What? Everything he says is interesting.
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Best Mass Effect squadmates and characters?
- Thread starter Random17
- Start date
What? Everything he says is interesting.
Garrus: Bro.
Javik: Amazingly blunt a lot of the time, and has really interesting lore and reactions. It was really great to have all these godlike expectations of what the Protheans were like, and then being brought crashing down to earth when you see that the only living Prothean left was a gruff soldier grunt type of guy. Still absolutely unthinkable to cut this guy out for DLC.
Mordin: I loved his discussions about the genophage. The game did a great job of showing that he believed in the reasoning behind the genophage and that it was the right thing to do, but at the same time suffered from a lot of conflicting emotions about it.
I found Legion really interesting as a character but rarely brought him along on missions because I usually had Garrus along as the gun guy.
Javik: Amazingly blunt a lot of the time, and has really interesting lore and reactions. It was really great to have all these godlike expectations of what the Protheans were like, and then being brought crashing down to earth when you see that the only living Prothean left was a gruff soldier grunt type of guy. Still absolutely unthinkable to cut this guy out for DLC.
Mordin: I loved his discussions about the genophage. The game did a great job of showing that he believed in the reasoning behind the genophage and that it was the right thing to do, but at the same time suffered from a lot of conflicting emotions about it.
I found Legion really interesting as a character but rarely brought him along on missions because I usually had Garrus along as the gun guy.
The Artisan
Member
I gotta say it's Kasumi. Didn't really dig much of the kleptomaniac shit, in fact it would've been cool if she went through some character development in which she kicks the fucking habit, but she was probably my favorite squadmate. Her cloaking which was basically teleporting was awesome. Shame she and Zaeed didn't get proper dialogue on the Normandy, or that she wasn't a romance option for male Shepard.
But my femshep brought her on missions all the time. They were gal pals fo sho, fo lyf
But my femshep brought her on missions all the time. They were gal pals fo sho, fo lyf
Officer.Sanchez
Member
Garrus is my space bro and romance option by default as paragon femshep.
ME1: Garrus, Liara
ME2: Garrus, Miranda
ME3: Garrus, Liara
I think bioware nailed it with the characters. I'm playing through mass effect 1 right now, I bought all the ME3 DLC (I got the Omega DLC free due to a bug) and I can't wait to add javik to the team.
Most useless character: Tali, her design is great but I find her skill set pretty mediocre in battle.
ME1: Garrus, Liara
ME2: Garrus, Miranda
ME3: Garrus, Liara
I think bioware nailed it with the characters. I'm playing through mass effect 1 right now, I bought all the ME3 DLC (I got the Omega DLC free due to a bug) and I can't wait to add javik to the team.
Most useless character: Tali, her design is great but I find her skill set pretty mediocre in battle.
Son Of Sparda
Member
Garrus and Tali. Really loved them both.
Although, my waifu was Ashley so I should mention her as well.
Although, my waifu was Ashley so I should mention her as well.
Mister Wolf
Member
Tali and Wrex till the casket drop.
Hm, correct if I'm wrong... but even that is possible without tweaking the game at all.
I remember doing that(i think), and I never modified ME2. Other than reducing the loading times from 20 secs to 2.Garrus is such a good character/squadmate that including him shouldn't even be allowed. The fact that he's the only squadmate, IIRC, that you can use in all 3 games speaks volumes.
Mass Effect has a ton of great characters and moments. It's such a shame that ME3 took a step back in this regard.
The first time making my way through ME2 on the archangel mission i didn't sabotage the helicopter or whatever it was that got Garrus shot and i legitimately thought he was gonna die and it kind of took my breath away thinking i might actually lose my bro that soon after the archangel reveal.
Although i never really liked using him in combat too much, I loved Wrex's character. I played through ME3 numerous times and there is not a single playthrough where i can lie to Wrex about the genophage. There isn't a single fiber in my body that will allow me to do it even if its just to see some different outcomes/dialogue/etc. It's just flat out wrong. I just can't do it.
Miranda was also the best romance option for me.
God damnit, i gotta bring out my ps3 and play these again just so i can make all the same exact choices so i don't fuck anyone over.
