Official Mass Effect Topic

[chronic lumbago]

It's a very meaty game for one playthrough but I don't intend to play through it again anytime soon. I'd like to play as a female confused Ryder, choose different skills and make different decisions but after dealing with all those side quests and reaching almost 100 hours, I feel burned out. Sadly, the choices in this game don't have that much of an inpact, neither choosing different dialogue options convinces me to play through it again for now.

 

Still, I feel the value here is about the same as in the previous titles. Playthroughs lasted 20-30 hours and encouraged you to play again because the games were shorter and you played through the interesting parts more frequently. The amount of side quests in Andromeda relies on quantity rather than quality and it made me feel burned out already in my first playthrough.

 

One could always skip the side quests but nobody likes a messy and long quest log, right?

 

Edit: Hairstyles for all genders is the big cosmetic update? That's it? I expected it to be completely updated but I understand. A complete revamp is a bit too much to ask and what's done is done..

Edited June 8, 2017 by fashion

[feckyerlife]

well this explains a lot

 

https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/7/15757558/mass-effect-andromeda-development-problems

 

Mass Effect: Andromeda’s poor reception may be attributed to its troubled production, as recounted by Kotaku. A lengthy behind-the-scenes report details how the game languished in development over the course of five years, with the bulk of it built out in just a year and a half.

BioWare handed its Montreal satellite the keys to Mass Effect in 2012, despite its Edmonton branch handling development for the initial trilogy. The team had a slew of grandiose concepts for Andromeda at first: procedurally generated planets, highly detailed facial animation and expert use of publisher Electronic Arts’ powerful Frostbite engine.

Each of these proved tricky for the team to implement, however. Frostbite in particular gave BioWare Montreal trouble, in part due to the developer’s need to build original features for the game — like its expansive maps and role-playing mechanics — that the engine had difficulty handling. Frostbite wasn’t built for role-playing games, so Andromedawasn’t the best match for the engine.

“Whenever you’re trying to do something that fits the engine—vehicles, for example—Frostbite handles that extremely well,” one designer told Kotaku. “But when you’re building something that the engine is not made for, this is where it becomes difficult.”

Among other problems was the departure of Casey Hudson in 2014, executive producer of the original trilogy, and other key members. With new team members came countless revisions, and it wasn’t until 2015’s end — when the game was out of pre-production — that the team dumped the core procedural planet element. Story and cinematic elements also lagged behind in a situation where the underlying tech was still constantly changing, and a troublesome facial animation system led to some infamously poor results.

As Kotaku describes, these myriad factors complicated Andromeda’s tight production deadline. Much of this bears out in the final product, which launched to tepid reviews this past March. BioWare has reportedly restructured its Montreal arm, with members now assisting the Edmonton studio instead of working on an Andromeda sequel as initially planned.

Kotaku’s full report goes further in-depth on just how these complications reflect both the unpredictably trying nature of development, as well as how Andromeda is one particularly complex case.

[Leftist Bastard]

Frostbite is a pain and notoriously a bitch to work with; I have no idea why EA is trying to centralize all its games around it. Nothing wrong with having an in house engine or doing the commercially sound thing and licensing out something like UE4 and modifying it to suit your needs.

[Matrelith]

https://www.reddit.com/r/masseffect/comments/6ghpuc/no_spoilers_let_me_clear_something_up_about/

 

A bit of clarification on the guy who wrote about the downscaling of Bioware Montreal. Seems that the chance on getting DLC is getting pretty slim.

[Turan]

Just got this game on sale.

 

Why is there no mini map in this? What the heck. It is annoying having to constantly check the map to see where I am going.

Edited June 30, 2017 by Turan

[Queen]

I don't think there was a mini-map in the original trilogy, was there? I can't remember.

Edited June 30, 2017 by Queen

[Leftist Bastard]

The original trilogy did not have planets this big, though.

[Turan]

The original trilogy did not have planets this big, though.

 

Exactly.

 

They should only remove mini maps in games if you can go in any direction you want without having to go around (being able to climb or fly). That is not the case in Andromeda, not on the first planet anyway. There are mountains/walls you can't go over, so you will have to find a way to go around to reach your destination. So the compass they give you is pretty damn useless.

