The World of Myth Magazine

I've been playing video games for as long as I can remember, from the first "console" Pong to the Xbox One and PS4. There have been many titles I found I didn't like. Not that I am overly picky, but for the most part, I love games with great storylines, roleplay ability, and good action. One series that had all I was looking for was the Mass Effect series created by Bioware and Electronic Arts.

Launched in 2007, the first installment, Mass Effect, hit the shelves as an Xbox 360 exclusive title (but was later ported to PC and the PS3) and became a sensational hit. In the wake of its success, Bioware and EA followed the title with two more installments and a plethora of downloadable content for each one, with each subsequent game becoming more popular than the last.

Mass Effect 3 marked the conclusion to the series with a dramatic end to the storyline. Like most of the gamers I associated with at that time, I believed the series was over. But then, at E3 2015, it was announced that all of us fans would once again be able to play in the sci-fi universe with the upcoming title Mass Effect: Andromeda. Not speaking for any others, I was extremely excited and pre-ordered the game as soon as I could, and when it the shelves on March 21st, I was as giddy as a little boy and couldn't wait to get home and play. That excitement turned into disappointment very quickly.

Andromeda's story takes place 400 plus years after the first original Mass Effect, but not in the same setting. In this installment, the character known as Pathfinder Ryder (of which can be male or female) on a voyage through dark space aboard a large intergalactic vessel called an Ark. There are several of the Arks, one for almost every species of aliens in the then known universe, with the mostly human Ark being the Hyperion. However, things go dangerously wrong when the vessel slams into an energy cloud, disabling the Hyperion and killing many of the cryogenically frozen crew. As the dust settles after the catastrophe, Ryder (the player character) is promoted to the position of Pathfinder, whose duties are to search out habitable planets called Golden Worlds.

Of course, it wouldn't be a game if there weren't complications in performing these tasks. Upon the first scouting, Ryder is confronted by a race of hostile aliens. From here on, one must battle these aliens to not only free planets from their iron grip but also to find out why each planet is initially non-inhabitable. In doing so, the player uses customizable armors and weapons to achieve their goals, along with surface vehicles, to aid them. Having a basic knowledge of what the story consisted of, I was thrilled as ever to rush home and begin playing. Yet as I power gamed through the beginning, my disappointment slowly began to take root.

As the original series played out, the creators tweaked, for the better, the mechanics of the games. The combat system was modified, making it more immersive and fun, and the character progression easier without losing the excitement of allowing new skills and powers. Andromeda followed that basic format as well, which, to me, was more than a little disappointing. I had been expecting an enhanced version of the skill trees and combat system, given that video game technology had progressed from Mass Effect 3.

Despite the initial letdown, I continued, hoping the storyline would hold up to the series standards, but after hours of play, I realized that it felt more like a B movie plot, leaning on combat situations to make up for it. Again, that bothered me, knowing the series had valued roleplay as much as it did combat.

Another great feature of the previous games had the player meeting a small host of companions to fight alongside them. These "friends" came into play as the stories progressed, and how you conversed and grew relationships with them had a significant impact on how the game played out. Andromeda also featured extra characters, but for the most part, they were met and fast, leaving no anticipation for the rest of the game. As for the story itself, I found it bland and boring, with the repetitive action scenes unable to make up for it.

Even though the game as a whole disheartened me, I played it to its conclusion and found it to be more than a little anticlimactic. That left me with a lousy taste knowing the amount of money I paid to get it. But, as I am an optimist, I hoped the DLC's would change my perspective. Throughout the game, there were hints as to what the new content would include, but much to my dismay EA and Bioware announced there would be no downloadable content, and they were brushing their hands of the game entirely.

So, to sum things up, I would not recommend the game to any hardcore Mass Effect lover. I wouldn't want them to come back to me saying I had them waste their time and money. Perhaps the game would have an attraction to first-time players seeking to join the Mass Effect family (which is it's only saving grace). With all said, I cannot give it a better rating than 1 ½ stars. With the rumors of yet another game in the works, I pray the producers work hard to redeem themselves.

As always, thank you for reading, and if you wish to contact me, you can do so via my Gamertag wickedwisdom66 on both Xbox and Playstation, or email me at wickedwisdom66@outlook.com. Till next month, game on!