Mass Effect Series Catch-All

Everyone is talking about the OG trilogy but no mentions yet of Andromeda. That game was visually beautiful and in my opinion had both better combat and exploration than the trilogy. Sure the story lacked a grand story like the Reapers but in fairness it had the breadth of 3 games to build the lore. Also I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing but the companions were also more human in the sense of having family on the arcs (grandpa Krogan, older sis Turian, young black sheep Asari PB). Of course there's the Human Who Trained With Asari Commandos too.

I really wanted to like Andromeda. It was definitely a victim of hyped up expectations. And uncanny valley visuals.

I didn't really care for protagonist or her family story. They weren't bad or awful but kind of grating. The main plot also took too long to unfold - likely due to how big the open world was, and what I'll call a lack of focus. Some of the side characters/party members seemed interesting but that wasn't enough to keep my attention.

Combat was fun in Andromeda and they did do a really good job of including verticality. I remember it was easy to get overpowered, which was fun for a while.

In retrospect a lot of my dissatisfaction with Andromeda is similar to how I feel about most open world games. I might want to explore, but only a little. I don't actually want to explore that much. I don't really want to wander. I don't want a deep crafting system. I'm fine with getting coins or credits and when I get to a store I have 3-5 options. I don't want to chop wood or harvest materials. Respect my time and show me the good stuff.

Yeah. While it wasn't the best of the series I did enjoy playing Andromeda.

strangederby wrote:

Yeah. While it wasn't the best of the series I did enjoy playing Andromeda.

I really liked Andromeda also. It nailed the exploration that ME1 failed at and later abandoned. I’m biased though in that I really like open world games.

Agreed with a lot of what was said. My biggest frustration with Andromeda was the story was extremely derivative and uninspired. They really could have gone some cool directions (suddenly becoming the invading colonizers and/or really struggling in incredibly harsh and foreign environments) but threw that all away for the easiest narrative possible. Was still my GOTY.

IMAGE(https://i.redd.it/o89k3x16jb351.jpg)

So I took Javik to a party and holy hell that was hilarious.

I agree with everyone's thoughts on Andromeda though ultimately, I really enjoyed it. I've found over the years that games that have some good story elements but also give me checklists to tackle and worlds to wander in for useless trinkets as I deem fit are really satisfying to me. They help me stay in the world and participate on days in which trying to really push the narrative would be too much for me cognitively.

Basically, I've come to appreciate filler content.

Original trilogy remaster actually on the way but not yet announced.

I went through Andromeda last year and while it wasn’t nearly as bad as it reviewed, it suffered from an unimaginative enemy (the Kett were really dull) and never did enough with the interesting stuff with the Vaults and the Scourge. The uneven planets didn’t help either.

The combat was much better though!

I wish more console games supported mods:

Higgledy wrote:

Original trilogy remaster actually on the way but not yet announced.

HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP

I hope this means ME3 multiplayer is making a comeback, too.

BadKen wrote:
Higgledy wrote:

Original trilogy remaster actually on the way but not yet announced.

HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP

I hope this means ME3 multiplayer is making a comeback, too.

With cross platform multiplayer please. Even if it requires starting from zero again I would be in. Maybe especially if it requires starting from zero again.

Sorbicol wrote:

I went through Andromeda last year and while it wasn’t nearly as bad as it reviewed, it suffered from an unimaginative enemy (the Kett were really dull) and never did enough with the interesting stuff with the Vaults and the Scourge. The uneven planets didn’t help either.

The combat was much better though!

It went through a real rough development, apparently. Initially Andromeda was very ambitious with procedurally generated planets but they couldn't get the tech to work or craft a coherent story around it. They had to quickly pivot to a very standard game design when it came from on high they had spent too much time prototyping.

I just did the Apartment DLC for ME3 and that was wonderful, funny and touching. Loved it, especially when everyone got rowdy. Drunk Tali is the best, and Grunt in the shower, amazing.

Vector wrote:
Sorbicol wrote:

I went through Andromeda last year and while it wasn’t nearly as bad as it reviewed, it suffered from an unimaginative enemy (the Kett were really dull) and never did enough with the interesting stuff with the Vaults and the Scourge. The uneven planets didn’t help either.

The combat was much better though!

It went through a real rough development, apparently. Initially Andromeda was very ambitious with procedurally generated planets but they couldn't get the tech to work or craft a coherent story around it. They had to quickly pivot to a very standard game design when it came from on high they had spent too much time prototyping.

Which, to be fair, they almost certainly had.

"he's a piano hero, a bloody icon"

Rykin wrote:
BadKen wrote:
Higgledy wrote:

Original trilogy remaster actually on the way but not yet announced.

HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP

I hope this means ME3 multiplayer is making a comeback, too.

With cross platform multiplayer please. Even if it requires starting from zero again I would be in. Maybe especially if it requires starting from zero again.

I’d pay just to play the multiplayer. It’s that good!

Speaking of ME3 multiplayer, between the pandemic and ME3 appearing on Steam, there are quite a few new players in ME3 multiplayer. It's easier than ever to get into a game.

I am very rusty.

BadKen wrote:

Speaking of ME3 multiplayer, between the pandemic and ME3 appearing on Steam, there are quite a few new players in ME3 multiplayer. It's easier than ever to get into a game.

I am very rusty.

I fire it up on Xbox One from time to time and have never had issues finding a match. See plenty of newer players (or at least ones that haven't promoted much) and some that have been around a long time.

Someone on reddit made custom Kaidan and Shepard Funko Pops for pride month:

IMAGE(https://i.redd.it/4hbuohkwq4551.jpg)

Kaidan looks more like Mark Meer to my eyes.

That “someone” is lenathecat aka VorchaGirl. I was lucky enough to commission her for a Kaidan and custom FemShep pops a few years back. I love them.

Rat Boy wrote:

Kaidan looks more like Mark Meer to my eyes.

That’s not the case here but for mine, she used a MaleShep as the base for Kaidan. MaleShep’s are hard to find now, though. She often offers to use a variety of heads and bodies from different fandoms to stick to what you want. She was great to work with.

Her commissions waiting list fills up almost the second she opens it up again, I had alerts set up and had a leg up on the States since she’s based in Australia.

I meant the actual Mark Meer cosplaying as Kaidan.

I sadly own these games on the 360 and have yet to open them

Rat Boy wrote:

I meant the actual Mark Meer cosplaying as Kaidan.

Pics or it didn’t happen!!!!!!
I’ve seen Mark Meer cosplay as Shep and I’ve seen Luciano Costa (Kaidan’s face model) cosplay as Kaidan, but never Meer as Kaidan.

Darkhaund wrote:

I sadly own these games on the 360 and have yet to open them :(

Tag idea: Master Procrastinator

*cough* Choose a tag! *cough*

Eleima wrote:
Rat Boy wrote:

I meant the actual Mark Meer cosplaying as Kaidan.

Pics or it didn’t happen!!!!!!
I’ve seen Mark Meer cosplay as Shep and I’ve seen Luciano Costa (Kaidan’s face model) cosplay as Kaidan, but never Meer as Kaidan.

It's the hair on the pop that made me think it was him when I was scrolling through. The only character I saw Meer ever cosplay as was the one he played in that fan film which was based on one of the prequel novels.

So no news out of EA play about the remaster, which makes me think it’s not coming out anytime soon.