So I caved and I picked up the game, because I just had to get into this game myself. I was a huge fan of the original trilogy so I couldn't wait to play this one, despite the hilarious animations floating around the internet.
I've reached the first real planet and there are a couple of things I would like to point out.
1. The animation is bad in spots, but nowhere near as widespread as the internet makes it seem. There are a few characters (which you've already seen) that just seem extremely unfinished. But for the most part animations are fine, not great, but not bad either. Kind of on par with Bioware really because frankly their facial animations have never been good.
2. The VO is very random. While most characters do a good job of reading the lines, there are some occasional things that come across in a completely wrong tone, and seemed cut and pasted into the conversation without sharing context. Not only that, but some character's voices just don't fucking work. Like Kesh, the first Krogan you meet in the game. She has this very light, smooth voice, that just doesn't fit a Krogan. Female or not, I feel like the voice at very least should have a rasp or gutteral type of feeling to it because the Krogan race are big, strong, fighting aliens. It just doesn't fit and I hate it.
Though in contrast, the female Turian that you meet on your ship is fucking amazing. I loved her the moment I met her so that's good and it leads me to point number 3.
3. I've seen people complain that they don't feel connected to these new characters. I don't understand why, I mean, I do...These aren't OG Mass Effect characters, and I think people still have too much attachment to Shepard and his crew which is making it hard for people to click with the new cast. Personally I like Ryder, and I love my Turian girlfriend. Cora is kinda of "meh" but to me she is like Ashley and didn't like Ashley either. So the characters seem fine. I even like the AI in my brain.
So far I am far more impressed with ME:A than I thought I would be. So that's a great thing, and I can't wait to get into the meat of the game and see where the journey leads.