Charting a New Path: A Review of Mass Effect: Andromeda

Following the galaxy-saving epic of the original Mass Effect trilogy, Mass Effect: Andromeda had the monumental task of starting fresh. It ambitious_ly moved the setting to an entirely new galaxy, introducing a new protagonist, new aliens, and new threats.

While its 2017 launch was notoriously troubled by technical issues, animation flaws, and a story that struggled to escape the shadow of Commander Shepard, Andromeda has since been patched into a much more stable and enjoyable sci-fi action RPG.

This review covers its story, core gameplay, available platforms, current pricing, and the PC requirements to join the Andromeda Initiative.

The Story: What is Mass Effect: Andromeda About?

Andromeda is not a sequel. It’s a spin-off set 600 years after the events of Mass Effect 2.

Fearing the Reaper threat (or perhaps just for the spirit of exploration), several Milky Way species launch the “Andromeda Initiative.” This massive colonization project sends four massive “Arks”—one for each major species (Human, Asari, Turian, Salarian)—on a 600-year cryo-sleep journey to the Heleus Cluster in the Andromeda galaxy.

You play as Scott or Sara Ryder, the children of the Human Ark’s “Pathfinder”—an elite explorer responsible for finding new habitable worlds.

Things immediately go wrong. Upon arrival, the “Golden Worlds” that were scouted are now ravaged by a strange energy phenomenon called “The Scourge.” The central command of the Initiative, the Nexus, is damaged and in disarray, and the other Arks are missing.

Your father passes the title of Pathfinder to you, and it’s your job to:

1. Find a new home for the 20,000 human colonists (and later, the other species).
2. Explore the Heleus Cluster to solve its mysteries.
3. Confront the Kett, a hostile alien race obsessed with “exalting” other species.
4. Unlock the secrets of the “Remnant,” a mysterious network of ancient, dormant alien technology.

The story is less of a tight, military epic like the original trilogy and more of a sprawling tale of exploration and colonization.

How to Play: A Focus on Mobility and Flexibility

While it retains the third-person, cover-based shooting of its predecessors, Andromeda‘s gameplay is vastly different—and arguably its strongest feature.

1. High-Mobility Combat: This is the biggest change. Every character is equipped with a jump-jet. This allows you to dash, hover in mid-air, and jump-slam onto enemies. The combat is incredibly fast, fluid, and vertical.
2. Flexible “Profiles” System: The rigid class system (Soldier, Adept, Engineer, etc.) is gone. Instead, you can invest points into any skill from the “Combat,” “Biotic,” or “Tech” trees. You can then save sets of these skills as “Profiles” (e.g., an “Adept” profile for biotic combos, a “Vanguard” profile for close-quarters) and swap them in the middle of combat.
3. Squads & Combos: You still command a squad of two new companions (like the biotic-commando Cora or the rebellious Turian Vetra). The “combo” system (e.g., using a “primer” ability like Singularity and a “detonator” like Concussive Shot) is still the key to dealing massive damage.
4. The “Nomad” & Open Worlds: The Mako (from ME1) returns in the form of the “Nomad.” You use this six-wheeled vehicle to traverse massive, open-world-style planets.
5. Crafting: There is a heavy emphasis on scanning local flora, fauna, and technology to research and craft new weapons and armor.
6. Colonization: A core loop involves finding planets, clearing out their “Scourge” or Kett presence (often by solving Remnant puzzles), and raising the planet’s “Viability” to establish an outpost.

Platforms & Price: Where Can You Play It?

Mass Effect: Andromeda is an older title, making it very accessible and affordable.

• Platforms:
  • PC (Steam, EA App/Origin)
  • PlayStation 4 (Playable on PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility)
  • Xbox One (Playable on Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility)
• Price: As an older title, Andromeda is rarely sold at its original full price.
  • Standard Price: The “Standard Recruit Edition” or “Deluxe Edition” typically costs around $19.99 to $29.99 USD.
  • Sales: The game is frequently on sale for as low as $5.00 – $10.00.
  • Subscriptions: The easiest way to play is through EA Play. The standard version of Andromeda is included in the basic EA Play subscription, which is also bundled with PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate.

PC System Requirements

The game uses the Frostbite engine and was quite demanding at launch, but modern hardware handles it easily.

Minimum Requirements

• OS: Windows 7 / 8.1 / 10 (64-bit)
• Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD FX-6350
• Memory (RAM): 8 GB
• Graphics (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 (2GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon R9 270 (2GB VRAM)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 55 GB available space

Recommended Requirements

• OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD FX-8350
• Memory (RAM): 16 GB
• Graphics (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 480 (4GB VRAM)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 55 GB available space

Conclusion: Is Andromeda Worth It Today?

Yes, but with managed expectations. Do not go into Andromeda expecting Mass Effect 4. It is not a continuation of Shepard’s story, and its new characters rarely reach the iconic status of Garrus, Tali, or Liara.

However, if you can look past its well-documented (and mostly fixed) launch flaws, you will find a massive sci-fi RPG with the best combat in the entire Mass Effect series. The exploration can be repetitive, and the story takes too long to find its footing, but the core gameplay loop of flying around the battlefield, combining biotic and tech powers, and building a new home in a new galaxy is genuinely fun.

You Might Also Like;

• We Selected 10 Series Similar to Stranger Things for Those Who Love It
• Where and How is Silver Used in Electric Vehicles?
• Hyundai Unveils Its Multi-Purpose Wheeled Robot