MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA

Don’t like it. Never tried it. Every month we force one of our team to play their most feared game

Mass Effect hasn’t aged well (fight me), but the rosetinted specs are still firmly welded to my face for the second and third games. They remain amazing experiences today. I heard so many horror stories about Andromeda, though – an army of bugs, terrible design decisions – that I kept my distance. Turns out it’s not quite the disasterpiece I feared.

Having created a suitably freakish Ryder, off I toddle to explore the universe. The opening few hours are, to be honest, pretty bad: dull and slightly confusing. After that though, things improve pretty quickly.

BioWare hasn’t lost its touch when it comes to creating believable, engaging alien worlds. Even the 3D space maps are mesmerising. I find myself eager to carry on exploring this universe, but less keen on the game’s obsession with mining a planet for materials the second I discover it. Is this some sort of meta commentary on colonialism?

Almost two years after release, a handful of bugs remain (some trophies don’t even pop for me). Even worse, I think, is the amount of miles the game soon insists on making me drive. Playing it, I sometimes feel less like an intergalactic adventurer and more like a long-haul lorry driver.

The script has its moments, and there are some plot threads I’m keen to pull. Nonetheless, I spend a lot of time pining for the original trilogy. There’s not a single character as interesting or memorable as, say, Tali. Although there are a few interesting choices to make, removing the Paragon/Renegade system has left a hole nothing else fills.

Despite all the moans, I’m glad I gave Mass Effect: Andromeda a chance. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to discover more Remnant secrets and awkwardly flirt with my crew.

HAVING CREATED A SUITABLY FREAKISH RYDER, OFF I TODDLE TO EXPLORE.