Mass Effect Andromeda - PS4 Review
Posted on: 2017-04-05
Our rating:
"Mass Effect Andromeda is a flawed game but it is still enjoyable, it has laughable dialogue and animation, but I still get that wonder of exploring a galaxy I got from the first three games and it’s an experience you shouldn’t miss."
Mass Effect on the Xbox 360 and PS3 was a stunning trilogy following the exploits of Commander Shepard as you go on a science fiction romp throughout the Milky Way galaxy. When Bioware announced a fourth game I was hesitant because they can’t possibly continue it after what happened in the third, but fortunately it is set in a different galaxy with a new cast of characters.
Mass Effect Andromeda begins in between the events of Mass Effect 2 and 3 where you are part of the Andromeda initiative where you’re looking for new homes in the titular galaxy. You’re put into cryogenic stasis and you wake up 600 years later when you arrive in the new galaxy. Things aren’t what you hoped them to be as the planets you scan 600 years back are no longer habitable and you must find a way to restore the planet’s environments to a liveable state through these artefacts called vaults.
I like this story as it really feels that you have everyone relying on you to find them a home and protect them from the hostile life forms in the galaxy. The story has a lot of criticism because the dialogue has awkward delivery in places with some stilted animation, however Mass Effect 1-3 had the same issues and I don’t know why people only complaining about it now 10 years down the line. Yes the story is simplistic compared to the others but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.
Andromeda is a mix of role playing with third person shooting and in terms of the combat it’s the best in the series as it encourage mobility rather than the dull cover based shooting as you wait for your target to pop out of cover. It’s a nice change of pace from the stilted combat from the original trilogy as it is quick and nimble mixing both shooting and hand to hand combat when the enemy gets up close and personal.
You can upgrade your character and squad in different aspects whether it is combat or to help you find more resources. Resources are important as they can upgrade your ship and the Nomad which is your vehicle you use to explore planetary surfaces where you find more elements to help you craft new weapons and armour to help you combat dangerous foes.
You don’t just go around shooting aliens you also have command of a space ship where you explore the Andromeda galaxy studying cultures of each planet, this is where the game shines with the different planets and alien races. Reading about the cultures of each planet and talking to the locals is interesting and they are also curious about how we do things back in the Milky Way, it makes the game world feel believable.
You explore the galaxy via an interactive map which at first it doesn’t look too impressive as there is not a lot on the map, but when you progress through the game the map starts to open up new systems where you can explore new planets for allies and resources.
Let’s get address the elephant in the room that are the animations with movement and faces, yes they are stilted and look unnatural with some questionable expressions. However the rest of the game looks beautiful with great looking environments on each planet you visit and these can range from humid and sticky swamps to utopian cities where conflict is non-existent. Do the animations bring down the visuals entirely; no they don’t because this game is capable of looking magnificent sometimes with fantastic lighting effects. The Frostbite engine does a great job rendering the wide open spaces with hills stretching for miles.
Mass Effect Andromeda is a flawed game but it is still enjoyable, it has laughable dialogue and animation, but I still get that wonder of exploring a galaxy I got from the first three games and it’s an experience you shouldn’t miss. If you’re a fan of the series you’ll enjoy it or even it is your first Mass Effect game give it a go you’ll have fun exploring the galaxy of Andromeda.
3.5/5
Article by:
Sam has lived in Bristol all his life. A keen cyclist he speeds around the city but video games are his bread and butter. Whether the old Nes and Snes games or the XBox One and Playstation releases he loves them all. Sam runs his own gaming blog called Bristolian Gamer where he had been reviewing indie games, doing retro reviews and venting his anger at the industry when it does wrong since 2010. Sam joined the 365Bristol team in December 2014.
