Mass Effect Andromeda

Latest patch has largely resolved the complaints about weird facial animations and dead eyes.  There have been some very subtle changes to the eyes that make them look much more natural, and NPCs you interact with no longer stand perfectly still whilst they talk to you.  They actually move and emote now, you know - like people actually do. Some key scenes have been reworked substantially, and the game is much more engaging because of it.

I'm still really enjoying the game for the most part.

The main story is genuinely intriguing, I can't yet fathom where it will end up, the Kett are far more than just faceless grunts - there's a very good reason to hate everything they stand for, and the crew of the Tempest are a really solid bunch.  I went to a bar in one system and my Krogan teammate was in there as well.  After a few dialogue choices, we ended up in a bar brawl that left a dozen mercs on their arses whilst Drack and I returned to our drinks.  It was a great scene, and really rammed home the camaraderie that was one of the best aspects of the original trilogy.

EA have apparently put the Mass Effect franchise on ice, re-assigning some of Bioware Montreal - who developed Andromeda - to assist on other projects.

It's a shame really, especially as Bioware have done a pretty decent job of addressing a lot of the items criticised on the games initial release, but it does prove a point; release a game in an unacceptable state, and people will shout about it. A lot. Quite rightly so in some cases as well.

Did Andromeda deserve all the vitriol it received? No. It's still a good game - if I was throwing numbers around, I'd probably be looking at a six out of ten - but some aspects were simply poorly conceived or badly executed.

I've enjoyed my time with the game, but it isn't a patch on the original trilogy.