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Why the bad vibes on Mass Effect Andromeda?

BioWare made 2014's game of the year. So obviously thats persuasive precedent that ME:A will be terrible

Lmao only on Neogaf someone can actually say Mass Effect Andromeda will disappoint, it will be in every top 5 game of the year lost by next December but whatever Haha
 
No. She also has two guards right behind her who could shoot her in the back in an instant, so I'm unsure what kind of leverage she gains by disarming that guy.

Well, based on the context of the scene, since the main character is a Pathfinder and thus unlikely to just being shot in the back for "political reasons" she's probably doing it to signal a "don't mess with me" message. Just my opinion ofc.
 
Everything shown so far looks underwhelming. It looks like they're pushing the action even more this time around and everything looks so samey. We're in a new galaxy, it shouldn't feel so similar to the previous one. Do you even get to explorer with squadmates? All I've seen is Ryder running around solo. The animations are bad even for BioWare standards.
 
I'll admit, this is what ruined the stories of ME2 and 3 for me. You have a universe of trillions of sentient beings but only me and 12 dysfunctional allies who I can try to fuck can save the Galaxy? What the fuck kind of lazy bullshit is that?
And not just save the galaxy from the reapers. You also resolve a few of the galaxy's biggest, centuries-long conflicts with your charisma.

Love the series but that is by far the weakest part. It feels like you are the only one who matters in the entire galaxy.
 
No bad vibes but I guess my lack of excitement just stems from the fact that th mass effect 3 ending sucked, which means the ending to the original trilogy sucked
 
As an outsider – a person who has never played the previous three games but excited for the prospect of this release, I have found the marketing to be really bizarre with this game.

It's as if the development team and the marketing team are just piecing together what they have in order to show off, but they have no idea how it's all going to come together. This is a big franchise; there is huge pressure on Bioware to release this in a timely manner, but having to rely on half-baked trailers, and insider fanboys dripping out news, acting as a marketing proxy is not a good way to market your game.
 
I am tentative on it because I feel ME1 was the high watermark for the series and its been downhill - personally speaking - from there. Its hard to articulate what I wanted but when I fired up ME2 for the first time and I picked up a clip for a gun I knew it wasn't what I hoped it to be lol I wanted Science Fiction and I got clips for guns. There is a fundamental difference in feel there and I am not clever enough to elaborate.

I am hopeful though but we will see. I'll be honest I don't really want to be zipping about the battlefield shooting a shotgun - I want to Biotic throw fools. All day every day. Lift and Throw in ME1 is glorious lol
 
The thread is asking why people aren't hyped on the game. The post explained why the hype cycle has been underwhelming. It's EA's job to create and capitalize on hype. If they failed to do that and make their fans happy, it's on them.


EA never said there was a blowout of information coming on N7 day, so to say N7 day was "supposed to be a blowout" is kind of strange. He created his own disappointment by expecting something that was never promised.

It was quite strange being here and seeing people hype up something that was never promised and when questioned on where this info is coming from that Bioware is releasing tons of info on this day the answer was "well because".
 
Well it's just a trope for shock value.
Just like how it was unnecessary for that Turian to point the gun at her in the first place because there were already two guards behind her and she was clearly there to talk.

Well yeah, that's Bioware for you. If it looks cool/awesome, throw it in, who cares about sensible writing. "Press A for Awesome" and all.

Thing is, they haven't shown any indication of understanding why people were unhappy with them in the past and that they've learned from their mistakes. They've burned different subsets of their fanbase with DA2, ME2, ME3, DAI, and they haven't necessarily shown anything different is on the plate to bring those people back.
 
I am tentative on it because I feel ME1 was the high watermark for the series and its been downhill - personally speaking - from there. Its hard to articulate what I wanted but when I fired up ME2 for the first time and I picked up a clip for a gun I knew it wasn't what I hoped it to be lol I wanted Science Fiction and I got clips for guns. There is a fundamental difference in feel there and I am not clever enough to elaborate.

I am hopeful though but we will see. I'll be honest I don't really want to be zipping about the battlefield shooting a shotgun - I want to Biotic throw fools. All day every day. Lift and Throw in ME1 is glorious lol
This for me
 
It is probably my most anticipated game of the year, unless FFVII remake episode one gets released, but I have to be honest and say that they just haven't marketed this game very well. I don't see it pulling in new fans right now by the promotional stuff that is out there. I think it will end up being an excellent game, but just doesn't have the hype it deserves due to poor showings.
 
