Your favorite Mass Effect moments *massive spoilers*

[SNCommand]

The part where Joker frees EDI from her AI shackles. So many quotable moments from that.


"I enjoy the sight of humans on their knees.... That was a joke."

Loved her in Mass Effect 3 when she talked with Legion,

EDI: "The humans do not perceive my form as a threat, and they will not do so until the day of my reckoning"

Shepard: "EDI"

EDI: "Oh... did I vocalize that on the bridge?"

Legion: "You did, you have acquired the organic habit to ask questions for answers you already know."

EDI: "I see you humor heuristics still lack an expert system"

 

[hermes]

- The Sovereign reveal. I loved the dimension of the main enemy of the series... quite eldritchian.

- All the conversations in ME2 that went sideways: "Reach and flexibility" and "Scientist Salarian" being only two examples. I know the tone was much grimmer in 3, but I missed that there were very few of those moments (drunk Tali being an exception).

- The final mission in 3... All of it. Not only the (controversial) end sequence, but all the London stage. Having a chance to say goodbye to all the characters was very heartwarming...

 

[Asita]

ME2's Suicide Mission. It's just so cathartic if you can make it out with everyone still alive.

I'm also quite fond of Tali's loyalty mission. Part of that stems from being able to floor the admirals with the fact that this human captain can beat them at their own game, but more than that, I like the scene where you find Tali's father.


Thank you paragon interrupt, you read my mind.

 

[Carlos Storm]

When Mordin went up the elevator and cured the Genophage, him singing "Scientist Salarian" as he's making his way to the platform and waiting for it to blow, legit teared up

Edit: Oh god, and how could I forget "I'm Garrus Vakarian and this is my favourite spot on the citidel"

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Some of my favorites.

- When Jack and my femshep met again in ME3. "Oh look, it's the queen of the girl scouts."
I took it as some kind of slang for lesbian at first and I had tried a lot of things to seduce her in ME2, before I realized it wasn't possible.

- Mordin sacrificing himself.

- When I had a whole squad of krogans die, because I wanted to help the rachni again. I honestly thought Grunt would die with them, since he fell down a cliff. He comes out later, covered in blood, like the fucking badass he is.

- Liara in the shadow broker, since she was the one I romanced in the first game.

- The last battle on earth, not counting the ending or when you enter the citadel. It really had a strong feeling of "this is it".

- Scenes with the crew and squad that I've probably forgotten.

 

[Ascarus]

Mordin: I MADE A MISTAKE!

followed by ..

Mordin: Someone might have gotten it wrong.

Kolyat (summed up): That prayer was for you Commander.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Trying to pick only the things everyone else hasn't already picked up on. Honestly, I loved so many things.

Finally meeting the Shadow Broker.

At first I was disappointed that, after all the buildup, he was just another alien but his voice, manner and backstory were spot on. Seeing this big, ugly monster sitting at a desk and patiently sizing up your party was priceless.

Mordin's whole plot arc

Seriously, I know his death is the best bit, but the whole thing is gold. The idea of this guy who starts out viewing the world entirely through dispassionate cause/effect logic learning to act for a better future without knowing all the variables seemed very real to me.

Legion's "direct personality dissemination"

Yeah, it was kind of cheap in that it never really explained why he had to do it, but I found that whole sequence was incredibly moving. It probably didn't hurt that Shepard's paragon speech to the Quarian fleet telling them to stand down was exactly what I'd wanted to say to them ever since Mass Effect 2.

The build-up sequence after Shepard gets shot by Harbinger

You know, that long thing where you drag yourself painfully to the conduit, then through the corpse-strewn halls of the citadel and through those weird cathedral-like rooms with the choral hum in the background and finally looking out over the ruined earth from space. I think it's probably the most atmospheric sequence in any of the three games, all told.

Mass Effect 3 did a great job of finally making Shepard feel like a character in his or her own right, and watching him/her drag themselves painfully around in the charred and bloody remains of their armour made me feel more invested in that character's fate than I ever had when I was commando rolling around setting people on fire.

The extended cut

I realize this will be controversial. But fuck it, it's my opinion.

