big dogs (EA, Activision, etc.) to use these anti-gamer, anti-consumer practices to simply inflate their ridiculous profits.  But maybe we're the ones to blame and not the companies.  They wouldn't use these practices if they didn't work and apparently, they REALLY work (that same article that I listed above mentions a specific example of someone dropping $15,000 on loot crate equivalents).

I personally try to avoid microtransactions and loot crates like they are the plague.  I don't want to pay more for something I've already paid for.  All too often the rewards we hope to gain don't happen.  I would encourage others to do the same thing as a way to discourage developers from using these anti-consumer practices.

As someone who really enjoys singleplayer RPGs this makes me concerned about the future of one of my favorite genres.  Is the push to make more cash going to make strong story and character based RPGs a thing of the past?  Are we doomed to a future of nothing but multiplayer games filled with thinly veiled forced purchasing schemes?  I really hope not.

ADDENDUM:  10/29/17
I stumbled across this gem of an article that came out just in the last couple of weeks.  It describes a patent filed by Activision (makers of Destiny and Overwatch) to use matchmaking as a scheme to influence players to purchase loot crates.  It sounds a little weird on the surface, but they are using psychology to influence people to buy crates.  Basically they pick a number of experienced players or players who have unlocked a lot of great items (through buying crates) and pair them up with newer players.  The idea is that the newer players will see how amazing the experienced/geared players look (and probably perform--due to skill or their uber-items) and will be influenced to want to buy crates so they can look just AS LEET!  Nice use of social psychology Activision...  I get a weird slimy feeling just writing about this.

Another part of this patent seems to be giving a certain unlockable item an advantage in certain matches.  Maybe a map pops up that rewards sniping--and before the match players are given the option to buy crates with the hope of unlocking a really good sniping weapon.  This would also put pressure on players to buy crates so that they could rack up more wins due to this advantage.

Activision vehemently denied that this is what they were trying to do.  They claim that they were just "testing out" the idea.  Sounds fishy to me.

ME: Andromeda Cliffhangers and Theories (SPOILERS!!!!)

After taking the time to think deeply about why I feel so meh about Mass Effect:  Andromeda, I started thinking about the major cliffhangers and questions that are left at the end of the game.  There are so many and regardless of what you felt about the game itself, it is still fun to try to puzzle out these little mysteries.  This post is going to basically be spoilers so read ahead with caution if you haven't played or finished Andromeda.

1.) The Quarian Ark.  After you save Meridian you are given the chance to roam around the now crashed Hyperion and give your team some high fives.  While you are happily congratulating everyone you run across, a tech at a computer console excitedly shows you a recently acquired radio signal from the Quarian ark.  According to the radio message the ark has made it to Heleus but the message is also a warning to stay away.

Many people believed that any singleplayer DLC released would have to do with the Quarian ark--since we now know that this DLC isn't happening we are left to wonder.  The Quarian ark is extra interesting because it was supposed to be carrying the Quarians plus a wide array of other Milky Way species--Hanar, Elcor, Drell, and maybe some Volus and Batarians.  It seems a little unfair to burden the Quarians with looking out for all these other species and maintaining them in cryo for 600+ years.  Or maybe the Quarians are the best choice since they are the tech experts?

What could possibly be going on that the Quarians would want you to stay away?  The Quarian ark with its numerous species would be a juicy piece of genetic material for the Kett.  But wouldn't a simple Kett attack be something that they would want help with?  Could it possibly be that the Reapers have managed to insinuate themselves onto the Quarian ark?  What if the Quarians want you to stay away because the Reapers have followed them or tracked them?  Or, even worse, if the Reapers have managed to take the ship and have indoctrinated the crew...

We can keep crossing our fingers that the lack of singleplayer DLC was a myth...but it's looking doubtful.

2.) The Benefactor/Murder of Jien Garson.  Through unlocking your father's memories and encrypted audio messages you learn that Jien Garson wasn't the "founder" of the Andromeda Initiative, but was merely a fundraising mouthpiece and diplomat for the project.  The real founder of the project is a mysterious entity known as "The Benefactor."  This mysterious person disguises their identity in your father's messages and there are very few clues as to who this person might be.  You also learn that Jien Garson wasn't killed when the Nexus hit the scourge, but was murdered by someone on the vessel.  Garson encodes a secret message and reveals that she didn't really trust the benefactor.  The only reason anyone would kill Garson would be to protect the identity of this person.

I've been picking my brain to try to think of some possibilities for this role.  This person (or group!  It could totally be a group...) would need to have access to enough money to bankroll the massive project that was the initiative.  They would need to have connections to throughout the Milky Way.  The list of possibilities:

Could the Illusive Man be the mysterious benefactor?

1.) The Illusive Man/Cerberus.  We know that Cerberus has the funds and resources to fund a wide array of projects--it's completely feasible that the Andromeda Initiative could be a Cerberus project.  The Illusive Man would definitely be someone who Garson wouldn't fully trust.  But would Cerberus fund a program that would include more than just humans?  That part seems very unlikely and makes me have my doubts that the Illusive Man would be the benefactor.

2.) The Citadel Council.  Throughout the original Mass Effect trilogy the council doubts Shepard's claims about the Reaper threat.  What if they were publicly denying the threat while privately making plans to fund the Andromeda Initiative?  The council would have access to the funds and resources needed for such a massive undertaking...but why wouldn't Garson trust the council?  And even the term "benefactor" seems to imply that this is an individual person....  The Andromeda Initiative seems like the kind of project that the council would take in a last ditch effort to rescue at least a small portion of the Milky Way species.

3.) Commander Shepard.  This theory is waaaay left-field, but why not?  Shepard focused on pulling the galaxy together and understood the looming threat of the Reapers.  The Commander would have the ability to bring people together with the understanding that something impossible might be the only chance for survival.  But, again, why wouldn't Jien Garson trust Shepard?  This one seems unlikely.

4.) Liara/The Shadow Broker.  As the shadow broker, Liara has access to the funds, information, resources, and secrecy that would be required for the Initiative.  She could be a good candidate.  The timeline might be a little problematic to make her work as a candidate--was she already the shadow broker before the Andromeda Initiative departed the Milky Way?  Jien Garson might not trust the shadow broker simply because they have a shady reputation.