I also need to get the dlc. I don't have any of it except shadowbroker which came with the trilogy edition on ps3
Mass Effect has a ton of great characters and moments. It's such a shame that ME3 took a step back in this regard.
The first time making my way through ME2 on the archangel mission i didn't sabotage the helicopter or whatever it was that got Garrus shot and i legitimately thought he was gonna die and it kind of took my breath away thinking i might actually lose my bro that soon after the archangel reveal.
Although i never really liked using him in combat too much, I loved Wrex's character. I played through ME3 numerous times and there is not a single playthrough where i can lie to Wrex about the genophage. There isn't a single fiber in my body that will allow me to do it even if its just to see some different outcomes/dialogue/etc. It's just flat out wrong. I just can't do it.
Miranda was also the best romance option for me.
God damnit, i gotta bring out my ps3 and play these again just so i can make all the same exact choices so i don't fuck anyone over.
I also need to get the dlc. I don't have any of it except shadowbroker which came with the trilogy edition on ps3
From a gameplay perspective Miranda is hard to beat with her squad bonuses and combo potential powers. From a narrative perspective.. well, i suppose thats part of what makes Mass Effect so great; there are so many worthwhile characters. Garrus obviously, Liara, Mordin, Wrex, Javik.. hell, even James was entertaining to bring once you warmed up to him.
Shadow Broker in ME2 if you can only play one(beside Citadel of course)
Same here.
I have the Trilogy bundle for PS3 and it's included so thankfully i've already experienced it and it's awesome.
Whats the one that gives you access to Javik?
1. Citadel - Too much great content to pass up. By far the best dlc, both gameplay and narrative wise.
2. Lair of the shadow broker - Self contained story that perhaps isnt that important lore wise in the scheme of things, but very well done and entertaining.
3. Leviathan / From Ashes - Both offer additional info and background lore when it comes to the main story. One is a pretty great detective-style series of missions, the other a pretty entertaning companion that offers a lot of new insights into the history of the ME universe.
4. Stolen memory / Arrival. Neither are really critical in the same sense that the others. Again, i would say its a choice between a pretty basic companion with a decent mission, and a end game mission that fills in the gap on whats happens between ME2 and ME3. Both missions are decent, but not the same calibre as the rest. The companion you get from Stolen memory is not nearly as fleshed out as the rest of your companions.
Id say the rest is fairly inconsequential.
Garrus and Liara. Garrus was the biggest bro and they don't get more ride or die than Liara (aside from the excuse they manufactured to keep her out of your party in 2).
Gameplay wise, I was never without Miranda in 2. She was just too useful and powerful, especially maxed out. The other party member didn't matter too much, so I took a variety. In 3, Liara was dumb broken with the instant Singularity spam. Biotics combos just ripped through everything.
The cast of characters in 2 were so fun. Made me care about saving them all.
Gameplay wise, I was never without Miranda in 2. She was just too useful and powerful, especially maxed out. The other party member didn't matter too much, so I took a variety. In 3, Liara was dumb broken with the instant Singularity spam. Biotics combos just ripped through everything.
The cast of characters in 2 were so fun. Made me care about saving them all.
Yeah, gameplay wise nothing topped Miranda. They gave her Sentinel flexibility with a whole suite of squad buffs. Garrus was second for the same reasons.
Top 5.
1. Zaeed - Why kill one alien when you can blow up all the guddamn aliens? RIP Robin Sachs
2. Mordin - A conflicted ally? Someone willing to go renegade to push the paragon agenda? One tough cloaca.
3. Wrex - Shepard.
4. Legion - Screw the Quarians. And screw Mass Effect 3 >:\
5. Ashley - +Strong. +Independent. -Poet. Could have been interesting, but subverted by the sappy romance sub-plot. +Earth first. +Not racist. +Racist.
Bottom 5.
1. Mass Effect 3 Illusive Man - Much more interesting if they hadn't converted him into a Reaper tool. Even as a Reaper tool there wasn't enough effort made to make that interesting. They probably could have dumped Space Ninja and just rehashed the Saren plot line. Should have been the element that defines doing the right thing and doing what's necessary to save as many lives as possible.