I've only played one game since the Extended Cut came out, and got the most positive synthesis ending and it was exactly what I hoped it would be. From hearing other people talk about the different endings, I like how even at their most positive they are still kind of bittersweet. I think it has more meaning than just defaulting to the mega-happy ending.

So sure, I gave up my chance for little blue children, but in return the rules of life are fundamentally rewritten so that everyone else can live happily. I'm okay with that.

EDIT: Also, before I forget:

The Music

Seriously, the use of music in all three games is brilliant. ME1 often gets the most praise here I think because its music is so different, but every game uses its music brilliantly. I can't hear the suicide mission theme from ME2 without getting a little adrenaline rush, and the use of repeating themes for characters and story themes turned it into a neat little storytelling tool in its own right.

 

[Rock-nerd]

As someone who has yet to beat ME3 and haven't played the first, i'd say Tuchanka genophage mission was the most emotional, epic, and just utterly mindblowing of the whole series.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

Mordin: I MADE A MISTAKE!

followed by ..

Mordin: Someone might have gotten it wrong.

I found the last words I usually get more touching. This only happens if you talk to him on the Normandy, and he mentions that he'd like to retire, going to a beach somewhere. When you say he'd go crazy for boredom, he just smiles and says "Could run tests on seashells". If you do that, and use the Renegade option when bidding farewell (to avoid the "Someone else would have gotten it wrong" response, these are his final words.

Mordin: Would have enjoyed running tests on seashells.

I have no shame, as a man, saying I teared up at that.

 

[Reaper195]

Grunt's mass effet 3 scene if you choose to save the rachni queen is my top moment of the series and maybe of my time playing video games. When he was killing all of the ravagers i was yelling at the screen and in tears when he fell off of the cliff

The suicide mission of course.

Ninja'd. I loved that scene so goddamn hard, nothing will ever be able to beat it. Every single game needs to be this. In fact, there should be a Mass Effect game where it's just Grunt raging at Rachni, with depressing piano in the background.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

The entire trilogy has been great to me, picking a moment from each is hard enough, but here goes.

Mass Effect 1: When talking to Wrex, the stories he tells you, about his father and about his fight with a certain mercenary on a station that was blowing up.

Mass Effect 2: This is harder, but I would have to go for the recruiting "Archangel" mission, the way I just lit up when my suspicions were confirmed.

The suicide mission was so well done, that it gets an honorable mention.

Mass Effect 3: Mordins last scenes, what can I say that hasn't been said already.

 

[RubyT]

First time around the Citadel.

The first mission in ME is incredibly boring and I actually stopped playing right there and left the game to my room mate. After he promised me it was a good game, I played through this first mission.

Coming onto the Citadel, I realized that ME was actually an RPG. And the Citadel is just breathtaking. And then you see the map of the Galaxy and all the places you can go. I felt like being in Nerdvana.

Well, you eventually find out that the vast majority of those worlds you visit is random garbage with variations of 3 dungeons. And if you happen to play the main quest missions/planets in the right order, which I did, ME slowly goes from awesome lively worlds with lots of NPCs and quest galore to dead place with no quests and NPCs that are there but have no individual dialog options.

So there were a couple of hours where I had a serious crush on ME and thought I would for sure become my most favourite game ever. In the end, it was a little disappointing, though still a good game (and superior to its sequels).
And those hours of extasy are something very few games have ever given me.

 

[In Search of Username]

"What's this crap?" - in response to Ashley reciting poetry to me, and then "He's not a... zombie, is he?" when she tells me she thinks her father is still watching. Also, BIG STUPID JELLYFISH. And "I've had enough of your disingenuous assertions".

Renegade answers are fun. Good night, Manuel...

As for really emotional moments, the conversations with Mordin during his loyalty mission in 2 stand out to me. It's moving watching him gradually realise what he's done to the krogan, and then it all pays off in the next game when he cures the genophage. :')

And just talking to Kaidan on the ship in the first game. I really enjoyed the conversations with him, wish there had been more. I realise I'm in a minority here, but I really love Kaidan.

Thane's death. Why, Bioware, why? </3

Oh, and the credits sequences from the first and third games. Fucking FAUNTS.

