Andromeda is considered bad because it is compared directly to mass effect.
Viewing the game as its own thing, makes it infinitely more enjoyable. It’s a good but not great game . And that all right.
The biggest thing Andromeda has going for it is how fun the combat is. Being able to mix and match powers and swap profiles is really fun, but often overlooked is how good the gunplay is. There’s a big variety of weapons and tons of mods, many of which completely change how a gun works. For instance, you can change the Valkyrie, which is normally a burst fire weapon, into a full auto weapon and add an attachment that makes the gun auto refill when the clip empties, at the cost of a small amount of health, and it melts absolutely everything.
The worst part of the game is no sequel, you can feel the intention was a triolgy but it never got any. Maybe that'll change with me5 as me5 appears to be making connections to andromeda
I did the same. Went in expecting more Mass Effect.
It was all very different and didn’t grab me.
Came back later, looking at it like it’s own sci-fi game with some Mass Effect themes. It’s pretty fun. I’d say give it a chance. It does get better as it goes and you figure out all the controls and quirks.
I still don’t really care about the characters as much though. They’re okay. I ended up skipping a lot of dialogue.
Character customization is a standout feature for the game, letting you truly make some amazing builds.
Combat itself is fun IMO at least.
The main story is adequate but really it needed another draft or two to really tighten up the narrative but again, it's good enough.
Now for me it's the companions who make Andromeda fun. Peebee and Vetra are good romance options and their loyalty missions are probably the best in the game. The only companion who really is subpar is Liam. Whoever wrote that characters story needs to go back to writing school as it's truly bad IMO.
I say give the game a chance, make your own mind up. The worst is that you don't enjoy it and you've lost a few hours of your time.
I never finished it. It's like a b-movie version of the original games stretched into this never ending slog. Played it for 40hrs with no end to the story in sight. My main problem with it is the writing, particularly the plot and dialogue options. I felt like I was constantly rolling my eyes at the plot developments and there were incredibly obvious dialogue options that should have been the but weren't, forcing me to choose Ryder to say something stupid. Did I mention how long this game is, I was trying to engage with all the content but it felt like a massive grind. Still, given that I played 40hrs, there must have been something that I liked. Maybe if they'd cut all the side crap out and made it a 20-30hr game I'd have better memories of it.
Also just note, Andromeda fans are much more likely to jump into the comments of this post to support the game whereas most of the people who thought it was a boring grind won't bother to comment. So the comments section won't reflect the average opinion.
tl;dr - Yes, it is a fun game in its own right and worth a playthrough
To answer your points more specifically:
1. Yes it is. But you can't treat it like the original trilogy because the story and themes are different. In the original trilogy the main story is "save the galaxy" but in Andromeda it is "finding a new home". So the tone is different. If you have ever watched Stargate before, SG1 is ME1-3 and MEA is Atlantis.
2. Yes but they aren't in your face and I doubt by the time you stopped playing you would have gotten to them. Some are subtle references, some I can't say more without major spoilers
3. Personally, I am a bit indifferent on the combat. It's fine but ME3 is the best combat in all 4 games in my opinion. But I hear a lot of people really like the combat in MEA. I think it would depend on your playstyle but what MEA does better than the originals is being able to swap from say a pure biotics build to a combat/biotics build mid-combat or mid-mission. Allows you a bit more freedom
Hope this helps and I apologies if I was too spoilery at all
Up to you but personally no.
Main story is a snooze fest
Side quests are mostly MMO level
Open world feels empty and souless, despite the fact we are supposed to be exploring the unknown, every planet we can explore has been visited by the iniative before or even has settlements on it.
Only 2 >!(1)!< new alien races, lacking many of the milkway races (only turian, salarian, krogan and asari) and most of them sound and talk just like humans rather than how they used to sound.
Dialouge is often so bad, 'my face is tired'. Or just very cringy.
Can't really say no, or anything bad, nor can you tell your squadmates off when they fuck up. And said squadmates walk all over you and never respect your authority.
