Mass Effect: Andromeda Demo

When it comes to RPGs, few gamers are going to omit BioWare from their list of favorite developers, especially since the studio released so many iconic titles over the decades. Starting with Baldur’s Gate and all the way to Dragon Age and Mass Effect, BioWare is responsible for many genre-defining games, but it would seem like their latest streak of releases is not really on par with what they used to do in the past.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is the latest iteration in the Mass Effect franchise, and it’s certainly something entirely new in almost every regard. Shepard is gone and so is the Milky Way with all of its recognizable planets and races, but as far as the gameplay is concerned, many things are still the same. Given the fact that the first Mass Effect trilogy was neatly wrapped a few years ago, we can only be happy that BioWare decided to go in a different direction.

As such, you play as one of the Ryder siblings, depending on whether you want to be a man or a woman. Although the names are set in stone, the character’s appearance can be customized in the beginning, just in case you are not happy with the default one. You can also choose a preferred class and specialize on combat or biotics, as well as learn special skills to help you overcome obstacles.

In terms of story, the plot revolves around the Andromeda Initiative, which is a human expedition designed to lead humans out of the Milky Way and into the nearby Andromeda galaxy. Your role is that of the Pathfinder, the member of the team responsible for exploring possible habitable planets and assessing their properties. Alas, things go wrong once the colony ship reaches its destination after more than six centuries.

As mentioned before, the gameplay mechanics are not that different from the ones in the previous Mass Effect games. The cover system is more or less the same too, except that it’s a bit smoother in the case of Andromeda. Your character can also use a small jetpack to overcome various obstacles, and there are obviously new weapons and gadgets to play around with.

Since the whole thing take place in an entirely new galaxy, expect to meet entirely different life forms, as well as all sorts of alien technology that doesn’t make sense at first. To make things even better, the graphics are incredible, and the designers have managed to create truly wonderful landscapes. On the other hand, things are not so great in the facial animation department, because the cutscenes are a bit of a letdown in this regard.

When it’s all said and done, Mass Effect: Andromeda is definitely something new, and it does feature a fairly engaging story with fleshed out characters and an intriguing plot. However, there are many inconveniences as well, including bugs and glitches that may ruin your experience.