5.) Aria T'Loak.  I think I mostly just miss Aria as a character...but she could be on the list of possible suspects.  She runs a massive criminal organization on Omega--it might be feasible that she could have the money and resources to fund something like the Initiative.  We also don't know much about her background (it would be cool for her to have a DLC or come sort of backstory content) and connections prior to her arrival on Omega.  She admits to having the capital and connections to get started there.  Her reputation would definitely be one that Garson wouldn't trust.  But would Aria really care about something like Andromeda?  Doubtful.

Those are just a few that I've considered.  I'm sure there are many, many others who could fill the role.

3.) The Jardaan.  Toward the end of the main story we learn that the Angara and the Remnant were created by an advanced race known as the Jardaan.  There are some serious implications behind this knowledge--the Jardaan are extremely advanced...they are the creators of an entire species as well as all the Remnant and vault/Meridian technology.  This is a whole new level of advanced aliens--a level that eclipses the Reapers.  There are plenty of questions to think about here....

Why did the Jardaan create the Angara?  Throughout the game it is heavily emphasized that the Anagara don't know much about their past.  Their history and culture was heavily disrupted by the decimation of their society by the Kett.  They had to be designed for some sort of purpose though.  My theory is that the Angara are the Heleus version of the Keepers--rather than interacting with the Citadel and its technology the Angara are able to interact with Remnant tech.  We know that the Angara have a unique electrical aspect to their biology...I believe that electrical adaptation is tied to the the ability to control the Remnant.  Unfortunately this knowledge has been lost through the ages due to Kett interference.  We see some evidence of this on Havarl during the mission to unlock one of the vaults--Ryder has to locate and Angara who can use his past memories to interact with the vault structures.

Did the Jardaan create the scourge?  If so, why?  Was the purpose to completely wipe out all traces of their existence in Heleus?  The scourge seems to target Remnant structures.  We also learn that the scourge is the result of the detonation of some sort of mega-weapon.

What happened to the Jardaan?  The evidence seems to point to some sort of attack that caused them to flee or that they were completely wiped out.  Could their demise have been caused by the Reapers?

What if the Jardaan created the Reapers?  Maybe this is another example of technology run amok like the Quarians and the Geth.  We also have to consider the motives of the Reapers...why do they seek to eliminate all organic life every 50,000 years?  Why do they seem to follow the exact same pattern?  It seems like a massive experiment--something about trying to have organic life develop in a certain way...but it just hasn't happened the way that they want.  Heleus could have been wiped out by the Reapers with the Angara being the only civilization left to restart the 50,000 year cycle.

There have been so many ideas bouncing around my head as I finished up playthrough #2 of Andromeda.  I hope that some of these questions are answered...and that Andromeda was simply a learning experience that can be improved upon.

Casual Reassessment Part 2--The Open World Dilemma

After playing my way through Mass Effect:  Andromeda I have been trying to work to understand the things I liked and disliked about the newest addition to my favorite space RPG.  I tried listing out the things I enjoyed and the things that I felt were weaknesses.  In the end I think Andromeda suffers from something that I've seen often in the most recent BioWare games but also see in other series--the need to create an expansive world that's chocked full o' stuff.  The real challenge, and one that I think very few RPG-makers have gotten remotely right, is to make all the "stuff" meaningful.  Andromeda suffers from a glut of meaningless map-filler--resource nodes to mine, Remnant ruins to explore, Kett camps to storm--but what do you get out of completing that filler?  Some loot that you don't really need.  A happy little blue icon on your map.  Is is satisfying?  Sure, in a very minor way.  But is it enjoyable?  Not so much.

In my quest for understanding I decided that it would be interesting to go back and replay the original Mass Effect as a point of comparison.  Mass Effect is a ten year old game so the mechanics have drastically changed since it's release in 2007 aaaand of course things like graphics are going to be much better in a modern game.  One of the weird things I noticed last night was how much less bored I am.  Even when I'm exploring the same bunker layout over and over there is an overlying story that makes it interesting.  I'm freeing a hostage from crazed biotics or I'm eliminating a Cerberus base in my attempt to find a missing Alliance officer.  I can think of very few instances in Andromeda where there is some kind of interesting story linked into all the exploration.

As another point of comparison I started thinking about The Witcher 3 and how well it manages to incorporate aspects of an open world with story-based elements.  There are definitely shades of the icon checklist game but it doesn't feel as empty because there's always a well-written quest to break up the monotony of exploration.  Or there's something fun to do--horse racing or Gwent.  Andromeda could definitely take a page from The Witcher 3 and add in missions with a storyline as opposed to empty fetch n' grinds.

The Thorian.  It's ugly, but at least it's interesting.

Story is something that needs to become a focal point for Andromeda.  All too often as I was playing I felt that it was simply a rubber-stamp of what a Mass Effect game should be--cool ship--check, quirky crew--check, central Citadel-like hub--check, advanced mysterious alien race--check, aliens with sinister motives--check.  We need something fresh!  Last night I played through the Mass Effect mission on Feros and I remembered how awesome it really is.  You have a sentient plant-like being that defies classification that can telepathically control other species AND it can create clones from captured aliens.  The Thorian is great sci-fi writing!  What does Andromeda give us?  Nothing even remotely close to the Thorian.

One of my other major gripes has to do with the need for Andromeda to feel more like the alternate universe that it is supposed to be.  The environments in the game are beautiful, but they don't have that same "space" feeling that I get when I'm bouncing the Mako along a mountainous path in Mass Effect.  Too often the environments feel familiar--Eos could be Arizona.  I recently watched the movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (let me just insert here that it's not a good movie and you should skip it) and one thing I enjoyed was the interesting aliens.  Shapeshifting blue jelly-like creatures, robots that look like jellyfish in jars, the beautiful sparkly aliens of the planet Mul..  Those aliens felt genuinely, well, alien.  Take note Andromeda.

