[Megathread] Mass Effect Andromeda

[Adam Jensen]

Question.. Is the end of the game really close after when you're on the "Chasing the Archon" or whatever quest? I hope not.

Nope.

There's still more after that.

[DaveL]

hah

[WarpedAcorn]

Indeed! Especially when it's Bioware. Pre nerf Knight Enchanter is honestly the most fun I've had in an RPG is YEARS. Hoping to recapture some of that with my Vanguard.

So maybe one point in Backlash for the early game, but don't bother leveling it?

I agree on the Knight Enchanter!

Vanguard is a similar experience. Although, when I face Remnants I don't do as well since Observers fly around. I usually change profiles at that point. But don't diss Backlash, I only started using it recently and wish I had picked it up sooner. Its hilariously satisfying to have enemies kill themselves by reflecting damage back at them. Also, I've been using Annihlation, Charge, and Lance with Lance to set off the Biotic Detonation, but honestly I think I'm better off just using a Shotgun or melee strike. If so then that opens up a skill, so maybe Backlash doesn't have to just be for early game. =)

[Deleted]

The game should not have been in this state with 5 years of development and a $40M+ budget.

The problem here was the complete lack of QA, not the budget.

[DaveL]

The extended cut was in direct response to how much folks hated the existing ending, no? It was purely a reaction to the onslaught of criticism from consumers who were disappointed, wasn't it?

If that's the case, I see no reason to think that additional development time would have made them change the ending.

Can´t provide you with some sources, but i remember reading it was more like "yeah we know we fucked up, we working on fixed ending that explains more shit".
They wanted to do that as some sort of "bonus DLC" but with that negative feedback and very plotholed cinematic along with stupid deadline from EA they had to do it.

[Adam Jensen]

They may earn less on the game, but they're avoiding a potential hit to their stock value by missing the revenue for this earnings report.

EA is in part to blame. BioWare shares the blame, these issues are on them as a developer.

Another example of stockholder ignorance actually hurting the final product . . . But if they took a hit from missing Q1, wouldn't they make up for it by having a more polished product for Q2?

[Deleted]

Nothing about DLC or making SAM stfu.

"Among other things, this patch reduces the frequency of common "interruptors" such as SAM's hazard updates." from Twitter.

Fix the many issues the game has, then we talk about DLC.

[Adam Jensen]

I agree on the Knight Enchanter!

Vanguard is a similar experience. Although, when I face Remnants I don't do as well since Observers fly around. I usually change profiles at that point. But don't diss Backlash, I only started using it recently and wish I had picked it up sooner. Its hilariously satisfying to have enemies kill themselves by reflecting damage back at them. Also, I've been using Annihlation, Charge, and Lance with Lance to set off the Biotic Detonation, but honestly I think I'm better off just using a Shotgun or melee strike. If so then that opens up a skill, so maybe Backlash doesn't have to just be for early game. =)

Observers are the biggest PITA for my vanguard in MP. And from experience, the final fight against the Archon will likely be hell.

I suppose if I do a vanguard play through, I'd want a profile specific for remnant. What would you suggest? Energy Drain to take their shields away? Tactical Cloak to get the hell away from their beam?

[DaveL]

...from Twitter...

gah.. atleast they could include that in oficial annoucement instead searching on social networks :/

[xerus]

Because it's often compared, Witcher 3 reportedly had a development budget closer to $15M with its total budget around $30M apparently (sauce). So it's not as if huge, open world RPG's aren't possible without investing $100M plus or some nonsense.

Witcher 3 had a slightly bigger budget than ME:A. Hell if Witcher 3 had been made in the US than that budget number would have probably doubled at least.

[Archon14]

https://www.masseffect.com/news/the-...d?sf53509845=1

This is good news, I hope they fix the crashing, that's the biggest problem for me. I was expecting they're going to fix technical problems, everything else is a bonus. I'm glad they will try improving the eyes, lip sync, character creator, and so on.

I also hope they will keep expanding the multiplayer more and more. Having a ton of fun playing as asari sentinel right now.

[Deleted]

Witcher 3 had a slightly bigger budget than ME:A. Hell if Witcher 3 had been made in the US than that budget number would have probably doubled at least.

Or W3 would be a lot shittier.

[xerus]

Or W3 would be a lot shittier.

They had a distinct advantage in many ways being their own publisher and able to set their own schedules. Not excusing ME:A here, just pointing out that pressure from EA was probably a large factor in the end result of ME:A.

[Deleted]

Oh make no mistake, the EA label hung heavily over Andromeda from minute 1. We knew something was going to be off but they sure outdid the wrong expectations.

[MonsieuRoberts]

1-2 more months to have a complete and polished product. Bah.

I've accepted that the game is what it is, the presentation's not going to change soon. I just wonder if it was a Bioware decision or an EA decision. I am so hungry for details about this sort of thing.

With some renewed vigor, I'm going to ditch my 40 hour save and create a new Ryder that's (hopefully) more aesthetically pleasing. Going to try Vanguard and will stay on Insanity difficulty, just like last time, and will be a lot more cautious about what I choose to dump my scan points into.

There are SO many different weapons, I wish I could see like, a 5 second gif of each of the firing instead of just having to go in blind with research, other than the little paragraph. Is there a video that showcases each weapon type or something?

[Zelk]

They had a distinct advantage in many ways being their own publisher and able to set their own schedules. Not excusing ME:A here, just pointing out that pressure from EA was probably a large factor in the end result of ME:A.

EA said they would give Bioware more time with the game, Bioware didn't care. As much as EA are a bad thing Bioware's problems are all their own.

[xerus]

EA said they would give Bioware more time with the game, Bioware didn't care. As much as EA are a bad thing Bioware's problems are all their own.

Not sure where you got that from. Source?

EA's fiscal quarter ended on 3/31 and they most likely wanted the game out before the end of quarter. Granted they are getting better about not forcing short release schedules but to imply they give free reign or don't set firm dates is silly.

[WarpedAcorn]

Observers are the biggest PITA for my vanguard in MP. And from experience, the final fight against the Archon will likely be hell.

I suppose if I do a vanguard play through, I'd want a profile specific for remnant. What would you suggest? Energy Drain to take their shields away? Tactical Cloak to get the hell away from their beam?

I've been using Overload, Incinerate, and Backlash on a Sentinel Profile. Also tried a full Tech with Overload, Assault Turret, and Remnant VI. I felt the Sentinel was stronger.

[Nazrark]

i really don´t get them. why couldn´t they wait another 1-2 months and bring the game with all these fixes? it´s really a shame, their reputation took a massive hit because of such a laziness or maybe they were only greedy and wanted to ship the game out?

sad, many of us (me 88%) finished the game already

It seems to be a shift in the industry that you can release a game and hammer out a few details over the next two months. It's strange.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, Drack is now Krogan Mr. Rogers.

[Gallahadd]

I agree on the Knight Enchanter!

Honestly, I'd probably still be playing DA:I if they hadn't murdered them in the final DLC...

But glad to know I can scratch that itch a little, and with a Sci Fi twist no less, in Andromeda. I'll have to look into Backlash a bit, honestly, I'm a big fan of reflected damage, so Backlash was on my radar. Especially with the Shield Regen or Damage boost for maxing it out.