Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, the five hardest choices

Mass Effect

Describing what were the key elements that have made the success of a majestic trilogy like the one we are replaying in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, and that we have reviewed recently, is really very difficult, considering that there are many. Of course, among the most important aspects of BioWare's work is the way in which the characters interact with each other and with the world around them, influencing their events: in Mass Effect making radical decisions in specific parts of the adventure can really change the nature of these interactions.

From this we have selected five of those that we consider most important or "particular" within the saga. Let's see them together. It goes without saying that this is a spoiler-rich piece, so keep that in mind.

Sacrificing Ashley or Kaidan?

One of the most difficult choices of the entire series, also because in fact it is the first of a certain weight that the player is called to take, is the one on planet Virmire, during the Assault mission in the first Mass Effect. Shepard is there with his comrades because a salarian reconnaissance team has reported the presence of a renegade base of operations Saren, who is trying to create a krogan army. The group of allies decides to attack the hideout of the wanted man, but for a series of situations, during the assault the commander of the Normandy is forced to separate from those who until then have been the main members of his team, namely Ashley Williams and Kaidan Alenko.

One, by choice, is sent with the salarian team led by Captain Kirrahe, who at one point gets stuck in an anti-aircraft turret and risks being annihilated; the other, however, later separates from Shepard to place a nuclear bomb near the geothermal core that powers the base, but is soon attacked by the geth. At that point Commander Shepard must choose who to save between Ashley and Kaidan. A complicated choice, not only morally, since it will affect the soul of the surviving character, but also from the point of view of the rest of the narrative and of certain future events.

Samara or Morinth, as asari deserves to live?

Samara is a Justicar, that is an asari who has given up a "normal" life, giving up her material possessions and denying her children and family, to serve an ancient Order that is based on a strict code of honor comparable to that of medieval knights errant or Japanese samurai. For centuries she has been hunting her daughter Morinth, considered "a shame" to her race and a danger to others. In fact, Morinth suffers from a rare genetic dysfunction that particularly affects the nervous system. Those afflicted by it are called Ardat-Yakshi (Demon of the Night Winds), she possesses the ability to dominate the minds of others and because of her condition she kills anyone who has sexual relations with her.

During the mating, in fact, the nervous system of these asari takes over completely over that of the partner, causing a cerebral hemorrhage that almost always leads to death. After each intercourse, due to certain peculiarities of her species, the Ardat-Yakshi also becomes more intelligent, more powerful and more lethal. In the Samara Loyalty Mission (Mass Effect 2), which will lead to the physical confrontation between mother and daughter, Shepard must intervene to break the balance that has arisen between the two contenders and put an end to the confrontation. But who to choose between the rigid executioner Samara and the sensual serial killer Morinth?

Rescue the Normandy staff or prepare the team

Commander Shepard's goal of locating the Collector's homeworld groped to put an end to their attacks on human colonies is materialized in the long finale of Mass Effect 2, punctuated among other things by a series of choices to be made with the utmost attention. Before being able to cross the Omega 4 Relay and attack the enemy, the Normandy suffers the boarding of a fleet of Collectors. Some crew members die in the clash, while the bulk of the crew is kidnapped and taken away. The player is therefore faced with a difficult choice in view of what is called the Suicide Mission, unless he has already had the opportunity to upgrade the ship and the group of allies that accompanies Shepard.

Can launch into 'pursuit of enemies to free the hostages immediately, however, risking to see some of the main members of the team die, or wait, think first to improve their equipment, even if this will lead to certain death almost all the staff members of the Normandy. Even after having penetrated into the Collectors base for the final battle, the situation changes little, since the survival of all or part of the elements of the party depends on a series of factors such as the decisions taken during the adventure, the loyalty acquired. , the choices made in ship upgrades and the assignment of individual tasks in those final moments.

Cure the Genophage or stop Mordin?

Mordin Solus is a salarian scientist, and he is one fan favorite characters of the saga. A former member of the Special Operations Squad (SOS), a salarian espionage organization, behind his meek and likeable appearance hides a scientist who in the past put research before ethics, and who in a very pragmatic way has always ensured that his emotions and his connections did not cloud his judgment and a broader view of things. In fact, his development is the Genophage, a biological weapon that limits the reproduction capacity of the krogan race. The latter is a species with a dangerous and violent nature that has often given rise to wars against other peoples of the galaxy. With the Genophage a way, albeit cruel, has been found to keep them under control.

But when the Reapers threaten entire planets, it becomes clear that the warfare capabilities and number of krogan would be extremely useful in battle. What to do? This dilemma must be answered by the usual Shepard at the end of the Priority: Tuchanka mission. The commander of the Normandy secretly received an offer of support from the salarians in exchange for sabotaging the mission. Mordin, in fact, is determined to cure all the krogan, dispersing the solution through a structure called Veil, which also contains the original strain of the genophage. It is up to Shepard to decide whether to risk and have the cure released at the cost of the scientist's own sacrifice, or to prevent this from happening by shooting Mordin.

Curiosity

There is a third option that allows you to save the scientist, but it is only available under certain conditions linked to choices made in Mass Effect 2.

Saving the geth or pleasing the quarians?

One of the hardest choices to accomplish in the entire saga is the one related to the geth and quarians in the mission Priority: Rannoch. This is because being able to field both armies in the battle against the raiders would be a certain advantage. Unfortunately, the two peoples have hated each other to death since time immemorial: the geth are a kind of interconnected artificial intelligences created by the quarians as a workforce and tools of war. But once they became sentient, they rebelled against their masters who attempted to exterminate them. The tensions between the two groups lead to the Geth War, which sees the latter victorious against the quarian people, forced from that moment to wander the galaxy with a fleet made up of makeshift ships, many of which are second-hand or built. with recovery technology.

At a certain point in the long adventure of Shepard and his companions, the player finds himself arbiter of this very long contest, and having to decide which side to take sides: the quarians would in fact want to put an end to the existence of the geth fearing being destroyed by them, and returning to their homeworld, abandoning nomadic life, while the geth would like to continue to live each with their own individuality, conscience and empathy, exploiting a Reaper code that would enhance their processing abilities making them more intelligent. Who to please if you don't have a strong Reputation to be able to moderate the affair and to convince the two factions to cooperate?

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