[Queen]

Yeah, you guys are right. I get what you're saying.

[Jonesizzle]

Jeez, all this shenanigans if Andromeda will have SP DLC or not is giving me vidid flashbacks of V. It'd be nice if these companies would just flat out say "it's not happening" rather than folks claiming they have inside sources saying there won't be.

[Queen]

Ugh...it's so disheartening. I had such high expectations for Andromeda. There won't even be a sequel for...I don't know even how long...but whatever the wait is it's way too long. I hope they don't just abandon the series, because that would just about kill me.

[Jonesizzle]

There might not even be a sequel, and if there is we are probably gonna be waiting as long as we did for Andromeda on another next gen console. Disheartening is a good word to describe the entire situation for the Mass Effect franchise as a fan.

[HaythamKenway]

Another five years, if at all. That's a safe estimate, I think. If Anthem proves to be a commercial success (and it most likely will - EA's going to push the game hard), then the prognosis gets even bleaker.

 

It's ironic that it's all this BS surrounding Andromeda, which I still consider to be a decent game, what finally made me turn against Bioware. I just absolutely hate how they've treated the Montreal team and the disdain they shown to their once-flagship series. I'm starting to think that they shouldn't have bothered at all. Because it's this attempt culled by the management, this promise abandoned, what makes it all hurt even more than if the ME universe was left behind altogether. It deserved better. It deserved more.

 

I don't blame Andromeda itself for being lacking compared to ME1 or 2. I don't blame the Montreal team for being unable to deliver. Both the game and its developers are victims just as much as the fans are. Andromeda didn't kill the series. Bioware itself did.

[dudclub55]

I haven't even bought the game yet.

[Leftist Bastard]

 

Dude just completely and comprehensively rips the game apart. For anyone who's played the game and might have two hours to spare; what do you think?

[Matrelith]

I don't think there was a mini-map in the original trilogy, was there? I can't remember.

Mass Effect 1 had a radar which showed things like quest givers and enemies in your vicinity. If I recall correctly nothing like that appeared in 2 or 3 (2 did have the compass during missions, pressing M would indicate which way you had to go to progress).

 

In other news patch 1.09 dropped two days ago. From what I've read not much was changed. A few fixes here in there that ultimately won't be a game changer. The chances of singleplayer DLC happening becomes slimmer by the day (and maybe it's a good thing. I wouldn't call Andromeda a succes overall), but we do have Batarians in multiplayer now.

[Coin]

 

Dude just completely and comprehensively rips the game apart. For anyone who's played the game and might have two hours to spare; what do you think?

 

I only listened to the first couple of minutes, because it was pretty clear that his and my gameplay experiences (in terms of what he covered in that short amount of time) were vastly different which doesn't exactly bode well for the rest of the content.

 

I will say though, and take as you will, the game wasn't close to being bad or flawed enough to warrant a 2 hour + critique of it.

[Creed Bratton]

Dude just completely and comprehensively rips the game apart. For anyone who's played the game and might have two hours to spare; what do you think?

I just watched the first hour or so that talks about the story. Jesus Christ. I didn't know that it was THAT bad.

[Jonesizzle]

People have widely different opinions. From what I've gathered, you'll either enjoy the hell out of the game for what it is... a mass effect game. Or you will think it's god awful. It hasn't warranted another playthrough for me yet, but with time I'll get it another go around.

[chronic lumbago]

I think I'll pass on watching criticism of this game. Too late anyways. Also, what The Yokel said - that he didn't realize the story was THAT bad - really doesn't make me want to worsen my opinion on this game. I liked Andromeda and thought the story was overall quite good so I see no reason why I should let my opinion of this game be destroyed by someone who exposes every single flaw of it. I learned not to take too much criticism/praise for games too deep into my heart.

 

My final verdict on Andromeda is that it simply is not Mass Effect 4. It's Mass Effect Andromeda 1. They let a little too much go of the OT but it's still a strong enough game to form a trilogy on it's own. It's somewhat shameful the light and impression of the OT is gone and the game isn't a "9,5-10" anymore. Doesn't make it a bad game.