With the recent-ish semi-news that there won't be any singleplayer DLC for Andromeda it may be quite awhile before we hear anything about the next step in the series.  I think that Andromeda can be salvaged if BioWare really tries to play to its traditional strengths and not try to play the e-peen "game of maps" (you know...the one to see who can create the biggest playable areas).  A focus on writing memorable and meaningful missions and stories, a cast of interesting characters with their own motivations (be they good or bad OR something in-between), and some more alien...aliens could really spice up a series that has sadly grown way too bland.

Casual Reassessment--Part 1--The Team

I've just completed my second playthrough of the polarizing Mass Effect:  Andromeda and I am actually glad that I gave it another go.  My first playthrough left me feeling slightly frustrated and disappointed in the continuation of one of my favorite series.  After giving it more consideration I have more to add or to at least think about...and, of course, lots of unanswered questions.

Firstly, let me sum up the major differences between my two playthroughs--this time around I opted to make my Ryder male.  I enjoyed the male character much more than in the previous Mass Effect games and might have even felt like the voice acting was better than the female version.  For talents I initially wanted to go with an infiltrator style (stealth and sniping) but found that without the benefit of the concentration module from previous games (that slightly slowed combat allowing you to lurk around the edges and easily headshot...everything) it wasn't as fun.  Instead I decided to make Scott Ryder more of an engineer type--my go-to powers were tech combos of incinerate and overload paired up with a cryo spitting assault turret.  I was pleasantly surprised at how effective and fun the tech tree turned out to be.  When it came down to personality I decided that this character would be more of a casual joker than my much more serious and logical lady Ryder.  I did my best to make different decisions than my first character but found that I struggled with some of the major choices.  It seems like there's always something that I just can't justify in my head--like not helping the Krogan on Elaaden.  Why not just give them the Remnant drive core?  You get a settlement and you help the Krogan out--seems like a win, win kind of situation.

I am finding that I feel much more favorably about Andromeda after my second full run.  The crew has grown on me and I tried to spend more time trying to understand and pay attention to their individual backstories.  If I had to rank the crew from my favorite to least favorite crew members here's how I'd do it:

PeeBee--I love her unique personality and general zaniness.  It's nice to see an Asari character who isn't so serious.  She was my romantic choice for Scott Ryder.

Jaal--He offers a lot of insight into Angaran culture and his banter with almost all the other characters
is genuinely funny and at times can be quite analytical.

Grandpa Drack to the rescue.

Drack--He's the grandpa Krogan that we have never had.  I also have an admitted soft spot for
the Krogan and their cute little laughs after acts of violence.

Vetra--Like PeeBee, Vetra seems to have been clearly written as an outsider.  She's had to take on the role of a parent and do whatever it takes to keep her and Sid alive.  She can be prickly but I like that she stands up for herself and her choices.

Suvi--She has grown on me.  Any time a video game character starts in on spirituality...it's usually a yawner.  If you look past that aspect of her personality there is a genuinely curious scientist underneath.  I appreciated the humorous banter about licking rocks, taste testing the Heleus flora, and leaving items absent mindedly scattered around the Tempest.

Lexi--Unfortunately there's not a lot of Lexi to love...she's a side character with a minor backstory.
Her character is much more of the typical Asari and she and PeeBee don't really get a along.
Natalie Dormer's voice though...that's enough for me to rank her above other characters.

Gil--I still don't really fully understand Gil...even after two playthroughs.  He's gay, he's funny, he
is good at poker, he likes to tinker on the ship.

Cora--I ranked Cora fairly low because I feel like she's Ashley Williams without the space racism.   She's still a character who could have had a lot of potential but was stifled by lack of a good
story.  Like Ashley's annoying fascination with poetry, Cora likes to spout Asari maxims.  I
want Cora to be cooler.

Kallo--I am a little bummed by how little we actually get to know Kallo.  The bulk of his interactions
involve his arguments with Gil over how to operate the Tempest.  You learn virtually nothing about him.

Liam--I have now decided that I'm not a big fan of Liam.  He comes off as being a little immature
and irrational.  He does things without thinking.  He's also not really that interesting as a
character.

There are some standouts on your crew and there are some duds.  With some better writing and more character development I feel like the crew could turn out to be a memorable group of misfits.  I really wish someone would fix Cora...her story has potential.

Like/Hate/Question--Mass Effect: Andromeda

While I'm playing through Andromeda again I decided I am going to keep of list of things I like, I hate, and that I don't really understand.  It's like the gaming version of marry, boff, kill, only one million times lamer.  I'm going to try to update as I play.  (This could be a little spoilery--beware)

Like:

Entry #1:

1.) The Nomad.  Even though I'm not a big fan of the exploration aspect of Andromeda I have to admit that I very much enjoy speeding around in the Nomad.

2.) PeeBee and Drack banter.  PeeBee is my favorite Andromeda character and her conversations with Drack are hilarious.  You learn more about her character through those conversations than through chatting with her aboard the Tempest.  Things I learned:

     --Black makeup is a weird quirk that she enjoys.

     --Her father is an Elcor!  Yes, a big, plodding, weird Elcor.
 
(#2)
On a banter related note--it feels like there is quite a bit of banter.  Since it doesn't really matter who you take with you while you're exploring, I decided to mix it up and experience some of the different banter combos.  Here's what I've learned:

     --Cora is an only child.  There was some pre-release talk that she shares the same last name as
        the Illusive Man and might be his offspring.  I don't know that I'm seeing that.  She and Jaal
        came along for some lengthy exploring on Voeld and much of their conversation fixated on her
        family situation.  The other part fixated on her career experiences as an Asari commando (which
        gets a little annoying after awhile).

     --If you feel like listening to two people bicker the entire time you should try a Liam and Vetra
        combo.  I didn't realize how much their personalities were incompatible.  Liam thinks Vetra
        is irresponsible for dragging her sister to Andromeda and Vetra doesn't appreciate Liam's
        laissez-faire attitude.  They grudgingly get along.

     --PeeBee and Vetra have some interesting conversations.  PeeBee reveals that she had a much
        older sister--500 years older--and relates to Vetras situation with her younger sister.  Vetra can
        be a little prickly about certain topics but reveals that she's had a tough life and has had to do
        whatever she can to keep things doable for her and Sid.