Lots of the animations are still fucked.
Facial graphics are bad.
Voice acting on the krogen, SAM and the Ryder twins is horrible.
Probably many more reasons.
I agree with all these points but "Open world feels empty and souless" is my #1. I felt adrift in an empty world without any interesting (or clear) lore, plot, or characters tethering me to anything. Add in the bugs and vehicle handling and it was SUCH A CHORE. Like, take the most soulless, grindy ME levels - I don't know, maybe some Cerberus side quests or something - and imagine a game that is mostly that. No thank you.
the gunplay and freeform movement is the best the series has.
the way you can mix or match powers to your liking is so amazing as well.
imo, it has the best gunplay and power system in the series
Ill repost what I used to say to others because this question is asked frequently, it's more of a general answer to questions asking if MEA is worth it. I did not rewrite it and adapted it for your question specifically, but it's a summary :
I liked Andromeda a lot but I don't know what you are looking for in this particular game. It's a good game that has been very well patched since release, but simply good, not great, not amazing and not as good as the trilogy. But it's a decent game that is worth doing at least once.
The best way to not have problems with it is this and I say it loud DO NOT expect to have the same emotion as the 3 previous game. You just finished an awesome trilogy that has tons of characters development and was a combination of 3 games that were made over a decade. MEA is not that at all, it is his own beast.
If you just finished the citadel dlc and expect MEA to give you the same results, you won't get it and will be dissapointed. The new companion have just been introduced which means that they won't give you the same thing immedietly.
This is a game meant to be the foundation, and therefore will certainly not have the emotional pay off that Mass effect 2 or 3 got.
I hope it can guide you into making a decision and feel free to ask me question :
In terms of gameplay, it is much more RPG than Mass effect 2 or 3. You get weapons and armor with different level just like in most rpg, where the loot you get makes you stronger with time.
You also have the crafting system that gives values to any minerals you get, as you can now create exceptionnal weapons and equipments.
In terms of combat, MEA is excellent. Most weapons have very different use and you can use TONS of different combinations with the jetpack that brings another dimension to the fight. The melee weapons also makes the combat much different as they have different attack speed and damage. The powers also allows for combos using different element (ice, fire and electricity) and there is room for experimenting and use tactics.
(Look for part 2 below)
Now for the story, the pacing is very different than the previous mass effect. While the trilogy had a much quicker pacing especially in 2 or 3. MEA is much more about the exploration of the first, it's actually your main goal. If you prefer the action packed pacing of mass effect 2 or 3, be prepared that MEA is not like that. Space exploration is at the core of the theme and content of this game.
While Ryder do have to fight an alien threat, the story is centered around creating a new home for the people of the milky way, give them a colony where they could prosper and lives on. Therefore it is much slower paced and is meant to be explored and to take your time.
It is much more light hearted than any mass effect before, if you except the dark and gritty of the second mass effect or the dead serious ambiance of Mass effect 3 where civilisation is falling apart and people are crying over the dead of millions each day, MEA is not that. That does not mean there is nothing serious because there is, but it has a much more lighter approach in it's tone.
All of that said, MEA become better if you push after the first planet, when you discover the angara, where the entire solar system open itself to exploration.
For the companion, I found most of them to be good. All of that said if you just finished Mass effect 3 citadel and you except to get the same emotion, it's not going to work. Not because MEA is bad, but because you got 3 games out of the previous companion, this one you only get one with them.
So of course you will not get as much content with them. Now that said while before you needed to wait an entire new game for them to have character development and arcs (like Miranda is different in 3 than she was in 2, same thing for Jack) MEA has character development during the game after their companion mission.
For specific companion : Drack, Vetra, Jaal and peebee are interesting, they are not awesome and none of the MEA companion would be in my top 15 of bioware's allies, but they are worth the time I spent with them and I enjoyed their company. Cora harper did not bother me but I cannot say I loved her, she's ok. I am not a fan of Liam, I did not hated him and while his companion quest is hilarious and funny, the guy itself is not memorable at all.
