Galactic wonder undone a bit by clichés along the journey
Time for spring break! Why not book a trip to the Andromeda Galaxy, where fun and adventure await on exotic planets no human has ever set foot on before? Two problems: First, it takes 600 years to get there. Second, your travel agent may have exaggerated a bit, and those faraway worlds aren’t quite as human-friendly as promised.
Mass Effect: Andromeda invites you to take part in this grand adventure — but, like the journey it describes, it delivers mixed results. Occasionally it rewards you with the gosh-wow sense of wonder that every science fiction fan craves, but you have to work your way through some hoary genre clichés.
You can play as Sara or Scott Ryder, the offspring of one of the galaxy’s most renowned explorers. Early on, the young, inexperienced Ryder is thrust into the role of Pathfinder, whose job is to find a decent place to live for all these refugees.
The most glaring issue is the Kett, a race of lizard-like conquerors bent on destroying every other species in the galaxy. More puzzling are the Remnants, robotic killing machines guarding mysterious monoliths.
Your crew members include a couple of humans and some familiar alien types from the earlier games, and part of the intrigue comes from trying to figure out why they were so eager to flee the Milky Way. You’ll also be joined by one of the locals.
All your companions have different talents that come in handy in battle, and Ryder can be customized with psychic powers or tech skills that let her, say, fling turrets into enemy camps.
Developer BioWare has built its reputation on compelling storytelling, and here’s where Andromeda falls a bit flat. The overarching story doesn’t quite have the urgency of the race-against-extinction plot of the franchise’s earlier chapters.It’s also bedevilled by some aggravating technical issues.
And yet, there are rewards. Some of the side missions recapture BioWare’s storytelling magic, and the scenery — from the dusty wastelands of one planet to the lush forests of another — is eye-popping throughout. It’s a rough journey, but I’m glad I took it.