 

[Fidelias]

So many moments, there's really no way to determine the best one.

ME 1: Virmire, and having to choose between sacrificing Kaidan or Ashley. I know most ME fans think Kaiden is boring, but I thought he was cool, especially if you find out his whole story in ME 1. It gives a lot of context on his rigid demeanor.

Defying the Council and stealing the Normandy back to chase down Saren on Ilos

The ending. Yes, it was your standard action-movie ending, but it was a GREAT standard action-movie ending.

ME 2: Pretty much any moments with Jack where she actually opens up about herself.

Helping Liara take down the Shadowbroker, especially the talk you have with her afterwards. This was the first time (besides the moments with Garrus) where it felt like Shepard actually had a true friend, not just a comrade in arms. Someone Shepard would stay in touch with on a regular basis even after the end.

The Suicide mission. The entire ending gave the feeling of "Shit just got real". The action, the Aesthetics, the MUSIC, it all gave an epic feel to an otherwise cliched ending.

ME 3: Every moment where you talk with your squad-members. This game really built on your relationships with your crew, and gave you more of those "true-friendship" moments.

Thane sacrificing himself. Especially when you pray with him on his death-bed. I especially loved the dialogue where Fem-shep catches that he said "she" instead of "he", and Thane's son explains that Thane was praying for Shepard. I am not embarrased to say that this brought a tear to my eye.

Mordin sacrificing himself. Another teary-eyed moment. Mordin humming "I'm a scientist Salarian" while giving his life to a cause he never would have dreamed of a few years ago...

Bringing peace to the Geth AND Quarians.

And probably many more.

I love this series.

 

[Shadows Risen]

So many moments...

ME 1:

Becoming a Spectre
Benezia's death with Liara in the party, so sad.
THAT conversation on Virmire with Sovereign. Made the Reapers seem unstoppable, like a force of nature. "You exist because we allow it, and you will end because we demand it". Awesome.
Vigil on Ilos. Talking to a Prothean VI, I was awestruck initially.
Normandy's final run on Sovereign
Talking Saren into fighting back.

ME 2:

Shepard's death at the start, risking everything to save Joker.
Joker and the SR-2 showing up, still get tingles when I watch that scene. I was so happy to get the ship back.
Meeting Archangel and realising who it was. Then just being like "Right, all these mercs are so dying now".
Mordin. Need I say anymore?
Samara's backstory.
Shouting at the Admirals in the middle of the Migrant Fleet.
When you're on the collector ship mid-way through the game, and EDI tells you The Illusive Man knew the signal was fake and sent you anyway. I was pissed off then.
Saving all your crewmates on the collector base.
Flipping the TIM off and blowing the base to hell and gone.

ME 3:

Leaving Anderson on Earth. I really wanted him to jump onto the Normandy. Leaving him with the Reapers felt bad.
All interactions with Garrus, 'specially the shooting bottles and the bar talk back on earth
The mother of all thresher maws.
Mordin's sacrifice and saving the krogan.
Shouting at the quarians (again)
Legion's sacrifice.
Facing down a reaper.
Shooting Udina.. god that felt good
That whole last mission from attacking Cerberus, brutally killing Kai Leng, watching EVERY SINGLE FLEET pour through the relay into Sol, and right up until you get into the beam.

and more..

Awesome series.

 

[Luca72]

ME1

The whole science labs section on Noveria (?), where you eventually fight Beneziah. I didn't care much about Benezia, but as soon as that Rachni queen started talking shit got viscerally real. I loved that turnaround - the Rachni talking about the "needlemen" and how her hive-mind race communicates through song. I had to let her go.

ME2

The suicide mission was great, of course. I played ME2 late, so I knew it was possible to have characters die. I got everyones loyalty as high as I could, and tried my hardest to keep everyone alive. Every choice and cutscene had me on the edge of my seat because I thought I might lose someone. I managed to keep everyone alive except Jack (who apparently is cool when you get to know her - Jesus did I try, but I just couldn't stand that character. Still sad to see her go though).

The Archangel quest rocked. Pretending your a merc scrub, getting told off by all the gangsters you run into while you secretly sabotage their plans. Then you get to the top of the stairs and find out its' Garrus!

