One of the best scene's in video gaming. Still gives me chills.
Leviathan DLC:
I liked the Leviathan DLC but I'm not sure there was any way to follow that up with the same level of intensity and awe. It definitely felt like they were working backwards and didn't really have a fleshed out reaper backstory and Leviathan was put together more following what they had on the reapers. Reapers look like cuttlefish, so the creators should be aquatic. They have indoctrination, so they should be similar.
I did like what they did, but I wonder if I would have liked it more if they just left the reapers shrouded in mystery. We don't know where they came from, only that they were tasked with balancing the galaxy.
Leviathan
Yeah, I would’ve preferred no explanation. As Sovereign says, the Reapers simply are.
The setting/gameplay of Leviathan is really cool, but I hate that they turned Shepard into yet another chosen one. It doesn’t track with the relatively grounded universe—Mass Effect is a lot closer to Star Trek than Star Wars.
Worse, it diminished the companions. The trilogy is as much about Liara, Garrus, and Tali as it is about Shepard. Let them be important to the climax, too.
It’d be better if the difference between this cycle and all the rest was that there wasn’t a single dominant species instead of leaning into Great Man History.
Ending:
I certainly wouldn't mind an alternate ending that you could choose from in a remake. Starting with the assault on harbinger all the way to the end. Even if it's pretty basic like some of the youtube fan cuts or if they want to go hard into it.
I'd want to focus on better themeing to better tie all the plot threads together at the end. They also ignored the most compelling part of the Crucible—that every cycle added to it.
Countless races across billions of years, each with their own culture, psychology, and history, marched out to fight the Reapers and lost. Like the Protheans on Ilos and Eden Prime, they probably realized they were doomed. And they decided to give the next guy a chance. It's like a reverse prisoner's dilemma or if there was an entire race of Vince Colemans.
And now it's your turn. By sheer dumb luck, you're the closest to the finish line. So when you lead that fleet to Earth, you're not just fighting for humans or asari or turians, you're fighting for every life that has ever existed. You're carrying the last piece of countless peoples whose names are lost forever but are not forgotten. And when you win, you save every life that exists and every one that will ever exist.
That's cool as shit, and they left it on the table. That, more than anything else about the game, tells me it was rushed.
I put that on as background music while working quite often.
Gonna be doing this today.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
I haven't started constructing her costume yet, but I think this is a pretty good Shepard casual look that I would have 100% put my in-game Shepard in if it had been available. I wonder if it's possible to buy an N7 patch small enough to fit this jacket?
I always found that the the mass effect equipment/casual wears had at least a two color motif usually with a third (to make them look more spacey). And lots of stripes. So patching the reinforced joints with a complementary (or split complementary with the thread being the second) color might up the mass effectyness of it if you're looking to do that for the casual outfit. Edit(or even just lining the seams to give it a pop).
Goumindong on
0
BRIAN BLESSEDMaybe you aren't SPEAKING LOUDLY ENOUGHHHRegistered Userregular
I'm assuming an iron-on sticker on fabric would be the way to go
I always found that the the mass effect equipment/casual wears had at least a two color motif usually with a third (to make them look more spacey). And lots of stripes. So patching the reinforced joints with a complementary (or split complementary with the thread being the second) color might up the mass effectyness of it if you're looking to do that for the casual outfit. Edit(or even just lining the seams to give it a pop).
I think you'd also be looking for something which was more clearly not a natural fiber. More of a colorful suit than a jean jacket etc.
Are all Spectres rich? Because I could see your local space commies getting pretty irate that there are state agents with unlimited authority who are mysteriously wealthy.
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
My headcanon is that it's a joke between Shepard and Garrus that started when they were hunting Saren—what to do with all the game and glory surely coming their way. They never got the chance before Shepard died, so they're making up for lost time.
The shopkeepers are pissed at first, but then it becomes as much of a meme on the Citadel as IRL.
Also, this thread, and the fact that my new boss has an N7 tattoo, inspired me to start another trilogy run:
Ira Shepard, Colonist/War Hero/Vanguard. My headcanon for him is that Anderson was part of the Alliance mission to Mindoir, so he's the person Shepard trusts most in the universe.
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
You're forgetting that spectres are running on James Bond rules.
Just think back to me1: everyone knows Saren is a spectre and the moment you're granted the title it appears to be a station wide broadcast given how everyone knows you're humanity's first member.
