Mass Effect: Andromeda No spoilers This is one of those games that’s hard to approach — not because it’s a masterpiece, but because so many of its aspects live in a gray area where what works for one player might not for another. I played the original trilogy just four months ago, so it's still fresh in my memory. That helped a lot while playing Andromeda — especially when comparing it to the original (I’ll refer to the trilogy as “the original” from here on out for simplicity). At first, the criticism seemed justified. I struggled to connect with the protagonist and the world felt hard to immerse myself in. “Where’s the empathy? Where’s all I liked in the trilogy?” But then I remembered how I felt during the opening hours of the first Mass Effect. Everything was just as confusing. The gameplay needed getting used to, and the universe had to be absorbed gradually. That’s when it hit me — this is a shared trait. Both games place you in the shoes of someone stepping into a new and unknown world. The difference is, in Mass Effect 1, you're discovering a new universe as a player. In Andromeda, you're discovering a new galaxy — but with all the knowledge from the Milky Way behind you. And it works. If you loved scanning planets, exploring systems, and finding secrets in the original, you’ll find similar satisfaction here. But now it’s a true exploration — most planets in Andromeda aren’t populated, charted, or even touched by sentient life. Unlike the Milky Way, you’re the first to set foot on many of these worlds. That’s a powerful feeling. Story A lot of people complain that this game doesn't deserve to carry the Mass Effect name, saying it could’ve been a standalone project. I completely disagree. That opinion falls apart once you understand the story. Even though the selection process for the Andromeda Initiative happened back in the Milky Way, once you arrive, things go... not as planned. The problems from the Milky Way followed the settlers into Andromeda. And that’s the beauty of the Mass Effect universe: conflict doesn’t just exist between humans—it’s present between all intelligent species. This gives Andromeda a familiar foundation that opens up in new ways as the story deepens. If we followed the logic of the critics, then BioWare should’ve invented at least four brand-new alien species from scratch—with their own features, cultures, alliances and conflicts, moral frameworks, etc. That would’ve been a huge waste of time when there’s already a rich set of civilizations with three full games of backstory. That kind of history builds empathy. You know these species. You’ve fought alongside or against them, grown attached to them. So no, Andromeda absolutely deserves the Mass Effect name. As for the main plot itself: even staying spoiler-free, I can say this—it’s fun, engaging, and emotionally rewarding. It’s not quite on the level of the trilogy, but it doesn’t pale in comparison either. It’s a solid story that does a great job of pulling you into its world and the characters within it. The main antagonist is a bit underwhelming. He’s “bad” because... well, he’s bad. They don’t inspire fear or evoke a strong emotional response. Compared to the Reapers, who were a force of apocalyptic scale, Andromeda’s villains feel more like a pest than a threat. You’re not terrified of them — you just want to get rid of them. That dulls the impact of the final confrontation, even if the journey there is interesting and worthwhile. Still, the main story is solid. It’s engaging, well-paced, and filled with callbacks to the original trilogy that fans will appreciate. Some events in the Milky Way are referenced in powerful ways — you feel like someone who narrowly escaped a galactic-scale apocalypse, watching from afar. It’s haunting, and the game handles it too well. Side Missions I personally divide them into secondary and tertiary categories. Secondary quests often have their own stories — involving factions, settlements, or crewmates. Much like the original, some of these contribute to your readiness score and affect the ending. Tertiary missions are more “fetch-quest” oriented — collectables, scanning, etc. They don’t impact the plot but can help with resources and XP. Thankfully, you're free to engage with them as much or as little as you want. Characters The squad is nicely varied—different races (except for Quarians), and even a new alien species native to Andromeda. You’ll hear some great conversations between the newcomer and the Milky Way crew while out on missions. Even if you just bring two "familiar" faces like an Asari and a Turian, they’ll still have things to say to each other. Each character has a backstory, a personal conflict to resolve, and a loyalty mission. By the end of the game, they feel like more than just party members. Maybe not quite family, but definitely a tight-knit team. And you’ll miss them after the credits roll. That alone means BioWare did their job here well. The Andromeda Galaxy Okay, to be precise—we’re talking about a local cluster within the galaxy, not the whole thing. Still, it has plenty of diverse planets to explore and prepare for colonization. As the Pathfinder, your job is to make these hostile worlds habitable. I won’t spoil anything, but trust me—each world holds mysteries and ancient secrets, reminiscent of the Prothean lore from the trilogy. The balance is just right: the planets don’t feel empty, but they’re not overcrowded with content either. You won’t be bored. Music Oh man… the music. It’s like watching Villeneuve’s Dune for the first time—at first, you don’t really notice the score, but it’s there, enhancing everything. Later, when you listen to it on its own, you realize how well it was crafted. It’s not full of earworms you’ll play on repeat, but it’s immersive and fits the setting perfectly. Still, a few tracks stand out and become part of the game’s emotional core. For me, this mirrored my experience with the trilogy—some songs enhance scenes, others define the game emotionally. The main theme, A Better Beginning by John Paesano , sets the tone masterfully: a new galaxy, light-years away from home, challenges ahead, and a respectful nod to the trilogy’s music. The sound design overall is excellent—everything supports immersion just like it should in a well-made game. Gameplay got an upgrade. Jump jets, improved movement, deeper gear customization — it’s all here. It adds variety without overwhelming the player. Combat feels smooth and enjoyable, whether you're on foot or in a vehicle. Abilities are satisfying to use, and the flow of action feels great. Performance (2025) I played the current version, and the game ran very well. No crashes, bugs, or broken quests. I can’t speak for the launch version, but in its current state, it’s stable and well-optimized. The visuals are great, and the system requirements are surprisingly modest. Animations is sadly the one big drawback. Conversations often feel stiff. More than half the time, you’re talking to a static face with generic movements, as if they’re a puppet mouthing lines. Compared to the trilogy, it’s a massive step down. It’s not game-breaking, but it’s noticeable—and disappointing. Worse yet, I’ve heard it was even more lifeless at launch, and only partially fixed with patches. Final Thoughts Still, even with this issue, I can’t call Mass Effect: Andromeda a bad game. Not even average. This is a good, mostly well-made game with enough strengths to outweigh its flaws. By the end, all I could think about were the positives. The flaws didn’t leave a lasting mark—they faded, and what stayed was the sense of satisfaction. And that means the game did what it was supposed to do. Yes, Mass Effect: Andromeda succeeded . Thank you, BioWare, and everyone who contributed to this project. You took a bold risk—and it paid off.
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