IGN’s Epic Review Of Mass: Effect Andromeda Reaches For The Stars
When this IP first burst onto the scene back 2007, it was lauded as an ambitious action/RPG hybrid. A space opera of the highest caliber in the world of interactive entertainment, BioWare’s epic adventure was quite the debut experience. But it launched into another stratosphere when Mass Effect 2 took the critical world by storm and ever since, role-playing and sci-fi fans alike have been in awe of the accomplished IP.
That’s why the launch of Mass Effect: Andromeda was filled with a massive amount of hype and anticipation. Not only is it the first installment in what the developers are calling a new story arc (and perhaps a new trilogy), but it’s also the first entry in a new console generation. Obviously, expectations were insanely high. And it seems some gamers are going to be disappointed, as the critic response doesn’t fall in line with those lofty expectations; a current Metacritic average of only 77 isn’t what fans wanted.
But most agree it’s still a really good game, maybe even great. Just not legendary. For all the answers, we recommend checking out IGN’s excellent analysis. Critic Dan Stapleton produces a dense yet enjoyable review that dives in head-first and appropriately addresses the highs and lows. There’s a clear understanding of the franchise and of the fanbase, which results in a review that series followers will appreciate. It’s objective without being remote and distant; it has solid pacing and structure, and in the end, the reader walks away 100 percent satisfied.
This is the way you tackle a review of an epic product. Take notes, rookies, and congrats to Dan!
Why We Like It:
— Dives in from the get-go and gives us a baseline understanding of the atmosphere, story, and gameplay. It’s a great way to introduce a huge, complex game without falling prey to tangents.
— With an expert’s knowledge, the critic focuses on that which will matter most to the long-time fan. There’s a fantastic emphasis on the effectiveness of the story, the evolution of the gameplay, the immersive world, etc.
— As always, it’s easy to spend too much time comparing a new entry in a franchise to past installments. That doesn’t happen much here, as the reviewer is content with evaluating the title on its own merits. Well done.
2 thoughts on “IGN’s Epic Review Of Mass: Effect Andromeda Reaches For The Stars”
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A big disappointment for me. The game came out sort of broken, which you just don’t expect from BioWare. I know there’s a patch coming but whatever happened to releasing FINISHED PRODUCTS?
I really hate this part of PC culture that has seeped into consoles. 🙁
Eh, the technical drawbacks aren’t that big of a deal to me. I just don’t like some of the gameplay changes; the idea of making the single-player gameplay more like the multiplayer was a big mistake, IMO.