This isn't a retcon in the slightest. There is nothing told or implied in ME1 that conflicts with ME2's reasoning. Nothing at all. All we are told is that the Reapers return to harvest/extinguish all technologically advanced organic life. That is it.
You might not like the reason they gave, but it is in no way, shape or form in the ballpark of a retcon.
I disagree, when you finally confront Sovereign on Virmire he makes it clear to you that reapers are cold machines and that they crush weak organic life forms like humans. Moreover, no one tell you they are organic at all in the first game. Even when you get to the Prothean AI there is no mention of this. The hypothesis they throw at you is that they wipe out civilizations before they are advanced enough to fight back. I mean sure, you can say he was bluffing or lying but it's handled extremely poorly in the second one where no one questions that at all. You have to accept EDI's analysis saying that the hybrid between protheans and humans failed and they became collectors instead because EDI said so.
Delivery on these revelations I will pay. It was rushed and inconsequential.
I wouldn't say these were rushed but were placed in the background instead. For once, the Keepers's role in the Reapers' plan is well explained in the first game. You get hints about how they are older than all of the races in the citadel and that they act as the citadel's guardian. Moreover, there is a sidequest in the game where you get to learn more about the Keepers and their mystery by scanning them. There is some content there and at least it pays off in the game. When all hell break lose in the end, it makes sense as everything is introduced properly. The prothean AI explains the role of the Keepers and the Citadel then you have to act quickly to stop it.
In comparison, in ME2 you simply do a bunch of recruitment missions until something happens with the Collector and EDI eventually tell you that they are indeed Protheans. Delivery is far worse. It seems that you reach a point where they need to spice up everything by telling you this. It's also terrible that the Prothean AI had nothing to say about this. The war is supposed to have lasted for years and they had no idea about this? I
And I was not arguing against any of this, simply that there are plot points and developing backgrounds if people wish to look for them. I'd argue the info dump Legion gives you is particularly significant to the game's universe, and easily up their with much of what ME1 offered. It is unfortunate it is very easily missed.
I can agree with that but they have a serious issue with delivering them properly. In 2 for instance, they give too much importance to the plots and story related to the characters than the story related to the Reapers and Collectors.
(I don't know).
