Tesla Bethel
Lantern Staff
Mass Effect Andromeda, a game released on Tuesday March 21, was much anticipated for any Mass Effect fan. The game took almost two years to create after the original announcement on June 15, 2015. BioWare, the company that developed the well-loved action role playing games, has had hit and miss reviews regarding Andromeda.
One of the biggest complaints I have heard about Andromeda were the graphics as well as glitches. People were falling out of the Tempest, the hands would not fully connect to ladders and sometimes the entire pathfinder’s arm would be found glitched into his or her head as if they were “dabbing”. These are just a few examples of some of the graphical issues, besides my female pathfinder’s smile coming across as more of a grimace.
However, with the patch BioWare released, a lot of these issues have been fixed. My female pathfinder no longer grimaces when she smiles. I also have not had any more issues other than the one time that my pathfinder had her arm glitched into her head.
One thing that I do love about Andromeda is the voice acting. The voice acting in almost all Mass Effect games is superb, and even though Garrus is no longer in the picture, two characters definitely help to take the place of the sensual voice Garrus had.
Jaal Ama Darav, voiced by Nyasha Hatendi, is part of the new species, the Angara, that is introduced in Andromeda. I must say his voice actor is top-notch with a classic charismatic, smooth voice that would melt any girl’s heart.
Another character whose voice acting stands out is Reyes Vidal who sounds a lot like Zevran, an Antivan elf from the game Dragon Age Origins, which is why I like him so much. Reyes is that classic bad boy who has a sweet side. Reyes is voiced by Nicholas Boulton, the voice I would almost characterize as smooth Russian giving that hint of danger that draws people in.
The story line was wonderful and true to the Mass Effect style. The pathfinder must find planets viable for the Milky Way galaxy species to reside and make outposts. There is one major antagonist, and that would be another new species known as the Kett who go from galaxy to galaxy stealing certain genomes from species to fast forward their evolutionary process.
I also like the removal of the paragon and renegade format for a more flowable dialogue. You pick how your pathfinder talks. If you want them to curse, they curse. Are they more emotional? Or maybe more logical? Maybe one might prefer a more casual approach rather than a professional one. With the new format, all that is possible.
The only other issue found in the game is that although there are very big decisions, it is not quite clear how they will drastically affect the game unless there is a sequel. The first outpost the pathfinder must choose is if it is science or military based. However, after that there is not a real choice and does not show any direct changes to the game as it progresses. I am hoping that if BioWare does choose to do a sequel they will keep those choices in mind for the future and show more of a change as time passes.
Overall, I would rate Mass Effect: Andromeda a solid seven out of 10. The story line was wonderful, as well as the dialogue and voice acting, but the graphical issues and how the choices don’t majorly reflect the game’s overall turnout. With that I sign off, or as Jaal would say, “Stay strong and clear.”