Overview
Your Shepard, your story. Mass Effect created an original science fiction universe dense with alien cultures, political intrigue, and existential threat. The conversation wheel let players craft Shepard’s personality through moment-to-moment choices. Romance options, squad loyalty, and moral decisions persisted across three games—your Mass Effect 1 choices echoed in Mass Effect 3’s finale.
Fast facts
- Developer: BioWare.
- Year: 2007.
- Protagonist: Commander Shepard.
- Threat: Reapers.
Conversation wheel
| Position | Tone |
|---|
| Upper right | Paragon (heroic) |
| Lower right | Renegade (ruthless) |
| Middle | Neutral/investigate |
| Left | Exit conversation |
Squad system
| Companion | Specialisation |
|---|
| Garrus | Sniper, calibrations |
| Tali | Tech specialist |
| Wrex | Krogan warrior |
| Liara | Biotic researcher |
Universe building
| Element | Depth |
|---|
| Codex entries | Encyclopaedic lore |
| Alien cultures | Distinct societies |
| Political systems | Council dynamics |
| Technology | Mass relay network |
Trilogy persistence
| Choice type | Carry-forward |
|---|
| Character deaths | Permanent |
| Romance | Continued |
| Major decisions | Referenced |
| War assets | ME3 impact |
Combat evolution
| Game | Style |
|---|
| ME1 | RPG-heavy, inventory |
| ME2 | Shooter-focused |
| ME3 | Balanced hybrid |
See also