Mass Effect: Andromeda's 5th Anniversary Proves Any Game Can Be Redeemed

gamerant.com:

On March 21, 2017, a new Mass Effect game set outside the Milky Way dropped. The hype at the time was palpable; after all, BioWare’s reputation was at the top of its game. There had been stumbles, but the ME1-ME3 were still highly celebrated andDragon Age: Inquisitionwas yet another feather in BioWare’s cap. So, when Mass Effect: Andromeda dropped, many were highly disappointed.

The thing to keep in mind is that Mass Effect: Andromeda was NEVER a bad game, but it didn’t hit the same marks as the trilogy. It’s hard to live up to what’s come before, especially when that’s the Mass Effect Trilogy. But 5 years later, it seems Andromeda will always be remembered as part of the Mass Effect world, not as a discarded cousin.

Mass Effect 3's 10-Year Anniversary is a Reminder That Shepard Should Remain Dead

First and foremost, Mass Effect: Andromeda’s combat was a diamond in the rough. It was refined and allowed players to change abilities on the fly to fit whatever it is they needed. Indeed, it’s something that hopefully Mass Effect 4 gets right. Some of the characters were lackluster, but many of them were also as compelling as ever. Jaal, PeeBee, Cora, and more all likely find their place in many fans’ hearts. The worlds and exploration was another feather in its cap, but the thing is, Andromeda was NEVER as bad as many seemed to remember it for a while.

Of course, the criticism and reviews of Mass Effect: Andromeda were not unfounded. It currently sits at a 72 average score and about 40% of critics recommend it. Part of this was a plethora of bugs and technical issues, with the character animations—particularly the eyes and facial expressions—of Mass Effect: Andromeda getting picked apart. In comparison to the Mass Effect Trilogy,