Mass Effect Andromeda Discussion

Few would disagree that Mass Effect Andromeda was a disappointment.

When Mass Effect Andromeda released for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC a few months ago, it lacked the typical Bioware fanfare we have come to expect. Instead, the game was panned, mocked and derided by many fans and writers. At the time, Bioware Edmonton, which helped develop the original Mass effect trilogy, was has hard at work on a new IP code-named Dylan. So instead, EA named Bioware Montreal to be the lead development team on the project.

This was Bioware Montreal’s shot at the big stage, and they set out to create a big, ambitious science fiction epic which could live up to the series’ legacy. Looking back, the initial premise for the story sounds good, the exploration of No Man’s sky combined with the beloved story and gameplay of Mass Effect. However, to be a successful exploration game, there needs to be something worthwhile to discover. Be it mysterious, awe inspiring, or spectacular in some way, Mass Effect Andromeda lacked this discovery. The narrative centered on colonists searching for a new world incase Commander Shepard was unsuccessful in defeating the reapers. The game entered pre-production in 2013, and Bioware, considered the idea of incorporating procedural generation, e.g. No Man’s Sky. Bioware Montreal created prototypes of the game within the first two years.

However, the Frostbite engine, EA’s in-house development tool, struggled to perform basic functions required in an RPG. This included inventory management. Bioware Edmonton was brought on board to assist with inventory management, as they had achieved success in their 2014 release Dragon Age Inquisition. This wasn’t the only problem with Frostbite. Although the game’s animation was originally quite impressive, the team began to struggle incorporating the hand-crafted facial animations into the Frostbite engine. This lead to major derision upon Andromeda’s release.

“Sorry, my face is tired dealing with everything.”

The Edmonton studio thought Andromeda was floundering, and didn’t have a strong enough vision. Bioware Montreal fired back, arguing that the Edmonton team was attempting to sabotage their work. Dozens of staff left the Montreal team, including Andromeda’s original developer. Needless to say, it was a mess.

Facing this crisis, EA brought in long-time Mass Effect writer Mac Walters to serve as Andromeda’s new creative director. This resulted in a major shift in vision. By the end of 2015, less than 18 months prior to the game’s release, procedural generation was finally dropped. Some of the game’s mechanics began shaping up quite nicely. Combat was fast and fluid, and the Nomad felt great to drive.

Then came the crunch, a period where developers worked almost non-stop to get the game released on time. Most of the writing in Andromeda was competed in the last 18 months. With deadlines approaching, development became rushed. More mechanics were cut, and the cinematics, story, and many levels were still behind schedule. Additional outsourcing was done to studios in South Africa and Vancouver. People all over the world were working on this project, which ultimately caused even more confusion and delays.

It wasn’t until Mac Walters came on board that the game truly began taking shape. Once the game finally had a working build, they sent it out to mock-reviewers to test the game. Andromeda received relatively good initial reviews, with the Metacritic aggregate score expected to be in the mid-80s. In reality, once the game was released, the score settled in the 70s. The mixed reception resulted in the Mass Effect series being put on hold for the foreseeable future, and Bioware Montreal being downgraded to be a support team. Key members were relocated to Edmonton where they would work on the Dylan project.

Nobody doubts that game development can be incredibly complicated, but so much went wrong in the development of Mass Effect Andromeda. Maybe the deadline could have been pushed back a few years to improve on the games core-mechanics and problems. Or it could be that there were just too many cooks in the kitchen.

What are you your thoughts?
Did you play Mass Effect Andromeda - is it unfairly maligned?