Mass Effect: Andromeda Review ⁠— Why So Many Fans Were Disappointed

You would be hard pressed to find two Bioware fans that agreed on which of their games is the most iconic, but you can bet that Mass Effect would be high on both of their lists. One of their most well known series, the Mass Effect franchise has been heralded for both intensive gameplay and immersive, complex story writing.

As is the case for all Bioware games, the choices you make impact the story as it unfolds. Your actions in the game determine who lives and who dies in a very literal sense, and they aren’t isolated to just one game in the series. Decisions in the first Mass Effect have a heavy impact on Mass Effect 3, and that intelligent writing is part of why the series is so beloved.

Mass Effect 3 was the end of that particular story and fans were excited to see what the next had to offer in Mass Effect: Andromeda. And it’s also why so many were disappointed with the final product.

Fan Backlash

To understand the fan backlash to Mass Effect: Andromeda you have to understand the culture of the fan following. Some people may have disagreements about where it could have been improved on, but overall the original Mass Effect series is considered one of the best game series of all time. The world-building was mind-blowing and the level of interaction you had within that world was unparalleled.

In essence, it’s a hard act to follow. Fans went into Mass Effect: Andromeda expecting it to be as amazing, as the conclusion of a beloved series. And simply put, that’s an unrealistic expectation. But let’s start with the inarguable successes.