3.) Ryder as a hero you build  By the time we met Shepard in Mass Effect he/she was already a hero in their own right--N7 status, storied career, serving alongside the SPECTRE's...but Ryder has leadership fall into his/her lap and has to figure things out.  I also like the fact that Ryder has a defined background where Shepard was all about current events.  The Ryders could work out as sustainable characters.

4.) Beautiful environments.  Whether you're buzzing around space in the Tempest or setting down on solid ground, everything looks amazing.  When I first played I was amazed by how detailed the galaxy felt--space seemed to have all the little details that you would see in pictures taken by telescopes.  Once you land on any of the planets this feeling is even further compounded (I would love to snap some screenshots but haven't been able to get any tools to work in-game).  Eos feels like this haunting wasteland--it's eerie exploring the ruins of the failed colonies--Havarl has this ominous jungle feeling...like something is going to pop out of the foliage and attack you at any minute.  Even though I have felt that the exploration aspect is one of the weaker parts of the game I still find myself taking a moment to take in the views.

(#3)
H-047c is one of my favorite zones in the game.  It's basically a giant, floating hunk of former planet but to me it feels more like space.  The low gravity, the gaping fissures of death (drive cautiously!), and the amazing views make it unique.  Arguably it's also a little lame--you can't leave the Nomad so there's no exploration besides the few protected mining dome/outlaw camps.  After spending hours and hours of doing exploring on other planets, I find H-047c to be a welcome change.

(#2)
5.) Story/loyalty missions.  This is where Andromeda felt like the Mass Effect of yore...the good ol' days that everyone yearns for.  I was playing through Cora's loyalty mission to rescue the Asari ark and realized that I was enjoying it (...and Cora is not one of my favorite characters).  I like the way that you get a clearer picture of the chaos of the Kett attack as you're exploring the abandoned rooms.  The Asari managed to hang on by a thread.

Hate:

Entry #1:

1.) I cannot romance Lexi T'Perro.  Why make an Asari with Natalie Dormer's amazing voice and then not have a romantic option?  When she talks it makes me happy.  Now I'm sad.

2.) Missed dialogue opportunities.  For example--when you find and unlock the Nomad it comes speeding out of its crate.  So cool!  All the characters just stand there and look at it.  How much better would that moment had been with some goofy grins or jokes about who gets "shotgun?"

3.) How completely useless my companions are.  I really miss the ability to issue commands and to be able to effectively combine their powers and the fact that the AI is bad.  Example:  Found a Remnant Destroyer in a vault.  Commanded my companions to attack the turrets--both went rushing headlong to face it and were down in a matter of seconds.  I had to figure out how to finish it off on my own.  Why even have companions in combat?

(#2)

4.) Tasks that require you to find items that spawn randomly around the map.  I made it a goal to try to complete more of these but I am finding that I am running out of patience.  I've been searching for weapons caches and datapads on Kadara for much longer than I would prefer.  I'm tired of crashing the always respawning camps full of outlaws only to find that the item isn't there.  Just make the dang things spawn in a set location!

5.) Architects = Space Dragons.  Dragon fights in Dragon Age:  Inquisition were one of the highlights and they've directly yanked this concept and applied it to Andromeda.  I don't mind the idea of having a "boss" fight but I wish they had at least given the Architects some sort of variety.  Every Architect fight is exactly the same...with the dragons you got some variety when it came down to the types of attacks they used--fire, ice, or nature/electric damage.  Ice Architect, maybe?

Question:

Entry #1:

1.) To scan or not to scan--that is the question.  On Eos there are these huge Kett structures--while completing a mission for Bane Massani you learn that they are power generators.  It seems weird that there is no explanation for these massive structures other than within that specific mission. I feel the same way about the Kett camps that have the large hammer structures.  What the heck are those for?  How come there is no explanation?  I guess you just sort of figure out from the seismic hammer missions that the Kett are also trying to do something with the Architects.  It would be nice if there was at least a little explanation.  Or maybe some missions about destroying those camps...SOMETHING!

2.) Is it just me or does there seem to be fewer opportunities the chat up your squadmates?  Maybe it's just how spread out the story can be if you spend many hours working on exploration.  I've actually found out more about some characters from their banter in the Nomad than having regular conversations.

(#2)
3.) Stasis.  In order to reach Andromeda everyone had to be in stasis for 634 years.  The more I think about this...the more I hate it as a device used to move the plot forward.  How would the whole initiative even work?  How could they realistically assure that their tech would hold out for that long and keep everyone alive?  How would their supplies last for that long?  I totally get it that they are trying to move away from the concept of mass relays--since those were apparently trashed in the third game.

One of the big things that bothers me is the whole concept of waking up 600 years later.  It's touched on throughout the game--many of Ryder's chats revolve around the reasons why people chose Andromeda.  So the people who chose to go to Andromeda did it knowing that they were leaving behind everyone and everything and that they would never see them again?  Yet in some conversations I get the impression that there is still at least a possibility of communicating with the Milky Way.  It's confusing.  

Second Chances

It has been awhile since I've played Mass Effect:  Andromeda--a game that is extremely divisive among many gamers.  I decided to take a break from running my female prison empire in Prison Architect to re-visit a game that I felt slightly ambivalent about...alright, more than slightly...but it's Mass Effect--a series that I love!  There have been several patches since I last played so I figured it was time to check out the hopefully much more polished version.  It really doesn't seem to matter how much the game is patched and improved--the vitriol is still virtually coagulating anywhere I see news related to Andromeda.  There are some very angry nerds who will toss gasoline onto that fire any chance that they get.

Before I even started my new adventure in the Heleus cluster I found out that these new patches have caused some slight graphical hiccups.  Whenever I started the game I was greeted with a black screen for a semi-long period and then it would finally start.  Once it started it would only display in windowed mode.  Clearly this was not going to work.  After some searching for fixes that were on my technical level (the very basic level) I found that the problem was easily fixable.  If you run into this problem all you need to do is change your display resolution in Windows to something different than normal and then change it back.  Granted this was an easy fix but not much of a good re-start.

For my current playthrough I decided to go with a male Ryder just to compare differences in experience.  In the past I have shown nothing but ardent loyalty to the female version (mostly because the character was acted so much better) and was skeptical about how Scott Ryder would pan out.  So far I am enjoying the male character--he's way better than male Shepard.

