BioWare’s beloved series hit a bit of a blip after the controversy aroundMass Effect 3’s ending andMass Effect: Andromeda’s slightly disappointing launch.Mass Effect: Andromedawas supposed to be a fresh start for the popular franchise with a new crew and even a new galaxy, but its decision to leave Shepard and the familiar surroundings of the Milky Way behind wasn’t welcomed by fans in the way BioWare might have hoped. With a few bugs and graphical issues at launch, some gamers were quick to turn against the recent mainline installment in theMass Effectseries, whether the game deserved it or not.
It was probably always going to be an uphill battle for the developer to top the first three games in theMass Effectfranchise, andMass Effect: Andromedahad high expectations to meet even before it was released. With the pressure on to provide as memorable a protagonist as Shepard and as endearing a set of companions as the crew of the Normandy,Mass Effect: Andromedamight have been hatedby some fans even without its technical issues. More recent appraisals have recognized the positives of the game, like its compelling gameplay and innovative new combat mechanics, ensuring thatMass Effect: Andromedajoins the list of titles that have been unfairly maligned at launch for one reason or another.
RELATED:The Case for Mass Effect: Andromeda Continuing Without the Milky Way
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Mass Effect: Andromedamay not have been completely slated, but there was definitely a perception that it wasn’t as good as its predecessors. Despite some fairly decent reviews,Mass Effect: Andromedais considered by some to be at best a middling game, which is the same fate thatKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoningreceived. LikeMass Effect: Andromeda, the reception forKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoningwasn’t terrible, but reviews were polarized.
While some felt that the 2012 game was enjoyable and just the right amount of challenging, others thought it was derivative and not complex enough compared to similar fantasy RPGs. Despite its criticisms,Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoningis a really fun game, with a hefty amount of side quests and lots of upgrading to help hone a character with the Fateweaver mechanic to switch things up if gamers wanted. Even ifKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoningfound its fans, it was reported as a commercial failure and38 Studios shut down as a result.
Days Gone
It’s undeniable that the zombie video game market has been oversaturated for years, and it’s hard for new games that feature any version of the undead enemies to separate themselves from the horde. After numerous delays, the release ofDays Gonewas already fraught with issues, and given that some players were already turned off to yet another zombie game, it certainly had its work cut out for it when it came to finding an audience.Days Gonemight have been a commercial success, but critics had plenty to say about its story, mission structure, and technical issues. Despite these,Days Gonestill introduces some interesting enemy AI and the graphics that players encounter as they drive around as Deacon are something to behold.
Avalanche Studios' action-adventure gameMad Maxwas released hot on the heels of theMad Max: Fury Roadfilm in 2015, but rather than help bring new fans to the franchise, the movie’s massive success may have soured people on the game. Players might have come expecting more of a tie-in title, instead of a game based on theMad Maxuniverse rather than any of the films. This might have accounted for some of the disappointment that gamers felt after playing the open-world post-apocalyptic title, as while it might not reinvent the wheel or introduce any hugely innovative mechanics,Mad Maxis still an entertaining game. Not every release has to be a masterpiece, and sometimes it’s OK for them to just do what they do well and present players with a fun few hours.
Mass Effect: Andromedais out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
MORE:Mass Effect 4 Should Take After the Original Games Except for the Gameplay
