With Mass Effect on my brain due to all the rumors of a Trilogy remaster, one thing I was thinking about is how so many people always talk about how the human party members and romances were lacking compared to the exciting and more interesting alien squadmates and love interests. I mean, I see how it makes sense - there's something fun about tapping into your inner Captain Kirk and going where no man or woman has gone before - and I'd be lying if I said I played the games differently. Tali was my LI for my MaleShep, Garrus my FemShep's partner, and both were constantly in my party, replacing the humans as quickly as I was able.
But as I reflect, I think most of them get a bad rap. While initially they are "boring" by comparison, many of them grow and evolve and change and challenge you and become fascinating characters in their own right - even ones as widely mocked as "nobody's first picks" like Kaiden, Jacob, or Vega. I remember my wife playing and getting to a point in Miranda's story and just sighing. "Dang it, I wanted to hate her SO MUCH... but now I like her. Ugh."
So which human character or characters do you think players should give another look to during an inevitable remaster playthrough?
For me, I think Jack has grown into my favorite human squadmate. I wasn't fond of her in ME2 - I found her "edgy" attitude and design rather cringe-y, but she grew on me as I began to really think about her circumstances, how much of her attitude was a front, and how she softened as she found friends, family, and purpose in a universe she once viewed as ruthless, uncaring, and cruel.
I'm thinking Vega gets too much hate too (he's the best "starting human" in my opinion), and Zaeed found time to enjoy himself and I love the community's treatment of him as someone who is always "the only survivor" of even mundane experiences.
Anyway, which Mass Effect Humans deserve more love? Who can claim to be as interesting as your alien pals? Let me know; I'm curious to know if opinions have changed over the last decade.
... Since I could only put 7 options up, looks like VEGA is sitting this one out.
I screwed up the poll and would've swapped him in for Jacob, because I actually really like Vega.
But as I reflect, I think most of them get a bad rap. While initially they are "boring" by comparison, many of them grow and evolve and change and challenge you and become fascinating characters in their own right - even ones as widely mocked as "nobody's first picks" like Kaiden, Jacob, or Vega. I remember my wife playing and getting to a point in Miranda's story and just sighing. "Dang it, I wanted to hate her SO MUCH... but now I like her. Ugh."
So which human character or characters do you think players should give another look to during an inevitable remaster playthrough?
For me, I think Jack has grown into my favorite human squadmate. I wasn't fond of her in ME2 - I found her "edgy" attitude and design rather cringe-y, but she grew on me as I began to really think about her circumstances, how much of her attitude was a front, and how she softened as she found friends, family, and purpose in a universe she once viewed as ruthless, uncaring, and cruel.
I'm thinking Vega gets too much hate too (he's the best "starting human" in my opinion), and Zaeed found time to enjoy himself and I love the community's treatment of him as someone who is always "the only survivor" of even mundane experiences.
Anyway, which Mass Effect Humans deserve more love? Who can claim to be as interesting as your alien pals? Let me know; I'm curious to know if opinions have changed over the last decade.
... Since I could only put 7 options up, looks like VEGA is sitting this one out.
I screwed up the poll and would've swapped him in for Jacob, because I actually really like Vega.
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