While designing my Ryder I ran into a personal quirk that is totally hypocritical.  When designing my female characters I always try to create someone who I would think of as realistic--no long, flowy hair because long hair gets in your face and blocks your vision; no super makeup-tastic facial manipulation--what lady hero has time for eyeliner?  These kinds of thoughts go through my head.  However, when designing my male characters my thoughts are "he must be beautiful!"  And all my male characters end up looking like male models.  I know how wrong it is--but check out my hot Ryder--->

Too pretty to be shot at.

My lady Ryder was more of a logical-thinker who didn't act impulsively.  This time I decided that pretty boy Ryder should be more of an emotional jokester who acts before they think.  It has been well established that the dialogue writing for Andromeda wasn't on par with the other games and there have been some very cringey moments--after the fight to rescue the Moshae on Voeld while you're bargaining with the Cardinal there was a line that literally was "I'm gonna fuck your shit up."  Ugh, why?  They really couldn't come up with something less juvenile?

I also decided that I was going to play through the story a little differently.  The first time around I tried to do a bunch of the exploration based stuff before the main storyline.  This time I decided I was going to advance the story much more before I embarked on planetary settlement.  In this choice I noticed that the game is very different if you just focus on the story.  It feels much more like the Mass Effect games of the past.  I found myself paying more attention to what was actually going on as opposed to playing a few hours of story and then many, many hours of empty exploration.  Sadly the exploration part of Andromeda still feels like a weakness--I keep finding myself getting bored and irritated.  Tasks that require items to spawn at random "camps" around the map are annoying.  I told myself I would complete more of the "tasks" this time--probably a mistake.

I'm trying to keep my eyes peeled for any of the big changes that were patched in since the last time I played.  I have noticed that the facial animation is better--I haven't witnessed any weird grimacing or really "off" expressions that were widely panned in the early days.  Foster Addison does look like she's having a better time.  I'm glad they fixed it.  Despite fixing the glaring animation issues there are smaller minor issues that could still use some tweaking.

I'm doing my best to keep an open mind and to try to find the diamonds in the rough as I play.  Unfortunately for Andromeda there seems to be more rough than diamonds.

Pathfound--Andromeda Thoughts

After some very intense Andromeda playtime, I have just finished my first playthrough.  I have ardently tried to avoid reading other reviews or articles so I wouldn't be influenced and that my thoughts would be as original as possible.  If you want this to be my review...fine, it can be a review.

Maybe Ryder will find a better story?

Mass Effect:  Andromeda Spoilers ahead!  Read with caution!

Now that my journey has ended I have to say that I feel a little underwhelmed with the story.  Alright...a lot underwhelmed.  Maybe it was the fact that there was a lot going on--you're trying to explore and settle a new galaxy as well as fight off a major galactic threat in the form of the kett.  When I got to the last mission it just didn't really feel like the whole Meridian thing was really much of a focal point--the entire exploration and colonization process was much more of a focus.  Then, before I realized it, I had won the day and saved the galaxy....and it wasn't really that exciting.  There weren't even any really big cliffhangers to make you feel excited for the next game!

Did I hate Andromeda?  Am I raving for a refund?  Not really.  I enjoyed certain aspects of the game, but I found that the core part of what makes a Mass Effect game has been severely limited in favor of much shallower gameplay related themes.  My playthrough clocked in at 92 hours--I tried to complete all the side missions but not necessarily all the "tasks."  In my gentle guesstimate, I would say that about 40 hours were strictly story/character related while the rest was exploration.  To me Mass Effect has always been about it's compelling story, characters, and writing.  This time around I just didn't feel like those areas were much of a focus.  I always enjoyed the times on the Normandy when Shepard would wander around and get to know the "team."  There were plenty of chances to chat up and really get to know your people...and that made them special.  I didn't feel that same connection to the crew this time around and felt like those interactions were limited.  I'm sure there are some people who thought that was the boring part of Mass Effect, but I always loved it.  Andromeda tried to capture those same feelings and it just didn't come off the same way due to the lack of interaction.  Liam's "movie night" mission felt...weird and like they were trying to recapture the magic of Shepard and the crew in the Citadel DLC, but with none of the character development.

Previously I had written about my disappointment that there were virtually no connections to the previous game.  I take that back--there is an explanation about the Reapers and the Milky Way but it takes place pretty late in the story.  One big cliffhanger that I am curious about is this mysterious "benefactor."  Could it possibly be Cerberus?  Who else would have the funding to push a huge mission like the Andromeda Initiative?  It has to be!

One part of Andromeda that I did enjoy was the combat.  I chose to make my Ryder a biotic of the more combo-prone variety (not vanguard style).  There was something highly entertaining about floating a group of kett in a singularity or with pull and then angling the combo detonator just right and watching them get launched into the atmosphere (although this could be annoying if they actually lived and came trekking back).  The fact that there are more enemy types, and that you really have to be prepared to move, is a big change for the series.

The best parts of Andromeda are the parts that have always been done well in Mass Effect--the loyalty missions and the story-based missions.  If only they had spent more time developing more stuff like that rather than the exploration or crafting system (which I've decided is fairly useless)!  I'm going to stick with my earlier analysis that Andromeda felt like someone was pasting little pieces of past games together to try to make a new picture and structure for it.  Within all those little bits are some good bits, but they are surrounded by a lot of other unneeded bits that you have to wade through.

If there's a future for Mass Effect, I hope they go back to the roots of what made the series a favorite for so many people--stellar storytelling and character development.

UPDATE:  4/8/17
I wrote the above immediately after I finished the game...then I went and read the other reviews that I had been avoiding.  Many of them saw a lot of the same flaws that I did but also pointed out some things that now that I think of them I completely agree with.