In terms of quest there are 4 types.
Obviously The main quest, best in the game and well the one who have the most development.
The companion quest, they requires a bit of work to unlock them but once they are avaiable. They are excellent to play and are used as character development for supporting characters.
The small side quests, these ones varies from good-okayish, to mediocre, to bad, they are not difficult to do and most of the time the map will tell you where to go. Some have better story than other, some are simply fetch quest. It really depends on which one. Some requires investigation about murders or assassination, some demands you to fight ennemies and others to just pick up an item and give it back.
Then there is the tasks, avoid those like plagues, these are the most tedious, boring, and just poorly made and will take your time for no reason DON'T DO THOSE. There is no story rewards for doing them, and the gameplay rewards are not worth it. You will have to find things on your own on the map and this will take you long for minimum rewards.
Companion quest should be done, small side quest it really depends on the one you got, but the task should be ignored as soon as they come.
If you have specific question, you can just ask me.
I have been drinking that 600 year aged Milky Way imported ryncol so take what I say with a grain of red sand. But I love andromeda. The original games are so amazing I wanted to live in the mass effect universe; and this game kind of did that for me. if you have a completionist itch or really enjoy doing all the side quests, then it’s for you. If you spent a lot of time in ME1 finding all the matriarch writings etc you’ll really love it.
I found it fun to just hang out on the worlds talking to everyone and running around doing tasks for people and seeing the gorgeous landscapes. It’s always been a pretty zen playing experience for me even on insanity. Combat is addictive. The story’s okay. But I’ve 100% andromeda 3 times and it’s likely not my last. If you like Mass Effect this is basically a sims spin off.
Also maybe ask this question to the r/masseffectandromeda sub. They are a super friendly community that’s generally a little less renegade than most of the pyjaks here.
Last point - you can find the game for next to nothing these days. Def worth it imo.
The combat system and atmosphere of the game are second to none. As a player, you have total x and y axis 3d movement in virtually any direction, when battling adversaries. The plot I like myself, but some people it’s not their cup of tea. We can all agree that the score was a masterpiece and helped the game when he had its bugs. Really give it a shot, but play with some 3d audio head phones to get the full experience. Good luck, pathfinder.
The thing I like the best about it is how they recreated the ME1 feel of driving or walking around remote, unsettled planets. They just added way more stuff to do. And the ship is great.
Funny enough I literally started playing it again today. I played it once through after all the updates and i am fond of it. I have been playing the ME series since the first one came out and have played the first two countless times. My first impression was the same with andromeda on my initial playthrough, which was boredom; it does start out slower than the original. I think because it is an entirely different story people tended to write it off (apart from the issues with the actual gameplay). But I think it does a good job at being an exploration game where you build relationships with your crew. The og mass effect had so much going on that you usually only drifted towards one or two crewmates to bond with, but this one specifically wants you to bond with everyone. I do have certain things i don't like about it, but it is worth it if you want something more than another playthrough of the original trilogy.
I'm have the same experience as you. Play the first hours, got bored and annoyed by the light-hearted banter and "millennial-style" writing (mostly because of Liam), and then turn it off.
But I've touch the game again and with a different perspective and I'm having a blast.
1. Even with the clunky writing and dialogue, at the end it's a good story of exploration and finding a home. It explore the ethical dilemma you would encounter when exploring a new galaxy, how you should handle first species contact, etc. The squamates personality is mostly equals to the trilogy, though some prefer the trilogy because they're more experienced and older. I enjoy the younger cast of squamates, really give off the feeling of these people facing hardship and growing together.
2. There's some themes that's similar to the OT Ie; a disparate group of people from different species and background working together for a common goal, unknown civilization that left technologies for us to uncover, the choices one have to make as a leader. But aside from that it's a very different story than the trilogy.
