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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Mass Effect Andromeda VGC-ers impressions!

starcraft on 19 March 2017

So by now many of us have used EA Access or Origin Access to have a play around in the Andromeda galaxy. Without providing any spoilers, please post your impressions below.

Be sure to include:

  • The platform you're playing on
  • How long you've played
  • Single player or multiplayer


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RustyShell on 19 March 2017

PC.
7 Hours.
Single Player.
Thoughts: The game gets better the deeper you get in. The initial roughness is smoothed over and things become a lot more exciting as you get explore and interact with more locations and character relationships. The gameplay grew on me and I have to say I'm pretty positive, especially the jump pack as it adds some superb mobility. Yes, the characters can looks a little funky but I didn't really encounter to much of that other than a character named Addison. I feel like people have focused to much on that aspect and not enough on all the game's good qualities. On the flip-side, how has no one talked about that annoying new galaxy map? The characters seem very likable and your family adds in an interesting dynamic to the mass effect franchise. The villains could use some more exposure but I'm at the very least intrigued. The nomad is alright in my opinion but I miss my mako. Overall, I'm looking forward to the full game tomorrow.



method114 on 19 March 2017

Pc, 7 hours, SP.

Loving it so far. Love the changes to combat. All the issues I've ready are so overblown. I noticed a lot is focused on the female play through. I do hate the steep hills on the vehicle super annoying.



starcraft on 19 March 2017
My impressions - Xbox One S

So far I have probably put about 6 hours into the multiplayer, and have mostly had a great experience. It took me a while to get going, primarily as there are two main gameplay changes from ME3 - a new cover system and greatly enhanced mobility (more on that later).

I've been playing with a female human biotic. The options for developing your character are significant, certainly more prolific than in ME3's multiplayer. Team work is pretty integral. The AI is far more intelligent than in previous games - get caught on your own and you will get flanked and killed. The death cool down is not particularly long, so if you're miles away from your team they will not be able to save you.

Obtaining basic items/boosters seems to be very easy, but higher-end items, weapons and characters takes some working up to (I haven't spent any real money). I haven't yet figured out how to use equipment, I can't find it in the store. Perhaps its not live yet, or maybe my human biotic cannot wear any. I have obtained mods through card packs that have improved my weapons substantially.

Pleasingly the game is fairly challenging, even on the lowest difficulty (bronze) that I have been playing. My current character is level 12, so I am about to switch up to silver and see how I go. Whilst I haven't started the single player campaign, I have completed a couple of the link-in strike missions, so I am excited to start the single player campaign and see how my rewards play out.

When the cover system works, it works well. Changing shoulders regularly seems to be important to using cover effectively. The mobility of the characters is greatly increased. There are echos of Titanfall in the verticality of the levels, and your ability to use jetpacks to move around. My character hasn't received any jetpack upgrades, but I know its possible via upgrades to jump higher and further, and even to hover mid-air while you unload on some unfortunate alien.

Occasionally the cover system has misbehaved on me - I've yet to see a non-Gears/Uncharted game implement cover perfectly. It hasn't been a huge issue, but there was one time I died when IMO the character stuck to a wall adjacent to the one I directed her to. In 6 hours of play, I think I have seen framerate issues on 3 occasions, and never for more than a couple of seconds. In multiplayer at least, the game runs smoothly and with none of the animation issues reportedly in the single-player campaign.

All in all, I am having a tonne of fun. Its all co-operative multiplayer (essentially Horde mode), which won't appeal to everyone. But if its your thing, this game seems to do it very well, and I am just scratching the surface of the multiplayer's features and options!


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starcraft on 19 March 2017
RustyShell said:
PC.
7 Hours.
Single Player.
Thoughts: The game gets better the deeper you get in. The initial roughness is smoothed over and things become a lot more exciting as you get explore and interact with more locations and character relationships. The gameplay grew on me and I have to say I'm pretty positive, especially the jump pack as it adds some superb mobility. Yes, the characters can looks a little funky but I didn't really encounter to much of that other than a character named Addison. I feel like people have focused to much on that aspect and not enough on all the game's good qualities. On the flip-side, how has no one talked about that annoying new galaxy map? The characters seem very likable and your family adds in an interesting dynamic to the mass effect franchise. The villains could use some more exposure but I'm at the very least intrigued. The nomad is alright in my opinion but I miss my mako. Overall, I'm looking forward to the full game tomorrow.

I have heard that they gimped the galaxy map. Shame, it was a really cool feaute by the time of ME3. Still, not really integral I guess.

As an Australian I have to wait THREE more days to play



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barneystinson69 on 19 March 2017

XB1

4hrs

SP

Love the gameplay. Issues are far overblown. At worst, its an 8/10



Made a bet with LipeJJ and HylianYoshi that the XB1 will reach 30 million before Wii U reaches 15 million. Loser has to get avatar picked by winner for 6 months (or if I lose, either 6 months avatar control for both Lipe and Hylian, or my patrick avatar comes back forever).

Johnw1104 on 19 March 2017

I never actually played the 3rd... out of curiosity, is the 3rd game's story spoiled in the 4th?

I'll probably just have to skip the 3rd anyway; really don't have time with all the games that have been coming out.



DJjazzyGETH on 19 March 2017
Johnw1104 said:
I never actually played the 3rd... out of curiosity, is the 3rd game's story spoiled in the 4th?

I'll probably just have to skip the 3rd anyway; really don't have time with all the games that have been coming out.

from what i've heard, Andromeda's characters are cut off from the events of the trilogy in-between 2 and 3, so they (should) have no idea what happens in 3.

Frankly, 3 isn't required play for a litany of reasons, but it looks like you won't be missing anything in andromeda by skipping.



starcraft on 20 March 2017
Johnw1104 said:
I never actually played the 3rd... out of curiosity, is the 3rd game's story spoiled in the 4th?

I'll probably just have to skip the 3rd anyway; really don't have time with all the games that have been coming out.

3 is worth playing in its own right.

According to everything we know, the Andromeda Initiative left the Milky Way somewhere before the end of ME2. So they should have no idea what transpired a galaxy away at the end of ME3. 

Can you completely rule out spoilers? Not until its out. But you should be ok.



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RustyShell on 20 March 2017

Ah, that sucks! Yeah, you don't use your ship for the map anymore, just a slow moving cursor.