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I hear that. While I enjoyed Haval (still not done, still have to activate the third monolith) I feel there really wasn't much more to the planet then being a way station to gain the acceptance of the Angorans (don't get me wrong, I like them (mostly because they have the best sniper rilfe and best pistol in that game (yea I have the guide so I know all the stats for every weapon in the game)) but they're about the only redeeming thing this game has besides Drack (and honestly I love this grumpy old krogan to death)). I've also never felt like the Kett were a major threat like everyone in game seems to think they are and haven't since I first ran into them. They feel like the team couldn't come up with a better enemy so they cobbled together this species and The Scourge to act as the main antagonists (fuck The Collectors were better thought out then the Kett and more of a threat). I won't get started on the Remnant (they're a fun enemy to fight but I honestly feel they were just cobbled together and thrown in the game just so we could research some lost, technologically advanced civilization like we did the Prometheans in the first 3 games). Honestly I'm pacing myself with this game. Like I said it's fun, I enjoy the freedom the new skill system gives us, and while I think the crafting could of been left out it's a nice addition to the game but honestly the game is kind of a dud. All show and very little substance is how I'm taking it. It's sad because we were given three amazing games (ok 2, I'm still not the biggest fan of ME2. The story was great but I'll forever hate it as the game that introduced this god damn thermal pack system we're stuck with now for our MW weapons) in this series and this one is all but a lackluster title. I know, new team give them a chance but I'm sick of giving tried and true studios chances when they release lackluster titles like this (yea, my seething hatred for how Bungie handled Destiny is kind seeping in here. Also look and Guerilla, they released a brand new IP and it's beyond amazing (yea I'm a Horizon fanboy, the game can't do no wrong in my eyes)).

I think the biggest problem this game has is pacing. I feel like this game had a different direction at one point and they changed it up late in the game to where there is a lot of unused areas. After I finished this epic Angoran arc, its back to droning away at mindless side quests. This game lacks memorable NPCs like Aria, The Shadow Broker, The Reporter, The Illusive Man, Joker, etc. None of these people I do quests for make me care about them in one way or the other. I just spent a few hours working for an NPC that looks like your every day generic KOTOR NPC that would just say "hey" if you tried to interact with them on a random city street. Your choices seem to hold no weight, the renegade/paragon system being gone is a part of that, along with the influence trait that came a long with both sides. The other part is that there just isn't content written for it. I mean, go to this one planet and hear of this rival faction that's gaining traction against the ruling party... you briefly suggest maybe you could side with the underdogs, but in the end there is no choice that drastically changes the outcome of the game's story. In fact you never meet this rival party vying for power. Everything is too safe, there is nothing you can seem to do that will alter the course of a story and make it vastly different from another player's experience. One of the great things about ME1-3 was the conversations with friends and listening to how different their story went from mine. Even the most minor actions in a random side quest in the first game could change a lot in the last game. I don't feel like this game has that. More disappointing was that the main quest was so lack luster on the last planet I was on, I forgot that I even completed it at one point. For an open world game there is zero reason to explore outside your mission markers. Once you get the right cryo pods that mark all good caches on your map, you notice there is a lot of unused space that's not worth exploring... you might find some shitty weapon mod or something, but overall there is little reason to not be linear. Crafting gives you the best gear in the game because of augmentations. Even the highest level of gear purchased from a vendor doesn't have the extra stats you can develop yourself on the same tier item. You won't find some amazing weapon or armor piece out of a crate. I may have found one good sniper rifle I liked until I replaced it shortly after with a crafted one. The Kett and the Archon are kinda just there. There was no development for them, and I feel no sense of urgency to stop them... and apparently neither does my crew with their lame ass loyalty quests they want to do. This game lacks grandiose feel of your character and other characters, and what is on the line overall. The combat, crafting, skill tree, and overall mechanics are superior to any other ME game, but the story it self has some issues right now. This game is an emotional roller coaster of "this is amazing" to "why am I even doing this?". Its not a bad game, but to me its no where near as good as the first 3 games.