Episode 545: Mass Effect
Added 2023-07-03 11:00:00 +0000 UTCJeremy: I had hoped to have this episode together and published in time for the 15th anniversary of the game under discussion this week: Mass Effect. That clearly didn't happen, the 15th anniversary being last autumn and all. But hey, that's what happens when you start dealing with the relativistic speeds and time dilation of space travel! For all you know, we recorded this like three years ago and it's only just now reaching Earth due to Einsteinian chicanery. Alternately, it's possible that we simply didn't have the chance to pull all of this together until more recently. Or maybe both explanations are wholly valid until you—yes, you!—codify the answer by making a selection on your dialogue wheel. Player agency: That's the Mass Effect way, baby. That, and smoochin' aliens.
In any case, Diamond Feit and Wesley Fenlon join me this week in order to discuss romance options, lunar hot rods, and chthonic horrors from beyond the galactic rim. For that, you see, is also the Mass Effect way. The game truly contains multitudes.
Art by John Pading and edits by Greg Leahy.
- 10:52 - Mass Effect Theme
- 21:26 - Mass Effect Theme (continued)
- 32:32 - The Citadel
- 40:18 - Spectre Induction
- 47:32 - Love Theme
- 58:20 - The Normandy
- 1:08:47 - Uncharted Worlds
- 1:17:30 - Flux Club Music | The Presidium
- 1:26:55 - Battling Saren
- 1:35:37 - Vigil
- 1:43:24 - Final Assault
- 1:51:58 - Tangerine Dream: "Love on a Real Train"
- Closing - M4, Pt. II
Comments
Great episode, I love the trilogy but Mass Effect 1 is the only one I played twice, once on my friend’s Xbox as male Shepherd, then my FemShep playthrough on PS3. I also really missed the Mako in the sequels! I thought it gave a heightened feeling of exploration in that first game and it weirdly made the Galaxy in the sequels feel smaller in a way? Also, Jeremy mentioned how you can get Saren to off himself if you make the right decisions and let me tell you, that moment still blows my mind even now. 2007 was indeed a great year for games too, although at the time Super Mario Galaxy had won me back…space was a theme! Anyway, great episode, please do the sequels if you can find the time!
James Krusling
2023-07-11 21:38:30 +0000 UTCMass Effect is my favorite game of the trilogy. There’s more customization, more RPG gameplay overall, and the story is top notch. I came to the game late and had much of the story spoiled before I ever started. This turned out to be a good thing—knowing the ending of Mass Effect 3 before ever starting the trilogy, I could not only temper my expectations, but also have Shepard make choices that might feel like they led more logically to the (admittedly limited) final choice in the third game. Great episode, everyone!
Shel Freezes Over
2023-07-09 13:45:12 +0000 UTC