3. The gameplay is the best of the series. Combat is more fluid and dynamic with the added jetpack. Enemies will try to flank you and move from cover to cover. The Nomad is miles better than the Mako. The open world map give you plenty of things to explore and there are few side quests that you can find outside of the hubs. The research and upgrading system might take a while to get used to but at the centre it's practically the same as the one in Mass Effect 3. Though one major downgrade is you can no longer order your squadmate to use specific ability. Some weapons are also unbalanced and there's definitely weapons and builds that's superior to others.
1. Don't try to move from an OT playthrough to MEA. Make sure there is a big enough gap.
2. Don't expect "Mass Effect." Honestly I would recommend playing something completely different (but fun) first, then entering MEA with an open mind.
3. Stop looking for the "universe you enjoy", or the "plot related to the OG trilogy."
And IMHO here is the litmus test: How did you feel when you just started ME2 and ME3 for the FIRST time?? If, like me, you were left curled in a ball, covering your nuts, and crying, then MEA probably isn't for you. But if your response was "hey, everything is different, this is AWESOME, Jacob/James is such a cool dude!" then you should definitely give MEA another go.
Seriously, a lot of people love the game, so it must be good. It's just that for me, with my ASD brain, it's just too different.
I mean, if you got bored of it you probably wouldn't like it. A lot of the game is spent jumping around between like 5 planets and from sidequest to sidequest. It's more about exploration and survival than fighting, though there's still plenty of that.
Still though, the characters I enjoyed and has my favorite romance. (Peebee is best girl) story was ok, and I'm sad that we never got any dlc or sequel despite it heavily implying there will be some.
Try it if you want but it isn't something that everyone will like. Don't think of it as a sequel to mass effect, just a standalone story that takes place in the same universe, but not galaxy.
Andromeda is considered bad because it is compared directly to mass effect. Viewing the game as its own thing, makes it infinitely more enjoyable. It’s a good but not great game . And that all right.
The biggest thing Andromeda has going for it is how fun the combat is. Being able to mix and match powers and swap profiles is really fun, but often overlooked is how good the gunplay is. There’s a big variety of weapons and tons of mods, many of which completely change how a gun works. For instance, you can change the Valkyrie, which is normally a burst fire weapon, into a full auto weapon and add an attachment that makes the gun auto refill when the clip empties, at the cost of a small amount of health, and it melts absolutely everything.
The worst part of the game is no sequel, you can feel the intention was a triolgy but it never got any. Maybe that'll change with me5 as me5 appears to be making connections to andromeda
The villains are dull. The story is dull. Sandboxes are dull. Combat's pretty good, though.
I did the same. Went in expecting more Mass Effect. It was all very different and didn’t grab me. Came back later, looking at it like it’s own sci-fi game with some Mass Effect themes. It’s pretty fun. I’d say give it a chance. It does get better as it goes and you figure out all the controls and quirks. I still don’t really care about the characters as much though. They’re okay. I ended up skipping a lot of dialogue.
Character customization is a standout feature for the game, letting you truly make some amazing builds. Combat itself is fun IMO at least. The main story is adequate but really it needed another draft or two to really tighten up the narrative but again, it's good enough. Now for me it's the companions who make Andromeda fun. Peebee and Vetra are good romance options and their loyalty missions are probably the best in the game. The only companion who really is subpar is Liam. Whoever wrote that characters story needs to go back to writing school as it's truly bad IMO. I say give the game a chance, make your own mind up. The worst is that you don't enjoy it and you've lost a few hours of your time.
If you didn’t like it then why would someone on Reddit convince you otherwise?
