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Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017)
A nice change in pace (non-explicit spoilers)
My first Mass Effect game, and still my favorite after playing the others. Putting aside the character animation (and I admit it can be distracting), it's a solid addition to the franchise, and I think it's a great introduction to the series. It has the poster-children of Mass Effect's aliens (turians and asari), all the familiar classes and powers, and some Easter eggs that are fun even for the most casual fans. The biggest advantage that Andromeda has over the trilogy is that it's much simpler and emphasizes story over gameplay, making it friendly to casual gamers and new players.
The game is also delightfully diverse in its cast both on and off-screen. LGBT characters are a natural part of the story and background, and the main cast is more colorful than the original trilogy. The voice cast is diverse, too, employing people of many races and nationalities and never apologizing for their accents--I was particularly charmed by the distinctly South African (region, not the country) accents of many of the angaran characters, and the unabashedly Pakistani accent of the head of the Andromeda Initiative (the Systems Alliance of ME:A).
I really enjoyed the story. It's one of discovery, learning, and growth, not just for Pathfinder Ryder but for many of the characters that they work with. I liked that Ryder had to adapt, learn, and prove themself to others, as opposed to Shepard who was renowned and respected from the start. The themes of family were really touching, too, and I loved the connections of friendship between the members of the main cast.
After the doom and gloom of the original Mass Effect trilogy, Andromeda is refreshing in its optimism. It's much more lighthearted, and more character-focused than the other games. There's no suicide mission and Pathfinder Ryder doesn't die at the end. It's a great choice for people who are tired of dystopian fiction and fatalistic plots in sci-fi. Sure, the game is kind of ugly, but aren't we all?
Warframe (2013)
Amazing design, graphics, and story!
Warframe is the best free-to-play games that I've encountered. It is NOT pay-to-win, like many other games and apps are, and there are no story expansions to pay for. Every Warframe, weapon, and all the equipment can be obtained and built for free--it just takes time. You can get a lot of the cosmetics for free, too, you just have to be patient!
The game has beautiful graphics, even on low settings, and the environment and character designs are wonderfully unique. No two Warframes look the same, even if you're wearing the same frame as someone else--the customization options are impressive, even if you don't sink any platinum (the game's purchasable currency option, as opposed to the credits you earn on missions) into cosmetics. The music and sound engineering is also great, adding so much to the atmosphere of missions and quests.
Warframe's writing is fantastic. The main quests (referred to as cinematic quests because they include dramatic cutscenes instead of the characters just speaking over comms) are rich with lore, and there hasn't been a single one that hasn't made me feel a lot of emotions--several have them have even brought me to tears.
I highly recommend the game to everyone. If you like third-person shooter games, action games, sci-fi games, RPGs, aliens, robots... It's not an inherently competitive game (they do have PVP modes, but they're not mandatory), so it's still fun for people who don't like fighting other people. It has something for just about everyone, and it's a great game to play with friends.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018)
Fresh, funny, and endearing!
Rise of the TMNT is already my favorite TMNT series to date! It's refreshingly funny, if a bit absurd at times, but that's what makes a lot of great humor these days. The animation is exciting and unique, with a lot of color and movement. This show's take on the turtles is definitely new, but they're all endearing in their own ways.
My favorite thing about the series is the voice acting and script. Rise of the TMNT is the first series that I really feel the family connection between the characters, and it all comes from the way they talk to each other. There are a ton of funny interactions and golden one-liners, and the brothers are verbally affectionate and supportive of each other even through all the teasing. I think the show portrays a wonderful, wholesome and healthy sibling relationship.
I also love this incarnation of April! She's smart, funny, and kicks a lot of butt. I think she's a fantastic heroine, and a lot of kids can look up to her, regardless of their gender or race.
I took a star off for Splinter's portrayal in this series, which is goofy bordering on gross, edging towards racist. He hasn't show up a lot so far, so I'm not especially bothered, but hopefully it doesn't become a bigger problem.
Overall, the series is fun and light-hearted, and the 11-minute format (like Spongebob) makes it engaging and easy to follow. It's a great kids' show, and I'm excited to see it grow!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)
Really fun, an improvement from the first film
I'm a newer turtle fan, only about 3.5 years, but I fell fast and hard for the Nickelodeon series, and the Bay movies are my favorite incarnation now. The first movie was fun and I loved the live-action designs, but the 2nd movie is even better!
Okay, I'll be honest, the plot was a little weak, but it had the feel of the campy 80s cartoon, which made it fun. It didn't take itself too seriously.
The first movie lacked some of the family elements that I long for from any TMNT media; the turtles are brothers, and family is the most important theme for me in the series. OOTS gave the turtles more screen time and more interactions with each other outside of action scenes. They seemed a lot more like siblings than in the first movie--I saw myself and my sisters in them at times. Their interactions are very special to me.
The turtles' acting and animation improved, too; they look much more natural, and there's more subtlety in their faces and movements. The updated designs are nice, not as cluttered as in the 1st film, and we get a better look at the turtles' tattoos. Also, the writing for their characters got better; everyone got rounded out a little more. Usually Mikey gets the shortest end of the stick in characterization, since he's often reduced to comedic relief, but he got to be deeper and more emotional in this movie.
The casting for new characters was great! I liked Amell as Casey, and Tyler Perry made a wonderful Baxter Stockman. They didn't try to hard to shove in a romance between April and Casey, either, which was nice.
I also really enjoyed the score for this movie. I recognized Steve Jablonsky right away (long time Transformers fan here!), and his work added a lot to the film. It had a good urban, yet epic feel.
If you're looking for a deep, compelling story, this movie isn't going to give it to you. It's a movie about 4 mutant teenage brothers trying to save the world. It's funny, action-packed, and emotional at the right times. I think TMNT fans old and new can enjoy it.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2014)
Don't compare this to Prime
I have not yet finished the first season, but I really want to give this show the praise it deserves. There are a lot of negative reviews complaining that RID does not live up to its predecessor, Transformers Prime. This is true, but RID is enjoyable in its own right, and shouldn't have to live in the shadow of Prime.
One of the biggest complaints is about the animation. It does take some getting used to, but I find that it's very expressive and neat! The humans look a little strange, but they did in Prime, too. The robots have good facial expressions and body language, and each character has a unique design. I'm sure it will improve even more with time--everyone remembers the incredible progress that Prime made in the animation department.
The characters are truly the strong point of the show, though. They are diverse, well- rounded and lovable. I was not very fond of Bumblebee in Predacons Rising, but he has redeemed himself in RID. Strongarm is a wonderful addition to the cast, and a much needed female presence in the franchise. I won't go into too much detail to avoid spoilers, but the characters have a lot of heart. There is also one character who I won't name for spoilers but has particularly strong, moving and realistic characterization so far, and really cemented my love for the show.
One thing in particular that I like is that one of the characters, Fixit, has a clear speech impediment, and no one makes fun of him for it.
Other strong points: It's a typical "villain of the week" setup for the most part, but that makes it easy to keep up with and stops it from getting too dramatic. It's funny and light- hearted, and the voice actors are wonderful.
I've been a Transformers fan since 2011, although my interest in it diminished after Prime's finale and Age of Extinction. Prime is my favorite series, and I was so sad to see it go. I still miss it sometimes. I didn't even watch RID until more than a year after it premiered. However, RID renewed my love for the franchise with great vigor, and I place it as #2 on my list of Transformers series--right beside Prime.