KINDA makes you wonder why people don't just outright murder you when you show up at their space port.
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
Specters are more like a Jedi(pre-Palpatine) without the whole ascetic feel in canon. They're diplomats and problem solvers and have more or less free reign to do what they want. They're not spies, not even James Bond type (though they definitely can operate like them).
btw, if there's anyone interested in snagging a challenge coin celebrating the 10th anniversary of Mass Effect 2 that the costuming group I'm in had made, it looks like there'll be enough left to offer them to the thread once again.
In case it isn't clear, the text reads "Cerberus Lazarus Project" across the top, and "We Fought For The Lost 01-2010".
The top one has glittery acrylic on both sides, which shows up better in person/motion than a still pic, but it catches the light in such a great way.
The glittery ones are $12 US, the non-glittery ones are $11, or get one of each for $20.
Forar on
First they came for the Muslims, and we said NOT TODAY, MOTHERFUCKER!
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
You're forgetting that spectres are running on James Bond rules.
Just think back to me1: everyone knows Saren is a spectre and the moment you're granted the title it appears to be a station wide broadcast given how everyone knows you're humanity's first member.
KINDA makes you wonder why people don't just outright murder you when you show up at their space port.
This is attempted at the prison in Mass Effect 2. Their deaths can be a lesson to all the others.
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
You're forgetting that spectres are running on James Bond rules.
Just think back to me1: everyone knows Saren is a spectre and the moment you're granted the title it appears to be a station wide broadcast given how everyone knows you're humanity's first member.
KINDA makes you wonder why people don't just outright murder you when you show up at their space port.
This is attempted at the prison in Mass Effect 2. Their deaths can be a lesson to all the others.
attempted poorly!
I mean if you want someone dead you don't allow them to have have guns and friends.
The collectors had the right idea, just whack the normandy when its pants are down.
not even shepard can breath the cold, empty void of space.
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
You're forgetting that spectres are running on James Bond rules.
Just think back to me1: everyone knows Saren is a spectre and the moment you're granted the title it appears to be a station wide broadcast given how everyone knows you're humanity's first member.
KINDA makes you wonder why people don't just outright murder you when you show up at their space port.
This is attempted at the prison in Mass Effect 2. Their deaths can be a lesson to all the others.
attempted poorly!
I mean if you want someone dead you don't allow them to have have guns and friends.
The collectors had the right idea, just whack the normandy when its pants are down.
not even shepard can breath the cold, empty void of space.
Yeah, can it even be considered a failure if Shepard actually died?
I mean yes, Shepard got better, but that's using something akin to science fiction even in the universe the games exist in. They even call it into question a couple of times in ME3.
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
You're forgetting that spectres are running on James Bond rules.
Just think back to me1: everyone knows Saren is a spectre and the moment you're granted the title it appears to be a station wide broadcast given how everyone knows you're humanity's first member.
KINDA makes you wonder why people don't just outright murder you when you show up at their space port.
This is attempted at the prison in Mass Effect 2. Their deaths can be a lesson to all the others.
attempted poorly!
I mean if you want someone dead you don't allow them to have have guns and friends.
The collectors had the right idea, just whack the normandy when its pants are down.
not even shepard can breath the cold, empty void of space.
Yeah, can it even be considered a failure if Shepard actually died?
I mean yes, Shepard got better, but that's using something akin to science fiction even in the universe the games exist in. They even call it into question a couple of times in ME3.
I thought the death and resurrection was one of the serie's lowest points.
Made only worse by that clone you end up fighting later on.
I never did the endorsement deals as I found them unethical considering Shepards position in the military.
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
You're forgetting that spectres are running on James Bond rules.
Just think back to me1: everyone knows Saren is a spectre and the moment you're granted the title it appears to be a station wide broadcast given how everyone knows you're humanity's first member.
KINDA makes you wonder why people don't just outright murder you when you show up at their space port.
This is attempted at the prison in Mass Effect 2. Their deaths can be a lesson to all the others.
attempted poorly!
I mean if you want someone dead you don't allow them to have have guns and friends.
The collectors had the right idea, just whack the normandy when its pants are down.
not even shepard can breath the cold, empty void of space.
Yeah, can it even be considered a failure if Shepard actually died?
I mean yes, Shepard got better, but that's using something akin to science fiction even in the universe the games exist in. They even call it into question a couple of times in ME3.