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I don't like the cartoony/goofy looking visuals and animations. I also dislike the dev's obsession with side characters and their catering to a fanbase that likes these characters because of their weird fetishes/deviant art bs.

I'm excited they're letting you explore stuff again which is partly why I like ME1 the most but I'm apprehensive about everything else.
 
I am tentative on it because I feel ME1 was the high watermark for the series and its been downhill - personally speaking - from there. Its hard to articulate what I wanted but when I fired up ME2 for the first time and I picked up a clip for a gun I knew it wasn't what I hoped it to be lol I wanted Science Fiction and I got clips for guns. There is a fundamental difference in feel there and I am not clever enough to elaborate.

I am hopeful though but we will see. I'll be honest I don't really want to be zipping about the battlefield shooting a shotgun - I want to Biotic throw fools. All day every day. Lift and Throw in ME1 is glorious lol
Biotics where great in ME3. Where you could combine various biotics of your own and of your team for pretty crazy effects.
 
Why is it a bad thing that Bioware are an unambitious, by the numbers, design by committee average developer? You tell me.
I dunno what that means, man. I didn't realize Bioware had a rep for being unambitious.

Their last game was...Dragon Age 3? And it got pretty good reviews..so?
 
Lmao only on Neogaf someone can actually say Mass Effect Andromeda will disappoint, it will be in every top 5 game of the year lost by next December but whatever Haha

Not a chance. Too many top tier games releasing next year. Top 100 perhaps.
 
Biotics where great in ME3. Where you could combine various biotics of your own and of your team for pretty crazy effects.

ME3 is my least played so I am hazy on it but yeah I played Biotic and took any and all Biotics with me on missions. I'm sure I'll do the exact same thing in ME Andromeda should it let me. In all 3 ME games I had the most fun not shooting a single bullet in combat encounters.
 
I dunno what that means, man. I didn't realize Bioware had a rep for being unambitious.

Their last game was...Dragon Age 3? And it got pretty good reviews..so?

Well, I wouldn't say unambitious but they're definitely super safe. The most risky stuff they do is pushing for inclusivity in their games which is great but also a move that's clearly going to affect their reputation positively. In a post-Witcher RPG world the lack of risk taking shows.
 
Why is it a bad thing that Bioware are an unambitious, by the numbers, design by committee average developer? You tell me.

If Bioware is so bad at making games where are all these great games that garner more hype than Mass Effect? It seems like the bigger a game is the more people saying the developer is bad/average. Only exception seems to be CD Projekt Red which is strange because their games are known for mediocre at best gameplay. As "bad" as Bioware is at crafting stories CD Projekt Red is equally as bad at creating good gameplay systems.
 
I dunno what that means, man. I didn't realize Bioware had a rep for being unambitious.

Their last game was...Dragon Age 3? And it got pretty good reviews..so?

Bioware have many reps depending on who you ask. If to you all that matters is that their games review well with the gaming press, then I'm sure you'll love this game, so I'm not sure why you are asking me.

Plenty of arguments have been made about the downward trends on both their main series (DA and ME) in plenty of threads. You disagree, that's fine.
 
No worries OP - the bad vibes are totally subjective from my POV...I don't consider this a sequel. some people here keep referring to it as one - using that as a bullet point in their arguments.

Comparing it to DA:I in terms of - I don't know...work ethic? (Same individual people working on Andromeda that worked on DA:I?)

I don't know, I haven't been following anything concerning ME:A - simply to avoid being influenced before jumping on...my curiosity is purely genuine, I hav to get this game, but I'll judge it only when I have it, not before.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an advocate of credibility, but I'm also partial to different instances of publication from said companies.
 
The set up is really good, connected to the old stuff but paves the way for something totally new. Except, everything we have seen looks like it could be taking place in mass effect 3, nothing shown so far looks new or interesting at all.
 
If Bioware is so bad at making games where are all these great games that garner more hype than Mass Effect? It seems like the bigger a game is the more people saying the developer is bad/average. Only exception seems to be CD Projekt Red which is strange because their games are known for mediocre at best gameplay. As "bad" as Bioware is at crafting stories CD Projekt Red is equally as bad at creating good gameplay systems.

