Is it really that bad?

I'm about 17 hours into the game (lucky enough to get it early).

Let me address the 2 main criticisms that everyone is complaining about: the facial anims & performance issues

1 - On facial animations; I say somewhere between hour 2 and hour 3, they really stopped being an issue for me. You just kind of get used to it, and accept what they are, and move on. I don't really think they will become an issue for me, again, until any sort of intimacy or sex scene; i hope to god they are done ok and not completely botched by shotty facial anims. i'm not far enough to realize that right now.


2 - Performance issues. Frame rate, bugs, etc., that's all stuff that can hopefully be patched. But yes, it's an issue right now. I've experienced quite a few hitches, frame drops, and at least 3 full and complete crashes so far.

Agreed. My character often looks like she's having a stroke.

I am also not a fan of the combat. Maybe it's because I'm so used to ME trilogy combat, but I am not happy with the combat system. It will take some getting used to. I miss the power wheel.

There was a point for me, once I had unlocked a couple of abilities and finally got used to the cover/movement/jump/dodge mechanics...it just clicked, and I was like "holy fuck, this combat is next level".

The bummer thing was that was near the end of my trial: but now that (via space magic or someshit haha) I have another 5 hours of trial to go, I'm going to jump back in and kill some Kett with the now clicked flavor: can't wait

Im not mass effect fan (genre as it self basicaly), but this game got me abit interested. I tried to play 1. and 2. mass effect, i dont know was it graphics or something else, but i got bored very, very quick and left them early. So i tried trial version of andromeda and i can say it was really fun experience for me so far. Yes, there is problems, which imo this level of game should have been polished before release, but all in all its solid game.
I doubt i would buy it right on the release, because imo the quality at this moment is not there yet, but in the future when devs make those adjustments or price gets right for me, i would definately look forward to go through this story. Sorry for language.

That is true for sure. That's why I'm wondering if the style of writing is just so not my thing. It genuinely sounds bad to me. Really bad. It's one thing to come across a stupid line once in a while. The trilogy definitely has a bucket full of them. It's another thing altogether though when every IGN video makes you groan. Of course taken out of context, conversations appear a lot more stupid sometime.

I played the trilogy two years ago again. Started another ME3 run last year. It's all relatively fresh in my mind. To me the trilogy is corny and campy in a good way. MEA just looks bland. I don't mind characters talking your ear off. I LOVED it in ME1. Loved it in DAO. I don't mind taking a hour to talk to everyone. It's what they say and how they say it that needs to click. And I'm getting nothing but disconnect from the gameplay videos. But I'll have to see for myself. Hopefully by the time I play it they'll have patched the faces and maybe the awful lighting.

As I said in another post, it's fine, in my opinion, to thing MEA is worse in writing compared to the trilogy. No matter the reason. As long the comparison isn't like MEA=bad, OT=masterpiece in writing, since it wasn't.

In any case, in the coming weeks there'll tons of reviews and streams of the game, so everyone can check out of the game's writing holds up after the access gate, as well as other features. A good thing for the open world structure, which was stated not only by some previewers, but by some people on GAF that is reviewing the game, is that the quests are more narrative based then Inquisition, so the game shouldn't be composed of mostly MMO type of quests.

It's not Bad for the reasons that you think.
The introduction of the game is mass effect 1.
People who hate the sl of the game must also hate me1.

Sorry but the introduction is what me1 would look like on the New Generation of Consoles.

Not going to lie. This game has issue. The sl isn't one of them.

Not even close to bad, I absolutely loved it. Played 6 hours straight and I'm ruined today haha because I literally couldn't tear myself away. I wholeheartedly believe if any other Dev released this game it would be getting amazing reviews but people are just hating on Bioware and almost nitpicking at every imperfection. Yes facial animations are dodgy in places, but it didn't ever detract from the game for me, 99% of the rpgs I have played have similar issues with facial animations and lip sync etc. and what I saw it's usually just an odd expression or eye movement for literally a second here and there. I expected far far worse from all the hate!

The environments I've seen so far are just amazing, so many details bringing the world to life, multiple optional paths to take, the areas felt vast. I went into the game blind having deliberately not watched or read any spoilers and I had this amazing jaw dropping wonder at all the details. I honestly sacrificed minutes of my trial just admiring the sky, or the view from the window. It looks gorgeous and I was just so excited to run around exploring. The story so far is well done, pacing has kept things exciting and the game definitely has me hooked. Combat was fast pacing and exciting, so far I didn't even miss the lack of a power wheel which I had been a big complainer about and I was convinced I would really miss it. It has felt to me so far like I felt first playing ME1, only better. I can't tell you how relived I am, I was convinced the game was a bust from all the harsh criticism. If it is anything like the first 6 hours as it continues I am over the moon with it.

( I am writing as someone who played all the original trilogy and considers ME1 as one of their favourite games of all time. Playing on EA Access on my Xbox One S.)

Now that is a wise decision. 

Around 3 Hours in only but so far no its not that bad.. its honestly quite great.. IF you can get over the Facial Animations.. i can advise anybody just give it a chance.. it will be less bad the more you play..

And yes some dialogue is cheese factory level cheesy.. but if you look at the Past Bioware Games.. especially the Original Trilogy.. you always had a big Part cheese..

I actually like the Characters more after a few hours than i did back then in ME1 with Ash,Kaidan,Garrus,Tali and Wrex. For Ash and Kaidan i only felt something when i had to let one of them die... for Wrex only as he was so upset about the Genophage... and Garrus and Tali i only started to love in ME2..

I cant say much about the greater Story of course.. barly scratched the surface..

The Gameplay is extremly Fun.. the RPG systems are strong(Crafting,loot,Skills)

Overall.. no its really good.

It seems like you are limited to three but actually you get four favorite profiles IIRC. So you can build different ones. Granted if you want to have six hardcore biotic abilities, I'm not sure how that will work. You could use the scrapper vanguard (not sure of all the skills on that but I would guess biotic) and adept for example. But I see your point. I just think it has more flexablity than it seems due to the favorites feature. 

I hope so. The planets look fairly empty DAI style in the gameplay videos. Or at least the desert one. But if quests have a narrative and don't feel like a chore, that's an improvement, definitely.
I just don't get my Bioware decided once again to make the dullest planet the starting one. AND then limit the trial to this planet. It's the Hinterlands all over again then. It's not good marketing. People might get turned off again like with DAI and miss a decent overall experience. At the time you could tell, those who hated the game and gave up quickly were those that never left the Hinterlands. The map was not intended to be cleared right away. I left quickly and found other maps a lot cooler. I remember how awesome the Storm Coast was. I just stood there looking at the waves for five minutes.

It didn't help that the game didn't have a compelling start. Or that the main story was pretty meh. And Corypheus was just embarrassing. The companions however were my favorite ones of the three games. The banter was glorious. I've always loved Bioware's humor. MEA's humor seems very very different. Maybe I'll get used to it. Maybe it's an acquired taste. Like Japanese comedies. *g*