Loved almost all of the alien races. Even the geth grew on me by ME3. The quarians having to live on flotillas in suits was a brilliant twist. The krogans and the morality of the genophage, and the awkward triangle between the turians, krogan and salarians. Freeing the rachni, definitely the right move. The little details like pureblood asari being looked down upon. Even the less notable races like the vorcha and the volus were on point. The only thing I would get rid of is the freaking hanar.
Leviathans were also very interesting, the reveal there answered some questions but not others, like how does a race of giant squids build computers? Did they indoctrinate creatures on their home world and somehow still figure out how to build networks and starships through them? The mystery of the reapers was much cooler, but if there had to be a backstory this is a pretty good one.
Whoa boy there were a lot of great characters in these games. In fact, there were very few I disliked. I loved the ME1 squad, except for Kaiden who was just kind of bland. Ashley v Kaiden wasn’t a hard decision at all, sorry Kaiden. I brought Wrex and Garrus on a lot of missions together before I realized the Turians and Krogan really don't get along. Good balance among the more prominent races. Saren and Benezia were a good antagonist pair especially when Benezia died in front of Liara. Lots of good side characters too, like Gianna Parasini, Conrad and Emily Wong. I saved the council - felt like it was very much an “earn your place in the galaxy“ sort of moment. Also saved the rachni queen, didn’t expect her to play a role in ME3 but was a nice payoff.
Liked the new squad and the outlaw take in ME2. Didn’t expect to see Martin Sheen of all people voicing the Illusive Man. Unlike ME1, some of these had to grow on me - Miranda came off as a pain, Mordin’s speech pattern was a little weird and Jack seemed a little too psychotic. But, they def all grew on me over the course of it, although some of them took to ME3 to really come into their own (looking at you Legion). Not all of them though - Thane, Grunt and Kasumi were all great from the start (still wish Kasumi was a romance option). Loyalty missions were the perfect way to add some depth and almost all of them were great. Going through a Krogan rite of passage, interrogating that weasel with Thane, rescuing Miranda’s sister clone, convincing Garrus not to shoot that guy... lotta good ones.
Mass Effect 3 was a mixed bag, but mostly good. Javik was cool but a little bit too much of an ass, and not really in a fun way. Nice lore piece, but I wouldn't want to see him on the squad in another game. Vega was a decent dude but I’d much rather have a Krogan like Wrex or Grunt in that tank slot. Human EDI was not one of my favorites. Liked ME2 EDI, poking her head around the ship for comic relief, but ME3 EDI just looks like an oversized cortana with a worse voice actor. Joker continued his steady decline from a great character in ME1 to someone who I wish didnt have plot armor in ME3.
That being said, everyone else returning took a step up (except joker). ME3 Jack’s look and new role was awesome. Ashley’s character had a big growing up phase, going from xenophobia to taking Tali under her wing. Mordin finished his work and I wish I could have saved him. Wrex was way more animated and fun and Eve was a great foil. The geth were redeemed and Legion set himself apart a lot more as an individual. Miranda finally killed her father, saw that coming. Thane went out like only he could. Captain Kirrahe and Jenna and people like that making interesting cameos. Tali going from someone who’s clearly a kid in ME1 to Admiral who mourns a Geth in ME3. Samantha Traynor is a break out character in ME3 and Cortez also showed out well. Especially in the Citadel DLC, Traynor is a scene stealer.
The ending. Didn’t love it, chose to destroy the Reapers. Taking the form of the kid was interesting, although the Virmire casualty or Saren would’ve been cooler. To be honest, I wish the ending was less of a choice. There were more than enough great characters left and the combat was so smooth I would have loved the series to continue. Granted, I saved everyone I could... certainly having half the squad die in ME2 or shooting wrex, onwards and onwards, that’s a lot of scenarios to plan for and deal with it does become burdensome as entries are added. Like, wtf does mass effect 3 look like without Tali and Garrus? I also don’t feel Shepard got too out of control power-wise, as most of the power against the Reapers came from a galactic navy and things like the thrasher maw. Not like Shep had a Spartan Laser that could rip apart Reapers (that one random targeting sequence aside). A rebuilding galaxy with Shep and say Liara, Ashley, Tali, Garrus, Grunt, Thane’s son, Kasumi and Captain Kirrahe dealing with [a cult built around Saren / another still-alive Prothean like Javik intent on conquering the galaxy / Maya Brooks leading a Cerberus offshoot / that nagging Dark Energy thread]? Count me in on another three games of that. These characters are terrific and Mass Effect 3 had the combat system and dialogue between the characters nailed down.
Overall 10/10 already started a second playthrough.