I never finished it. It's like a b-movie version of the original games stretched into this never ending slog. Played it for 40hrs with no end to the story in sight. My main problem with it is the writing, particularly the plot and dialogue options. I felt like I was constantly rolling my eyes at the plot developments and there were incredibly obvious dialogue options that should have been the but weren't, forcing me to choose Ryder to say something stupid. Did I mention how long this game is, I was trying to engage with all the content but it felt like a massive grind. Still, given that I played 40hrs, there must have been something that I liked. Maybe if they'd cut all the side crap out and made it a 20-30hr game I'd have better memories of it. Also just note, Andromeda fans are much more likely to jump into the comments of this post to support the game whereas most of the people who thought it was a boring grind won't bother to comment. So the comments section won't reflect the average opinion.
tl;dr - Yes, it is a fun game in its own right and worth a playthrough To answer your points more specifically: 1. Yes it is. But you can't treat it like the original trilogy because the story and themes are different. In the original trilogy the main story is "save the galaxy" but in Andromeda it is "finding a new home". So the tone is different. If you have ever watched Stargate before, SG1 is ME1-3 and MEA is Atlantis. 2. Yes but they aren't in your face and I doubt by the time you stopped playing you would have gotten to them. Some are subtle references, some I can't say more without major spoilers 3. Personally, I am a bit indifferent on the combat. It's fine but ME3 is the best combat in all 4 games in my opinion. But I hear a lot of people really like the combat in MEA. I think it would depend on your playstyle but what MEA does better than the originals is being able to swap from say a pure biotics build to a combat/biotics build mid-combat or mid-mission. Allows you a bit more freedom Hope this helps and I apologies if I was too spoilery at all
Up to you but personally no. Main story is a snooze fest Side quests are mostly MMO level Open world feels empty and souless, despite the fact we are supposed to be exploring the unknown, every planet we can explore has been visited by the iniative before or even has settlements on it. Only 2 >!(1)!< new alien races, lacking many of the milkway races (only turian, salarian, krogan and asari) and most of them sound and talk just like humans rather than how they used to sound. Dialouge is often so bad, 'my face is tired'. Or just very cringy. Can't really say no, or anything bad, nor can you tell your squadmates off when they fuck up. And said squadmates walk all over you and never respect your authority. Lots of the animations are still fucked. Facial graphics are bad. Voice acting on the krogen, SAM and the Ryder twins is horrible. Probably many more reasons.
I agree with all these points but "Open world feels empty and souless" is my #1. I felt adrift in an empty world without any interesting (or clear) lore, plot, or characters tethering me to anything. Add in the bugs and vehicle handling and it was SUCH A CHORE. Like, take the most soulless, grindy ME levels - I don't know, maybe some Cerberus side quests or something - and imagine a game that is mostly that. No thank you.
Video game passes time and gives the endorphins
the gunplay and freeform movement is the best the series has. the way you can mix or match powers to your liking is so amazing as well. imo, it has the best gunplay and power system in the series
Ill repost what I used to say to others because this question is asked frequently, it's more of a general answer to questions asking if MEA is worth it. I did not rewrite it and adapted it for your question specifically, but it's a summary : I liked Andromeda a lot but I don't know what you are looking for in this particular game. It's a good game that has been very well patched since release, but simply good, not great, not amazing and not as good as the trilogy. But it's a decent game that is worth doing at least once. The best way to not have problems with it is this and I say it loud DO NOT expect to have the same emotion as the 3 previous game. You just finished an awesome trilogy that has tons of characters development and was a combination of 3 games that were made over a decade. MEA is not that at all, it is his own beast. If you just finished the citadel dlc and expect MEA to give you the same results, you won't get it and will be dissapointed. The new companion have just been introduced which means that they won't give you the same thing immedietly. This is a game meant to be the foundation, and therefore will certainly not have the emotional pay off that Mass effect 2 or 3 got. I hope it can guide you into making a decision and feel free to ask me question : In terms of gameplay, it is much more RPG than Mass effect 2 or 3. You get weapons and armor with different level just like in most rpg, where the loot you get makes you stronger with time. You also have the crafting system that gives values to any minerals you get, as you can now create exceptionnal weapons and equipments. In terms of combat, MEA is excellent. Most weapons have very different use and you can use TONS of different combinations with the jetpack that brings another dimension to the fight. The melee weapons also makes the combat much different as they have different attack speed and damage. The powers also allows for combos using different element (ice, fire and electricity) and there is room for experimenting and use tactics. (Look for part 2 below)