If that's your opinion, the sure. I'm not here to change your mind.

I don't think it has to do with the size either. I'm sure Red Dead Redemption 2 will come out and wow everyone with the largest team the world has ever seen or whatever. The comments are not made according to the size of the game or the team behind it tho, just to be clear. That's a pretty ridiculous assumption to make. But you are free to think what you will.
 
Bad vibes come from the ME3 ending and DA:I open world MMO mistakes.

People are right to have some skepticism.
 
ME3 to me was my GOTY that year and a great sequel to ME2 which is still the best one. The ending sucked balls, but that ending does not erase the 30 hours (90 if you view it as a full series) of incredible gameplay and story I experienced to get to that shit ending.

The gameplay in ME is exactly what I want from an RPG. The setting and action style of the story is exactly what I want from a game. This series is like a dream come true to me and ME:A looks to expand all the areas I love.

So yeah I am in.
 
Because Bioware is an average developer at best. Simple.

Because it's still Bioware developing it.

Why is that a bad thing?


Because they used to be better than "average" and the knowledge of that stings. I watched a fantastic company go from the heights of Baldur's Gate/ NWN down into the self-absorbed depths of DA:I and ME3. It's as if they took the idea that were god-tier story-tellers, stripped out all the great RPG mechanics that made their previous games fantastic, then proceeded to act like they could do no wrong. The EA buyout just amplified and accelerated this.

So yes, based on the last 5+ years of what Bioware has done, I expect nothing less than mediocre dreck from them with Andromeda.
 
Is it me or is Bioware playing Andromeda pretty close to the vest?

I feel like at this point we should have both seen a lot more of the game but also have a much better grasp on how it will play and the mechanics.
 
Because they used to be better than "average" and the knowledge of that stings. I watched a fantastic company go from the heights of Baldur's Gate/ NWN down into the self-absorbed depths of DA:I and ME3. It's as if they took the idea that were god-tier story-tellers, stripped out all the great RPG mechanics that made their previous games fantastic, then proceeded to act like they could do no wrong. The EA buyout just amplified and accelerated this.

So yes, based on the last 5+ years of what Bioware has done, I expect nothing less than mediocre dreck from them with Andromeda.
as far as I'm concerned there's no such thing as god-tier story-tellers, but I understand what you're saying. so I guess it's a good thing then that I ain't that hyped
 
Mass effect 1 had its flaws (like that obnoxious inventory system and some mako sections and bla bla bla), but, hey, they could have improved those and build up from there...And Shooting was NEVER a problem. I liked it more in ME1.
Sadly Bioware took the shooter direction with ME 2 and stripped down the RpG elements. Instill enjoyed a lot. But, something was missing.


Also, I hope ME:A is good
 
Is it me or is Bioware playing Andromeda pretty close to the vest?

I feel like at this point we should have both seen a lot more of the game but also have a much better grasp on how it will play and the mechanics.

I think so too

I am fairly sure at this timeframe in the reveal of the original Mass Effect we knew more about that game than about ME:A
 
Is it me or is Bioware playing Andromeda pretty close to the vest?

I feel like at this point we should have both seen a lot more of the game but also have a much better grasp on how it will play and the mechanics.

That's what has me the most worried.

Knowing it's not the original developers, the long development cycle and the strange marketing strategies wich drop info a bit too little by little, it makes it look like they don't have too much confidence in their own product.

I understand they're under a lot of pressure and maybe want to play it safe but it definitely seems suspicious.
 
I've been meaning to replay Mass Effect 1, jankiness and all. So fucking good. Still have my collectors edition. As for Andromeda, just give me that sweet release date ;)
 
I don't have a negative opinion -- it's still one of my most anticipated titles -- but I'm less enthusiastic than I was before. The main reason is that I don't feel the sense of excitement and mystery that ought to surround exploring a new part of the universe. So far, it feels formulaic and overly familiar.

I'm hoping that I see something better in the next few months. They said they would come on strong with the marketing after Christmas.
 
Bioware hasn't made anything interesting in the better part of a decade, and DA2 and ME3 are pretty shit.

While I'm good with their politics, their social themes have been pretty obvious in their later games and there's a lot less of the more interesting grey area from their earlier work.
 
