"Mass Effect Andromeda": overshooting the mark
20.3.2017
Translation: machine translated
The sci-fi saga continues: without the familiar heroes and in a new galaxy. "Mass Effect Andromeda" aims high and stumbles over its own ambitions.
What a collective outcry there was when the curtain fell on "Mass Effect 3". A veritable lynch mob of angry gamers formed against the ending, which many felt was half-baked. Personally, the somewhat disappointing ending didn't bother me much. The journey there was what mattered to me and since most games end on a weak note anyway, I've long since become jaded.
"Mass Effect Andromeda" not only tries to make up for the mistakes of the trilogy ending, it also wants to be perceived as an independent story. This endeavour does not quite succeed.
(Almost) Everything as before
If you've played Mass Effect, you'll quickly find your way around the latest instalment. You take on the role of one of two siblings and have the choice between male and female. Of course, you are not just anyone, but the Pathfinder, a kind of chosen one who is to find a new home for humanity. You will take command of the Tempest, the sleekest spaceship in space, as well as a growing troop of humans and aliens - yep, there will be plenty of copulation too, of course.
On your adventure, you will visit various planets and cruise around in your six-wheeled Nomad. Together with two companions from your team, you complete numerous quests, decimate aliens and collect resources. Something that has become much more important.
The ratio of action and dialogue is roughly balanced, although there is almost too much shooting for my taste. As is typical for Bioware, you can choose various answers in dialogues and talk your head off. The dubbing in English is first-class. The German dubbing is typically a little weaker and the accents in particular are lost. Nevertheless, "Mass Effect Andromeda" shines with mostly interesting and humorous conversations.
The Nexus is once again a huge walk-in space station where you will spend most of your time. It is the headquarters of the space-travelling settlers.
More role-playing, but too much ballast
What I missed most after "Mass Effect 1" was the depth of the role-playing game. "Andromeda" really ups the ante here. You'll constantly find new weapons, armour and modifications. You can also equip your character with new abilities ad infinitum. It's just a shame that you can only have three skills active at any one time.
While I am extremely happy about the new RPG richness, Bioware has overshot the mark somewhat. Not only are there skill points to distribute, you can also research armour and weapons and then build them. You can determine which colonists are awakened from cryostasis, which gives you different bonuses. Then there are also the task force missions. Here you can send out a team or play the missions yourself in multiplayer mode. If you're not careful, you'll quickly lose the overview.
As mentioned at the beginning, resources have become more important. Planet scanning is back in a slimmed-down version. That's still possible. On the planets themselves, you actively collect resources and scan everything that might be of interest. The fact that you have to constantly pull out the scanner gets annoying over time.
Where previous "Mass Effect" parts were criticised for the planets being lifeless, "Andromeda" goes to the other extreme. There is almost too much going on on the planets. Every few metres you stumble across new alien monoliths, Kett bases (the new villains) or the next side quest. Less would have been more here.
Too little drama
The story about the colonists searching for a new habitat in the Andromeda galaxy doesn't have the same urgency and dramaturgy as its predecessors. The annihilation of humanity, genetic genocide or robot rebellion carried a little more weight. Pathfinders are responsible for the initial on-site reconnaissance. This task first falls to your father Alec Ryder and then lands in the lap of one of his twins - that's you. As Ryder Junior, you colonise new planets, fight against the hostile Kett aliens and become entangled in political intrigues. You'll never get bored, but the story didn't really grab me.
Epic space saga/soap opera
From the very first minute, "Mass Effect Andomeda" feels like an epic space saga. An orchestral soundtrack reminiscent of "Star Wars" and "Star Trek", unknown planets with impressive panoramas and mean-looking aliens.
With your new spaceship, you could pick up any number of hot girls or guys as you fly past the interstellar Bahnhofstrasse. But you've already got enough of them on board anyway. Warrior-like Krogan, chatty Asari or daredevil Salarian, the mix is colourful. Unfortunately, not many new races have been added. As befits a "Mass Effect", the different crew members give rise to all sorts of interesting stories, some of which drift into the clichéd. However, Ryder always has a good line up his sleeve and it was rare that I couldn't find an answer that suited my character.
More action, less tactics
Thanks to the jetpack, you can finally jump and even hover if you have learnt the necessary skill. This makes combat a little more dynamic. However, you now have to use your skills without pausing and you can only give your comrades directional instructions. This means that some tactics are lost. Nevertheless, the numerous skills and weapons are great fun, so the many battles don't get boring so quickly.
Are the animations really that bad?
First of all, thanks to the Frostbite engine ("Battlefield 1"), the graphics are really impressive. From the expansive worlds to the fantastically beautiful planets to the unusual aliens, you are offered a lot. While the latter deliver consistently convincing performances, there are some human protagonists who move like puppets. Glassy-eyed, over-painted cheeks and facial expressions like a dead fish. Unfortunately, I didn't come across the bug with the crab walk and overall the movements look pretty natural. However, the facial animations in particular could have been a little more detailed in such a dialogue-heavy game.
Conclusion: Tasty, but fattening
After many hours together in space, I have a lot in common with my crew members. Character bonding has always been one of Bioware's strengths. They may not have touched me as much as Garrus, Wrex or Tali'Zorah from the previous games, but I also spent more time with them. The conversations in "Mass Effect Andromeda" are clearly one of the most striking features. But the different locations are also impressive, even if they lose some of their appeal after longer visits. The battles are more action-packed than ever, missions are rarely linear and the upgrade system is complex. Unfortunately, not everything seems to have been cast from the same mould. You are literally overwhelmed by the number of quests as well as the countless systems. Bioware has overreached itself somewhat. Nevertheless, all in all, "Mass Effect Andromeda" is a solid science fiction epic that should appeal to more than just fans.
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Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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