A Galaxy Far, Far Away from the Good Old Mass Effect "The Mass Effect" trilogy was, for me personally, a solid story with an excellent culmination in the final game. So it felt a bit strange to learn that there was another entry called "Andromeda". Well, I thought, I’ll give it a try. In the end, though, it turned out to be less a new epic and more of a fairly average spin-off. The story is presented very generously — almost too much so. It throws you straight into the deep end: “Here’s a new galaxy, here are arks full of colonists, here’s an unknown race, here are enemies, here are the Protheans… oh, sorry, the Kett — and about five more unfamiliar terms.” All of that within the first half hour. Maybe an hour. You play as Ryder — son or daughter (your choice) — a pioneer tasked with exploring Andromeda, searching for habitable planets, and ideally not dying from information overload. There is intrigue and a clear setup, but the intensity and epic scale of the previous games — especially the trilogy’s finale — are missing. Everything feels calmer, smaller in scope, and, honestly, much less emotionally engaging. Visually, the game looks great. Vast spaces, planets, effects — everything is done at a high level. Sometimes it’s genuinely enjoyable just to drive around an unexplored planet, admire the local fauna, or wander through underground futuristic ruins. Among the gameplay features, the wrist-mounted scanner stands out — an interesting tool you’re encouraged to use constantly. You scan objects, uncover information, complete quests. It may seem minor, but it’s a nice touch. There’s also automatic cover snapping, which makes firefights more dynamic and convenient, since you don’t need to press an extra button to hide behind objects. And yes, the vehicle this time is nothing like the rattling, awkward iron from the first game. Here it’s a proper ride: traction on slopes, boosts, and a satisfying engine sound. At times it even feels like driving a Batmobile (the resemblance is pretty strong), especially when you activate the boost and jump from dune to dune. At least some real pleasure from traversal. As for dialogues and the story itself — this is where the game starts to stumble. The dialogue system is still there, even with tonal choices, but the characters often sound like they’re reading from a script. That liveliness you’re used to from the original trilogy just isn’t here. Where are the natural, human reactions? Even the jokes feel scheduled — strictly at 6:45 PM Andromeda time. Some characters do open up over time, but never fully. You do quests together, talk, save each other — yet the chemistry just isn’t there. It feels like you’re surrounded by very polite NPCs who want to be your friends but somehow can’t quite manage it. There are puzzles too. The most noticeable one is a sudoku-like mechanic found in ancient ruins. It’s mildly entertaining, though hardly original. Still, it serves as a decent break from shooting and scanning. Missions — like the story — are varied but not especially memorable. You explore, negotiate, rescue people. There are some decent side quests, but most of them lack that “wow” factor you come to expect from earlier "Mass Effect" games. The conclusion is simple: it feels like a spin-off — because it is one. "Andromeda" is a decent game, but not "Mass Effect" in the full sense of the name. It’s more like a weaker imitation that can only mimic the original. Everything seems to be there: great graphics, solid shooting, a well-built world, convenient mechanics — but the magic is missing. It’s not a bad game. Not at all. It just doesn’t evoke the same level of immersion, interest, or emotional connection that I felt in the previous entries. "Andromeda" feels like something you play just to check it off your list. Verdict: a passable, polished spin-off that’s fine if you want a bit of space adventure — but without much enthusiasm. 6 out of 10