To be very specific about my gripes, I never liked that they transitioned from exploration and discovery to gun shooting in the two sequels. In Mass Effect 1 I felt like having guns was more about personal security and then the evolution of Shepard's story. There were conflicts that didn't require you to shoot anything and when you did it was more for self preservation than anything else. It felt more like an RPG in this way. Aside from the main story, there was very little weight attached to you using your gun. The gun shooting missions were mainly taking out teams of bandits or thieves that wouldn't change the story largely if you did or didn't take them out.

Starting with 2, there is no conflict in the game that you don't resolve with shooting at it.This immediately makes the RPG aspects useless as the talking only serves to set up the shooting, instead of being a possible resolution to whatever conflict you find yourself in. It was Gears of War with talking bits. Also with 2 Shepard became more than just a Spectre doing their job - s/he became "savior of the universe" which meant anything s/he did had huge weight to it. Now the objective was to go in guns blazing, instead of to explore and unravel. In Mass Effect 2 the only characters you really talk with are your teammates. Everyone else is just target practice.

Now, as far as combat Mass Effect 1 had huge issues (the controls were a mess, there were I think 4 or 5 different base styles the entire game, the inventory management sucked, especially when it filled up, there really wasn't any major difference between your team members and abilities) but there were things it did that neither of the other 2 games accomplished. Specific example - I once went to a snow world (can't remember the name) with a Geth installation and as an Infiltrator I was able to set up on a mountain about a kilometer away and snipe to my hearts content. There was versatility, distance, and control. In 2 and 3, all the fights are set pieces in which you MUST address the fight in THIS specific way. It always felt silly being an infiltrator and "sniping" a character 30 feet away.

People talk about the improvements with the Mako and the vehicles in ME2, but I disagree. The Mako had one major advantage in that you had to use it to beat the game. Not only are the vehicles in ME2 not mandatory to complete the game but they're behind a paywall as well. Another example about how all of the versatility of ME1 was stripped away.

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned how the Witcher has taken Bioware's RPG crown. I agree, because CD Project realizes that a great game lies in versatility and change to approach, not every one of Geralt's missions in the Witcher requires him to kill a monster. Meanwhile Bioware started ME in this way then distilled the series into 'talk to teammate, go on mission, token words, gunshoot' and away from the exploration and discovery. I hope that ME:A takes this into account.

Great post, I agree with you 100%
 
Not even close to correct. Biotics combos in 2 and 3 were the best change in combat the game could ask for after the horribly unbalanced shit in 1 where you just lift or singularity an entire room of bad guys and hit them with your pistol a bunch

Opinions and such (I've already said multiple times how much better ME2 is overall anyway...), but on any difficulty higher than Normal, that shit was so tedious. Yes, you could Warp > Throw (or Singularity) spam all day, but it a) limited your options with squadmate selection and abilities if you wanted to do them quickly for the first two-thirds of the game or b) caused you to spend more time stripping defenses than actually damaging or manipulating enemies. I don't recall mentioning how it worked in ME3 either, since I was talking about ME2.

People love to bitch so much about how "imbalanced" biotics were in the first game, but they actually weren't, unless you aren't actually familiar with the game, and they only outclassed other options in a select few scenarios. Immunity + Marksman > Biotics in the first game easily in terms of efficiency and killing speed. Against Geth, Sabotage did almost the same damn thing as Lift or Stasis anyway.

In the second game, the best "biotic" class was the one charging into an enemies face and blasting it with a shotgun, and a Soldier (or Infiltrator to a lesser extent) was way more powerful than any Adept on Veteran and above difficulies.
 
I'll bite. What else was wrong with ME3?

Who remembers day1 DLC for an important party member, Not to mention you couldnt import your shepard from ME 1&2 because of a bug, The journal was bugged, 1 HUB The Citadel which wasn't even open, It was 5 floors. Then it was working as a postman delivering artifacts to randoms because The Shepard was an eavesdropper, No end boss, Kei Leng and his plot armor, Still don't know what happened to Harbinger, Loyal ME2 squadmates becoming cameo's when they could have joined.

Then after leaving the hero under some rubble we were told to buy DLC to further that legends story.

And all that was way before the ending masked what was a very mediocre broken game.

But yeah they improved the gameplay and the MP was fun so it's all good.
 
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