1.) Somewhere along the line a decision was made to take out the whole Paragon/Renegade character aspect.  When I first read about it I thought..."hmm, maybe that's a good thing."  As a player you were sort of forced into these two archetypes--the heroic Paragon or the ruthless Renegade--and could mold your decisions around fitting into that role.  After thinking about it more, it was at least something that gave you some variety and some depth of character.  Often your actions could reflect a simple decision, but they could also be something really huge--like in ME3 where you can choose to shoot Mordin rather than letting him administer the cure for the genophage.  Andromeda takes away those options--sure, you could say that they are still present in the form of the few cutscenes where you are given an option to quickly "click" an action--but it's not the same.  I wish more development had gone into keeping that system but expanding it--they added symbols to the dialogue wheel (ala Dragon Age II) why couldn't we have some dialogue choices that allow Ryder to make some wisecracks or to be a hard ass or to be that iconic hero?  I think Ryder would be a much better character with that ability to personify him/her into the type of character you want.  I miss the old blue/red choices and the variety they brought to the games.

2.) There were so many parts of Andromeda that felt like someone simply cut and pasted parts of the old Mass Effect into this new world of Heleus.  To a point I can somewhat understand it--if the Reapers are truly a system-wide phenomenon then it's believable that Heleus could be subject to the cycle of re-birth and eventual destruction just like the Milky Way.  In that sense, you could have the remains of former civilizations present.  But did that civilization have to be an almost exact match with the concept of the Protheans?  And really, that's just the beginning of the similarities.

I get it that you need some core parts of the game to remain the same--I'm cool with the whole ship and team aspect, but you can't just re-hash the same story in a different way!  (Or maybe you can--look at the 5 billion Superman/Spiderman/Batman movies out there)  I guess what I'm saying is that I would've liked something new--why couldn't the story have revolved around the settlement aspect?  That on each planet you have a story that revolves around its settlement and that the choices you make impact how the settlement turns out.  Once, literally once, you choose what type of settlement you want to establish--either scientific or military.  Why does it need to be carte blanche?  Why couldn't we have more options that could be based around the needs of the entire initiative?  Maybe you get to choose to make some settlements industrial--maybe like a mining colony on planets with rich minerals--or a military colony on planets like Voeld where there is the constant threat of Kett invasion.

3.) One review I read was actually pretty positive (my first thought was "did you actually play the other games?") and especially sang the praises of Ryder's crew.  I somewhat agree with parts of that.  Personally I felt like there was one standout on the crew--namely PeeBee--while the rest of the crew was extremely bland.  PeeBee is a great character and one who I enjoyed taking along all the time.  Part of that was influenced by the fact that I felt like there were a lot more opportunities to interact with PeeBee than with the other crew members.  She's a big part of the opening of the main storyline and then seems to have several character based quests where the others really don't have as much involvement.

The rest of the crew....well, were a little disappointing.  I had high hopes for Cora Harper; at first glance she has so much working for her--a badass haircut and a past working as the one human member of a joint species Asari commando squad--she has to have some amazing stories, right?  Wrong.  She has literally zero entertaining stories about her time doing something that almost no other humans have ever done!  That was a huge missed opportunity.  Even when you delve into her loyalty mission the most you learn about her is that she basically hero worships the Asari (and then, like in previous games, learns that they aren't all they are cracked up to be).

With a much greater focus and some better writing this crew could be salvaged and turned into a genuinely interesting bunch.  I am still unclear about what Suvi Anwar's role even was on the crew--co-pilot?  Science officer?  Designated Irish accent character?  Gil Brodie, who I am pretty sure is the one gay character on the crew, also confused me.  He talks and talks and talks about his friend Jill whose job is literally to get people to have kids--that is an interesting job, and another chance for some good and possibly funny storytelling to take place--and toward the end of the game he gets to make this huge choice about having a baby with Jill.  That seems like the type of decision that would warrant some very serious discussions--but you talk about it once!  One time!  Then he's like "yeah, I'm having a kid."Ohhhkay.

4.)  The inability to command your companions in combat is huge and their AI is abysmally bad.  I loved, loved, LOVED the ability to set up combos with my squadmates in the original trilogy.  Wham, bam, suck it Cerberus!  But now, it's mostly up to Ryder to make these combos happen.  Add to this the fact that unless you directly order them to attack a certain target your companions spend most of their time standing around...in weird places...getting shot in the face.  In the old games I would pick my companions based around who had the combat abilities that were most beneficial for a specific type of enemy.  In Andromeda I picked PeeBee and someone else because your companions are there for more entertainment value than for actual combat usefulness.  Ryder is the juggernaut (but should he/she really be?) who destroys everything while his/her companions are merely target dummies that somewhat conveniently soak up bullets.

5.) Romance.  It's a part of the Mass Effect series that some people absolutely enjoy and others could probably do without.  I opted to go with the lamest choice for my lady Ryder--Liam--and it, like Liam himself, was very bland.  There isn't even the signature last mission awkward sex scene!  I'm also not so sure how I feel about the ability to "hook up" with random crew members--PeeBee offers some escape pod fun, which I gracefully turned down in loyalty to Liam.  Maybe it's a sign of maturity that the game is offering characters with a wide range of relationship options.  It makes sense to me that some might be more open to a simple "hook up" while there are others who want to develop something deeper.  But there's this other part of me that thinks that it's something that we didn't really need and that it's just another shallow distractor.

Wow, this sort of turned into a rant.  I didn't hate Andromeda, I just feel like the series is morphing into this bland template of what people think a game needs to be (i.e. open world, multiplayer, combat heavy/story light).  It makes me sad to see the series losing its luster.

Andrama-duh. The Thrills and Chills of Mass Effect: Andromeda.

As a quick forewarning, there could be some light spoilers ahead.  If you're only a few hours into Andromeda you might want to hold off and play some more.

Now that I've had some free time, I have played considerably more Mass Effect:  Andromeda.  The current status of the Heleus Cluster is that I've fully colonized two planets (Eos and Voeld) and they are now sprouting some happy little settlements.  I've also managed to make Havarl livable, but I don't quite know how that one is going to pan out since it's technically the Angaren homeworld.  My progress on the main storyline has been sidelined as I've decided to focus on the settlement aspect.  Honestly, I just have poor impulse control and if you give me a map full of missions and exploration I will usually opt for that until everything has been checked off the list.

Speaking of lists and my love of them...I present my list of stuff I'm liking as well as stuff I'm questioning in regards to my progress in Andromeda.  I always like to start with the good, so let's start there.

