"Mass Effect: Andromeda" takes the third-person shooter, space-epic video game series "Mass Effect" to an entirely new galaxy: Andromeda.
Humans and other sentient species from the Milky Way galaxy have sent ships — "arks"— with tens of thousands of beings in an attempt to ensure human life continues. The arks are led by a single individual tasked with finding new, habitable worlds. In "Andromeda," you are that person — the "Pathfinder"— and it's up to you to find a new home for humanity.
I've been playing "Mass Effect: Andromeda" for a few days now, and it's been an emotional roller coaster. Here's what it's like.
SEE ALSO: 5 things I really don't like about the new 'Mass Effect' game
Don't worry: There are no major spoilers ahead.
"Mass Effect: Andromeda" does not make a good first impression.
I'm a longtime "Mass Effect" fan; I put hundreds of hours into my version of Commander Shepard across the original trilogy. And that's important to tell you for one reason: My expectations are unreasonably high.
"Mass Effect: Andromeda" is essentially a standalone game. You don't have to play the original trilogy to follow the events here (though there's plenty of nods to it if you did).
But I'm not approaching it as a standalone game, and that's because I spent so much time investing in the original trilogy. There's a good argument to be made that you'd like the opening to "Mass Effect: Andromeda" more than I did if you didn't play the original games.
It's a fine opening, but doesn't stand up to the high bar set in the first three.
Right off the bat, the characters feel lifeless — like they're going through the motions. There's little time for plot or character development as "Andromeda" rushes through the intro.
This guy's my father? And apparently my brother is hurt? And who are these squadmates? And why am I shooting at these aliens?
"Mass Effect" is a series known for nuance, yet the intro to "Andromeda" is entirely lacking in this regard.
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