Most Underrated Game: One Year Later

So, here are my two cents regarding this matter.

I bought the game almost exactly one year after its release for a bargain price of € 7.99. Evers ince the release of ME3's last DLC (Citadel) I followed the development of ME4 which later became MEA. I was sceptical about the whole premise of going to a new galaxy (and had to smile because I remembered reading about this setting way back in 2013/14 here on this board), but I came to terms with it and thought "Hey, why not? If it helps keeping the franchise alive after the RGB debacle.." I watched with glee the teasers they showed at various cons and expos and even ordered a limited edition tshirt on N7 day 2016.

Then the first reviews came in and I was really disappointed. I am generally sceptical about the internet shouting factory and nerdrage in particular, however I could not find any media that unequivocally recommended that game with praise. The price also didn't seem reasonable for the product under these circumstances, so I waited and found other games to pass the time.

Now it is 1 1/2 year after the release of MEA and I am currently playing and enjoying it. It is not a bad game per se, it has the (already often mentioned) explorer feel to it, it looks good and it certainly has the Mass Effect vibe to it.

However, the main flaw imo is how often I lose my suspension of disbelief. I just finished the first main missions on Kadara and now headed to the Asari ark, so not THAT much into the story I guess, but have already encountered several moments that left me shaking my head and loudly ask the screen "Why?!".

Examples:

• Why did Alec have to die? Was there really no other way to save Ryder than Alec sacrificing himself? I know that I t is needed for the plot as it is, but I simply could not understand it.
• The Angara: We come to a completely new galaxy and encounter a completely alien species. IRL this would involve hundreds of experts and high profile people on both sides, a slow, steady exchange of ideas, information and slow approach towards trusting each other. In this case Ryder comes to Aya, says "Hi! We're from the Milky Way and come in peace!" and can basically run around on his own in a town full of Angara that basiclly say "Oh, you're the alien, right? Here, look at my goods." Not believable imo.
• With that being said, I would feel the need to always bring Jaal in order to have someone as a mediator and guide, who knows the lore and history of Heleus. But as a player I don't always want to bring him, because I want to try out other squadmates.
• Asari character models: This really made me cringe, esp. when you have several Asari in the same room and (expect Peebee) they look like clones. Why? This is really a small feature that sticks out and irritates the player, but could be solved by just having two other character models which you could then tweak with facial tattoos.
• Cheap "humour": ME had its share of weird squadmate moments, but I still have difficulty connecting to my squadmates. And in this case, scenes like nude Lam and Jaal doing whatever this scene was about is really not helping. Instead of getting to know and like my crew, I'm disinterested or irritated for the most part. I'm 33 and oftentimes thought "Sooo, is this the kind of humour that people between 15 and 25 like today?"

Still, I will continue playing, because the plot caught me so far, that I want to know the reason for the Scourge, the Kett etc.