How are the side quests?

[Blade]

I just started playing today and I'm probably only 4 or 5 hours in but the first side quest I came across put a really bad taste in my mouth. I was in a really good mood playing when I came across the girl that gave me the side quest "Alternating currents". It was really long and 90% running back and forth tediously trying to navigate the labyrinth that is New Atlantis to activate panels and the worst part was that it was just completely boring and I don't think I even really got anything of value for it. It reminded me of some of those really boring quests you'd find every now and then in a Mass Effect game that were like that.

It took almost 2 hours for this side quest because I kept getting lost trying to figure out how to get to the next way point for the quest. It bugged twice on me too so I had to restart the quest twice and the arrows that should have been showing to direct me with the scanner weren't appearing. I'm hoping this was a one off deal and I just picked the wrong side-quest to do first so it gave me a bad first impression but I only had 2 hours to play and spent it all on this quest which wasn't worth it at all.

So are they all boring and tedious like this one or is hit and miss? I'm trying to figure out if I should just play through the story or if I'll miss out on a gem here and there in the side quests.

[Sgt. Flaw]

Hit or miss....that one's probably one of the worst quests in the game tho

Some of the smaller side quests are surprisingly on par with faction quests.

[Varanus]

Only done the Duel and A House Divided so far. Duel was meh, doesnt seem like theres much you can really do there but spectate. Nothing you say or do matters, from what I can tell.
House Divided on the other hand is A tier. Multiple choices, with differing outcomes, large dungeon, with boss fight. Pretty solid all around quest.
Edit: Dawned on me this may not be simply dlc related SQs you're talking about. But for the base game, they come in all varieties. Short, long, fetch quests, kill stuff, etc. I dont think any are bad, but some are very forgettable. I wouldnt say any really stand out as great. But I know there are some I've heard of that I've not come across myself, that sound pretty good.

[shoeless_jesus]

There are some good side quests like juno and some pretty terrible ones.

[nzguzzi]

Never did that one, and I am NG+ 7
Thanks for the warning
Best for me was the UCC and Crimson Fleet, then Rangers

[Blade]

Originally posted by shoeless_jesus:

There are some good side quests like juno and some pretty terrible ones.

What's the ratio because I actually fell asleep playing last night and that's the first time that's ever happened in my entire life while gaming. I'm not trying to hate on the game but I just don't have that much time to commit and there are other things I want to play while I have time that aren't going to put me to sleep, so far I just feel like I'm navigating menus and dialog to trigger cut scenes, staring at loading screens, or slowly walk behind an npc to where ever it is they're leading me. Absolutely nothing interesting or exciting is happening. The voice acting, writing, level design, and every design aspect of the game just feels completely un-inspired like the developers are stuck in a box, completely ignorant of the modern advances and expectations in the gaming industry. The game doesn't care about itself or the experience it's trying to deliver and that makes it hard for me to care about it.

[minisithe]

Originally posted by Varanus:

Only done the Duel and A House Divided so far. Duel was meh, doesnt seem like theres much you can really do there but spectate. Nothing you say or do matters, from what I can tell.
House Divided on the other hand is A tier. Multiple choices, with differing outcomes, large dungeon, with boss fight. Pretty solid all around quest.
Edit: Dawned on me this may not be simply dlc related SQs you're talking about. But for the base game, they come in all varieties. Short, long, fetch quests, kill stuff, etc. I dont think any are bad, but some are very forgettable. I wouldnt say any really stand out as great. But I know there are some I've heard of that I've not come across myself, that sound pretty good.

I stopped the duel by poisoning both drinks. Did not get as much credits than if I let the duel continue.

[Veny]

Must be one of the worst quests out there LOL.
Side quests are OK ranging from fetch quests over stuff like you described (walking/talking) but also mysterious, horror and funny stuff.
Faction quests are good.

[katzenkrimis]

Originally posted by Sgt. Flaw:

Some of the smaller side quests are surprisingly on par with faction quests.

Not surprising.

That happens throughout the game.

The side quest have always been more interesting than the main quests.