The Illusive Man IS...

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

If you read the Mass effect Retribution book, it goes into detail about who he is. Its not a bad book.

 

[Lord Of Cyberia]

Going to get his ass kicked when he inevitably tries to stop Paragon Shepard. With an army of Shepard clones. And it will rock.

Renegade Shepard, however, will just ignore him and wander around the galaxy, kicking everyone's ass after killing all the Reapers.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Nah, way too obvious. It could be that he's under Reaper indoctrination, but not even be aware of it himself. So he's thinking he's doing everything for humanity and whatever, but really he's helping further the Reaper agenda.

Doubtful. If he was working for the reapers in any way, then why did he bring their greatest threat back to life?

Possibly to manipulate said greatest threat into doing the Reaper's bidding.

by killing off their greatest ally? who also then significantly slowed down the reaper advance in Arrival?

I'm guessing that "Arrival" is some DLC that I haven't played. In any case, it's not inconceivable, after all how else would you keep either of them from getting suspicious.

 

[Dorian6]

or he just has ocular implants....

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

In 2011 Martin Sheen was so ashamed of his son, Charlie, that he thought he would go on a mission to redeem the Sheen name. Unfortunately the only way to outbalance Charlie Sheen karmically would be to make mankind the most powerful force in the universe.

Martin Sheen got various cybernetic implants to extend his life and by the time of Mass Effect 2 was closer than ever to making up for his sons behaiviour. Unfortunately Miranda accidently used Charlie Sheen's cryogenically frozen tiger blood to ressurect Shepard and therefore Martin was thwarted by continued ''Winning.''

Only Mass Effect 3 will reveal if Martin will defeat the possessed Shepard, fulfill his destiny and redeem himself and humanity.


...What I was bored. Very very bored.

 

[DaHero]

Nah, way too obvious. It could be that he's under Reaper indoctrination, but not even be aware of it himself. So he's thinking he's doing everything for humanity and whatever, but really he's helping further the Reaper agenda.

Doubtful. If he was working for the reapers in any way, then why did he bring their greatest threat back to life?

So that we can argue about that plot hole come ME3

 

[chach_face]

I find it interesting how you see a character with glowing eyes and immediately jump to the conclusion that he must be a monolithic, mechanical squid, or the last remnant of an alien race. Couldn't he just have cybernetic implants?

I didn't immeaditly jump to the conclusion, and they ain't all big massive squids.
Yes, it's far-fetched, but hmm, interesting

 

[Mrsoupcup]

Read the Mass Effect: Evolution comics.
It's a 4 piece mini-series that explains a lot about the Illusive man.
And it's written by the Lead writer of Mass Effect 2: Mac Walters, so feel free to take it all as in game fact.

Is that Saren he's fighting with?

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Read the Mass Effect: Evolution comics.
It's a 4 piece mini-series that explains a lot about the Illusive man.
And it's written by the Lead writer of Mass Effect 2: Mac Walters, so feel free to take it all as in game fact.

Is that Saren he's fighting with?

Haha, read it yourself.
But I'll be nice, go here for a shortcut -> http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Mass_Effect:_Evolution

 

[octafish]

... neither, he's an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill.

 

[Kopikatsu]

I find it interesting how you see a character with glowing eyes and immediately jump to the conclusion that he must be a monolithic, mechanical squid, or the last remnant of an alien race. Couldn't he just have cybernetic implants?

Probably because it was explained in Mass Effect: Evolution that he was partially indoctrinated.

He almost got huskified. Good for him! I actually thought it was implants before the comic.

 

[Nfritzappa]

He's more or so probably Saren 2.0

 

[Athol]

I figure thier just cybernetic implants to repalace/augment his own eyes (if you look at Renegade Sheps eyes they look very similar)

 

[Loop Stricken]

I doubt it. What we know so far is that the game begins with Shepard on trial for... something. Given his record, it's a safe assumption that he'll screw the rules and make a mockery of the justice system. Then, in the middle of the trial, the reapers come!

Well he did kinda blow up a solar system and killed about half a million Batarians.
That sort of thing, you really should probably apologise in person for. Even if they are just Batarians.

 

[Pearwood]

I like the idea that the Illusive Man is what's left of Sovereign and he's just being incredibly passive aggressive towards both sides. This idea is unlikely to be right but eh I like it, I'll stick with it til they prove me wrong.

 

[Camaranth]

I was actually thinking about this the other day (also replaying ME2 and planning to start a thread about this once I'd figured some more details out funny how that works) and I reckon that Sovereign contacted TIM in some way and the reapers have been influencing him and Cerberus.

Vigil says that once the signal didn't pass through the keepers Sovereign started making out to contacts, manipulating events etc etc which is how he got Saren working for him.

Sovereign itself tells Shepard that the reapers influence development of species along certain pathways so that they will be useful to the reapers.

Now I'm a little confused in terms of continuity and if humans were even involved in the citadel politics when the signal was first blocked or if Sovereign was manipulating things long before Humanity started knocking on the relay doors.

Either way I think TIM is being influence by the reapers I'm just not sure whether he knows it or not.

 

[kuyo]

I doubt it. What we know so far is that the game begins with Shepard on trial for... something. Given his record, it's a safe assumption that he'll screw the rules and make a mockery of the justice system. Then, in the middle of the trial, the reapers come!

Well he did kinda blow up a solar system and killed about half a million Batarians.
That sort of thing, you really should probably apologise in person for. Even if they are just Batarians.

Who cares about Batarians? Certainly not the Terran justice system, or Earth if you prefer. It'd make sense if it was the council bringing this up, and it'd be a wonderful turn from when Saren was pissing all over our first mockery of justice, his trial to which we didn't bring any evidence. Really, Earth shouldn't even have the authority to make Shepard stand trial. That trial should start with Shepard saying: "I'm a Spectre," flipping the bird and leaving.

 

[Xaositect]

Its obvious there is a huge reaper connection, and in the marketing for ME3 already its been made plain that Cerberus are an enemy, possibly working with the reapers.

Whatever reason they come up with, I hope its fresh and new. I hate cerberus and their cliche "megacorp science evil" stupidity that just yeilds no benefits, only moustache twirling evil. I hate the railroading ME2 forced you into with them, and thought it was shoddy writing.

That doesnt mean I can brush it off with a "Saren 2.0" in ME3 though.

Id rather have some of that "hatred" of their writing decisions in ME2 turning out to be them holding the card back for the best in ME3.

 

[OliverTwist72]

I think they just have that effect to make him look cooler. Also, tinfoil hat.

Ever play a "renegade" playthrough? Shephard's eyes start getting all glowy red, he must be a reaper too. I'm assuming the Illusive Man is just like Shepard (well my Shepard anyway), a renegade.


Also, I think Charlie Sheen should be in ME3. The Illusive Boy.