Ok, here is my understanding. We knew from the last game that Reapers allow organic civilization to reach a certain point and then Harvest it. But for what? They don't need the technology, and they didn't keep the slaves.
Are we sure we know that from the last game? I thought the "Harvest" was more of a purge. The idea being to wipe out the species before they can be a threat to the reapers. Steal their resources to recharge their batteries, wipe them out, and start again. I was pretty sure it was just mass genocide, but perhaps I'm remembering wrong.
The reveal here was that each Reaper is in fact the genetic sum of the species that came before... they are harvested and distilled into Reapers, somehow possessing not only the genetic markers of that species, but their group consciousness, somehow. The human-reaper was not designed, it grew based on the genetic material that was being fed into it. This, in short, is the Reapers Reproductive cycle. So a Reaper made of Turians would look Turian, etc. The choice of Human can probably be laid at Shepherd's feet... if Humanity is capable of destroying a Reaper, then clearly they are "worthy" to be made into a Reaper themselves.
I think I have two big "that doesn't even make videogame sense" hangups.
1) It was shaped like a human. Even assuming the "group consciousness" theory is correct, surely they could just feed the mental data from the mush into the current machines? Is there REALLY a reason to shape a reaper like a human?
2) From all appearances, the liquid mush was actually being used to grow the machine. There were four giant injectors or whatever, and all the tubes led to them. Does metal grow from flesh, somehow? Maybe they need dna or memories or whatever, but why the actual flesh?
Anyway. I guess I'm just annoyed because this whole thing seems to trivialize the Reapers, somehow. For some reason, the all knowing, all powerful, pinnacle of evolution machine gods expend massive resources to create Reapers that look like conquered species. And the method that they use to accomplish this makes little sense and isn't explained at all.
Overall, the human Reaper seemed to exist just for the shock value of turning a corner and seeing a giant metal head.
I agree that the boss fight was a let down, though. Maybe I need to ratchet up the difficulty, but I figure even an embryonic Reaper should have been a bit tougher to handle. Of course, being Embryonic, if it was tougher to fight that Saren/Sovereign...
Story wise, I liked it. Gameplay wise, I could deal with it. It is the middle installment of the trilogy, after all.
Yeeeeeah, I liked the story a lot right up until the end. I just can't believe that the mysterious race of Reaper controlled beings that I was wondering about the whole game turned out to be doing. . .well, that. Growing a super-robot from human hamburger.
Did that help?
Why not? Let's have a Mass Effect thread.
02/02/2010 05:02:32 PM
- 3735 Views
Character discussion: Mordin Solus
02/02/2010 06:28:41 PM
- 1962 Views
Mordin Solus is great
02/02/2010 08:21:26 PM
- 1398 Views
Actually, that's what happened to me too.
02/02/2010 08:33:22 PM
- 1479 Views
The Illusive man
02/02/2010 08:34:09 PM
- 1590 Views
I didn't even realize that's who he was.
02/02/2010 08:44:07 PM
- 1513 Views

"I'm having trouble hearing you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line." *NM*
02/02/2010 09:34:53 PM
- 739 Views
Who is sharing your bed?
02/02/2010 09:42:09 PM
- 1524 Views
Tali for my male Shepherd
04/02/2010 03:52:03 PM
- 1398 Views
Does she take the helmet off? *NM*
04/02/2010 07:57:18 PM
- 757 Views
I went simple - Miranda.
07/02/2010 06:32:25 AM
- 1317 Views
Which reminds me that I always wondered...
07/02/2010 11:54:14 AM
- 1431 Views
You probably wouldn't be able to woo anyone by being a total dick. *NM*
07/02/2010 03:32:41 PM
- 740 Views
I was lucky enough to meet the game's producer... (No spoilers)
02/02/2010 10:58:59 PM
- 1554 Views
No spoilers here either, as per my rules.
Regarding the ammo:
03/02/2010 04:51:54 AM
- 1373 Views

I just want to be part of this....that said, Best Buy is no longer selling ME:1
02/02/2010 11:16:51 PM
- 1524 Views
Could well be.
03/02/2010 04:52:49 AM
- 1291 Views
Glad the PC version was $50, at the risk of sounding like a snob.
03/02/2010 04:01:52 PM
- 1303 Views
Mass Effect 1 vs 2: RPG-shooter vs Shooter-rpg (This is for you, Cymbaline!) (No spoilers)
02/02/2010 11:28:24 PM
- 1491 Views
The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
03/02/2010 11:27:55 PM
- 1459 Views
Re: The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
04/02/2010 04:59:54 AM
- 1346 Views
Re: The "Holy crap that was awesome" moments. SPOILERS
04/02/2010 06:16:29 AM
- 1447 Views
Well. . .somewhat, I guess.
04/02/2010 06:43:02 AM
- 1460 Views
Re: Well. . .somewhat, I guess.
04/02/2010 03:32:26 PM
- 1397 Views
You know what? I'll actually buy that. I appreciate the explanation.
04/02/2010 06:30:37 PM
- 1221 Views
A couple of more things......
16/02/2010 12:41:19 AM
- 1480 Views
Game was too easy, primary plotline too short
04/02/2010 09:03:52 PM
- 1396 Views
Nice.
I'm playing through on Insanity now, and I think it's a good challenge.
05/02/2010 02:17:02 AM
- 1307 Views

