TheMass Effecttrilogy includes a morality system that affects the choices that Commander Shepard is able to make at certain points in the games and whether they’re able to bypass moments of conflict by charming or intimidating the parties involved. While this ability to solve an issue easily with the use of Shepard’s morality status can be nice,gaining points towards either Renegade or Paragon is often more excitingthan using Shepard’s reputation. Similarly, the options that are the most fun to pick are usually those that are rather meaningless in the overall story.
InMass Effect, Commander Shepard’s decisions from the beginning impact their morality, with certain options giving them points towards Renegade or Paragon. Renegade is considered the negative morality, with Shepard being feared when they go down this path, which then allows Shepard to bypass some conflict through intimidation if they have a high enough Renegade score. Meanwhile, Paragon is seen as the positive morality, painting Shepard as a hero and just figure, which allows them to bypass some conflict through charm instead of intimidation.Both moralities have fun options, but Renegade tends to have more of them.
Renegade Versus Paragon As Commander Shepard
The Major Differences In Options
It’s common for players to go intoMass Effectwith the intention of doing a playthrough that’s focused on a particular morality. The decision to be Renegade or Paragon inMass Effect 2even changes Shepard’s appearance, which isexplained as a side effect of the Lazarus Projectand Miranda being forced to wake Shepard up earlier than she would’ve liked, leaving unhealed incisions visible on Shepard’s face. By being kind and righteous through Paragon choices, Shepard’s incisions heal properly. However, being vicious through Renegade choices causes the incisions to grow.
In a lot of ways, themorality system adds flavor to each playthrough of the trilogy, and it’s fun to explore how different choices play out, as well as the additional options that are unlocked in the future based on accumulating Renegade or Paragon points. However, manyMass Effectchoices don’t matterin the sense that they have big impacts on the overall narrative. Instead, the scope of these changes is much smaller than it might seem at first, making minimal differences for the most part.
The Most Satisfying Renegade Options Don’t Matter
The Minimal Consequences Of The Best Options
Part of what givesMass Effectits charm is the ability to choose cutting remakes or vengeful interrupts with Renegade choices, letting playersbe a hero who isn’t always righteousin the way that Paragon choices dictate. With the weight of the galaxy on their shoulders, it’s understandable that Shepard would be less than perfect at times, and that helps make some small Renegade options especially rewarding. Even moments as simple as Shepard telling Captain Ventralis on Noveria, “I’m not here to help,” are satisfying, since everybody expects Shepard to solve their problems.
Perhaps those moments help make the inconsequential choices more fun simply because they lack the same sense of pressure about making the correct decision.
Of course, there are decisions inMass Effectwhere all choices are hard, especially during a first playthrough wherethe player might not know what the consequences arefor each option, such as deciding whether to kill the Rachni Queen or spare her in the first game. Perhaps those moments help make the inconsequential choices more fun simply because they lack the same sense of pressure about making the correct decision, so players don’t have to worry as much about what they choose to do and how it might impact their playthrough later in the trilogy.
When it comes to the best Renegade options in the trilogy, a few moments stand out among the rest. Naturally, every option to insult or sass the Council falls into this category, considering how much the Council hinders Shepard instead of helping them. The Archangel Dossier Renegade interrupts, such askilling Cathka and saying “You’re working too hard,“fall into this category, especially if the player is aware of Archangel’s identity and knows who they’re helping through this sabotage. There’s also an interrupt shortly after this that lets Shepard headshot an enemy before the fight starts.
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Another popular Renegade choice inMass Effect 2is the option topush a trooper out of a windowfrom a high floor, guaranteeing his death, even though he clearly doesn’t have the information Shepard wants. However, the most quotable Renegade option is likely when Shepard calls a Hanar a big, stupid jellyfish. It’s a meaningless moment that stems from frustration, but certainly a lot of players had to be thinking similar things at the time, and it brings up the unavoidable truth that Hanar do look a bit like a walking jellyfish.
Why Paragade Is The Perfect Option
The Ultimate Blend Of Options
In the end, the most satisfying playthrough of theMass Effecttrilogy is likely the Paragade option, in which Sheparddoesn’t fully commit to either the Paragon or Renegade path. It takes away some dialogue and interrupt options that require a high level in one morality, but it also feels like the most realistic version of Shepard. This makes them a bit impulsive and perhaps mean at times, but it also lets them be righteous during moments that call for it. It creates a balance that lets Shepard pick inconsequential Renegade options without having to sacrifice morals to commit to Renegade.
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When it comes to playing the game, there are alsoParagon moments that are useful to pursue, such as sparing the Rachni Queen instead of killing her, which is an early choice that comes into play again later in the trilogy. However, the biggest bonus of a Paragade run is being able to let Shepard be kind to their crewmates, but still deal some harsh justice to their enemies. It’s a style of run that every player should try at least once, and it tends to be the style that first-time players gravitate towards anyway.
There are a lot of moments inMass Effectthat are serious, especially when the fate of the galaxy is at stake. However, these are balanced by moments of levity, some of which are due to the decisions that Shepard makes along the way. But the best part of the choices, inconsequential or not, is that they make multiple playthroughs ofMass Effectas rewarding as the first run.