I thought the death and resurrection was one of the serie's lowest points.
Made only worse by that clone you end up fighting later on.
The clone was silly, but perfectly fit the silly self-aware humor they were going for. The death and resurrection was...yeah, pretty silly given how that topic was largely left on the floor beyond being an initial motivator for #2. Worked for me the first time I played through ME2, but felt pretty silly when I thought about it. Still did love the sequencing as you enter the blasted-open bridge and everything goes to silence with things floating around and space peaking beyond the sheared-away hull plating.
Just got the first Council meeting after Eden Prime.
I really wish 3 gave more an opportunity to call them out for being, well, the worst. They remind me a lot of Elaida from Wheel of Time--not actually working for the bad guys, but so stupid and arrogant they might as well be.
Also, I wish more characters called out how blatantly racist and militaristic Council membership is.
0
OrcaAlso known as EspressosaurusWrexRegistered Userregular
Just got the first Council meeting after Eden Prime.
I really wish 3 gave more an opportunity to call them out for being, well, the worst. They remind me a lot of Elaida from Wheel of Time--not actually working for the bad guys, but so stupid and arrogant they might as well be.
Also, I wish more characters called out how blatantly racist and militaristic Council membership is.
It's the advanced species burden Mancingtom. It's all in their best interests. Those lesser species wouldn't know what to do without our guidance!
Cerberus is evil and all, but taking the Council out and replacing them with, say, Wrex, Victus, and Hackett would've been a good idea.
Or starting a popular rebellion by telling the galaxy "hey you know about that army of giant mecha-Cthulus that have slaughtered billions of people? Yeah, the Council knew about it for years and told you it was fake because they didn't want to deal with it."
One of the questions I had is if you choose the middle option and concentrate on Sovereign, why don't the council races just pick new councilors? Humanity takes over? No, but how about giving us a seat at the table?
None of the "humanity takes over" options make sense in context. Okay, so the Alliance takes the Citadel. Great. What's stopping the Turians from invading Earth or everyone launching a trade embargo that cripples the galactic economy?
A better Renegade option, at least in line with human supremacist strain in ME2, would be that you don't save the Council because you "don't want to waste human lives saving aliens." The rest of the Citadel fleet shows up after the Ascension has been destroyed, and kills Sovereign with heavy losses. In the end, humans don't get a seat on the Council, but the Alliance now has a stronger fleet than the Citadel, making it a true rival.
Just got the first Council meeting after Eden Prime.
I really wish 3 gave more an opportunity to call them out for being, well, the worst. They remind me a lot of Elaida from Wheel of Time--not actually working for the bad guys, but so stupid and arrogant they might as well be.
Also, I wish more characters called out how blatantly racist and militaristic Council membership is.
It's the advanced species burden Mancingtom. It's all in their best interests. Those lesser species wouldn't know what to do without our guidance!
"The Vorcha Councilor will kindly refrain from further interruptions!"
I played ME so much when it came out my brother made an off-hand comment about maybe I should just play something else god this menu music is so annoying and my dad chimed in that I had indeed played it an absurd amount.
I finished like 4 more playthroughs back to back.
I still feel really good about calling the Rachni invasion a Reaper ploy like two weeks after the game came out.
I will be over the moon when the inevitable remake comes out.
+10
GnomeTankWhat the what?Portland, OregonRegistered Userregular
I started a new play through of the trilogy. Every time I start a new run I always tell myself I'm going to play different, but I always end up paragon. Doing a fem Shep run this time.
@Forar I'd definitely snag a set of the two if some are still available.
Posts
Countless races across billions of years, each with their own culture, psychology, and history, marched out to fight the Reapers and lost. Like the Protheans on Ilos and Eden Prime, they probably realized they were doomed. And they decided to give the next guy a chance. It's like a reverse prisoner's dilemma or if there was an entire race of Vince Colemans.
And now it's your turn. By sheer dumb luck, you're the closest to the finish line. So when you lead that fleet to Earth, you're not just fighting for humans or asari or turians, you're fighting for every life that has ever existed. You're carrying the last piece of countless peoples whose names are lost forever but are not forgotten. And when you win, you save every life that exists and every one that will ever exist.
That's cool as shit, and they left it on the table. That, more than anything else about the game, tells me it was rushed.
Gonna be doing this today.
I think you'd also be looking for something which was more clearly not a natural fiber. More of a colorful suit than a jean jacket etc.
