The test version of Mass Effect: Andromeda received only “mediocre” reviews – bugs and boredom plagued many players. We spent much more time in Mass Effect: Andromeda and can say in a preview review: It will get much better.
A few days ago, fans were extremely excited because the long wait for the latest installment of Mass Effect was shortened a bit. Even before the official release of the game, players could check out a 10-hour trial version on PC and Xbox One.
Test version is absolutely not representative of Mass Effect: Andromeda
And this is exactly where my criticism comes in: The first 3-4 hours of gameplay are absolutely not representative of the entire game. I live in the luxury of being able to play the full version of the game before release and simply cannot understand why EA made this “deal”.
I don’t want to sugarcoat it. The first hours of Andromeda are not good. They are “okay,” but not much more. The facial animations, the rushed start to the game, and the story developments that make you roll your eyes more than once do not do justice to the legacy of the series.
But that changes drastically. Once you get past the introduction – exactly everything you can play in the trial version – it becomes a completely different experience. I find it hard to detach myself from Andromeda. I canceled raids to explore more planets and stayed up all night just to complete one more side quest.
I think I read a concern under some article that “only the first 10 hours of Andromeda are cool because EA shows those in early access” and I have come to the completely opposite conclusion. The first hours are a joke compared to what comes after.
After playing the full version, I don’t understand how this test version came about
I find it incomprehensible why BioWare succumbed to this test version. I can only imagine it happening something like this:
EA PR guy: We need something to hook the players!
BioWare Employee 1: We could make the multiplayer accessible for a few hours.
EA PR guy: Good idea! But we need more! How about the story? 10 hours?
BioWare Employee 1: Uh, only the introduction might scare people away –
<BioWare Employee 1 is elbowed by BioWare Employee 2>
BioWare Employee 2: Pssst, he’s paying us!
What I want to say: For all “Mass Effect” fans who are disappointed with the test version – don’t worry. The game gets better with every passing minute afterward.
There will be more details in a detailed review of Mass Effect: Andromeda later.