I also liked a lot of minor details, especially in the second game - Garrus suggesting we can curb this whole "adolescence" problem by getting the kid a lapdance, that Salarian bachelor party, Tali and Grunts' loyalty missions. Samaras' mission was particularly epic. I started to really hate Morinth when I talked to the victims' mom, and when she and Samara had their showdown it was amazing.

But my favorite part in ME2? When I talked to Mordin so many times that he thought I was hitting on him. "Thanks for letting me down easy"

Edit: Forgot one - meeting Legion in ME2. A battle-scarred Geth refers to you by name and then walks off. Holy... It probably says something bad about me that one of the characters I relate most to in this game was a damn robot, but I loved every line of dialogue Legion had. Too bad you meet him so late in the game.

 

[AbstractStream]

No! There are just too many awesome moments. Too many!

ME1:
Talking with Sovereign on Virmire.
Anderson punching Udina and Shep stealing the Normandy.
The ending battle and the credits once you emerge victorious. That was fantastic.

ME2:
Suicide mission.
Shepard's death.
Lair of the Shadow Broker.
Samara's loyalty mission.
Mordin singing.

ME3:
Mordin singing...D:
Genophage cure.
Legion asking Tali "does this unit have a soul."
Killing lieutenant bastard Kai Leng.
Squad goodbyes.
KALROS!!
Leaving Earth. That damn song, geez. Makes me choke everytime.
The galaxy's fleet coming to your aid for the final push.

And sooo many more for each game.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

I could point to many that people have already said...

Exploring the Citadel for the first time, becoming a Spectre, Faunts playing over the credits, Garrus unmasking in ME2, the moral choice in Legion's loyalty mission, Tali's mission, the entire Suicide Mission, giving the Illusive Man the big "Fuck You", the entire Shadow Broker mission the kid dying at the beginning of ME3, Thane's death, Legion's "death", the entire finale of ME3 and many, many others.

Instead, I'm going to pick a moment in ME3 that caught me totally off guard.

I had just gotten to the Citadel and while exploring, I came across Kelly Chambers. I had liked her in 2 and was rather pleased. When talking to her, I found she was a bit unstable, but still likeable. I got through the conversation and was presented with a simple choice: Keep her current identity (The Paragon choice) or get a new identity (The Renegade choice). Being a generally good guy, I chose the first without much though. It couldn't possibly matter. I left and all was good.

Fast forward to after the Cerberus attack on the Citadel.

I was just walking around again, seeing all the new dialog when I passed two people chatting about the attack. To paraphrase, "Did you hear about that girl Kelly Chambers?" said the first. "Yeah, a Cerberus soldier walked up to her and asked if that was her name. When he said yes, he just shot her right there. Damn shame." the second replied.

I just stopped and sat there.

It wasn't until that moment that I realized how much I liked and cared about her. Not only that, but that seemingly meaningless choice I made was the difference between life and death for her. And I chose wrong. Furthermore, she had no epic scene. No sacrifice for the greater good. No hero moment. She was simply killed like so many others.
I literally stopped playing at that moment and sat there staring at the screen and thinking about it.

Thane's death was sad, but it was prepared. He was a bad ass until the end. We all knew he was going to die. He died with a big scene saving someone.

Not so with Kelly.

I was truly shocked how much it got to me, but it made me realize what a truly excellent character she was. Not to imply he's a bad character in any way, but Thane's whole death scene would be sad to someone regardless of whether they even knew who he was. Kelly's was mentioned in passing by a total non-character and it STILL had a huge effect.

Bravo, Bioware. Bravo.

Thane's death was sad, but

 

[The Code]

Not a spoiler, but still an awesome moment:

Using the Nuke Launcher heavy weapon on an YMIR heavy mech at near point blank range The bot's self-destruct went off at the same time as the mushroom cloud from the weapon. The screen glowed a bright shade of red and shook like crazy since the explosions compounded one another. It was so awesome, my friend and I were struck speechless by it. That was a really good day.

 

[mirage202]

The very end of ME1, being given just enough time to believe Shepard was dead and buried beneath the rubble of the council chamber.

Like others, many great moments, but that by far is my personal favourite.