1.09 as the release version

Honestly, I can recall significant wailing about the move to Andromeda and protagonist change on BSN Prime
(alongside excitement), so it's another half-filled glass situation in my view.

That's not at all how I remember things: there were plenty of criticisms thrown Andromeda's way including aboout it's premise which some felt violated segments of the Mass Effect lore. With a bit of digging, I may be able to find some of these. 

Can't patch subpar writing.

See if the old Ark Theory thread has survived on fextralife, fun times, much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Kinda funny reading my first post in that thread. I got a lot right, and a few things wrong.

I actually thought MEA would take place a few centuries after resettlement in Andromeda.

Except quality of said writing is subjective.😉

So can I I remember a lot of people being upset about Shep's story being over and not being in the MW anymore. Personally while I understood people's concerns I agreed that if the series was to continue it needed to move onto something fresh after that story. So in my opinion they made the right decision. It was more the troubled development cycle that for me stopping MEA quite reaching the heights that some would have liked but it looks like it's done well enough to justify it's existence so I'm happy with that.

Glad you asked, both the codex and initiative promotion material tells us so, and it's pretty clear on it as well.

Pre-release briefing video:

"With the Arks unable to refuel by traditional means in dark space, the journey to Andromeda is only made possible by the ODSY Drive System. The ODSY is a massive experimental drive core specifically designed for this trans-galactic voyage. It is capable of recycling static energy that would typically cause a starship to explode, instead storing it to power the Ark’s primary systems. Meanwhile, an electromagnetic ram-scoop will gather hydrogen from the Ark’s surroundings, converting it into fuel as needed."

Codex:

"The ODSY (out-galaxy distributed static sync) drive core is designed to minimize static build-up, and transfers the remaining charge to specially designed capacitors attached to the core. The recycled electricity is used to run ship systems, reducing power requirements and lowering heat generation.

Cross-galaxy, the arks gathered hydrogen using an electromagnetic ramscoop, converting it into protons with an ionizing laser. Proton collision in the arks' fusion reactors provided power for their thrusters."


That isn't the case from the dialogue, it's specifically said we are "blind" and that the sensors need repaired, not much room for other interpretation.


Where is the evidence for this? The writing is contradictory, simple as that. There is a big difference between something being offline, and being impaired, as that tells us they function to at least a certain level to be able to determine that impairment.


"Most" science fiction sensors are not Mass Effect sensors, and are all therefore completely irreverent to any discussion. I'm not sure what point is trying to be made there in doing so. When at sublight speeds, the ships use LADAR:

"Active sensors are radars and high resolution ladars (LAser Detection And Ranging) that emit a "ping" of energy and "listen" for return signals. Ladars have a narrower field of view than radar, but ladar resolution allows images of detected objects to be assembled. Active sensors are useless when a ship is moving at FTL speeds."

The problem is you're using words like "probably" or "likely", and then filling in any gaps with your own speculation. That in itself demonstrates the shoddy writing of this portion of the story. Now there are times when it is good to be asking questions or speculating with your own ideas. A good example off the top of my head is the whale song from Star Trek IV. They writers had to fight the studio against subtitling the whale song interaction with the probe. That's a good example of what an audience should be racking their brains over thinking about, not over the very basic stuff like I've cited. There's plenty more. Though it be too time consuming to go into much more than that.

Ok then I will try not to be as theoretical.
Thank you for the clarification of the energy cycling system.
However all that refers to is hydrogen and protons and radiation emitted from the Ark and recollected to basically keep the lights on -auxilary power.
Not the method of main power related to Element Zero -which is usually the main power source for ships in MASS EFFECT.
Also as to the transverse between galaxies and 600 years -I am not referring to the Promotional nor the Codex information.
I am referring to the Padds on the Hyperion that you can pick up and read that indicate failures of ship hardware in route to Andromeda.
As to sensors ...

You even know which sensors they talking about?
Its sounds as if you are referring to active sensors only.
According to that definition ACTIVE sensors are ONLY used at FTL.
I doubt they are using ACTIVE sensors at the hovering state they are in Andromeda.
It is the Passive sensors that are being used and that alone is a whole other ball game.
For passive sensors can cover almost anything: life support, engines, shields weapons, external view, ect.

For that reason she could mean they are blind on any number of internal issues.
Sr. Ryder confirms it with when he states that when the power goes out and stays out...
A sure indicator that the passive sensors of life support and or cryo-pod support are at the very least down and need of repair.
That does not mean the the passive sensors telling them they have arrived and where they are in Andromeda are down.
Also these external passive sensors that tell them where they are as SAM said being dampned.
Dampned- a word that itself alone does not mean disabled but lessen, to weaken, to make less intense.
Thus in the common-sense term the sensors would be blind to what would be far off while still working close up.
Again however in the real-world and in science there are passive sensors for EVERY INTERNAL SYSTEM in a functioning ship.

Also would it not be safe to infer that the Hyperion only got damaged on the right side so it is possible that repair is needed on the right side while the left side is fine?

This...even with patch 1.09, the game is a solid 8 for me....story and characters is, and will continue to be Andromeda's biggest flaws....