2. Tali - Actually not too terrible and this ranking is mostly due to the awfulness of the Quarians in general. The awfulness of Tali fans doesn't help.
3. Garrus - Complains about everything. Generally fails at the same rate.
4. Kaiden - I have a headache.
5. Jason - Stand up dude, but I don't remember much about him.
*All listings subject to change. Just a quick first pass here.
Top 5.
1. Zaeed - Why kill one alien when you can blow up all the guddamn aliens? RIP Robin Sachs
2. Mordin - A conflicted ally? Someone willing to go renegade to push the paragon agenda? One tough cloaca.
3. Wrex - Shepard.
4. Legion - Screw the Quarians. And screw Mass Effect 3 >:\
5. Ashley - +Strong. +Independent. -Poet. Could have been interesting, but subverted by the sappy romance sub-plot. +Earth first. +Not racist. +Racist.
Bottom 5.
1. Mass Effect 3 Illusive Man - Much more interesting if they hadn't converted him into a Reaper tool. Even as a Reaper tool there wasn't enough effort made to make that interesting. They probably could have dumped Space Ninja and just rehashed the Saren plot line. Should have been the element that defines doing the right thing and doing what's necessary to save as many lives as possible.
2. Tali - Actually not too terrible and this ranking is mostly due to the awfulness of the Quarians in general. The awfulness of Tali fans doesn't help.
3. Garrus - Complains about everything. Generally fails at the same rate.
4. Kaiden - I have a headache.
5. Jason - Stand up dude, but I don't remember much about him.
*All listings subject to change. Just a quick first pass here.
Awesome. Thanks.
How does the citadel stuff get incorporated into the story? I'm assuming it shows up just before the final mission? Does that mean you wouldn't be able to access it on a complete save file?
You have to activate it before the assault on the cerberus base.
From Ashes. Yeah, Javik is worth it. Should have been included in the main title, but that's another story. Leviathan is nice too, but Javik has lots of cool moments & quotes throughout the whole game and even participate in the Citadel DLC.
KillerDark
Member
Garrus, wrex, and Mordin are my favs
Dedication Through Light
Member
Team Kaiden Alenko checking in he was awesome, as well as Miranda she was really good and always necessary.
Characters in general, Dr. Chakwas was one of my favorite real perfect and oh so memorable.
Characters in general, Dr. Chakwas was one of my favorite real perfect and oh so memorable.
Ok cool. Thanks
Try to do Citadel with Javik DLC installed, with female Shepard and not romancing anyone at all. Funny little scene at the end of the party.
Spoiler alert:
They woke up in the same bed
Garrus tier: Garrus
Best, but not Garrus tier: Wrex, Mordin, Javik
Good tier: Thane, Legion, Kasumi, Tali
Okay tier: Miranda, Liara, James, Grunt, Samara
Don't like tier: Kaidan, Ashley, Jacob, Zaeed
You should've stayed in the ship and not give Joker such a weird arc tier: EDI
Best, but not Garrus tier: Wrex, Mordin, Javik
Good tier: Thane, Legion, Kasumi, Tali
Okay tier: Miranda, Liara, James, Grunt, Samara
Don't like tier: Kaidan, Ashley, Jacob, Zaeed
You should've stayed in the ship and not give Joker such a weird arc tier: EDI
crazyrabbits
Banned
Didn't even hesitate. Reloaded my game just to kill him instead of Ashley.
For all her space-racist tendencies, Ashley's far more interesting.
Garrus and Wrex were my A-squad for the first game (the only time I ever switched out was to let Liara talk to her mother before I killed the latter, and Tali so she could get her data), and this switched over to Garrus and either Miranda or Grunt in 2 (in addition to trying out different squadmates). EDI and Garrus is pretty good in 3 as far as abilities go, although I'm finding Javik/Garrus is a great combo as well.
As far as best characters, Garrus, Wrex, Tali (in 2), Javik, Legion and EDI are all up there.
The EDI/Joker stuff was good in 2, extremely bad in 3. Teenage fanfiction tier of bad. It's one of those things about 3 that make you shake your head the most, and that's saying something.