This is my Ryder.  It's also an actual screenshot I took with my phone.
Origin needs to get on the ball with the screenshot tools.

Likes👍
1.) I am vastly enjoying the Nomad and using it as a tool for exploration.  Like it's predecessor, the crazy Mako from the original Mass Effect, the Nomad can go almost anywhere.  Unlike the Mako it can go anywhere without feeling like you were steering a very unmaneuverable boat.  It's fun to drive, goes fast, and offers versatile cover for any kett killing situations that arise.

2.) The crew is finally starting to grow on me.  At first I was a little reluctant about some of them--particularly PeeBee.  From the pre-release material I understood that she was supposed to be an Asari who was very un-Asari-like.  PeeBee is very independent and I haven't quite cracked her shell yet to figure out exactly why she refuses to make connections with anyone.  Her spirit and quirkiness are fun and I enjoy taking her and Jaal along while I do exploring because their banter is hilarious.

Vetra has also quickly become one of my favorites.  Like PeeBee she's a contradiction to the traditional roles within her species--in talking with her you realize that her family was largely negligent and she was left to fend for herself and her younger sister.  That fending included activities like smuggling and mercenary work.  I mostly enjoy the fact that Vetra is sarcastic and will throw out a real zinger once in awhile.

As for the rest of the crew...
--Liam is funny and has a lot of bad ideas that he thinks are good ideas.
--Gil's poker logs are a good read (there's a datapad by the central vidcom where he keeps his logs)
--Cora has started talking about her time as an Asari commando....but it's not really that interesting
--Drack fills the old-man role well and seems like the perfect Krogan grandpa.
--Jaal is awkward and his attempts at fitting in with the crew are cute.
--Kallo is no Joker and I've learned basically nothing about him.  He likes to fight with Gil about the ship.
--Suvi is absent-minded and leaves things all over the Tempest.  She's a spiritual person.
--Lexi--I mostly just enjoy listening to Natalie Dormer's voice.  It is magical...but really, Lexi is worried that she's too cold and doesn't really care about the crew.

It's worth mentioning that I've only completed one loyalty mission--Liam's.  So far it has been one of my favorite missions in the game.

3.) The wide variety of planets and environments harkens back to the original Mass Effect.  I can bounce from deserts on Eos to snowy plains on Voeld to dense jungles on Havarl and then to the caustic lakes and jagged peaks of Kadara.  Each planet is beautiful in its own way.

Dislikes👎
Even though this is the next chapter in the Mass Effect universe, it just doesn't feel the same way that the previous games did.  I've always struggled with games that try to be open-world and to also have a strong storyline that you want to follow.  In the past I've felt like Mass Effect was way more about that storyline and its strong cast of well-written characters.  How many other games do you remember playing that gave you an option to basically turn off combat so you could focus on the story?  It takes an extremely engrossing story and characters to make you want to do that.  I'm just not getting that sense from Andromeda.  It seems to have switched the focus onto the gameplay (exploration, combat, crafting....the myriad of other stuff to do) aspect and away from the story or character aspects.  This makes me a little sad.

I keep getting this overwhelming sense that this game isn't all that original and that it was cobbled together from pieces of the previous games.  Imagine a big Mass Effect jigsaw puzzle with each piece being an essential aspect of the game that people enjoy.  So many of the story elements don't feel original...the remains of an ultra-technologically advanced race (Protheans, anyone?), an alien race that is capturing people to turn them into an army of genetically modified soldiers (Collectors?), a band of space pirates led by a saucy female leader (Aria T'Loak?), a massive central hub that is the center of galactic politics (Citadel?)....and I could keep going on.  I completely understand keeping core aspects of the game but it would be nice to get some new story elements.

I am crossing my fingers that as I progress things will get better and the story will start to unfold in a less familiar manner.

Another of my major dislikes has to do with the inability to command and outfit your followers.  You could argue that the constant pausing of combat was too interruptive, but at least you could get them to use their abilities when you wanted them too!  Now, the most you can do is order them to attack a target.  And it's worth mentioning that you really should be constantly ordering them to attack a specific target--I'm finding the NPC AI to be questionable at best and often my companions are standing around getting shot.  I've also noticed that when you do order your squad to attack a target that they like to go into melee range.  It's frustrating.  It's also frustrating that I can't upgrade the weapons of my companions.  I've picked up a veritable mountain of loot....and sold it all.  What a waste.

I've also had some minor irritation with one lore-based aspect--why is Ryder wearing N7 armor?  As you learn about his/her background you learn that she wasn't in the N7 program but was a peacekeeper for the Alliance.  I've been justifying this taboo by telling myself that it was a blueprint left from her father and she's just using it as a sort of inheritance.  That still doesn't seem right though.

There have been some missed opportunities when it comes to Ryder's interactions with her crewmates.  I feel like in previous games there were many more opportunities to chat and get to know them--there seem to be fewer.  I also noticed some opportunities during times when there is banter going on--as Ryder approaches the kett base on Voeld she makes a very cheesy joke about "staying frosty."  This would have been the perfect chance to have someone groan and comment on the horrible quality of that joke.  But alas, there was just silence.

Maybe this all seems too negative...in general I am having fun but it's just not the same Mass Effect.  I'm still trying to avoid reading reviews until I'm finished and maybe they feel the same way I do.

Feeling Like a Kid Again

My prediction that Mass Effect:  Andromeda would wind up being delayed was wrong...and that is awesome.  I don't know if I can fully express my excitement to be back in the Mass Effect universe...  I've been carefully calculating my departure from work each day so I can rush home to run through the daily chores that need to be completed so I can get logged on and re-enter the world of Andromeda.  It has been a very long time since I've felt this kind of excitement.  But is it worth it?  I'm sure you've read the myriad reviews and commentary that has invaded every gaming venue but I want to offer my own perspective.  I have tried very hard to avoid any of those reviews or comments so that I can make my own judgments clear of outside ideas (which, as I stated last week, has been difficult).  I'm going to try to lay out what I've enjoyed so far and what I have found lacking.

I should probably make it clear how much I've actually played--probably about 6-8 hours.

One of the new worlds to explore in Andromeda.

