Shepard as Antiheld: In Mass Effect, I leave the pig out and that makes the story better

Have you ever played Renegade Shepard? According to the official information of Bioware, the stating that over 90% of all players choose the Paragon Route, probably not. Unimaginable for me. If there is a moral system in a game, then the NPCs shake as soon as my character enters the stage. For my experience, I have much more fun when I saw chaos and destruction, rather than saving every cat from the tree (and I love cats!).

not angry, but ruthlessly. Mass Effect has a special place in my heart, because instead of just evil, my shepard is transformed as a renegade into a cool action hero, the left and right sayings starts out, understood, understood understood , Badges with a ball interrupted during their monologues while telling the story for me better.

90s Badass

I am a big fan of classic action heroes: Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Jean Reno or Jet Li. Relics of a time after a good shot change or a fight was discussed on the consequences. Exactly this exaggerated action I get from Renegade Shepard.

Less passive and significant cooler! While his Paragon counterpart liked to be good in the corner and listens to the villain in his speech, as he wants shepard to the collar, so my anti-hero simply attacks the rake and shoots the Label bag over the pile. And this is just one of the cool situations in which I'm stumbling thanks to the Renegade path. Reporters ask the stupid questions? Then there's full pound on the mouth when I allow myself to allow my little Gothic allusion. The Council tries to hinder me again? Just hang in the middle of the holo phone call! And who does not like mercenaries through the slices of skyscrapers in the abyss?

If I press the right trigger of the controller, I can be sure that something interesting happens. And be it only a longer description, which shapard works with the separated heads of his opponents.

Pragmatic and human

But the actions of Renegade Shepard are not only "90s" Cool, but also much more comprehensive for me than that of his "good" age-egos. Because they often have a much more pragmatic approach, in view of the danger of the Reaper.

Morale you have to be able to afford. Would it be better from a moral point of view, with long debates all the peoples to unite diplomatically until all the hands are holding in a circle and singing Kumbaya? Naturally! But often it is more meaningful to quickly solve situations to move back to the reaper - even though and then someone stays on the track. My Shepard kills thousands to save millions. He works with criminals together to exclude only a tiny advantage for the universe, while the council puts him just stones in the way.

The purpose sanctifies the funds and that gives the character for me so much more depth - unlike a hero of the archetype Paladin, who saves everyone selfless, but unnecessary risks for all. That makes Renegade Shepard not only more interesting, but also simply human for me. A hero of the victim brings and has to live with the consequences of his recklessness, is much more dramatic for me and makes my game passing more entertaining.

Although Paragon Shepard always brings victims to save the universe, but more often the moments in which all parties are satisfied with the result and tolerate each other. The longer-term question of the Renegade route "was it worth it?" Is storytelling for me a lot more fascinating.

A little paragon is already ok

So without Paragon, I can not get out of my game runs. Because when it comes to the Crew of Normandy, I will weak every time. There I just do not make it too aggressive to go. For that, I all closed too much into the heart - then the Reaper just have to wait short. Even with many answers in Mass Effect 1, I will probably never choose the red text where Shephard is just over as an alien racist.

The overall package is right. Nevertheless, Renegade Shepard remains the best. He combines action and drama a unique experience with which Mass Effect feels really like a Space Opera for me and less like the classic hero journey that I can experience in dozens of other games. Therefore, I can only recommend Renegade Shepard and be it just to miss Khalisah Al-Jilani in all three parts.