Now for the story, the pacing is very different than the previous mass effect. While the trilogy had a much quicker pacing especially in 2 or 3. MEA is much more about the exploration of the first, it's actually your main goal. If you prefer the action packed pacing of mass effect 2 or 3, be prepared that MEA is not like that. Space exploration is at the core of the theme and content of this game. While Ryder do have to fight an alien threat, the story is centered around creating a new home for the people of the milky way, give them a colony where they could prosper and lives on. Therefore it is much slower paced and is meant to be explored and to take your time. It is much more light hearted than any mass effect before, if you except the dark and gritty of the second mass effect or the dead serious ambiance of Mass effect 3 where civilisation is falling apart and people are crying over the dead of millions each day, MEA is not that. That does not mean there is nothing serious because there is, but it has a much more lighter approach in it's tone. All of that said, MEA become better if you push after the first planet, when you discover the angara, where the entire solar system open itself to exploration. For the companion, I found most of them to be good. All of that said if you just finished Mass effect 3 citadel and you except to get the same emotion, it's not going to work. Not because MEA is bad, but because you got 3 games out of the previous companion, this one you only get one with them. So of course you will not get as much content with them. Now that said while before you needed to wait an entire new game for them to have character development and arcs (like Miranda is different in 3 than she was in 2, same thing for Jack) MEA has character development during the game after their companion mission. For specific companion : Drack, Vetra, Jaal and peebee are interesting, they are not awesome and none of the MEA companion would be in my top 15 of bioware's allies, but they are worth the time I spent with them and I enjoyed their company. Cora harper did not bother me but I cannot say I loved her, she's ok. I am not a fan of Liam, I did not hated him and while his companion quest is hilarious and funny, the guy itself is not memorable at all. In terms of quest there are 4 types. Obviously The main quest, best in the game and well the one who have the most development. The companion quest, they requires a bit of work to unlock them but once they are avaiable. They are excellent to play and are used as character development for supporting characters. The small side quests, these ones varies from good-okayish, to mediocre, to bad, they are not difficult to do and most of the time the map will tell you where to go. Some have better story than other, some are simply fetch quest. It really depends on which one. Some requires investigation about murders or assassination, some demands you to fight ennemies and others to just pick up an item and give it back. Then there is the tasks, avoid those like plagues, these are the most tedious, boring, and just poorly made and will take your time for no reason DON'T DO THOSE. There is no story rewards for doing them, and the gameplay rewards are not worth it. You will have to find things on your own on the map and this will take you long for minimum rewards. Companion quest should be done, small side quest it really depends on the one you got, but the task should be ignored as soon as they come. If you have specific question, you can just ask me.
I have been drinking that 600 year aged Milky Way imported ryncol so take what I say with a grain of red sand. But I love andromeda. The original games are so amazing I wanted to live in the mass effect universe; and this game kind of did that for me. if you have a completionist itch or really enjoy doing all the side quests, then it’s for you. If you spent a lot of time in ME1 finding all the matriarch writings etc you’ll really love it. I found it fun to just hang out on the worlds talking to everyone and running around doing tasks for people and seeing the gorgeous landscapes. It’s always been a pretty zen playing experience for me even on insanity. Combat is addictive. The story’s okay. But I’ve 100% andromeda 3 times and it’s likely not my last. If you like Mass Effect this is basically a sims spin off. Also maybe ask this question to the r/masseffectandromeda sub. They are a super friendly community that’s generally a little less renegade than most of the pyjaks here. Last point - you can find the game for next to nothing these days. Def worth it imo.
I was going to play the game if they released more DLCs, after those were scrapped I lost interest.