The Good:
1.) Andromeda uses the new Frostbite engine and I have to say that I am impressed by the clarity of details.  Space looks amazing and they've done a great job of incorporating aspects of space that you commonly see in images captured by NASA satellites.  Once you make it to a planet there is plenty to stop and gape at--plant life, scenic vistas, alien structures...it's beautiful.

2.) Movement is so much smoother than in previous games.  The animation for running feels more natural than the weird, marching type of movement from ME and ME2.  When Ryder changes direction it looks athletic.  The addition of the jump jet has added a whole new enjoyable aspect of vertical play to a game that has completely taken place on a horizontal and very linear plane.  The jump jet also makes dodging much quicker and more fluid--that additional movement is needed in a game that has drastically changed its combat systems to require more movement.  I haven't quite mastered using the jump jet effectively in combat and find that mostly I make myself an exposed target hanging in mid-air for all the aliens to shoot at.

3.) ..And speaking of combat--it has changed enough to make it feel new and more challenging, but the basics are still there.  The biggest change is from the largely stationary style in the previous games.  You need to scramble, dodge, and move from cover to cover in order to stay alive.  It's fun, but it does take some getting used to.

4.)  People may disagree with me here, but I am excited that the RPG-like elements that were present in the original ME but that gradually disappeared in the successive games are finally back.  There is loot to gather, a robust crafting system, and junk to sell.  I haven't spent a lot of time with the crafting part of it yet, but there are numerous options to craft armor, weapons, consumables, and mods.

5.) A flexible talent system that allows you to take the abilities you want without pigeonholing you into one specific build.  Even if you do lean toward a more traditional build there are combat profiles that seem to be built around your specific style of play.  My Ryder is a more traditional type of biotic who banks on combinations but if you combine those abilities with combat skills you can mold your character into more of a vanguard with lots of charging and punching.

6.) Your new ship, the Tempest, is a worthy successor to the Normandy with none of the obnoxious elevators and wasted time moving between decks.  There are also plenty of windows so you get an eyeful of amazing views of the beautifully crafted planets and space that I mentioned earlier.

7.) It manages to simultaneously feel new and familiar at the same time.  Red medkits and familiar buildings make you feel like you're still in the same general universe but new alien structures make you realize that you really aren't.

8.) Non-human species seem more expressive and more varied than they did in previous games.  Every Salarian seems like an individual rather than just a generic "Salarian" figure.  There are female Turians and Krogan!

9.) Ryder feels like a character who players get to shape into a hero rather than a "ready-made" hero like Shepard.  I like the fact that Ryder feels unprepared to be thrust into the role of leadership and can seem uncertain about the role of Pathfinder.

10.) If you choose to make a custom Ryder your parents are shaped to reflect the appearance you have created.  This may seem like something that is really minor, but it's these small details like these that stand out.  Usually I go with the default character appearance on my first playthrough but I decided to go with a custom character to check out the creation tools.  My Ryder was supposed to be a mash-up of ethnic identities but I had a tough time figuring out the eye color tool.  Rather than the light brownish eyes I was going for I got a weird light green.  It wasn't a big deal, but I was pleasantly surprised when my father figure made an appearance with those same freaky green eyes.

11.) The Nomad is fun to drive and a huge improvement over the Mako from Mass Effect...even if it can't shoot anything.

The Bad
1.) Almost every square inch of gaming related space has been chocked full of GIF's and jokes about the wonky facial animation in Andromeda.  The complaints are valid as the animation just seems....a little off.  It's not the worst that I've seen, but it's disappointing in a title with as much billing as Andromeda.  Oddly enough, it's way more noticeable with human characters (maybe it's more noticeable because we're used to looking at human faces?) than with the alien species and I've actually found that aliens seem more expressive than in other games.

2.) The menu system is a hot mess.  Even in the few short hours that I've played I am getting the impression that there is going to be sooooo many places to see and things to do and items to catalog that we need tiers to help keep things organized.  These tiered menus make it a pain to find quests or codex entries without clicking through three or four different lists.  I've almost given up on trying to find new codex entries because unless they are clearly marked they require too much digging to find.

3.) The opening hours try to cram a lot of information, characters, and places into a short span of time.  It's a lot and makes the first couple of hours seem slow.  I spent a lot of time just wandering around meeting the people who crew the Hyperion and the Nexus.  This meant there was much time spent talking and trying to keep track of the different characters--I generally enjoy learning about the different characters, but I think it would have been better if it was a little more spaced out.

4.) Planet scanning is back but in a slightly less annoying form.  If you didn't play Mass Effect 2 you missed out on the time consuming process of scanning every square inch of the many planets in the galaxy.  It has been tweaked to make it easier, but it's something that many fans of the series were hoping would fall by the wayside.  There is also a sort of first-person effect added to the Tempest that looks cool, but that makes travel between planets in a system feel slow.  I am appreciating that you can discover abandoned ships for salvage or asteroids for minerals.

5.) For me, the jury is still out about the new scanning system.  In a lore related way it is neat to be able to learn more about the world around you but in a gameplay related way it's just another task to perform.  Maybe it will grow on me.

6.) As someone who has played the entire series and experienced the ending of Mass Effect 3, I really hoped that some of those huge, looming lore related questions would be answered...or at least referred to in some way.  Thus far it appears that there are not going to be any references to the events that took place in the third game--I did notice that when you are initially designing your character that there is a box to check that lets you choose the gender of your past Shepards--so maybe this means that there will be something.  There have been references to the Citadel, which I sort of assumed was destroyed or at least rendered useless....apparently not...there has been absolutely nothing about the Reapers or the destruction that was wrought on the galaxy.  It's a little disappointing, but maybe a clean break is exactly what the series needs?  I, for one, always enjoyed the fact that the games were so connected.  I am hoping that as I play more that some of the story will come to light.

With spring break right around the corner I am planning on dedicating time to exploring Andromeda.  I haven't felt a a great connection to the other characters in the game because there hasn't really been many opportunities to get to know them.  The story seems to be picking up some steam and is getting more interesting--I've just finished exploring Eos and learning about the Remnant.

After almost five years...it's great to be back in the Mass Effect universe.