 

I might add, this gen is full of amazing games. It's like a new golden era when it comes to gaming and Andromeda simply didn't quite hold up. It's nowhere near my favorite games of this gen, despite being good. Witcher 3 is a game worth mentioning here because it definetly set the bar higher for RPGs.

Edited July 8, 2017 by fashion

[Creed Bratton]

I think I'll pass on watching criticism of this game. Too late anyways. Also, what The Yokel said - that he didn't realize the story was THAT bad - really doesn't make me want to worsen my opinion on this game.

I can't blame you. I only watched it because I haven't played the game.

[Static]

Relevant It's an interesting and somewhat saddening look into MEA's ill-fated development.

 

So many "what if"s.

 

What if they used the prequel idea and First Contact Wars setting.

Or what if they were actually able to successfully implement procedural generated plantes/levels.

Or if they opted to use a different engine other than frostbite, which was at it's infancy during MEA's early development and was solely designed for FPSs and at the time, didn't even have an animation system.

What if they didn't decide to switch from 3D Sudio Max to Maya midway through production.

 

The list of missteps, screw-ups, redesigns, red tape, and just overall terrible luck goes on and on unfortunately.

Edited July 8, 2017 by Static

[Leftist Bastard]

First Contact prequel would be dreadfully boring because not much actually happened. A few skirmishes and it was over in a few months or w/e; something afterwards might be interesting though.

[Sonny_Black]

Watched some gameplay of Mass Effect 1, the beginning only; it look amazing, I love how the game is presented, feels like a sci-fi movie, I dont know, the story seems to be really good. I've never played it though, I think I should take it.

Edited July 9, 2017 by anthony

[Matrelith]

Watched some gameplay of Mass Effect 1, the beginning only; it look amazing, I love how the game is presented, feels like a sci-fi movie, I dont know, the story seems to be really good. I've never played it though, I think I should take it.

I'd say go for it. Mass Effect 1 is the best part of the trilogy in my opinion. It's a 10 year old game but it has aged very well.

Edited July 11, 2017 by Matrelith

[chronic lumbago]

First Contact prequel would be dreadfully boring because not much actually happened. A few skirmishes and it was over in a few months or w/e; something afterwards might be interesting though.

I agree and the excitement of meeting and fighting against a new alien species would be nonexistent because we know the turians quite well already. The only way to make it happen is to let us play as the turians. They know the citadel species and it would be hella exciting to see how the citadel was before humans came along. I'd actually buy that.

 

Sadly, the developers have trouble thinking outside the box and we only get to play as different species in MP crates *sigh*. Seriously, a die hard fan of the franchise should become the creative director, a guy with more imagination willing to try out new stuff. Multiple protags wouldn't hurt at all.

[Creed Bratton]

Bioware needs to make a Mass Effect game that is smaller in scope. With a more personal story instead of saving entire worlds, species and galaxies. And let us play with different species. They seem to have no understanding of why people loved the original trilogy. It's mind-boggling.

[Coin]

Writing has always been bordering on bad when it comes to BioWare; gameplay has always been the strong suit that usually comes together more than well enough to overlook the writing flaws.

 

They've arguably got the best writing team on board now that they've ever had... but it doesn't matter if they don't utilise it properly, which they aren't. I doubt they'll care if Anthem is a success though unfortunately.

[Zello]

I wouldn't mind a prequel where we play as the Protheans but it'd be too similar to the OT and we already know what happens to them.

Edited July 10, 2017 by Zello

[Leftist Bastard]

Writing has always been bordering on bad when it comes to BioWare; gameplay has always been the strong suit that usually comes together more than well enough to overlook the writing flaws.

 

They've arguably got the best writing team on board now that they've ever had... but it doesn't matter if they don't utilise it properly, which they aren't. I doubt they'll care if Anthem is a success though unfortunately.

Tbh i'd argue that's not really the case. Dragon Age Origins didn't pull you in with great combat but an interesting world and good characters. Same with Mass Effect 1.

I think the Mass Effect series just got the shaft in terms of writers to be honest. DA is far more consistent.