Commanding Shepard

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This video contains full spoilers for the Mass Effect trilogy, and depictions of virtual violence and sex --

When Mass Effect launched in 2007, the heroes of western RPGs were typically blank-slate nobodies. But Commander Shepard is different. What does it mean to have a character whose personality and identity is shared between the player and the character?

Footnotes

[1] This role could also be played by the character Kaidan Alenko, depending on who survived the events of Mass Effect 1. To streamline the video, I’m using Ashley whenever I need to talk about the “Virmire survivor”.

[2] There are other possible choices, one of which involves using a "Charm" or "Intimidate" line to get Tali off scot-free without presenting the evidence. This is just one of many examples of the rewards for playing pure Paragon or pure Renegade being far too tempting…

Sources

Mass Effect Interview | IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/...

John Ebenger | Twitter
  / 1230205582478458880  

Mass Effect 3 by the numbers | PC Gamer
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/mass-effec...

The Walking Dead: Bringing the World's Smartest Zombie Series to Life | Redbull
http://web.archive.org/web/2015020921...

BioWare Explains Why There's No Homosexuality in Mass Effect 2 | 1UP
http://web.archive.org/web/2012072418...

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey director apologizes for forcing characters into a traditional relationship | Polygon
https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/17/181...

The Witcher History #2 - E3 2004 | ryslaw on YouTube
   • The Witcher History #2 - E3 2004  

Games shown in this episode (in order of appearance)

Gone Home (2013)
The Last of Us (2013)
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)
Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)
Pillars of Eternity (2015)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (2004)
Deus Ex (2000)
Planescape: Torment (1999)
Mass Effect (2007)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
Mass Effect 2 (2010)
Mass Effect 3 (2012)
Halo 3 (2007)
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)
Gears of War (2006)
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (2018)
Persona 5 (2017)
The Outer Worlds (2019)
Fallout 4 (2015)
Fallout 3 (2008)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
Life Is Strange: Before the Storm (2017)
Detroit: Become Human (2018)
The Wolf Among Us (2013)
The Walking Dead: Season One (2012)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
Life is Strange (2015)
Kingdom Hearts III (2019)
Dragon Age II (2011)
Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
Jade Empire (2005)
Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
Dishonored 2 (2016)
Assassin's Creed II (2009)
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (2018)
Assassin's Creed Valhalla (2020)
Monster Hunter: World (2018)
Heaven’s Vault (2019)
The Last of Us Part II (2020)
Mafia III (2016)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (2016)
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (2016)
Disco Elysium (2019)
Alpha Protocol (2010)
Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
The Witcher (2007)
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011)

Music used in this episode

Music provided by Music Vine - https://musicvine.com/

Mass Effect soundtrack used with permission from Electronic Arts

The Witcher 3 soundtrack used in accordance with CD Projekt Red policy - https://cdprojektred.com/en/videopolicy

Video sections

00:00 - Introduction
03:13 - Part I (Shepard, Commander)
05:41 - Part II (Paragon of Humanity)
20:52 - Part III (Company Man)
28:58 - Part IV (Shepard's Flock)
44:12 - Part V (Create a Commander)
49:14 - Part VI (Commanding Shepard)
52:48 - Ending

Other credits

24 and Fox News © Fox Broadcasting Company
Star Trek © ViacomCBS

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