(doesn't have to be the same for both)
(doesn't have to be the same for both)
Ooh, I really don't like rating characters because my opinions don't really follow popular trends. I like most of them because I like to think they all contribute something even if it's just "not like that".
I guess I'll give it a shot although I reserve the right to change my mind when I realize I've forgotten something or said something poorly.
Really Like -
- Wrex - I love Wrex. He's my bro-gan. Blunt trauma on two-legs.
- Garrus - The Dude, the Myth, the Archangel, the Best Friend. I thought he had a good character arc, going from uncertain hot-headed C-Sec officer, to enraged vigilante, to experienced turian general. Thought the Shadow Broker file on him was wrong and Shepard's association helped him develop into an exceptional ally. No Shepard without Vakarian.
- Kaidan - My favorite romance, human soldier, and biotic. He had a solid character arc. Not as dramatic as Garrus or Liara, but went from seriously reserved, uncertain loner to confident biotic powerhouse. Always took him and/or one of the previous two on all missions. Missed him in the later games, but figured he and Shepard had to mature separately to be better together.
- Grunt - was my boy. Would have loved to have him on the ship in ME3. Nobody berserkers better. Goofball.
- Zaeed - might have ranked higher but - as you said - didn't have a lot of screen time or development. I've met a lot of grouchy old guys like this.
- Drack - Granddad Krogan. I like the way the relationship between him and Ryder develops almost paternally. I like the fact he makes no secret of disliking "that widget" in Ryder's head (which my Ryder heartily agreed). Love him and Vetra on Kadara.
- Vetra - The best quartermaster; the Connection; Solid squadmate and everybody's dryly sarcastic older sister.
- Thane - Found his disease gave him a unique perspective and his spirituality made him interesting for my Shepard to interact.
- Miranda - Solid squadmate in ME2. Took her and Garrus frequently. I thought she and my Shepard took a healthy amount of time to form a firm friendship. Almost sisters by the end of ME3.
- Kasumi - Agree with you. Would have liked more time/adventures with the Master Thief. My Earthborn Shepard and her could have had too much fun.
Like/Neutral -
- James - a solid meatshield. Like Grunt, he needed more seasoning/experience to come into his own. Not sure he got enough time in ME3 for that.
- Aria - I like Aria, but I could never trust her. I did thoroughly enjoy tweaking her requests in my own fashion - which I was sure she totally expected. The Queen of Omega & the Dead Spectre - scary combo.
- Samara - the quiet, wry, noble Justicar. Agree one of the best stories and performances. Also one of the best teammates. Would have liked to see a little more growth after her loyalty mission.
- Mordin - Sings Gilbert & Sullivan. How can you not like that? Also thought he nailed the reason against Synthesis Ending citing the collector's cultural stagnation. I thought his change of heart was quite natural since he had misgivings during his loyalty mission in ME2. Wrex & Eve finally gave him hope the krogan could honestly turn the race's future around for the better.
- Liara - Agree that I dislike the forced nature of her relationship. Sweet girl has a nice character arc (like Garrus) in that she goes from being a helpless waif to grow into a confident and capable Shadow Broker. Association with Shepard and crew obviously did her a world of good. Still, just friends, Liara!
- Jaal - is a solid squadmate. His culture is interesting - if a little too touchy-feely for me. Thought his interest in 'taking things apart' went a little ghoulish. Like Miranda, I would have liked to convince him it doesn't matter where you come from - only matters what you do with yourself.
- Legion - My favorite toaster. Picked him up at the very end and only did his loyalty mission. Would have liked to get to know the geth perspective better.
- Tali - is okay. Honestly, I never had much use for her. Sweet girl, and very like a younger sister to everybody but generally too fragile (and short range) for me to take into firefights. Didn't think her personal story was quite as compelling as Garrus or Liara. Maybe it is if you romance her, but not an option for me.
- Nyreen - Felt she was a good foil for Aria. Thought her fear of adjutants gave her some understandable depth. Not around enough to know her better.
Indifferent -
- EDI - I like EDI better when she is a voice in the ship. I thought giving her a run-about robo-body was unnecessary and only pushed the notion of 'AI are people too' which we already had with the geth, and to make the final choice a bit more difficult.
- Cora - Drove me nuts with her constant talk of asari commando huntresses. I felt more sympathy/discomfort for her with the whole passed-over-as-Pathfinder-despite-being-Second issue. Fun listening to Drack needle her in party banter.
- Peebee - Happy-go-lucky I'll give her that. Didn't use her much because I thought she was flighty and careless.
- Ashley - Basically just another Alliance soldier. Poor girl just isn't as colorful as the others. Thought her religion was an interesting facet of her personality and I would have liked to meet her sisters at some point.
- Jack - Her initial attitude grates on my nerves. I get her past, but she's not the only one who's ever had a hard beginning. Would have liked the 'interrupt' to dodge or catch her fist in ME3 or to at least tell her to get off my ass for doing the right thing by turning myself over to the Alliance.
- Javik - Like Jack, the arrogant attitude really grinds on my nerves. If anybody gets where he's coming from it's Shepard and he would do well to show a bit more respect or friendship towards the commander at least.
