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What Games Have You Completed? (2021 Edition)
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Yeah I think so...the use of audio is excellent. Let me sit and digest the game and I'll get backRetr0gamer wrote: »System shock 2 is bioshock but better.
https://www.btselem.org/
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Tomb Raider Definitive Edition.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Remastered (The Ezio Collection).
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Astro’s Playroom
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Bugsnax.
Cyberpunk 2077
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Spider-Man: Miles Morales DLC
Rage 2.
Rage 2: Rise of the Ghosts DLC
Rage 2: TerrorMania DLC
Mass Effect Andromeda. Completed and platinumed.
Originally returned just to clean up some trophies which could have easily taken me about 6 hours at best on new game plus. However, I ended up spending another 40 odd getting side tracked because the world and its characters are just so good.
For those who don't know, the basic set up is this: You’re part of the Andromeda Initiative which consists of different races from the milky way galaxy from the old games, such as Asari, Salarians, Krogans, Turians and... us. (can't talk about the Quarians without going into spoilers.) Each species has an ark with its own pathfinder, i.e. the person tasked with finding a home in the Heleus cluster of the Andromeda galaxy. Unfortunately, the other arks and their pathfinders went missing for various spoilery reasons leaving only your ark and your human pathfinder, Ryder. What you’re essentially doing from here on out is trying to make planets viable. Each one has their own environmental challenges but the one adversary they all share is that they are overrun by the troublesome new enemy faction, the Kett.
I'll cut to the chase: I love this game. It really does feel like a space adventure from the way it’s shot to the score music to the Bioware film grain (which, unlike their other games, actually serve the visuals) to the way every discovery is a victory. All of the planets are interesting to explore from the late game ones like Kadara - which is just a lawless wasteland where you can’t trust anybody - to Eos, your first home.
The first home on Eos feels like a major milestone with all the NPCs - even those who initially doubted Ryder - coming out of the woodwork to sing praises, especially because previous attempts by the Initiative to establish a home had failed. The only planet I wasn’t fond of was Havari. It’s cramped and difficult to traverse and you can’t walk 5 feet without enemies attacking because it’s such a dense map. Early in the story you’re tasked with choosing between going to Voeld or Havari. Definitely go to Voeld first. In fact, Havari can be avoided in the critical path if you choose Voeld first.
I remember complaints about there not being enough new alien races which I think is a valid criticism. However, the new alien race, the Angara, is great and it shows tremendous capacity for faith that they trusted the Initiative after the Kett broke their trust (without getting too spoilery). Usually themes of inclusivity and diversity in stories make me vomit but here it feels organic. Every choice you make is not necessarily about the consequences, as most outcomes are largely linear. It’s more about what type of explorer you’re shaping your Ryder to be. Are you a foreign conqueror trying to impose your way of life on a planet’s inhabitants? Are you a team player who wants to befriend new races and learn new cultures? Your very first encounter with the Kett poses this question in a subtle and tasteful way.
The voice acting is quite good overall IMO, especially from the main cast. No, the two Ryder siblings are not Shepard but they’re not trying to be. Also, there’s a side quest involving the Ryder family that sows the seeds for an amazing sequel but sadly it’s not to be.
Your ship crew are great and their loyalty missions are amongst the best side quests in the game. There's a beautiful conclusion to one of them involving plants that I won't spoil but it's basically a non cheesy, metaphor for the entire game. It's moments like these that show how Andromeda excels even in its small moments as well as its grand escapades. Romances on a subsequent playthrough almost make you mournful for your previous romances. Like when I did a character's loyalty mission the second time and remembered that in my “previous life” a football match turned into something more. The ship crew are that loveable. Additionally, navigating the politics of the Nexus (Andromeda's Citadel equivalent / central ship for all the Milky Way races) and its hilariously incompetent leadership will test your moral judgement.
Overall, the side quests are where Andromeda really shines. To skip them is a disservice and will negatively affect the ending. They're so integral to the story and lore you have to wonder if they were ripped out of the critical path at the last minute.
And the combat is fire once you get more abilities (the best ones are typically locked behind others). I made a tech biotic build that favoured CQC and anyone who got within my vicinity would instantly die so that was neat.
The jump height is about a hair off and the cover system is too loose but on the build I had for my second playthrough I never really used cover so YMMV. Apart from Havari, there isn't as much combat as you would expect which again ties in nicely to the way this story encourages exploration and discovery over throwing hands.
Of course, there is also the obligatory multiplayer which is…ergh. You have to fight waves of challenging enemies and then on the final wave make it to the extraction point in time. Fun on paper however, in typical EA fashion, it’s extremely microtransactions driven. Unfortunately, Bioware is not as skilled as Dice is at incorporating MTs without it breaking the balance of the game. If you’re defiant like me you’re going to be grinding the multiplayer for a long time with crappy weapons. A shame really because I can tell it’s a blast when you get proper weapons but the need to monetise everything just ruins it.
Thankfully, a grindy multiplayer doesn’t spoil an otherwise great game with an earnest overall message. I truly believe that if this was the first Mass Effect it would have been praised for the story and characters at least. Though I appreciate nothing exists in a vacuum, to call Andromeda “bad” is a little bit harsh. This is my Days Gone, I guess. I really love this game and hope when enough time has passed people will look back on it more fondly.0
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