Steam | XBL
Excuse me, I believe you mean asset forfeiture.
and rolling up to the nearest gift shop with a literal pallet of guns that would put a weapon merchant to shame
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
I'm Commander Shepard, and Fencingsax has my favorite Launchpad McQuack avatar on the Citadel.
~ Buckaroo Banzai
Shepard is also a covert operative, and that kind of visibility ruins the spectres image.
And in 2/3 Shepard simply doesn't have time to do them.
The endorsement deals are certainly less mean than the outright extortion that the Renegade can get up to.
My headcanon is that it's a joke between Shepard and Garrus that started when they were hunting Saren—what to do with all the game and glory surely coming their way. They never got the chance before Shepard died, so they're making up for lost time.
The shopkeepers are pissed at first, but then it becomes as much of a meme on the Citadel as IRL.
Also, this thread, and the fact that my new boss has an N7 tattoo, inspired me to start another trilogy run:
Ira Shepard, Colonist/War Hero/Vanguard. My headcanon for him is that Anderson was part of the Alliance mission to Mindoir, so he's the person Shepard trusts most in the universe.
You're forgetting that spectres are running on James Bond rules.
Just think back to me1: everyone knows Saren is a spectre and the moment you're granted the title it appears to be a station wide broadcast given how everyone knows you're humanity's first member.
KINDA makes you wonder why people don't just outright murder you when you show up at their space port.
Specters are more like a Jedi(pre-Palpatine) without the whole ascetic feel in canon. They're diplomats and problem solvers and have more or less free reign to do what they want. They're not spies, not even James Bond type (though they definitely can operate like them).
In case it isn't clear, the text reads "Cerberus Lazarus Project" across the top, and "We Fought For The Lost 01-2010".
The top one has glittery acrylic on both sides, which shows up better in person/motion than a still pic, but it catches the light in such a great way.
The glittery ones are $12 US, the non-glittery ones are $11, or get one of each for $20.
This is attempted at the prison in Mass Effect 2. Their deaths can be a lesson to all the others.
attempted poorly!
I mean if you want someone dead you don't allow them to have have guns and friends.
The collectors had the right idea, just whack the normandy when its pants are down.
not even shepard can breath the cold, empty void of space.
I mean yes, Shepard got better, but that's using something akin to science fiction even in the universe the games exist in. They even call it into question a couple of times in ME3.
I thought the death and resurrection was one of the serie's lowest points.
Made only worse by that clone you end up fighting later on.
The clone was silly, but perfectly fit the silly self-aware humor they were going for. The death and resurrection was...yeah, pretty silly given how that topic was largely left on the floor beyond being an initial motivator for #2. Worked for me the first time I played through ME2, but felt pretty silly when I thought about it. Still did love the sequencing as you enter the blasted-open bridge and everything goes to silence with things floating around and space peaking beyond the sheared-away hull plating.
I really wish 3 gave more an opportunity to call them out for being, well, the worst. They remind me a lot of Elaida from Wheel of Time--not actually working for the bad guys, but so stupid and arrogant they might as well be.
Also, I wish more characters called out how blatantly racist and militaristic Council membership is.
It's the advanced species burden Mancingtom. It's all in their best interests. Those lesser species wouldn't know what to do without our guidance!
Or starting a popular rebellion by telling the galaxy "hey you know about that army of giant mecha-Cthulus that have slaughtered billions of people? Yeah, the Council knew about it for years and told you it was fake because they didn't want to deal with it."
Maybe that's Mass Effect 5.
A better Renegade option, at least in line with human supremacist strain in ME2, would be that you don't save the Council because you "don't want to waste human lives saving aliens." The rest of the Citadel fleet shows up after the Ascension has been destroyed, and kills Sovereign with heavy losses. In the end, humans don't get a seat on the Council, but the Alliance now has a stronger fleet than the Citadel, making it a true rival.
@Psykoma right, that is valuable info indeed!
The glittery ones are $12 US, the non-glittery ones are $11, or get one of each for $20.
I'll update the post above with that as well, thanks for pointing that out.
"The Vorcha Councilor will kindly refrain from further interruptions!"
I finished like 4 more playthroughs back to back.
I still feel really good about calling the Rachni invasion a Reaper ploy like two weeks after the game came out.
I will be over the moon when the inevitable remake comes out.
@Forar I'd definitely snag a set of the two if some are still available.