Mass Effect: Books, Gender, Emotions

I’m not gonna write a review for Mass Effect 3. I don’t think I need to. If you care about it in any way, you probably heard all you needed to hear if not already played it yourself. And if not, what will it matter anyway? I do, however, wish to impart some thoughts upon it and the Mass Effect universe in general. So today I will stress three points: The Books, Shepard’s Gender and Why it Matters, and How This Game Triggered Some Serious Emotions. The last part contains what are probably heavy spoilers for the third game and at least minor ones for the second so you can skip it if you don’t want that segment ruined. I am talking about after the second Priority: Citadel.

The Mass Effect Books.

  • There are currently three Mass Effect books (The fourth has been pulled for serious inconsistencies): Revelation, Ascension and Retribution. It’s always a problem when you adopt a property from one medium to another. You rarely get it perfectly right. The books do get the benefit of having one of the writers of the game (not the lead one, though) writing them so that is something. And I listened to them – and read the comics – because the universe was so awesome I didn’t want to miss anything. Same reason why I go for every mission I can find in the game. And I was hoping for some extra info on the universe that maybe explains some things that the games don’t. So here is what I found.
  • First of all, looking back from the end of this universe I have to say that, games aside, the comics were cool and the books were a bit poor on the quality side. While most of the comics fill in a lot of relevant info and are well written (by the lead writer), the books are mostly an aside and of poorer quality (written by the second writer). It goes something like this:
  • Evolution (Comic) – The story of the Illusive Man and how and why he became what he is. Highly recommended.
  • Revelation (Book) – Anderson’s first encounter with Saren, introduction of Kahlee Sanders and how the whole Reapers thing started. Worth it for the background of the story.
  • Incursion (Comic) – Some Aria and Collectors set up. Short, nice but not a must have.
  • Redemption (Comic) – Liara and the Shadow Broker and how Cerberus got Shepard. Worth it if you’re interested in Liara’s story.
  • Ascension (Book) – Grissom Academy and the Ascension Program, Paul Grayson and Cerberus. Some set up for the third game but not at all necessary.
  • Retribution (Book) – The Illusive Man’s studies into Reaper tech. Kai Leng introduced. Explains why Anderson is back on Earth. Some set up for the third game but not really required.
  • Inquisition (Comic) – Explains Bailey as head of C-Sec. Short and interesting and a bit foreshadowing, I think.
  • Deception (Book) – Pulled from publication because of the new writer’s (William Dietz of Halo Fame) serious flaws in understanding the universe.
  • Conviction (Comic) – Some background on James and how he got there. Not really necessary because he explains it if you talk to him. But it’s short.
  • Invasion (Comic) – Explains why Omega is not a destination in the third game and why Aria is on the Citadel. She explains it too but this goes into much details. Not really necessary but cool.
  • So, overall, some of these are really worth checking out if you have some unanswered questions about the universe and some are just cool. The books… well, I just wish they were written better.

Jordan Shepard is my character’s name since day one. I think Jordan is a name that really works for a heroine because it works really well but it’s also a powerful name, the name of a woman who will not be taken lightly, for granted or to be set aside. For me, the only person who can save a galaxy is Jordan Shepard. And, thinking more broadly, I really think the hero of this story should be a woman and even though I know they won’t, I really hope they’ll cast a woman as Shepard in the movie. Why should it be a woman? Mainly, because a man would be so cliche. A man is the default choice. You wouldn’t look twice if a man ran headfirst into an alien strike force, risking life and limb. But you can’t really take your eye off the screen when a woman tells the heads of the most ruthless and relentless race in the galaxy to sit down and shut up or when she runs back through falling debris to pick up her best shooter and get him out of the firing line. And besides some moments in the game just look more flowing with a woman doing things in a womanly – but not girly – way then if a man did it. There is one particular moment that seems selfish if a man does it and completely selfless if a woman does it. And, I think mostly, it tugs at something inside you when a woman is the best the Human Alliance can offer and the most obvious choice to unite the galaxy.

[SPOILER WARNING!] That Was Really Sad when Thane died and there is no way to prevent it. Because he’s dying of an incurable disease. Thane was my choice for the romance option in the second game. It just seemed the right thing at the time. It was a bit of a tragic story because she knew he was dying from the outset. And it didn’t change a thing. Nor the fact that he was from a weird reptilian race. Because love transcends all boundaries. So it was really sad when he died. That scene was just beautiful too. And it was just a point of character investment. I didn’t love him, Jordan did. I was invested in their characters. Still, it was sad. Because Thane was awesome as a character. It was like watching an old friend leave.


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