Other than that, making the sole black guy in the universe have absent (cannabistic) daddy issues was a bit tone deaf, even though I don't mind Jacob "the prize" Taylor overall. One of the worst characters by default, because he has so little flavor.
Other than that, making the sole black guy in the universe have absent (cannabistic) daddy issues was a bit tone deaf, even though I don't mind Jacob "the prize" Taylor overall. One of the worst characters by default, because he has so little flavor.
agreed.
Man, the new Mass Effect should be Bioware's biggest priority, but if they can 'remaster' ME1/2/3 with all the DLC, I would be soooo getting that.
Turns out primitive ARE good at something...
It's really incredible how much stuff is there that so many people never saw.
Stuff with Samara in Citadel can get... intense... if you've tried to be with her in the past.
I still love the scenes in ME3 about Krogan mating... but I missed it because I kept Mordin alive.
How do they mate?
Snacks the sober sea lion
Member
Wrex and Mordin. Both likable with significant backstories and perspectives on the same issue.
Yes, everyone likes Garrus, but I feel like you HAVE to like Garrus. ME3 pushed the "garrus is ur bro" really hard and it was a little grating because it was so plain what was going on there. ME3 in general has no idea what subtlety is anyway.
Fucking half the cast of ME2 has literal "daddy issues," including Thane, who is a dad who has issues, but yeah it was pretty tone deaf with Jacob.
Yes, everyone likes Garrus, but I feel like you HAVE to like Garrus. ME3 pushed the "garrus is ur bro" really hard and it was a little grating because it was so plain what was going on there. ME3 in general has no idea what subtlety is anyway.
Fucking half the cast of ME2 has literal "daddy issues," including Thane, who is a dad who has issues, but yeah it was pretty tone deaf with Jacob.
Garrus every time - a true legend! Will always remember fondly the time spent hanging out on the top of the Citadel
That's honestly the worst moment of the game.
My engineer Shep outshoots fucking Garrus? Mary Sue bullshit.
Huh, You know, i've played through ME2 multiple times and never once picked up on this trope/stereotype. I'll be damn lol
I would buy a remaster in a heartbeat.
As someone who played/binged on the series when the bundle came to PS3, this franchise was fucking amazing and had a lot of great things going for it and it's a shame it'll forever be marred by the 3 choice ending they had.
I also love how each game in the series does something really well that if you took all the strengths of each game and put them into one, it'd be amazing
Mass Effect has the best story IMO. I was hesitant on the series for a long time because i don't tend to indulge in sci fi stuff because i feel like they can get too far up their own ass sometimes with their story and trying to build their own lore and things like that but Mass Effect does a good job of presenting a cohesive story thats easy to follow all the way through and it ends with enough open to create a sequel but at the same time, if that sequel were to never happen, the story itself still feels pretty complete. The controls and gunplay were pretty damn archaic though. It's for this reason it's the only Mass Effect game i've yet (and probably never will) play through again.
Mass Effect 2 has the best characters/character development hands down. The fact that you have so many squad mates to choose from and they all have their own loyalty mission thats tied to their backstory is fantastic. It was equally fantastic knowing that their loyalty or lack thereof played a part in whether they survived the endgame.
Mass Effect 3 has the best gunplay but the characters/squadmates are pretty shit. Huge disappointment and step back in this area fromi Mass Effect 2. That being said, i can easily play ME3 all day and night and would easily choose to play it over ME2 for the fact that the gunplay is just so satisfying.
You're an engineer. You probably screwed with Garrus's rifle before that to make him lose. Bastard.
Darkstorne
Member
Javik is one of the only real consequentialists in the series. I find almost everything he says interesting.
Interesting. This is why I hated Javik. Every time he speaks I can picture the writers trying super hard to think up something deep. Super deep. Oh so deep. He's a living version of a "quote of the day" website.
I wish we had Javik quote a day websites.
That super cute guy smiled at me yesterday, I'm feeling so great this morning!
"Throw him out the airlock."
But Javik isn't deep. He's just cynical, angry, depressed, and uber-bitter. He's not "deep"; he's just opinionated.