Whats your character build?
05/02/2010 02:45:31 PM
- 1560 Views
Ok, so male or female Shepherd?
05/02/2010 01:50:23 AM
- 1330 Views
Hm. This brings up a thought.
05/02/2010 01:52:37 AM
- 1270 Views
Male for my first playthrough, female for my second.
05/02/2010 02:28:24 AM
- 1439 Views
Male so far. I plan on playing the female Shepard next playthrough. *NM*
05/02/2010 03:25:00 AM
- 801 Views
Your Teams, and Your Deaths.
07/02/2010 06:30:25 AM
- 1239 Views
Re: Your Teams, and Your Deaths.
07/02/2010 09:07:17 AM
- 1435 Views
Do you know...
07/02/2010 03:46:59 PM
- 1242 Views
Re: Do you know...
07/02/2010 04:31:29 PM
- 1353 Views
Awesome. Thanks! *NM*
07/02/2010 04:40:59 PM
- 772 Views
Yeah, that's what I did.
07/02/2010 06:37:50 PM
- 1200 Views
Hmmm...
09/02/2010 03:48:48 PM
- 1279 Views
Strange.
09/02/2010 04:19:04 PM
- 1343 Views
me too
13/02/2010 03:01:05 PM
- 1326 Views
Did you do Legion's loyalty mission?
15/02/2010 05:52:36 AM
- 1423 Views
I did, for what it's worth.
15/02/2010 07:26:38 AM
- 1359 Views
Gah. Then I wonder if loyalty of the rest of the crew has something to do with it.
15/02/2010 04:20:13 PM
- 1320 Views
I have come across a big problem.
07/02/2010 06:53:36 PM
- 1358 Views
Want FREE Mass Effect 2 DLC? ME 2! (har, har) Bioware bonus goodies detailed inside.
09/02/2010 07:03:23 PM
- 1501 Views
Now if only the DLC armors didn't have helmets.
09/02/2010 07:26:47 PM
- 1266 Views
Of course, the Shotgun is released AFTER I beat my Vanguard *sigh*
09/02/2010 11:31:13 PM
- 1337 Views
It's nice, but you don't miss much if you already had the Claymore shotty w/ an ammo upgrade. *NM*
10/02/2010 05:16:00 AM
- 719 Views
Anyone find anything interesting about Zaeed Massani?
11/02/2010 09:08:16 PM
- 1367 Views
I enjoy Zaeed.
11/02/2010 09:22:39 PM
- 1324 Views
I'm near your spot in the story and completely agree. One-sided conversations, but worthwhile. *NM*
11/02/2010 10:20:47 PM
- 649 Views
Yeah, I've listened to him alot but it's the same stuff every time.
12/02/2010 03:14:11 PM
- 1273 Views
Who, what, where?
*NM*
22/02/2010 08:18:31 PM
- 678 Views

If you bought a new copy of the game, it came with a code for the "Cerberus Network"
22/02/2010 08:22:18 PM
- 1278 Views
Is there a way to install the game on the Xbox, so you don't have to switch discs?
12/02/2010 01:39:07 AM
- 1309 Views
Good ones have two discs, of course.
DVDs can only hold so much. *NM*
12/02/2010 02:46:39 AM
- 679 Views

This is the first I've ever seen. *NM*
12/02/2010 02:51:34 AM
- 713 Views
I've never understood why people are unhappy with the multiple discs.
12/02/2010 04:18:42 AM
- 1307 Views
So far, so great!
12/02/2010 08:35:00 AM
- 1284 Views
Re: So far, so great!
12/02/2010 02:31:43 PM
- 1381 Views
Re: So far, so great!
16/02/2010 10:17:12 PM
- 1338 Views
Nope, I was referring to honest-to-goodness cheating. lol
16/02/2010 11:03:53 PM
- 1377 Views
Ahh, I just figured you were on console as I am, so.....the grind will continue I guess
*NM*
17/02/2010 06:41:59 PM
- 753 Views

I love the detail put into this game.
12/02/2010 02:58:35 PM
- 1261 Views
"Our amino acids aren't even compatable so there's no risk if we go natural."
12/02/2010 03:15:50 PM
- 1315 Views
Re: "Our amino acids aren't even compatable so there's no risk if we go natural."
12/02/2010 07:16:21 PM
- 1241 Views
"Technically we don't even have sex drives... oh, she is rather flexible...." *NM*
12/02/2010 07:20:53 PM
- 710 Views
Female Turians....
12/02/2010 09:05:39 PM
- 1253 Views
Nope. Don't exist in-game.
14/02/2010 01:47:23 AM
- 1207 Views
I believe a krogan female is shown once.
14/02/2010 02:03:27 AM
- 1294 Views
No I don't think that's right.
14/02/2010 08:54:32 AM
- 1217 Views
Asari
15/02/2010 06:51:10 AM
- 1347 Views
Not really.
15/02/2010 10:41:54 PM
- 1282 Views
Though it is fun seeing the asari coupled with basically every race under the sun.
15/02/2010 10:54:41 PM
- 1294 Views
The final verdict
22/02/2010 08:06:12 PM
- 1306 Views
By the way, my game was surprisingly buggy
23/02/2010 08:49:28 AM
- 1429 Views
A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 06:40:35 AM
- 1407 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 12:28:29 PM
- 1233 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
27/02/2010 04:57:43 PM
- 1291 Views
Re: A complaint about the Morality system. (Or, how Mass Effect semi-killed roleplaying).
28/02/2010 12:34:31 AM
- 1346 Views
A vital part of role-playing is forcing the player to deal with the consequences of their actions
27/02/2010 11:53:56 PM
- 1579 Views
Admittedly, my post was somewhat stream-of-consciousness.
28/02/2010 03:28:02 AM
- 1274 Views