Poll: Favourite Mass Effect Squad

[Ghengis John]

In ME2, during the suicide mission, the only character who I felt really bad about dying was Tali and Mordin. I couldn't have cared less about anyone else.

Not even Garrus? You are the odd man out, my friend. I hope you realize this. My vote goes to mass effect 2. Sorry amigo but I delight in a rich variety and most of the squadmates were just as fleshed out, if not better than those in ME1 thanks to the inclusion of their own, personal loyalty missions. We learned more about Mordin or Legion going on their crusades than we ever did from 3-4 conversations with Kaiden. And seeing personal reactions like those from Miranda, Kasumi or Jack on their missions made it that much easier to like them. There's an old writer's adage "Show, don't tell" as a matter of fact that I felt was well employed in Mass effect two as well. Instead of hearing about the krogan situation, or life on tuchanka, we saw them. Instead of hearing about life on the flotilla, we saw it. And that not only gave us a more concrete image, but it left a longer lasting impression as well.

Sure there's something to be said for letting each person use their own imagination, and there was plenty of verbal storytelling in ME2 to enjoy, but for the most part the characters in ME2 seemed to let us in more and felt more personal. As a reflection I suppose of winning their personal loyalty. And the squad conflicts were a nice touch as well. In ME1 when Kaiden or Ashley dies the other is upset and even goes so far as to act as thought they had become friends. Basically, after the citadel they never interact anymore though and each squad mate seems to exist in a vacuum. The fact that the squad interacted with each other in these altercations in ME2 let us know they don't exist independently of one another. Though you are entitled to your opinions, and everyone has their own personal preferences I think that's why the poll is looking the way it is atm.

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

I had Grunt and Jack in ME2. <3 I love that squad

 

[pixiejedi]

ME2 for sure. Still love Tali and Garrus actually got better as far as I am concerned. He got some more Han Solo-like. Mordin was my favorite to go talk to out of everyone in either game. I thought Liara was boring until Shadow Broker and I didn't dig Ashley. I did like Kaiden though. I know I'm weird, I just like the conflict of them wanting each other but because of their work its all wrong.

Legion, Thane and Kasumi were the other good characters in ME2. I hated Jacob, Miranda, Jack and most of all Zaeed. Jacob is probably the least interesting character I've ever seen in a Bioware game.

 

[HHammond]

So, after reading your comments again I went away and thought about this a bit more. Who are my favourite characters? Well, probably Mordin, Tali (in ME2) and Liara (in ME1). So 2/3s of my list are from the second game. They are all my favourite characters for different reasons but Mordin and Tali where the most developed and interesting to me in Mass Effect 2 because they had interesting yet rateable stories and I enjoyed having conversations with them. I also did with a lot of the other characters but not all of them.

But, as a whole group I prefer Mass Effect 1. The only character I may occasionally miss when I'm going round to talk to my crew between missions was Kaidan. In my opinion, he was the only bad character. Ashley, while not particularly likeable, was at least interesting. She had a complicated family history which whilst still being set in a futuristic environment it came down to the most basic yet complicated relationship: family. I wanted to hear what she had to say.

As for Mass Effect 2, whilst it has some fantastic characters, it has some really really dull characters: Samara, Grunt, Jacob (seriously! I HATE JACOB!). These characters just bored me. The first two have backstories which have a lot of potential they where just presented really poorly. I formed no emotional attachment.

Spoiler

And when I had to choose between Samara and Monrinth I couldn't decide because I disliked them both.

Not even Garrus? You are the odd man out, my friend. I hope you realize this.

Well, I was kinda shocked when he died because THE DUDE GOT IMPALED BY A SPIKE I was not particularly bothered. I found his character in ME2 to be a bit clichéd, boring and too dependant on Shepard. Even in ME1 I thought he was the least interesting of the aliens (although he was still cool). In Mass Effect 1 he was a C-Sec officer who was tired of the regulations and wanted to try something new. This had the danger of falling into the realms of generic but it managed to pull itself back by having the undercurrent of rebellion and his relationship with his father. By Mass Effect 2 he's turned into an average (well exceptionally skilled but I'm talking character) mercenary who caused someone to die and now he wants revenge RAH!