Like the quote you, er, quoted... I played as a character of honor, and he disapproved of my actions. He didn't believe in concepts like mercy, forgiveness, or equality... yet, over the course of the game, he came to accept there was value in my actions, even if he didn't agree with them.
His abrasiveness, his curtness, was a welcome subversion from the grandeur Liara had created in her head of this legendary, awe-inspiring civilization.
I loved that. I loved how barbaric he was. How condescending he was. How, despite feeling superior to everyone else, the rest of the galaxy had already surpassed his civilization in their prime and enacted progress and change his people couldn't. He was a dinosaur that struggled to comprehend he wasn't top of the food chain any longer.
His statements weren't "deep" to me. They were just defensive. Even his statement about "honor" was hypocritical, because he was a guy who believed so strongly in Prothean honor that he'd defend it to the last man (he was the last man). He felt an obligation to fight the Reapers, for their sake. So when he criticizes Shepard's "honor", he does so without being able to take that same criticism, and he has to outgrow his prejudices to make any progress towards his own goals.
I liked that.
Good interpretation, but I'd disagree he defended Prothean honor. He prized Prothean glory, which meant doing whatever it took. "For the glory of the Empire." "Their sacrifice will be honored in the coming Empire." Very different sort of "honor" than what causes him to criticize Shepard, which he sees as essentially cowardice.
Sumio Mondo
Member
Wrex, Garrus, Tali, Thane and Mordin were my favourites. Hate what became of 3 of them in ME3 though...ME3 was so lacking in squad mates.
Eh, same book, different page.
That's the rub; he DOES value honor. A LOT. The only difference is his concept of "honor" is different than Shepard's. It's of war, glory, and battle. But he gives Shepard a generalized speech about how honor doesn't mean anything in war; only force and victory...
... But to the Protheans, that was still a MEANS to honor and glory.
He simply had a narrow view of "honor" and saw the world in black and white, kill or be killed. Such things a negotiations, truces, and alliances was mostly foreign to him and compromise seen as a sign of submission or weakness, rather than the strength it ended up being. To him, he didn't understand how those things could bring "honor" to him or his people.
Darkstorne
Member
...Why do you like him again? Sounds like you admire the writing but dislike the character =P
It felt to me like the writers were striving too hard for him to sound "old-timey" with his phrases and opinions, and how everything had to be explained in a "deep" way (maybe "deep" isn't the perfect description, but hopefully you get what I mean). Though I wonder if part of my dislike for him is because I wanted to think of the Protheans as completely alien compared to our own culture, and yet here this guy was, based heavily on romantic/tragedy versions of our own ancient warlike cultures, acting like a bit of a dick and speaking in semi-riddles whenever the mood took his fancy. Again, I blame the writers for that, for the same reasons I blame them for not being able to follow through with the Reaper's motivations being "beyond our comprehension" as Sovereign described them in ME1.
Garrus is the ultimate bro. He had reach, she had flexibility.
Mordin, Thane, Jack, and Wrex round out the top for me.
Edi, Jacob, Ashley, and Kaidan are at the bottom.
ME2 Illusive man is my favorite non-party member, mainly because it was Martin Sheen. I wanted him to go all President Bartlet on me and tell me that "winners want the ball."
Mordin, Thane, Jack, and Wrex round out the top for me.
Edi, Jacob, Ashley, and Kaidan are at the bottom.
ME2 Illusive man is my favorite non-party member, mainly because it was Martin Sheen. I wanted him to go all President Bartlet on me and tell me that "winners want the ball."
d34thfrom4bov3
Member
Tali is far and away number one, I probably like her the most because of her attitude and when you've got her and Garrus in a party it's just the best. To be honest I love all of these characters, I think Mass Effect has been the best at creating characters I'd actually give a shit about. The only ones I really don't care for are Kaiden, mostly cause I said you're gonna die in the first, and Vega other than his dinosaur comment I didn't care much about him and same with Jacob. The only characters I've not been interested in are probably DLC characters, they all feel kind of tacked on if I'm honest.
ShadowSwordmaster
Banned
Garrus, Wrex, and Legion are the best squadmates.
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