Mass Effect was Call of Cthulhu with lasers.

[Laserface Jones]

Loving this game made me realize a couple things.

Sovereign, a member of an "ancient, unknowable" alien race of space squids, is the vanguard of the return of the Reapers, who live in dark space, where they can't be found by normal living creatures.

Cthulhu, a member of an "ancient, unknowable" alien race of squid giants, is the prophet of the return of the Old Gods, who live on the bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean, where he can't be found by normal living creatures.

Both have motivation to end mankind/organic life for no comprehensible reason to us.

I mean, not the first person to realize it most likely, but a quick search here didn't show anyone else talking about it.

 

[Danny Ocean]

So what's the problem?

 

[Laserface Jones]

Not so much a problem as a realization. As much as I'd like to see more done with Lovecraft's stuff, a sci-fi retelling will do.

It was just the realization of why I liked the game being this that made me feel like saying something. I mean, the gameplay isn't the most intensely enjoyable, but I forgave it because of the story, and the fact that it's so close to my favorite author's work is probably the reason I was so quick to do so.

 

[open trap]

speeking of cthulhu listen to call of cthulhu by metallica during the evening/night just staring of into the distance and you will hear the call. i did and i was compelled to walk and just keep walking. i didnt know where but i knew i had to

 

[MiracleOfSound]

speeking of cthulhu listen to call of cthulhu by metallica during the evening/night just staring of into the distance and you will hear the call. i did and i was compelled to walk and just keep walking. i didnt know where but i knew i had to

Original version or S&M version?

One of the few songs I felt really worked with the orchestra.

 

[open trap]

speeking of cthulhu listen to call of cthulhu by metallica during the evening/night just staring of into the distance and you will hear the call. i did and i was compelled to walk and just keep walking. i didnt know where but i knew i had to

Original version or S&M version?

One of the few songs I felt really worked with the orchestra.

Original from lightning

 

[Laserface Jones]

The Thing That Should Not Be is better, I'd say. I hadn't even been really introduced to Lovecraft, but I remembered a passing description of Cthulhu before I heard the song, and listening to it, I knew it was about it without really knowing.

also Call of Ktulu from Ride the Lightning drags on a bit much for as simple an instrumental as it is.

 

[Knight Templar]

One is a robot space ship, the other is a god-squid. Yes you can make links bewteen the two, but I could do the same between Gears of War 2 and pinocho.

 

[Laserface Jones]

Wait what did you not read my post?

Everything about them, down to the phrases used to describe the two, share similarities. The main difference is one's a giant robot and the other's a pseudo-god. Tech v. magic, sci-fi v. fantasy. They're the same idea in different settings.

 

[Apothecary Zaius]

Especially given that Cthulhu (and the Old Ones, Other Gods and Elder Gods) were much more 'sufficiently advanced aliens' than gods, and the similarities are even clearer.

 

[The Madman]

Ahem... *adjusts wizard hat* Cthulhu is the only Great Old One residing on Earth, the other Old Ones are as far as any human mind can tell distant beings in far off planes that care absolutely nothing for Earth nor humanity in the least and who's only contact with humanity has been the equivalent of swatting an annoying fly that just flew in unannounced through the window. Indeed why Cthulhu is even here is a mystery in itself as there's no indication whatsoever it gives a damn about humanity.

But yes, the entire 'Massive incomprehensibly powerful beings from afar who's purpose is unknowable to human minds' concept is indeed torn straight from the pages of H.P.Lovecraft. Difference is that in Lovecraft there's shit all humanity can do about it and if Cthulhu ever awakens his mere presence will be enough to destroy the world as we know it, whereas in Mass Effect the Reapers have to have a clear purpose and weakness exposed at some point for the sake of narrative and, ya know, fun! It's a game after all. Would kinda suck if the ending was: Oh look, there's the Reapers. Game Over!

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

Thats interesting, and a good spot.

 

[Apothecary Zaius]

well, it did take the entire citadel fleet to kill one reaver...

And one additional point, Cthulhu did wake up, but got a boat to the face and went back to sleep, so... hmmm

 

[Flos]

Yeah. Pretty much ever sci fi somethingrather can be seen as having been influenced by Lovecraft's works.

The difference being Mass Effect would probably be the greatest game ever if it was actually part of the Cthulhu mythos.

 

[Kelethor]

I....I think my brain just snapped over this...wow...I...Im gonna kill Space C'thulu in Mass effect 2....AWESOME!!!

 

[thiosk]

I think mass effect would have been more fun if the reapers were actually cthulhi (cthulhus? cthulhues?)

I felt the giant talking spaceship bit was somewhat silly.

 

[geldonyetich]

You've a pretty limited view of fiction if you associate any "slumbering ancient evil" as being Cthulu and nothing else.

Granted, the Soverign could be considered somewhat squid-like. Perhaps that's a "nod."

Also Massive Spoilers tag required. No, you cannot simply assume most people have played the game already.

 

[RanD00M]

Whoa.Taking in Mass Effects heavy story was enough.Now you lay this pile of paperwork on my desk?You sir have to much free time.

 

[Hiphophippo]

I don't know. Bit of a stretch.

 

[FalloutJack]

Loving this game made me realize a couple things.

Sovereign, a member of an "ancient, unknowable" alien race of space squids, is the vanguard of the return of the Reapers, who live in dark space, where they can't be found by normal living creatures.

Cthulhu, a member of an "ancient, unknowable" alien race of squid giants, is the prophet of the return of the Old Gods, who live on the bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean, where he can't be found by normal living creatures.

Both have motivation to end mankind/organic life for no comprehensible reason to us.

I mean, not the first person to realize it most likely, but a quick search here didn't show anyone else talking about it.

Mhmm, problem.

Okay, I admit that it's a very neat notion and that there may have, in fact, been some Lovecraftian influence in our giant squid-ship, but I find there is one flaw in the idea.

Sovereign speaks.

He speaks such great english that he belongs in the Unicron Hall of Fame for sounding wicked as hell, and that's actually the problem. It works for the game to have the ship holy-shit the main character like that, but you see...that much isn't Lovecraftian. The Old Ones... They don't like the english language, or ANY human languge. It's the chittering of stupid insects to them and they'd rather miss Winter Solstice than use vowels. The only Mythos creature I can think of who speaks english normally is Nyarlathotep.

Now, I'm not ragging on Sovereign. Sovereign is great, and the fact that he's one of maybe a million ancient super-powerful war machines is awesome. But a REAL Cthulhu-Mech would've mindfucked the main character into perpetual nightmare as soon as he opened communication.