Mass Effect: Andromeda

Does Mass Effect Andromeda live up to the hype? I think so!

We have had to wait 5 years for the next installment of the Mass Effect saga. This time without Shepard, without familiar companions and in a completely new galaxy. Does the latest BioWare game meet fans' expectations and encourage a new generation to travel to space?

Despite its vague links to the trilogy, Mass Effect: Andromeda can largely be described as a soft reboot for the series. For the most part, this has worked out really well for Bioware, giving them a launching pad to take the story ahead in future installments. The game is not without its problems, but the wealth of content on offer here will suck you right into the experience.

The road is rocky in places, but Mass Effect: Andromeda takes BioWare's beloved space adventure to a new frontier.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is an expansive action role-playing game with a few great moments that recapture the high points of the landmark trilogy that came before it, and energetic combat and fantastic sound effects contribute to a potent sci-fi atmosphere. Without consistently strong writing or a breakout star in its cast to carry it through the long hours and empty spaces, however, disappointments like a lack of new races, no companion customization, and major performance problems and bugs take their toll.

Much like the character of Ryder, Mass Effect: Andromeda is a title that struggles to find its footing at first, but does come around to more stable ground as the game progresses. It is a shame that the unpolished animations and technical hiccups really accentuate the underlying problems the game has.

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Performance issues are a huge let down, and it feels more Dragon Age than Mass Effect. But if you like open world exploration with fast paced gun fighting, and a hero story like an OTT Hollywood action movie, you'll probably like Andromeda.

Mass Effect: Andromeda sets itself apart from the original trilogy by delivering a fascinating new galaxy to explore with a refined combat system and new focus on exploration but is plagued with frequent bugs, poor AI, and a lackluster supporting cast of characters.

Mass Effect: Andromeda spends a lot of time not really feeling like a Mass Effect game. If anything, it feels like a spin-off — the sort of thing created by another studio that’s unsure about what direction to take it. Like in the game itself, there are problems with the atmosphere. But Andromeda is very clear that it doesn’t aim to be like the other Mass Effects. New beginnings, not funerals — for better and for worse.

Mass Effect Andromeda feels like a rushed entry into a struggling IP - a poorly executed swan song aimed at rinsing a games last market value down to a dry sponge. But this is Mass Effect. This is not a struggling IP. This is one of BioWare's greatest achievements. The franchise deserved more, the fans deserved more and honestly, I feel the developers deserved more.

The fault in our stars.