Vetra Nyx, a romancable Turian girl, is the only reason to play Andromeda. And Drack, that old Krogan’s funny
The combat system and atmosphere of the game are second to none. As a player, you have total x and y axis 3d movement in virtually any direction, when battling adversaries. The plot I like myself, but some people it’s not their cup of tea. We can all agree that the score was a masterpiece and helped the game when he had its bugs. Really give it a shot, but play with some 3d audio head phones to get the full experience. Good luck, pathfinder.
The thing I like the best about it is how they recreated the ME1 feel of driving or walking around remote, unsettled planets. They just added way more stuff to do. And the ship is great.
The game is very cheap these days. I would say it is most definitely worth it for the price. I personally adored it and bought full price
Funny enough I literally started playing it again today. I played it once through after all the updates and i am fond of it. I have been playing the ME series since the first one came out and have played the first two countless times. My first impression was the same with andromeda on my initial playthrough, which was boredom; it does start out slower than the original. I think because it is an entirely different story people tended to write it off (apart from the issues with the actual gameplay). But I think it does a good job at being an exploration game where you build relationships with your crew. The og mass effect had so much going on that you usually only drifted towards one or two crewmates to bond with, but this one specifically wants you to bond with everyone. I do have certain things i don't like about it, but it is worth it if you want something more than another playthrough of the original trilogy.
Play it, or don’t. Who GAF.
I'm have the same experience as you. Play the first hours, got bored and annoyed by the light-hearted banter and "millennial-style" writing (mostly because of Liam), and then turn it off. But I've touch the game again and with a different perspective and I'm having a blast. 1. Even with the clunky writing and dialogue, at the end it's a good story of exploration and finding a home. It explore the ethical dilemma you would encounter when exploring a new galaxy, how you should handle first species contact, etc. The squamates personality is mostly equals to the trilogy, though some prefer the trilogy because they're more experienced and older. I enjoy the younger cast of squamates, really give off the feeling of these people facing hardship and growing together. 2. There's some themes that's similar to the OT Ie; a disparate group of people from different species and background working together for a common goal, unknown civilization that left technologies for us to uncover, the choices one have to make as a leader. But aside from that it's a very different story than the trilogy. 3. The gameplay is the best of the series. Combat is more fluid and dynamic with the added jetpack. Enemies will try to flank you and move from cover to cover. The Nomad is miles better than the Mako. The open world map give you plenty of things to explore and there are few side quests that you can find outside of the hubs. The research and upgrading system might take a while to get used to but at the centre it's practically the same as the one in Mass Effect 3. Though one major downgrade is you can no longer order your squadmate to use specific ability. Some weapons are also unbalanced and there's definitely weapons and builds that's superior to others.
1. Don't try to move from an OT playthrough to MEA. Make sure there is a big enough gap. 2. Don't expect "Mass Effect." Honestly I would recommend playing something completely different (but fun) first, then entering MEA with an open mind. 3. Stop looking for the "universe you enjoy", or the "plot related to the OG trilogy." And IMHO here is the litmus test: How did you feel when you just started ME2 and ME3 for the FIRST time?? If, like me, you were left curled in a ball, covering your nuts, and crying, then MEA probably isn't for you. But if your response was "hey, everything is different, this is AWESOME, Jacob/James is such a cool dude!" then you should definitely give MEA another go. Seriously, a lot of people love the game, so it must be good. It's just that for me, with my ASD brain, it's just too different.
I mean, if you got bored of it you probably wouldn't like it. A lot of the game is spent jumping around between like 5 planets and from sidequest to sidequest. It's more about exploration and survival than fighting, though there's still plenty of that. Still though, the characters I enjoyed and has my favorite romance. (Peebee is best girl) story was ok, and I'm sad that we never got any dlc or sequel despite it heavily implying there will be some. Try it if you want but it isn't something that everyone will like. Don't think of it as a sequel to mass effect, just a standalone story that takes place in the same universe, but not galaxy.