- Liam - Poor guy was just too damned relentlessly cheerful for me. Aggravated me that he cheered my Ryder for carrying the Pathfinder load, but did little to help and, in fact, added to the problem. He had a fun loyalty mission, though - one of the best in that game.
- Morinth - Keep that angsty, psychotic, murderous, goth bitch away from me, my ship and my crew.
- Jacob - According to the Shadow Broker files he was 'placed on Shepard's team primarily for stabilizing elements of personality' - and apparently little else.
Wow, interesting list. I respect your opinions regarding the difference between our lists. I find your view on Tali, the most interesting since she is universally loved by everyone and it normally in the top 3 of squadmates.
It sad that Liam and Jacob, unliked Kaidan and James, are universally ranked at the bottom. Not counting Morinth, they're a huge amount of disagreement on the squadmates at the bottom other than those two. I think for Jacob is it because he's a cheater (regardless of what FemShep does) but for Liam, I would be curious if he would improve with a second game? Same of Cora because it is hard for the Andromeda squadmates compared to those with have two or three games of materials.
I also noticed a level of gender difference, 3 of the 4 at the bottom of my list are males, while the females rank higher. Whereas 6 of 9 on your 'indifferent' list are females. Two of the bottom males characters for me, are romance options for FemShep and are rank high (James and Kaidan) on your list.
There are however areas of agreement: Wrex, Garrus, and Grunt for example. But also on individual character, i..e Kasumi need for scene time and would have like to meet Ashley's sister.
Well, I did mention that my thoughts were not conventional. I like Tali well enough, but she's the 'good luck charm' in Normandy's engine room. That's where I leave her, like I leave my scientists (Liara, Mordin, etc) in their labs while Shepard and the soldiers go shoot stuff.
Yes, I thought it ironic how much Jacob turned out like his dad. I'd almost feel sorry for Brynn except she's a bit of a hypocrite, so not so much.
That's the thing with Liam. His friendship is pretty good and I've seen a few vids for his Romance which is sweet, but it's almost like he's doing things by trope. Cora does seem more relaxed after her mission. Would they improve with future games? Given a little attention/depth, quite probably.
It's sad, but true. I'm generally not a fan of the womenfolk. I am glad to see we did agree on some more aspects of the characters/games.
I actually agreed about leaving some characters behind (Mordin). Even those I like him, it never makes much sense to me to take him on the majority of the missions.
Never, really have an issue with Brynn, minus the fact she seems more in love with Shepard than with Jacob. Would have been a nice option to give femShep the chance to romance Brynn, as payback for the player.
Liam is simply annoying in my opinion, in a way that neither James, Jacob, or Kaidan ever was. I always either found myself, wanting to punch him or tell him to shut up. I actually only ever used his on two missions (the first mission and his loyalty mission) those some of his banters I had seen on youtube videos is really funny.
Why're you not a fan of the womenfolks?
Me too, I know there was be some area we agreed on. It seems that what you said before is correct, it comes down to how we played the games. I played as Male Shepard, Soldier whereas you played as Female Shepard, Infiltrator. I'm curious as to what backstory did you pick?
I choose Spacer, War Hero - even those I had played as other, that's the one I prefer for my Shepard.
Yes - that! Leave the scientists to do their thing where they do it best.
When I met Dr. Brynn Cole, she's desperate to escape Cerberus. When my Shep mentions being almost killed by the group's advanced tech, Brynn is suddenly all pro-Cerberus - 'well, advanced Cerberus tech saved you, too. I bet that stings" or some such. Don't beg me to save you from the crazed terrorists then wave their flag in my face. Would have liked to remind her (maybe a Renegade interrupt) that I could leave if she changed her mind.
Yes, Liam is like Jacob for me - trade him out as soon as possible for someone else - preferably Drack. I agree, Liam can be very funny, but he also has a tendency to jump into the middle of a fray right as I'm firing on a target, then complains because he thinks I shot at him.
Let's just say I appreciate the ladies in games more than I generally do in real life. Bad past experiences and water under a very old bridge.
My favorite Shepard's back-story is Earthborn War Hero. I've been toying with the idea of doing a Spacer Sole Survivor run, but I really need to finish the main questline in Fallout 4 before that and I have Skyrim waiting. Fortunately, with the way Anthem looks to be turning out, I should have plenty of time.
I'm not sure about Anthem. It look better than Mass Effect: Andromeda but it probably not going to have much of a story and will not have romances.
I have no interest in Anthem. Not my kind of game. Might be interested to read what the alleged story is if such a thing is ever revealed. Frostbite engine does make for some pretty environments. After watching some gameplay trailers, it looks to me like MEA was pieced together with Anthem scraps.
I had read articles where former Bioware peoples argued that Andromeda was sacrificed in order to make room for Anthem. Even the plot of the games are similar.
There is certainly ample evidence Andromeda was sacrificed for Anthem. There also has not been a very vocal denial of the charge.
I agreed. It seems Andromeda was release simply because of the Mass Effect name. I also had said this to other, I personally feel like Bioware would have made a better game if, Andromeda was its own standalone series. The first of a new franchise.