This game is getting crucified. It just has to be the average game in a wave of exceptional ones. Really though I think people aren't remembering it right cause this series always had trash animations and dialog where characters just stand still and talk with no major movement. It's just that last generation it was more acceptable because it was the first hd generation.
It sounds like the problem here is Mass Effect hasn't evolved enough with the times and is still stuck at the same level. People simply expect more now.