MASS EFFECT TWO: GIVE GARRUS A HUG

[Azisien]

I like how Harbinger is basically having a conservation with himself...herself...itself.


I do agree with Mirai, it sucks that they didn't give a spectrum of Paragon/Renegade options based on different scores. The "half-half" Shepard kind of gets screwed.

Also see where you're coming from, Snake, but on the other hand, I think maybe Shepard was allowed to be more true good/evil in ME2 because you're not a Council police officer anymore. Hell, your new "boss" doesn't really care how you approach situations.

Agree on the xenophobia/xenophilia thing, though.

[Solid Snake]

Originally Posted by Azisien

Also see where you're coming from, Snake, but on the other hand, I think maybe Shepard was allowed to be more true good/evil in ME2 because you're not a Council police officer anymore. Hell, your new "boss" doesn't really care how you approach situations.

I consider it more or less against Shepard's established ME1 character development to even consider the possibility of becoming evil. I'll concede that the new impression he's gotten from Cerberus (via Miranda, Jacob, Kelly, and even the at-times charming Illusive Man) provides justification for a xenophobic Shepard to consider the organization a likable ally. Even then, though, I'll reiterate that it's disappointing that merely being xenophobic or 'pro-human' in a playthrough apparently leads Shepard to make ruthless tactical decisions in combat and leads him to become a scarred aggressive war-hungry borderline-evil dude. Even Ashley Williams in ME1 was complex enough to convey that not every xenophobe was inherently sinister about it.

EDIT: Hell, now that I think about it, even The Illusive Man, shady agenda and all, is presented in such a way that his pro-human agenda doesn't carry with it any necessary insinuations of aggressive hostility. Sure, he could be a nefarious man with sinister intentions of killing lots of aliens to save just one human life. Or he could simply be looking out for the best interests of his species in a galaxy that seems complacent and uncaring in the wake of a threat to humans, he could bare no specific ill will towards aliens but merely feel justifiably paranoid or cynical enough to suspect humanity has to look out for itself, and he could have been telling the truth regarding him being completely unaware as to splinter cells of Cerberus engaging in unethical experiments in ME1. The latter explanation may be unlikely, but its mere possibility adds depth. By contrast, the game seems to actively discourage you from developing a 'paragon xenophobe' interpretation of Shepard that fits Ashley and (possibly even) the Illusive Man's examples.

Some of the new Renegade interrupts were downright malicious in ways ME1 never dared approach. It made for some very clever cutscenes, but I think it's an example of trying to make the game more visceral and exciting at the expense of an established characterization. Even my most Renegade Shepard playthrough in ME1 just isn't the kind of guy who's going to electrify a helpless mechanic to death (one who presumes you're an ally and speaks on friendly terms with you, no less) or throw a helpless mercenary who's clearly surrendered to his doom. The extent of renegade Shepard's badass moves in ME1 generally involved punching people. The deaths of civilians were only justified by abhorrent situations that threatened the outcome of the mission (possession by the Thorian.) Shepard in ME2 is more like "if you even present an incredibly minor nuisance I will kill you in cold blood and with no provocation", which is just silly.

Really the bad side effect of Renegade Shepard in ME2 is that renegade playthroughs are much less appealing to me from a grander storytelling perspective than they appeared in ME1. In ME1 renegade seemed an equally viable option as paragon. In ME2, renegade makes for some amazing cutscenes and as an independent experience it's fantastic, but as the middle chapter of a long and rich story set in the Mass Effect universe there's simply no massive incentive to be renegade. After all, as a renegade you'd have to be an asshole to your squadmates, kill characters in cold blood who could actually leave you e-mails / sidequests / support in ME3, and antagonize every faction that could possibly support you against the Reapers. Insofar as being a renegade in ME1 didn't require you to burn so many bridges, a renegade playthrough was tenable. In ME2, by contrast, you're left with the distinct impression that playing as a renegade will leave you in a complete strategic disadvantage in ME3, not to mention a much less colorful playthrough without as rich a cast of characters.

I guess to summarize: ME2 leaves you the impression that the paragon playthrough is the real bona fide ME experience and the renegade playthrough is more a dark fantasy that couldn't dare be canon, which is very different than ME1, where the renegade playthrough felt like a realistic approach. As such, I think it's increasingly likely that I'll take only one pure-evil badass renegade playthrough into ME3 (just to experience what it's like,) whereas all my other playthroughs will be variations of paragons (with only different genders, specializations, and love interests to differentiate them.)